This image started life as a shot of ornaments in a store window. I used the Polar Coordinates filter in Photoshop to get the effect you see here. In episode 32 of Pixelicious I have a video tutorial that shows how to duplicate the effect. To view the episode, click here: Pixelicious-Episode 32.

Flowers dappled with dew or raindrops are interesting subjects. This image was captured during a photo walk. A tropical storm was racing across Florida, but we decided to proceed anyway. This iamge was captured with a Tamron 28-300mm lens. The photo was taken a few minutes after a squall passed. During the squall the participants in the photo walk sought shelter under a bridge.

Add one part tropical landscape and one part Lensbaby, and you get a dreamy landscape. This image was captured with an Original Lensbaby with the f/4.0 aperture insert. The image was tweaked in Lightroom 2 using split-toning. I also added clarity, vibrance and saturation.

No matter what side of the political fence you’re on, it’s good to laugh in these troubled times. Comedienne Tina Fey does a great job of portraying Sarah Palin.

Hollis Gardens is a lovely park in Lakeland with water features and flowers. I’ve photographed models there, and also go there to capture images of flowers. This afternoon, I needed a breath of fresh air, so I visited Hollis Gardens armed with my Lensbaby. The following images were captured with the Original Lensbaby using the f/4.0 aperture insert.

I’m in the process of looking for a new home. I started my search in Bradenton, Florida, which is just north of Sarasota. I’m looking in this area because I used to live in Sarasota, and enjoyed the time I spent there. After looking at several homes with a realtor, I drove into downtown Bradenton and found my way to the Manatee River. The sun was sinking below the horizon. These are two of my favorite shots from the marina. The second image was captured with my Original Lensbaby with the f/4 aperture insert. The RAW images were processed in Lightroom. I used split toning to make the images pop.

I’m an avid reader, and an author. So it’s only natural that I have a fascination with words. I love the way John Lennon (A.K.A. Dr. Winston O’Boogie) twisted the English language with his short stories. The man was brilliant. I wish he was still here.

Recently I learned about a site where you could create art with your words. The site is called Wordle. With Wordle, you can paste words into a text field, and generate Word Art if you will. You can also enter the link to a site with an RSS field to create unique art using the words from the site. You can modify the font, layout colors, the manner in which the words are arranged and so on. Here are two unique Wordle images, one created with the words from this blog, and the other with words from my podcast, Pixelicious.

I surf the Net for inspiration and new techniques. I found one technique that changed a nice photo into something abstract. To view a video tutorial showing how to use the technique and convert the steps into an action, click the following link:
Pixelicious Podcast: Episode 32.

The latest technology taunts photographers with more megapixels, anti-dust technology, live-view, and so on. Pentax, Nikon, and Sony have been upping the ante for about a year. Now Canon’s joined the fray with an updated EOS 5D. The new Canon EOS 5D MKll features integrated sensor cleaning, 21-megapixel captures, live-view, a 3-inch monitor, and much more. I own the first iteration of the 5D. Do I want its big brother? You betcha. I’m sure a lot of other photographers who own the EOS 5D feel the same way. So what do you do when you’re on a budget and can’t afford or don’t want to keep your trusty two-year old EOS 5D, or for that matter, any piece of old gear that you’ve replaced? Can you say eBay?

When my trusty Minolta 35mm camera died, I grudgingly made the switch to digital. After researching what was on the market, I decided to purchase a Canon EOS 10D and bought a couple of EF lenses. I was very happy with the camera except for the amount of time it took the camera to power on. Then along came the EOS 20D. When I read the spec sheet and noticed the start up time had been reduced, I wanted one. So I shopped for the best deal I could find and bought one. But I couldn’t afford and didn’t need two digital SLR bodies. I put the 10D up for auction on eBay. A week later, the camera sold for seventy percent of what I paid for it. Not bad considering I’d used the camera for a year.

I grew to love the 20D. It was a great camera, took sharp pictures, and the camera powered up almost instantly. But I shoot landscapes. Therefore I use a wide angle focal lengths a lot. The Focal Length Multiplier for the 20D is 1.6, which means a 20mm wide angle lens acts like a 32mm lens on the 20D. Almost a year after I purchased the 20D, Canon introduced the 5D, which has a full-frame sensor; no focal length multiplier. I wanted one in the worst way, but balked at spending that much money. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted one. Finally I succumbed to my desire, found the best deal from a reputable online camera store and bought one. I put my 20D up for auction the Saturday after my 5D was delivered. Again I recouped almost seventy percent of my investment after using the camera for a year. It was amazing to watch interested bidders battle each other, driving the selling price of the camera higher and higher. eBay’s is the busiest online auction site; a great place to sell photo gear you’re no longer using.

Now I’m in a quandary. I want the new 5D MKll and I also want to keep my trusty 5D as a backup camera when I shoot weddings. It would also be useful to shoot events with two cameras with different lenses mounted. Even though the list price of the 5D MKll is about $700 less than the original 5D, the economy and sky-rocketing gas prices is causing most Americans — including me — to become very frugal. But the new 5D won’t be available until November. That gives me two and a half months to come up with the money. You can bet I’ll be putting the gear I don’t use frequently up for auction on eBay. My goal is to sell enough to pay cash for the new 5D MKll when it’s available. In fact, I’m putting one lens up for auction on Sunday.

Hurricane Ike sapped most of the moisture out of Florida. In spite of that, there were still enough clouds for a colorful sunset. In Lightroom, I used the Graduated Filter tool to decrease the exposure of the sky by about 1 stop, and pump up the blue color. My grandfather used to call a sunset like this, Sky Blue Pink.