Dike Birds

This seascape was taken at the Texas City Dike in Texas City Texas on a BAPC photo field trip earlier this year. The dike was constructed in 1935 by the Army Corp of Engineers and extends into the Bay for about six miles. It has long been a favorite recreational venue for area residents to fish, swim, and boat. It was constructed of large blocks of tumbled granite with a paved road on top and featured [before hurricane Ike] several bait shops, fishing piers, shrimp boat docks, boat ramps, sandy beach areas, and picnic areas. Unfortunately the dike was all but wiped clean by Hurricane Ike which recently devastated the Texas Gulf Coast.

Tech: Oly E-3, 50-200 Zuiko lens w/1.4 Tele Converter @ 283mm, f11@1/640 and ISO 1250 Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Copy Lower Third to New Level and Scale for More Pleasing Crop>Merge Visible Layers>Levels>Curves

Cool Cat

This shot from the City of Baytown Christmas Parade last Friday night proves that “the coolest dudes are in the horn section.” When this guy came by the crowd there was no doubt that from the swagger to the glasses he “had it all goin’ on!”

Tech: Oly E-3 f5.0 & 1/125 @ ISO 1000, Zuiko 12-60 @ 60mm, Flash fired in Auto Mode Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Crop>Curves>Levels>Layer Merge w/Mask to Highlight Instruments>Hue/Saturation Layer> Merge Visible Layers in Luminosity Mode>Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer

Baytown Christmas Parade

Baytown held its annual Christmas Parade on Friday night and my wife and I braved the cold [for Texas anyway – about 45 degrees] for a couple of hours. I had hoped to come up with some “Holiday” shots for my photo clubs upcoming assignment on that topic, but didn’t really end up with anything out of the 140 shots I took that rose to that level. I did get a few I ended up liking that I will try to post here over the next few days. The balance fell short not only due to the usual technical issues I struggle with in limited light shooting, but also with other issues. The old downtown Texas Avenue venue often appears more run-down than quaint and gets worse all the time in spite of the city father’s efforts to save it. The crowd seemed festive enough but seemed to lack the right photogenic elements, and many of the parade participants could have been marching in any parade [e.g.: low-rider car clubs and karate clubs.] But then again that’s small town parades for you. I have no doubt that other photographers might have captured far better moments from the same spot I was standing.

Tech: Oly E-3 f4 & 1/60 @ ISO 1600 +1EV, Zuiko 12-60 @ 20mm, Flash fired in auto mode Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Crop>High Pass Sharpen>Curves>Levels>Topaz Adjust Noise Reduction, Topaz Adjust “Simplify” Preset>Crop>Lens Distort Vignette

Guitar Highway

I took advantage of this local highway project just before opening to stage this scene. It was part of an effort to fulfill an assignment for my photography club of “still life.”

Tech: Oly E-3 f4.5 & 1/60 @ ISO 1600, 60mm Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Curves>Mask Sheet Music to Minimize Hot Spot>Brightness Layer, Merge visible>Topaz Adjust Simplify>Lens Correction Distort

Father of the Bride

Back in October of this year my cousin Rick and his fiancé exchanged vows at an outdoor twilight wedding in west Houston. This shot of the bride and her dad was taken looking back over my shoulder from an isle seat near the front. I used my Oly E-3 and FL56R on camera accessory flash in TTL mode to capture the moment through my 12-60 Zuiko lens at the full 60mm focal length.

Tech: f7.1 & 1/125 @ ISO 800, flash fired Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Curves> Topaz Adjust Simplify

Mohawk Kid

This photo is taken at a family reunion in Sweeny, TX last June. It’s a distant cousin’s child so I not even sure of his name. One thing is for sure though this Mohawk-headed child was large and in charge at the reunion! Seemed like a natural to photograph with my E-3. I like the exposure in the shade of some large oak trees. Hope you like the photo.

Tech: Oly E-3 w/ 12-60 zoom, f7.1 & 1/160 @ ISO 1250, 55mm Post Processing: Duplicate Background>Curves>High Pass Sharpen>Topaz Simplify>Lens Distort>Vignette

Goat in a Tight Spot

I think this shot tells a story! And the moral of the story is that although the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence – it ain’t always easy to get to! Shot along side of a country road in Kerrville County this goat was captured [no pun intended] with a Panasonic Lumix Superzoom @ f4.5 an 1/640 at ISO100 and a 90mm focal length. If I had it to do over again I’d of used more of the 12X zoom capability of the camera instead of cropping about 50% to the shot you see here.

Post Processing: Crop>Duplicate Background in Overlay Mode>Merge to New Layer>High Pass Sharpen>Virtual Photographer Radiant Preset>Distort Lens Correction Vignette