The weekly photo challenge is sweet. I don’t eata lot of sweets on a regular basis. But I do tend to splurge a bit when I travel. When I was Richmond, VA, I went to a local Farmer’s Market where there was a donut truck. People were lined up for these donuts. Once I had one, I knew why. They were delicious! The donut makers were also nice enough to allow me to take some photos.
A woman cuts circles in dough. The dough balls will soon be donuts.
Dough balls that will shaped into hot donuts
Hot donuts drip glaze inside the window of a food truck at the Farmer’s Market in Richmond, VA.
We finally got back on the road for Tuesday Trekkin’. My Tuesdays have turned into take the cat to the vet day. We have 6 cats and 4 of them are seniors, so vet visits are a way of life. Anyway, back to the real reason we’re here.
Plans? What plans?
We had been planning to go to Jonesborough, the first town in Tennessee. However, plans are more like suggestions for us, so that didn’t happen. It was cold and I didn’t fancy walking around outside in the cold. We decided a car ride might be a better option. We could see things and still enjoy the heated seats. There was also the lure of possible snow in the mountains. Snow can make pretty pictures.
Lunch
We planned to eat at a bbq place in Townsend, but we got there and it was closed for the season. We found a great little Italian place, Brianna’s Italian Restaurant and Cuisine, just down the road instead. It proved to be a happy accident. Walt had the stromboli and I had the eggplant parmesan. Both were excellent! We will definitely be going back.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove was a bit of a disappointment as there was only a bit of snow here and there. Winter in the mountains is brown. Cades Cove is a valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The road is an 11 mile loop where you can see tons of wildlife, some old historic cabins, and a few old churches. We took the shortcut though and saw none of that. Onward we went.
They just blew a whole in the mountain and made a tunnel.
The trees are bare and there is a dusting of snow. You know that water is cold!
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is full of trails and paths
Winter in the Cove is quiet.
Elkmont
Walt decided we might try Elkmont, but the sun was setting fast. We weren’t sure we’d make it in time. They close a lot of the roads after dark due to possible hazardous conditions in the winter. But we made it! I had not been there before and found it pretty cool. It’s a small resort community in the mountains where people could stay in the summer. Most of the leases were up in 2001. After that, it became a ghost town. The Wonderland Hotel was once in this area, but in 2005 it collapsed. Most of the historical items were removed and a small annex was left. The annex burned down in 2016.
Several houses in the Elkmont Community are still standing and in decent shape.
A log cabin in the Elkmont Community
A summer cabin in the Elkmont resort community
The steps to the Wonderland Hotel
Sitting on the steps that go up to the ruins of the Wonderland Hotel
The chimney of the Wonderland Hotel stands alone at sunset in Elkmont.
An old sink from the ruins of the Wonderland Hotel.
I found an old hard drive with some photos and thought I might breath a new life into some of them. That led me to rework a couple more recent photos as well.
Vintage Signs
The Noshville sign was located in Nashville, TN. I took this photo in 2011 with an old, lo-res camera. The file is small so larger prints are not available. But smaller sizes are available.
The JFG sign is a recent pic. I wanted the final to have a vintage feel just like the signs themselves.
The sign for the Noshville Delicatessen in Midtown Nashville, TN.
A male Cardinal in all his bright red glory and a female, less colorful but still beautiful.
The JFG Building in Old City section of Knoxville, TN. I’ve aged and toned it to give it a true vintage feel.
Main street station in Richmond, VA. It’s after dark and the lights are on. The clouds are thick and rolling in.
For the birds
I took these photos back in 2014. I wanted to do a series on birds because we have so many blue birds and cardinals. But that proved to be easier said than done. So, I haven’t pursued that much since.
Train station
Main Street Station in the Shockoe Bottom community in the city of Richmond, VA. I wanted a vintage feel, like it was taken in the early 20th century. Instead, I got eerie, but that’s cool. I like that too. Here is the original.
In the winter, I struggle to find things to photograph. I was recently cleaning out my office, see my goals for 2018 and found these old cameras. They seemed like the perfect subject matter for a quick still life photo shoot.
Holga Memories
I bought the Holga 120s for $12 in 1991 while in college. My favorite thing about the Holga was the vignette and the unpredictable light leaks. The photos always put me in mind of the early days of photography and felt nostalgic to me. Seeing it again made me want to go out and make some of those type of photos. I managed to scrounge up some of those old photos.
The Pacific Science Center in Seattle, WA.
A photo taken in the early ’90s. It feels dreamy and surreal.
Olympus OM-1
This was the 35mm film camera that I used when I Pentax K-1000 got stolen. I loved that Pentax, too. The Olympus and I did fine. But I don’t miss it much.
An old Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera sits atop a cool, old make up case.
An old Holga 120s film camera, covered in dust and memories
A vintage Holga 120S and an old Sekonic light meter rest in an old make up case.
An old Olympus OM-1 35mm film camera sits atop a cool, old make up case.
A vintage Holga 120S and an old Sekonic light meter rest in an old make up case.
An old Holga 120s film camera, covered in dust and memories
I can’t decide which I like better, the black and white or the color versions. What’s your opinion?
If you recall, one of my goals was to do a video showing my work process from beginning to end. This is not quite a video, but instead a step by step of my Ink Stamp Heart image with photos. I created these photos after the image was complete. Mostly because if I showed you all the deleted and rejected versions, it would take you all day to go through them. I love to experiment, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Image Layers
This is the original image. I found this old, wooden ink stamp in an antique store years ago. I knew that I would want to do something cool with it, I just didn’t know what.
Original photo of an old ink stamp
Using a Topaz Adjust filter, I gave the image a boost. The shape tool in Photoshop helped me create a heart mask. So the mask would not have a perfect edge, I used small brushes to roughen the edges because love isn’t perfect.
Just adding a mask makes this photo more interested. I gave the mask a jagged edge using brushes because I didn’t want it to be perfect.
I use Topaz Adjustment on almost all of my photos. Sometimes it’s just a basic boost for contrast and clarity
I copied the first layer, sized it down, kept the drop shadow, and deleted the Topaz filter. I kept both of these layers as smart objects, so that I can go back and change them later if I need to.
The smaller heart has the Topaz filter removed, so it will stand out even more.
Layer 0 is copied, sized, and the topaz filter removed to make it stand out more. I left the drop shadow for separation
Texture and Background
Smoky black and white images helped me create a texture on the background. While a mask with a drop shadow created another heart. Additionally, I used an odd shaped brush to give even more texture.
The first texture layer is added for an overall texture.
I added another texture layer with a mask and a drop shadow for an extra heart shape.
I found a cool shaped brush and used it to add even more texture to the image.
It’s all about Love, isn’t it?
All layers before the color is added. I admit that I kind of like it that. Maybe I’ll make a black and white with no color also.
Final Image
Finally, I added a black and white adjustment layer with a red tone, added my signature, and saved it. Blend modes on layers are great to play with!
Love stamped on hearts
This image is available as a print, greeting card, and other accessories on my website.
In the dead of winter, when it’s cold and dreary outside is a good time for me to experiment and get a little more creative with my photos. Feedback is always welcome!
Old Church Blues Before is dark and dreary with no contrast
Old Church Blues has some added texture and toning giving it a whole different feel.
Bijou Sign Grungy Before feels like a snapshot or a photo that would be in a brochure about upcoming events
Bijou Sign vintage style Grungy has a Topaz filter, texture, and some toning work
Apple Blossoms Vintage Before is simple and I like the color fine.
Apple Blossoms Vintage Style with added texture, contrast, and toning. I love the way the petals look like soft paper.
The Key to Fantasy Before is colorful but the keys get lost.
The Key to Fantasy has some lens flares added as well as texture and brush work with toning.
Pink Apple Blossom before I added texture, a vignette, and did some color work.
Pink Apple Blossoms with some added texture and color changes
Looking back on 2017, I realized that I didn’t set any goals for the year. I thought maybe that’s why I felt so much like I was just floundering about and not getting anywhere. So, I decided to set some goals and share them. These are simple, attainable, clear goals.
Create at least 1 training video
After attending Photoshop World in 2016, I have wanted to share my passion with others just starting out or anyone interested in my work and how I do things.
A composite map of Budapest with an antique map and a recent photo of the Budapest Parliament Building
Go to the beach
We used to go to the beach every year. I have not been to the beach in years. It is time. The ocean needs me.
18 and on the beach
Set up my studio / office properly
My office has been a catch all space and it is difficult to work there. I need a clean space for taking photos, writing, working on heavily Photoshopped pieces. A cluttered space does not help me work.
Feel free to share your own goals in the comments! You can also share the link to your blog.
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