Barry's Photo Blog

#805. La Grange Moon

2012-01-28T19:01:00.000-06:00

The moon taken a few weeks ago in La Grange, Texas.

Title: "La Grange Moon"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post Processing: Photoshop CS 4 > Topaz Adjust > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#804. A Rock

2012-01-25T21:09:00.000-06:00

A rock on Galveston Beach. Taken this past Sunday. Reminds me of something...maybethe head of some giant beast hiding in the sand ...or maybe I'm reading too much science fiction?

Title: "A Rock"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust > Nik Viveza Silver Efex Pro > Texture from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#803. So Much Drama

2012-01-22T20:39:00.000-06:00

Made a quick trip down to Galveston today so my daughter could get some time in toward her highway driving milestone before she tests for her driver's license in a couple of weeks. Took a few snaps of the rock art while there and this was my favorite (like my daughter it exudes drama).

Title: "So Much Drama"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#802. U of H Armadillo

2012-01-19T20:43:00.001-06:00

Another photo from this past Sunday also taken on the University of Houston main campus near downtown Houston. I'm not 100% sure if this is supposed to be an armadillo but that's what it looks like to me.

Title: "U of H Armadillo"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4

#801. UOFH

2012-01-17T21:22:00.000-06:00

Taken this past Sunday. An architectural detail of one of the University of Houston classroom buildings at the main campus near downtown Houston.

Title: "UOFH"

Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#800. Seed Hamper

2012-01-14T16:26:00.000-06:00

The whole purpose of running cotton through a gin is to extract the seeds from the cotton. At the Burton Cotton Gin in Burton, Texas the seeds, once extracted, were piped over to this hamper where the farmer could pull his wagon under the hamper doors and dump enough seeds for next years planting with plenty extra for mulch.

Title: "Seed Hamper"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS 4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#799. Water Pump

2012-01-13T20:29:00.000-06:00

A circa 1920 water pump that used to pump water to the big engine that runs the Burton Cotton Gin, in Burton, Texas.

Title: "Water Pump"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#798. Cotton Bale Press

2012-01-11T19:54:00.000-06:00

The cotton bale press at the Burton Cotton Gin Museum in Burton, Texas.

Title: "Cotton Bale Press"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#797. Gin Engine

2012-01-10T21:58:00.000-06:00

This huge old engine powers everything at the Burton Cotton Gin Museum. The engine's exhaust is piped underground to a pair of stacks about 100 yards away but our tour guide assured it is still quite loud in the engine room when it's running; loud enough to shake the ground in the immediate vicinity of the gin.

Title: "Gin Engine"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#796. Cotton Wagon

2012-01-09T21:33:00.000-06:00

A cotton wagon is staged for weighing at the Burton Cotton Gin Museum in Burton, Texas.

Title: "Cotton Wagon"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#795. Burton Cotton Gin

2012-01-08T20:06:00.000-06:00

Taken this past weekend in Burton, Texas. This shot and my next five or six posts feature the Burton Cotton Gin Museum which is a 1920's cotton gin that is maintained in working order and utilized to gin cotton once a year at the Annual Cotton Gin Festival. The facility and tour are fascinating and represent a very important part of American history so I highly recommend you take the tour if your ever in the Burton area.

Title: "Burton Cotton Gin"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#794. Train + Birds on a Wire

2012-01-01T21:40:00.000-06:00

Taken yesterday afternoon in Houston, Texas. It's impossible to present a panorama image on a computer screen and do it any kind of justice but you can at least get an idea of the image I created here. Hope you like it!

Title: "Train + Birds on a Wire"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#793. The Colorado River

2011-12-31T17:10:00.000-06:00

A scene taken this morning on the Colorado River in La Grange, Texas. As I sometimes take liberty to do, I pushed the color saturation on this image to give it a surreal look. Why? Just felt right! :-)

Title: "The Colorado River"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to create a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image from three expposures (-2, 0, +2) > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#792. Cypress Creek Foliage

2011-12-29T21:06:00.000-06:00

Taken at the end of November on Cypress Creek in Wimberley, Texas.

Title: Cypress Creek Foliage"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > texture from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#791. The Bugle Boy

2011-12-28T21:28:00.000-06:00

Taken a few weeks ago at "The Bugle Boy" in LaGrange, Texas. The Bugle Boy is a great venue for watching live music if you're lucky enough to be in LaGrange on a performance night. The house is small (less than 100 people) and the acoustics are great. We saw John Fullbright perform and the show and the venue were fabulous.

Title: "The Bugle Boy"

Shot data: 1/60s f/2.8 at 50.0mm iso1000
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 50mm f1.4 prime lens
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#790. After Some Rain

2011-12-26T09:50:00.000-06:00

Taken last Friday in Wimberley, Texas after they finally got some rain in the area. A few weeks ago this creek was filled with dry leaves.

Title: "After Some Rain"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Adobe Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza plugin > Nik Silver Efex plugin

#789. Robo Flower

2011-12-18T22:27:00.001-06:00

Taken at the opening of "Reel to Reel" yesterday. This is a part of one of the devices featured in the show by artists Jeff Shore and Jon Fisher. Very cool and quite mesmerizing to experience in person!

Title: "Robo Flower"

Shot data: 1/60s f/2.5 at 50.0mm iso1000
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 50mm f/1.4
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#788. Behind Bars

2011-12-15T06:05:00.000-06:00

Taken this past weekend at the Old Jail Museum in Cold Spring, Texas.

Title: "Behind Bars"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex plugin

#787. Sam Houston National Forest

2011-12-13T05:58:00.001-06:00

A shot taken this past weekend in the Sam Houston National Forest near Cold Spring, Texas.

Title: "Sam Houston National Forest"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza plugin

#786. Big Frosty

2011-12-07T21:51:00.000-06:00

Taken this past weekend at a Christmas tree lot near our house in Houston, Texas.

Title: "Big Frosty"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to create an HDR image from one exposure > Nik Viveza plugin > Topaz Adjust plugin

#785. Jailhouse Shower

2011-12-04T22:05:00.000-06:00

I just finished post-processing on another shot taken at the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas a few weeks ago. The piping hanging from the ceiling is a shower located in the common area between four different cells.

#785. Jailhouse Shower

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust 4 > Nik Silver Efex 2

#784. Low Tide

2011-11-30T22:20:00.000-06:00

Taken Sunday in Seabrook, Texas.

Title: "Low Tide"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza Plugin > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#783. Sunset on Cypress Creek

2011-11-27T18:46:00.000-06:00

Taken a couple of weekends ago in Wimberley, Texas.

Title: "Sunset on Cypress Creek"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#782. Capital Punishment

2011-11-21T10:57:00.000-06:00

A detail shot taken at the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas a couple of weekends ago.

Title: "Capital Punishment"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#781. Cummins Creek Bridge

2011-11-18T22:49:00.000-06:00

Taken last weekend near Fayetteville, Texas. Closed to traffic of course and nearly overgrown with trees so that you might not even notice it from the nearby "new" bridge built in 1931. Here's a really cool photo of the old bridge under construction.

Title: "Cummins Creek Bridge"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three images into one HDR (High Dyanmic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > NiK Silver Efex 2 plugin

#780. Texas Pickin Park

2011-11-15T21:36:00.000-06:00

Taken this past Saturday in Fayetteville, Texas. The event was called Texas Pickin Park and amounted to a meet-up for local musicians. It felt like a scene from the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" to me! I loved it!

Title: "Texas Pickin Park"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#779. Old Homestead

2011-11-13T20:46:00.000-06:00

Taken this weekend near La Grange, Texas. This is not MY old homestead...but is someones. Whenever I see an old abandoned home like this it makes me wonder what event led to the abandonment. I know it wasn't abandoned fifty years ago so that I would have something interesting to photograph today! So what was it? Someone's health problems, some past economic hard times, legal woes? You can't tell from looking at the remains of the building but it does make you wonder...doesn't it?

Title: "Old Homestead"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#778. Behind Bars

2011-11-10T22:29:00.000-06:00

Taken last Saturday at the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas.

Title: "Behind Bars"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#777. The Idle Noose

2011-11-07T21:54:00.000-06:00

Taken this past Saturday. Another shot from the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas.

Title: "The Idle Noose"

Camera / lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#776. Records of Misdeeds

2011-11-06T22:02:00.000-06:00

Taken this past Saturday at the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas. I suspect that if you tried to handle these old record books now the pages would turn to dust in your hands. Probably no one who ever spent a night in the drunk tank in this old jail is still alive but if they are, and if this is the only record of their visit, there secret is surely safe. :-)

Title: "Records of Misdeeds"

Camera / lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#775. Bastrop Fires #3

2011-11-04T05:59:00.000-05:00

More of the devastated Forrest around Bastrop, Texas taken a few weeks ago.

Title: "Bastrop Fires #3"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin > textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#774. I. M. Back

2011-10-31T20:28:00.001-05:00

Taken tonight in Houston, Texas. Happy Halloween!

Title: "I. M. Back"

Shot data: 0.80s f/5.6 at 380.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#773. Room Sized Printer

2011-10-29T16:36:00.000-05:00

This is a Linotype typesetting machine found at The Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History Museum in Gonzales, Texas. It looks to me like a machine that Rube Goldberg might have invented.

Title: "Room Sized Printer"

#772. Painted Face

2011-10-26T21:12:00.000-05:00

Surrounded by the effects of drought followed by fire you might think that even the smile painted onto this Bastrop water tower would turn upside down...but he (a water tower is a "he" right) remains undaunted. Normally these trees would all be green but the heat caused by wildfires burning rapidly through the underbrush killed them and left them as golden as the setting sun shining on the smiling watcher.

Title: "Painted Face"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#771. The Edythe Bates Old Chapel

2011-10-24T20:53:00.000-05:00

Taken two weekends ago at Festival Hill in Round Top, Texas.

Title: "The Edythe Bates Old Chapel"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 plugin

#770. The Not So Private Privy

2011-10-23T18:58:00.000-05:00

Taken at the Austin County Jail Museum in Bellville, Texas last weekend. Which is worse, losing your freedom or your privacy? Guests in this place would lose both.

Title: "The Not So Private Privy"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#769. Old Fashioned Incarceration

2011-10-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

I had an opportunity to grab a few photos at the Austin County Jail Museum last weekend as we drove through Bellville, Texas.

Title: "Old Fashioned Incarceration"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#768. Courtyard at The Edythe Bates Old Chapel

2011-10-21T21:17:00.000-05:00

Taken last weekend at Festival Hill in Round Top, Texas. While walking around the grounds at Festival Hill I stumbled into this scene; a courtyard that to me looked as if it might be more appropriately located somewhere in Europe.

Title: "Courtyard at The Edythe Bates Old Chapel"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into to one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#767. Concert Hall at Festival Hill

2011-10-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

We drove up to Round Top, Texas yesterday for a cello concert at Festival Hill. Even though the concert hall building looks really nice from the outside I wasn't prepared for this level of grandeur at a facility located in such a small town (less than 300 residents)!

Title: "Concert Hall at Festival Hill"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#766. The Old Bridge

2011-10-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

This particular old bridge, located near Ammansville, Texas, was closed when we came upon it a few weeks ago, blocked to vehicular traffic from one end by a felled tree and from the other by a large pile of gravel. I guess after more than a century of service (signage dates it to 1884) the county finally deemed it to be unsafe. Kind of makes me wonder if it was really OK the last time we drove across it a couple of years ago?

Title: "The Old Bridge"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2

#765. Inside the Olle Hotel

2011-10-11T22:18:00.000-05:00

Taken in the Olle Hotel in Flatonia, Texas. A wonderful place to stay if your in the area.

Title: "Inside the Olle Hotel"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine there exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#764. Fairy Tale Home

2011-10-09T19:26:00.001-05:00

Not sure exactly why ;-) but this house caught my attention a couple of weeks ago when traveling through Smithville, Texas.

Title: "Fairy Tail Home"

#763. The Olle

2011-10-05T23:10:00.004-05:00

If you're ever looking for a very nice place to stay in Flatonia, TX you can't go wrong with The Olle Hotel. We stayed there for a few nights two weeks ago and can highly recommend it.
Title: "The Olle"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > NIK Viveza 2 plugin

#762. A Prayer for Rain

2011-10-02T19:46:00.000-05:00

Taken this last weekend at St. John the Baptist Church in Ammansville, Tx. Ammansville is pretty much in the middle of the tinderbox created by the current drought in central Texas.

Title: "A Prayer for Rain"

Shot data: 1/40s f/1.4 at 50.0mm iso100
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 50mm f1.4 prime
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#761. Everything in its Own Time

2011-10-01T18:06:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend behind a church in Cistern, Texas.

Title: "Everything in its Own Time"

Shot data: 1/6667s f/2.0 at 50.0mm iso100
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 50mm f1.4 prime
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#760. Twice Burned

2011-09-30T22:05:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend. One of the shells of the homes destroyed in wildfires around the Bastrop, Texas area.

Title: "Twice Burned"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#759. Muldoon

2011-09-29T19:43:00.000-05:00

While driving around this past weekend I spotted this scene in Muldoon, TX. For every big city in Texas we have a million of small towns like Muldoon. The building on the right is the courthouse.

Title: "Muldoon"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to create an HDR image from three exposures > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Textures from flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#758. Bastrop Fires #2

2011-09-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

Continuing with shots from Bastrop, Texas this past weekend.

Title: "Bastrop Fires #2"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105 L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin > textures by flypapertextures.blogspot.com

#757. Bastrop Fires #1

2011-09-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

Just back from a trip around Central Texas over the last three days. Everywhere we went we saw evidence of the stress to the environment caused by the current drought affecting much of Texas. The area around the town of Bastrop was particularly hard hit by forest fires a couple of weeks ago. It is shocking to see the path of destruction left by these fires.

Title: "Bastrop Fires #1"

#756. Taffy Puller

2011-09-21T19:24:00.000-05:00

Taken at LaKing's Confectionery in Galveston, Texas. "Pulling" is a key part of making taffy. This looks to be a difficult job if done by hand; luckily LaKing's pulling machine survived hurricane Ike.

Title: "Taffy Puller"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#755. LaKing's Too

2011-09-18T13:45:00.000-05:00

Inside LaKing's Confectionery in Galveston, Texas.

Title: "LaKing's Too"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one High Dynamic Range (HDR) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#754. Inside LaKing's

2011-09-14T20:34:00.000-05:00

A from inside LaKing's Confectionery on The Strand in Galveston, Texas.

Title: "Inside LaKing's"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2

#753. Taffy #5 and #6

2011-09-12T20:21:00.000-05:00

Back to LaKing's on The Strand in Galveston, Texas.

Title: "Taffy #5"

Title: "Taffy #6"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom

#752. Candy and the Candy Man

2011-09-11T19:04:00.000-05:00

Another shot from Galveston a couple of weekends ago. This on is at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Title: "Candy and the Candy Man"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Shot data: 1/640s f/2.8 at 15.0mm iso800
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#751. Taffy 4

2011-09-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my Taffy shots from last weekend's trip down to Galveston.

Title: "Taffy 4"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom
Shot data: 1/40s f/4.0 at 35.0mm iso1000

#750. Taffy #1, #2, #3

2011-09-06T06:18:00.000-05:00

Taken yesterday at LaKing's Confectionery located at 2323 Strand
Galveston, TX 77550. If your on The Strand with some time to kill I suggest you stop by and see if you're lucky enough to see salt water taffy being produced by LaKing's candy makers.

Title: "Taffy #1"

Title: "Taffy #2"

Title: "Taffy #3"

#749. Rock Art Too

2011-08-31T18:48:00.000-05:00

From a couple of weekends ago. Another shot of the public art display created from rocks along the Galveston sea wall.

Title: "Rock Art Too"

#748. At Rest

2011-08-29T19:59:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend. Some oak barrels at Haak Winery in Santa Fe, Texas.

Title: "At Rest"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex2

#747. The Great Benini

2011-08-28T16:35:00.001-05:00

#Taken a few weekends ago at the Benini Sculpture Ranch in Johnson City, Texas. "The Great Benini" is not a self portrait but rather a creation by artist Jonas Perkins. From the Sculpture Ranch web page:

About his massive Luminary Sculpture Mosaic, The Great Benini, Jonas says:
In homage to my friend, my monolith artist emerges from the earth, seeing our world for the first time. Exploring, he is still part of the earth—not yet of our world. Looking at The Great Benini, spectators imagine the rest of him that is yet to emerge into our sight. The sun and moon reflect in The Great Benini luminary, attracting galaxies of artists on earth—just as gravity attracts planets to large celestial bodies.

Title: "The Great Benini"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex 2

#746. Eagle Chief

2011-08-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

Taken this morning at Texas Swing in Alvin, Texas.

Title: "Eagle Chief"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Viveza 2 plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin > texture from Flypapertextures.com

#745. Big Red

2011-08-25T22:19:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend on Galveston Island.

Title: "Big Red"

Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#744. Rock Art

2011-08-22T18:17:00.001-05:00

Taken this past weekend on the seawall in Galveston, Texas. Apparently some local artists got creative with rocks used for rip rap on the seawall. I first spotted the rock art on Friday. I took some images on Saturday morning. I went back on Sunday for one last look and the majority of the sculptures have been knocked over! Seems like there's always someone ready to destroy what someone else has built.

Title: "Rock Art"

#743. St. Mary's Jesus (Rollover)

2011-08-21T13:17:00.004-05:00

Taken a couple of weekends ago at St. Mary's Catholic Church in High Hill, Texas. I've taken the same shot before but couldn't pass up a chance to try and do it better if I could. The shot is took in 2008 can be viewed by holding your cursor over this image for a few seconds.

#743. "St. Mary's Jesus"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dyanamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2

#742. Wimberley Cafe

2011-08-17T21:25:00.000-05:00

Taken in the early morning a couple of weekends ago in Wimberley, Texas.

Title: "The Wimberley Cafe"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to convert 3 exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex 2 plugin

#741. St. Mary's Confessional

2011-08-12T23:26:00.000-05:00

Taken last weekend at St. Mary's Catholic Church in High Hill, Texas.

Title: "St. Mary's Confessional"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#740. Red Cross

2011-08-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend at the Benini Sculpture Ranch in Johnson City, Texas. This particular piece of art is by Bobby Hamric.

Title: "Red Cross"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#739. The Bull Pen

2011-08-07T20:16:00.000-05:00

Taken Saturday morning at Veterans Park Arena in Wimberley, Texas.

Title: "The Bull Pen"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range)image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#738. Galveston Bay from Seabrook

2011-08-04T21:54:00.002-05:00

Taken this evening in Seabrook, Texas. Quick practice shot with my new ND filter. I already discovered that the filter, while effectively giving me longer shutter speeds to smooth out the water, doesn't do anything to help hold the camera still. I'll need some practice at minimizing camera shake from my tripod.

Title: "Galveston Bay from Seabrook"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105 L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > NIK Silber EFEX Pro 2

#737. Lunar Transportation

2011-08-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend at Space Center Houston at Johnson Space Center.

Title: "Lunar Transportation"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range)image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#736. Tranquility

2011-07-30T11:48:00.000-05:00

Taken in Fulton, Texas this past June. I saw this tranquil and timeless scene as I drove along Fulton Beach Road and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2's preset for Antique Plate seemed to be a perfect fit.

Title: Tranquility

Shot data: 1/256s f/6.4 at 96.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105 L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

#735. Bayou Building

2011-07-27T20:57:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend on the campus of the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Title: "Bayou Building"

#734. State National

2011-07-25T21:28:00.000-05:00

The State National building in downtown Houston.

Title: "State National"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into on HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#733. Crosswalks

2011-07-25T06:04:00.000-05:00

Taken in downtown Houston near Buffalo Bayou.

Title: "Crosswalks"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposuers (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#732. Somewhere in Time

2011-07-23T14:48:00.000-05:00

Taken last weekend in downtown Houston's Sam Houston Park.

Title: "Somewhere in Time"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#731. Almost Home

2011-07-19T21:39:00.000-05:00

Another shot from this past weekend's trip to downtown Houston.

Title: "Almost Home"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#730. Seven Wonders

2011-07-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

Taken this past weekend in Downtown Houston. Seven Wonders by Mel Chin behind the Wortham Center overlooking Buffalo Bayou's Sesquicentennial Park.

Title: "Seven Wonders"

#729. Wild Horses

2011-07-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

Taken a few weeks ago at the Kemah Boardwalk.

Title: "Wild Horses"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#728. Sunset Pathway

2011-07-13T21:42:00.000-05:00

Beautiful sunset tonight! Kind of surreal so I pushed it that way with my post processing.

Taken at Bay Area Park a little over an hour ago.

Title: "Sunset Pathway"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#727. Balcony Dining

2011-07-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

Here's another shot of the Port A Beach Resort in Port Aransas, Texas.

Title: "Balcony Dining"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photmatix Pro > Adobe Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#726. In Memoriam

2011-07-07T06:53:00.001-05:00

I love this family portrait originally taken and posted back in November of 2009. I'm re-posting it today in honor of Grandma T who passed on to a better place this morning after 98 years full of life.

Title: "Three Generations Pano"

#725. A View from Endeavor"

2011-07-06T06:01:00.000-05:00

A view from the Endeavor Condos on Clear Lake. Taken July 4th as we waited for area fireworks to begin.

Title: "A View from Endeavor

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three images into a single HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#724. Table for Four

2011-06-30T22:12:00.000-05:00

Last of my series from Cheryl's restaurant in Fulton, Texas.

Title: "Table for Four"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three images (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#732. Port A Beach Lodge

2011-06-28T22:02:00.000-05:00

Taken in Port Aransas, Texas a couple of weeks ago. One of the owners of this hotel saw a photo I posted of Cherly's Restaurant in Rockport, Texas back in March and invited me to come take some photos of his place, Port A Beach Lodge, next time I was in the area. I like all the angles of the architecture of the place which is located just behind the dune line of the beach.

Title: "Port A Beach Lodge"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

#731. The Little Things

2011-06-27T21:45:00.000-05:00

Another shot from Cheryl's in Fulton, Texas.

Title: "The Little Things"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye lens
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#730. Green Lantern's Light

2011-06-25T20:48:00.000-05:00

Taken last week in Fulton, Texas.

Title: "Green Lantern's Light"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24/105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) Image > Topaz Adjust plugin

#729. Focal Point

2011-06-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

Next in the "Cheryl's" series. This was the corner nearest the table we ate at. Cheryl said this was her favorite painting in her restaurant and I think I agree. I kind of fond of the lamp too! :-)

Title: "Focal Point"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#728. Table for Six

2011-06-22T21:53:00.000-05:00

Continuing with photos taken last week at Cheryl's in Fulton, Texas.

Title: "Table for Six"

#727. Cheryl's Hats

2011-06-21T20:16:00.001-05:00

Turns out Cheryl's Restaurant in Fulton, Texas is not only a place to get a great meal but also a great place to pick up a fine hat!

Title: "Cheryl's Hats"

#726. Fisheye Fish

2011-06-20T21:52:00.001-05:00

Another shot from Cheryl's in Fulton, Texas.

Title: "Fisheye Fish"

#725. Bedouin Room

2011-06-19T18:35:00.001-05:00

Taken Thursday night at Cheryl's restaurant in Fulton, Texas. You will get a good idea about how wonderfully appointed Cheryl's is after I finish posting this series of photos but you'll have to take my word about how great the food there is! :-) It's the best dining experience I've found so far in the Fulton / Rockport area!

Title: "Bedouin Room at Cheryl's"

#724. Texas Milo Field

2011-06-18T22:08:00.005-05:00

Taken Thursday in, or near, Tivoli, Texas on the way to Fulton from Goliad, Texas. To my untrained eye these corn plants look pretty healthy. Either the Tivoli area hasn't had quite the drought conditions Houston has had or I just don't know corn. :-)

Update: Turns out I don't know corn at all! :-) WJ provided the explanation that this is actually Milo! Thanks WJ!

Title: "Texas Milo Field"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one High Dynamic Range (HDR) image > Photoshop CS 4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#723. Passengers Allowed

2011-06-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Taken at the Railroad Museum in Galveston, Texas a couple of weekends ago.

Title: "Passengers Allowed"

Camera / lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one High Dynamic Range (HDR) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza 2 plugin

#722. Jolly Roger

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Taken at a miniature golf course in Jamaica Beach a couple of weekends ago.

Title: "Jolly Roger"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

#721. Sarah Seeking Paul

2011-06-15T11:03:00.003-05:00

Taken this past Saturday morning in Seabrook, Texas.

Title: "Sarah Seeking Paul"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D MarkII / Canon 15mm Fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, 2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image, Photoshop CS4, Topaz Adjust plugin

#720. Girl of Many Pots

2011-06-13T15:23:00.003-05:00

Taken this morning in League City, Texas.

Title: "Girl Of Many Pots"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > NIk Viveza plugin

#719. Dozer

2011-06-11T06:42:00.003-05:00

Taken last weekend. One of the life-sized statues situated in the Galveston Railroad Museum depot.

Title: "Dozer"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Caonon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#718. Watch Your Step

2011-06-09T21:24:00.003-05:00

Taken this past weekend at the Railroad museum in Galveston, Texas.

Title: "Watch Your Step"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#717. Old Trucks

2011-06-08T05:59:00.003-05:00

Taken this past weekend in Hitchcock, Texas. Just one of those scenes that are irresistible to photographers. :-)

Title: "Old Trucks"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to merge three exposures into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin > Nik Viveza plugin

#716. Mail Car

2011-06-05T15:17:00.003-05:00

We've been down in Galveston since Thursday night so I haven't posted for a few days. One of my stops was the Galveston Railroad Museum. This is my first time back to the museum since hurricane Ike. The museum has only been re-opened for a few months. They had a lot of damage throughout the museum depot (7 to 9 feet of water damage), miniature train room (completely destroyed and no longer part of the museum) and to the actual locomotives and rail cars on display (requiring many to need to be re-restored). The mail car I'm showing today is one of my favorites.

Title: "Mail Car"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II > Canon 15mm fisheye
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three exposures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dyanmic Range) photo > Phtotshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin

#715. Ticket Takers

2011-05-31T19:18:00.004-05:00

Another shot taken yesterday morning at Kemah Boardwalk. It's a little early for Halloween but these folks at the Boardwalk are very patient. :-)

Title: "Ticket Takers"

Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photomatix Pro to combine three explosures (-2, 0, +2) into one HDR (High Dynamic Range) image > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin (exposure color stretch preset)