It’s taken me a while (sorry – I’ve been to busy shooting pics and post processing not to mention raising a two year old boy and working …
It’s taken me a while (sorry – I’ve been to busy shooting pics and post processing not to mention raising a two year old boy and working a boring day job) but anyway, what a surprise to get shortlisted for Unleashed 07 – THANK YOU!!! to all who voted for my Polar Bear picture. It is my most popular and easily my luckiest ever shot. Getting shots of polar bears at Sea World is near impossilbe without getting silhouettes of other people pressed up against the glass trying to get pictures as well. With this one, another bear was on the other side of the enclosure keeping the tourists happy. I started to walk out in frustration as I was unable to get a clear shot. As I was walking out the one in the photo eyeballed me from the top of the rocks and it just dived in directly at me. By a stroke of luck I still had my camera switched on and all set up for a low light shot and even luckier was the fact that my autofocus locked onto its head. Just one of those shots where everything came together perfectly. I think 80% credit should go to the bear though : )
Greetings, First of all thank you to all who favourited my photo ‘Polar Bear Dive’ to see it shortlisted and then go on to be a winner…
Greetings, First of all thank you to all who favourited my photo ‘Polar Bear Dive’ to see it shortlisted and then go on to be a winner. I am still blown away that it was one of the winners. I also have a favour for anyone who is attending tonight’s opening. I was just wondering if someone could take a photo of my artwork up on the wall of the gallery and send a copy to my email address – snelvis@iinet.net.au I have never had anything up on a gallery wall and unable to make it down to Melbourne from Newcastle so if anyone could help me out with this request, it would be greatly appreciated. Preferably with lots of people standing around my photo…just kidding : ) Cheers, / Mark
What a Merry Christmas! Just logged on to find one of my polar images Polar Bear Cubs...
What a Merry Christmas! Just logged on to find one of my polar images Polar Bear Cubs on the front page, I thought I had used up all my front page luck! / / A BIG thank you to everyone who has commented on my work and watchlisted me, and another big thanks to all at RB! / / So here it is if you have not already seen this one have a closer look and click on the image! / / Polar Bear Cubs / / / Thanks / Steve :-)
Selecting a Source Photo for Your Planet When selecting a photo to start with you should keep the following things in mind: P…
Selecting a Source Photo for Your Planet When selecting a photo to start with you should keep the following things in mind: Panoramas or landscapes cropped to have an aspect ratio at least 2:1 (the width should be at least two times the height) work best. Wider photos are better. The bottom area (bottom 25% or so) of your photo should have very little detail (e.g. sand, asphalt, water). This area will become the center of your planet and will be distorted the most. The upper area (upper 25%) of your photo should also be light on detail– preferably just one color (e.g. blue sky, night sky etc.) The left and the right edges of your photo should match, or come close to matching, each other. (Always the case for a stitched 360 degree panorama.) The horizon must be exactly horizontal. Since the left and right edges of your photo will be joined, if they are at different heights your planet will have a big crack in the surface. (Again, a non-issue for a properly executed 360 degree panorama.) We’re going to go through two examples: the first uses a simple panorama, the second a landscape shot that we’ll crop before proceeding. / Starting Simple: Planet San Francisco It’s simplest to work with a 360 degree panorama, so let’s start with this panorama shot of San Francisco taken from the Coit Tower: Step 1: Resize and Rotate screenshot1_thumb.jpgThe first thing we need to do is prepare the image for the Polar filter. We do this by stretching the height of the image so that the image is a perfect square. Select Image>Image Size from the menus. Uncheck ‘Constrain Proporties’ and set the “height” to the same value as your “width”. Next, rotate the image 180 degrees. (Image>Rotate Canvas>180) You should end up with something like the image to the right. / Step 2: Apply the Polar Filter Next, we’ll apply the Polar Filter to wrap our image into a sphere. Choose Filter > Distort > Polar Coordinates from the menus and in the resulting dialog box, select the “Rectangular to Polar” setting. (If you’re using The Gimp the command is Filters > Distorts > Polar Coords.) As you can see we’re 90% of the way there!: Planet San Francisco, almost complete! Easy cheesy, right? Now for some finishing touches… / Step 3: Rotate and clean up The rest is just a little digital darkroom work: Rotate the planet to your liking, adjust the contrast and colors, clean up the sky and the edges where the left and right border of the image came together. (The clone stamp and healing brush may be handy here.) That’s it, we’re done!
I was asked to clarify on a reference I made about using a polarizing filter. I’ve decided to share with a wider group. A polarizer is…
I was asked to clarify on a reference I made about using a polarizing filter. I’ve decided to share with a wider group. A polarizer is frequently considered the second most popular filter, behind the UV or skylight filter. It has several uses: / 1. Reduce or eliminate glare or reflection on glass, water, painted or laquered surfaces such as glazed pottery and shiny doors, shiny plastic, stone or any other surface. It can make windows more transparent, remove shine from leaves and grass, reduce sheen on wet surfaces. It will NOT remove reflection or glare from metal surfaces or mirrors. / 2. It will make a dull sky more dramatic by deepening the blue. This will also bring out the detail in clouds and make them stand out more. It will also deepen the blue in a large body of water. / 3. Reduce contrast ratio between land and sky allowing for better exposure, as in a dark shadowy mountain against a light washed out sky. / 4. Reduce haze in landscapes, especially mountain landscapes. / 5. Improve color saturation. / 6. Make objects stand out from their surroundings. / 7. Clean up a background. User tips: / - The filter must be rotated to get the maximum impact and must be judged visually. Turn the filter until the reflection, glare, etc. is reduced as much as possible. / - Exposure usually needs to be increased 1-2 stops. / - The filter is least effective when the sun is highest. / - The light source has to be at the correct angle to the subject and camera viewpoint for the filters to work effectively. Some recommend that the sun be at a right angle to the camera. / - The wrong angle could darken the sky too much, even blacken. There are two kinds of polarizing filters: / 1. Linear – manual focus lens / 2. circular – autofocus lens / Most companies make filters that screw directly on to the lens. I am most familiar with the Cokin filter system where the filters fit into a filter holder that holds up to 4 filters and is screwed on to the lens with an adaptor ring. There are 2 systems for different lens diameters and camera format. Sources: Cokin Creative Filter System user manual; Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography – Bidner and Burden; Photography: The New Complete Guide To Taking Photographs – Freeman; The New Manual of Photographhy – Hedgecoe. I’ve realized while gathering this information that I don’t use my polarizing filter as much as I should. Thank you to Jenson for the nudge!
Hello all (as if the entire free world and some parts of China is reading this….). I just wanted to let EVERYONE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE…
Hello all (as if the entire free world and some parts of China is reading this….). I just wanted to let EVERYONE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE know I won another 1st place in a radio station photography contest. Woo hoo! And this time it really is a WOO HOO because the prizes are SHARP and I’ll have as much fun giving them away as I had earning them. :-) The winning image was of the hummingbird family I took some time ago, one of the first shots as a DSLR photographer. What made this one doubly special is that it was a win with well over 100 other entries in the same competition. And the other thing is a bit more personal. I suffered a severe terror attack because of my bi-polar illness this week. I wasn’t kept in the hospital but I was forced onto a backboard and tied there for at least 3 hours while ER staff tried to figure out what was wrong with me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to communicate the location or name of my doctor until well into the testing so it was a rather traumatic experience physically. But the bruises and scrapes will heal and my mind as already adjusted thanks to an emergency usage of a drug to make me forget what was happening and the immediate past. I remember nothing to feed any fear or repetition. I am OK and my PhD was very happy I was taking it all so well, tho I am still stressed enough to be off work for a while until that’s under control and the work environment that caused this incident is improved. I should be back online often this week as I will be staying home and probably up at all hours of the day and night. LOL! For those of you who knew and offered support, I deeply thank you. And for everyone else, fear not for I am a survivor and I will cope with Artist’s Disease successfully and with respect for its issues. Bless you all and be well! / Lenny
As some of you know, I am bi-polar and live with it pretty much under control thru a “cocktail” of wonderful new medications. However, I…
As some of you know, I am bi-polar and live with it pretty much under control thru a “cocktail” of wonderful new medications. However, I suffered the worst setback of my life two Thursdays ago when stress drove my illness into a panic that had paramedics and police pulling me screaming and fighting to get away from under a table – at my job. Needless to say, this wasn’t the most satisfactory way to find out about stress causing something like this to happen but it was all new to me. Also knew to me is the fact that I qualify for having a chronic disability by being bi-polar. While there are far too many crummy stories in the history of my living with the illness, there are so few now that I felt stable for the first time in my life, until stress took that overconfidence away rather abruptly. That’s what I get for being cocky. LOL! But as you can see, I’m back to my usual self and most people (especially here) were never affected by the unpleasant knowledge of my recent sickness. For those who knew, I thank you once again for all your support and I should be back at work this Tuesday with significant changes in both myself and my employer to help prevent things like my unfortunate incident from happening again. In a story related to this, I’d like to share an article from Newsweek magazine about the illness and a family’s struggles. If you’re interested at all in this disease, please read the article and learn more about it. Maybe you know someone who can benefit from what you will then know. Be well, all. / Lenny PS Aside from the bruises and a small cut, the Rancho Cordova Police Department handled me with enormous care. Given that I 6’1”, 200 pounds, and trained in martial arts while struggling to get away, they had their hands full without using Mace, stun guns, or even excessive force. How they did that will remain a mystery to me. LOL!
i’m sorry for writing so many journals lately…i don’t like to hog your activity monitors but i enjoy feedback, and it’s great to share …
i’m sorry for writing so many journals lately…i don’t like to hog your activity monitors but i enjoy feedback, and it’s great to share photography-related stuff with someone who doesn’t look at me like i’m speaking another language when i talk about camera equipment. :) oh, first of all, i have a picture up for a little contest: would you terribly mind going and voting for it? the website seems to be mostly funny shots of dogs and kids, so i wondered if my nuns-buying-lingerie would have a chance. they put it up as the first one though. i get like $50 if i win. :) / See the voting list here – my image is called ‘Translation Not Necessary’ anyways, i am just really excited about a couple of new things i have gotten in the last month or so. i was given for my birthday: a Hoya R72 (near-)infrared filter, a Hoya .4 ND filter (or whatever is the mid-strength version), and today as we were casually shopping at Circuit City, my wonderful boyfriend bought me the circular polarizing filter i’d spent the day looking at. we just happened to see it as i took my customary stroll through the camera-accesories isle, and i am almost giddy with excitement to put all of these to good use. not all at once of course, but i will be doing a lot of traveling this summer and hopefully seeing a lot of amazing landscapes, both mountains and seasides. i am incredibly excited about all the opportunities available in my own little midwestern town as well, and have been very encouraged and inspired by a lot of art i’ve seen here. the wonderful photographer Simon Gladwin has given me some excellent tips and direction in the area of my IR work. (so far i have not come up with anything Bubbleworthy – it’s been really windy here and longer exposures have NOT been doing well.) if anyone has any tips they would like to share regarding usage of any of these three filters, feel free to post them here! otherwise, i appreciate your readership – and your taking the time to check out Simon’s work if you haven’t already. Nikki
IF YOU SEE I’M MISSING SOMTHING PLEASE / LET ME KNOW AND I WILL CREATE IT T-SHIRTS , WILL BE POSTED NEXT WEEK *IF YOU WISH TO H…
IF YOU SEE I’M MISSING SOMTHING PLEASE / LET ME KNOW AND I WILL CREATE IT T-SHIRTS , WILL BE POSTED NEXT WEEK IF YOU WISH TO HAVE ANY ONE OF THIS / SERIES PERSONALIZED, CONTACT ME I Hope you will, Please Keep Me In Mind for your / Christmas Cards / Artwork / Tees / Children’s / Books / CoffeTable Artwork Books / and Photography Books for presents this year. / The Polar Bear Family Series is my / NEW Christmas Line for the season . / / YOUR ONE STOP CARD SHOP / SMUDGEART GALLERY / CLICK HERE / /
A BIG THANK YOU TO MY CLIENTS !!! I AM SO HAPPY AND HONORED YOU LIKE MY ARTWORK ! HAVE A WONDERFUL SEASON ! / *IT’S BEEN A GOOD …
A BIG THANK YOU TO MY CLIENTS !!! I AM SO HAPPY AND HONORED YOU LIKE MY ARTWORK ! HAVE A WONDERFUL SEASON ! / IT’S BEEN A GOOD START TO SELLING FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ! PRIVATE SALES THROUGH MY WEBSITE VIA REDBUBBLE TODAY 22 CARDS OF MY NEW SERIES “THE POLAR BEARS COLLECTION” ! Sales / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “SEASONS GREETINGS” / You sold a card of “SEASONS GREETINGS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “PEACE ON EARTH” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “ MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS DAD” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ MOTHER” / You sold a card of “ SEASONS GREETINGS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ MOTHER” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ FATHER” / You sold a card of “SEASONS GREETINGS” / You sold a card of “PEACE ON EARTH” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ FROM OUR FAMILY” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS – FROM US” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ FROM BOTH OF US” / You sold a card of “MERRY CHRISTMAS – FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS” / You sold a card of “ MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ BEST FRIENDS”
WooooooHooooooo! New Children’s book I just Published gets / ANOTHER SALE !!! / Please Follow this link to view / “*The Polar Bear Adve…
WooooooHooooooo! New Children’s book I just Published gets / ANOTHER SALE !!! / Please Follow this link to view / “The Polar Bear Adventure / / / THE POLAR BEAR ADVENTURE
Thank you Sally & The Bits and Pieces Group*...
Thank you Sally & The Bits and Pieces Group for featuring my artwork. It is so very much appreciated and a great honor to be featured in this awesome group . / The Featured Pieces Are: PEACE ON EARTH PEACE
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR THIS ARTWORK !!! Hello SmudgeArt! / CONGRATULATIONS! / We are excited to info…
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR THIS ARTWORK !!! Hello SmudgeArt! / CONGRATULATIONS! / We are excited to inform you that you are a WINNER!! You have won the 1st prize in the following competition: / Competition Name: Art Photo / Your winning photo: POLAR BEAR CUB /
MANY THANKS to CHERYL DUNNING / for buying my card of the polar bear. I really appreciate…
MANY THANKS to CHERYL DUNNING / for buying my card of the polar bear. I really appreciate it Cheryl and I’m glad you love this shot. Hugs, Teresa
/ / / *Just …
/ / / Just in case any of you are interested I will, over the next few weeks, be uploading some wildlife Christmas Cards. Below is a small sample of what is to come. / / / / / / Steve, / /
“Just love carrots!” was featured in the group Prize Challenges!! / !http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/backingcolor:white/product…
“Just love carrots!” was featured in the group Prize Challenges!! / “Sin” was featured in the group Bits and Pieces / I am very honored and grateful!
/ A HUGE thank you to …
/ A HUGE thank you to the Bits and Pieces Group for featuring my image Polar Bear, this group is a great group to be a part of with all the fantastic artists and Hosts. WooooooooHoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Winona aka redhawk
Zoo favourite one of the oldest bears on record Debby the polar bear dies ….... The world’s oldest living polar bear has died. / Deb…
Zoo favourite one of the oldest bears on record Debby the polar bear dies ….... The world’s oldest living polar bear has died. / Debby the polar bear was euthanized Monday after spending her final moments surrounded by zookeepers and veterinarians, the Assiniboine Park zoo announced. / The polar bear’s health had been declining for several months but zoo officials said she remained active and alert until Monday, when a clinical exam indicated multiple organ failure. Born in Russia in 1966, Debby arrived at Winnipeg’s zoo as an orphaned cub the following year. She spent most of her life with her mate Skipper, and together they produced six surviving offspring. When Debby was 41 years old, she earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest living polar bear. At 42, she was among the top three oldest bears ever recorded among all eight species of bears. / “Debby was without a doubt the most famous animal in the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s 104-year history,” said zoo co-ordinator Dr. Gordon Glover. “Her uncanny ability to strike magnificent and charming poses resulted in her being featured in countless photographs, films and media stories. She will be missed by millions of zoo visitors.” The public is invited to celebrate Debby’s life at a ceremony at the zoo’s Animal Tracks Cafe from noon to 1 p.m. this Saturday. MY ARTWORK TO CELEBRATE DEBBY’S LIFE .................. / By: Madeline M. Allen DEBBY – GO AWAY / DEBBY – TUNDRA / DEBBY – AURORA POLARIS / DEBBY – SPIRIT OF THE TUNDRA / DEBBY – WINDSWEPT SPIRITS / DEBBY – MIDNIGHT ON THE TUNDRA / :DEBBY – DREAM SPIRIT / DEBBY – SPIRIT HUNTERS / :DEBBY – MA MA BEAR / DEBBY – WINDSWEPT SPIRITS AQUA {SOLD TO DAWN DAVIES} / SMUDGEART GALLERY / CHRISTMAS CARDS*
I’m so thrilled today. My sincere thanks to two groups Redfield Plugins and Alphabet Soup for featuring my favorite image “The Spirit…
I’m so thrilled today. My sincere thanks to two groups Redfield Plugins and Alphabet Soup for featuring my favorite image “The Spirit of The Polar Bear”. Wonderful news to receive first thing in the morning. It sure makes my day.
Thanks for all the comments and faves on my latest upload. I actually have 10 fabulous shots of this bear, but didn’t want to overload y…
Thanks for all the comments and faves on my latest upload. I actually have 10 fabulous shots of this bear, but didn’t want to overload you all with that many. So – I’ve put them i my blog. If anyone wants to see more of this cute bear please head over to my blog If you page down and read a few more blogs, you’ll also learn whats been up with me and why I’ve been so quiet lately. Cheers / Robyn
When I first spotted Jódís Eiríksdóttir’s “A Little Planet” in the buyer’s booth I was mezmerised. I’d never seen anything quite like it. A little further investigation revealed that what I was staring at was a polar panorama. My next thought was “how did she do it?” I’ve managed to hunt down the following resources for those who would like to give it a try but you can find more online by searching “Polar Panorama Tutorial”. Basic ingredients include a digital camera to shoot your panorama and PhotoShop or Gimp to work the magic. If anyone’s had more experience making these then we’d love to see a tutorial or hear your hints and tips! Tutorial: Create Your Own Planets (PhotoShop and Gimp) How to make planet-like panoramas with photoshop Stereographic Projection is a similar technique which involves a bit more effort and a whole lot more maths but if you’re keen to find out more then try these resources: Stereographic Projection (wikipedia) Wee Planets Or you could just make yourself a cuppa, pull up a comfy chair and marvel at these wonderful images … / Lighthouse World by Digerati / Caloundra QLD Polar Panorama by Lars / Little Planet – Julianapark 01 Utrecht by mtths / Small world of Provincetown by Alyeska / Lonely Planet by Peter Marin And there are more over at the Polar Panorama Planets group …
I thought a timeout would give me time to settle my mind and soul, making it easier to heal while serious depression has broken thru my m…
I thought a timeout would give me time to settle my mind and soul, making it easier to heal while serious depression has broken thru my meds for the first time in years. I’ve seen my doctors who are concerned and working towards my recovery but the timeout was an optimistic but unrealistic approach for me to suggest for myself. In the meantime, I seem to be maddeningly sporadic with Red Bubble. I’m still here almost daily; it’s usually a place I can feel comfortable with friends and family. Unfortunately, deep depression tends to make one feel uncomfortable in one’s own skin so extending further is difficult if not impossible. PLEASE don’t worry, anyone. I have the care of some of the best doctors available, I have access to the “old lessons” from people of the hills, I have medications available and both dosage changes and new options are still options. I am not suicidal nor homicidal (tho I’ve yet to figure out why I’m asked that when too depressed to want to get vertical for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Maybe they’ve all read an imaginary book “The Horizontal Hitman”. Beats me.) One last thing to NOT worry about. The area where I am is becoming covered with smoke from a rapidly expanding local fire. It has a long ways to go to become a serious concern for this community. So far, nothing has burned other than weeds and trees; evacuations have only been voluntary and miles away. It’s not likely I’ll have leave with my tail between my legs and head home before today’s gig ends but, if I do, there may be some more interesting pictures in my gallery once I recover. Be well, all and I hope to rejoin you more consistently soon. Lenny
In case you haven’t noticed (and actually care a wit! LOL!) I’ve been AWOL a bit. Explanation: on stress leave from my job since Monda…
In case you haven’t noticed (and actually care a wit! LOL!) I’ve been AWOL a bit. Explanation: on stress leave from my job since Monday. I’ve been mentally absent a bit longer. But for the next month, I will be as far from my work as possible and trying to recover from the horrific stress of the last 13 or more months. I didn’t lose my control this time, i.e. I didn’t wind up under a table screaming before being tied to a board and dragged to a hospital. But my medical professional team feels a complete break from the day-to-day stress of my working conditions is a positive step. I’ll be following that step for a month and doing everything within my power to heal mentally and physically (removing the nasty weight gain) during this respite. There are times when you really appreciate your friends. This is one of those times. I can never thank those of you who have been my friends thru these tribulations: artists, viewers, generous purchasers of my work, callers, email-ers, and quiet supporters. Your love and kindness is blessed and precious. :-) I AM still among the “vertical”, an artist, a lover of kind people, a lover of cats (and squirrels, turkeys, jack rabbits, hummingbirds, blue [scrub] jays, crows, lizards, Towhees, finches, ducks, geese, turtles, pigeons, gulls, and the occasional dog), Bacardi 151, Red Bubble, all members of it, and various random crap. I still loath dumbasses. I’m still the ultimate curmudgeon. I still think Nikon kicks Canon’s butt. And I still love God. Depression still sucks and rock still rocks. (Speaking of which, Cathy took some killer shots of my onstage that will be posted soon. :-D ) None of that has changed. And I read whatever you write and see whatever you submit, even if it IS later and I can’t comment. Thanks again for your love and wonderful being. You are a balm to a currently but not chronically troubled soul. :-D Be well.
/ !http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/border…
/ / Thanks the hosts from groups: First thing; Extreme Close-Ups;Animal Photography; The Woman Photographer; 100%. / And for the voters who made a credit for me.BIG THANKS / This photo got featured in Dahlias&Daffodils group.Thanks so much / / And this one in group Mood&Ambience. Strictly Photos. /
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