Unique Photo Images

Old and Falling Apart

2012-02-09T08:55:00.003-06:00

I shot this with bright sun. The Pro HDR app on the iPhone balanced the lighting on this old car in a wrecking yard.

Paper Trees - Treewhispers Exhibit

2012-02-06T08:27:00.004-06:00

Using home made paper, artist reflected on their memory of a tree (s). This exhibit is in the Chicago Botanical Gardens Educational Center. This is a feel good exhibit with artists expressing positive memories of trees. Each round like platter has art work and comments.

Beauty in Old & Wrinkled Flowers

2012-02-01T10:25:00.002-06:00

Here was an Amaryllis that was past it's prime. Kind of like old folks. When you really look around you can find beauty in all things. I got some great ideas from Close-Up photographer Mike Moats in his new e-Book "Creating Art with Macro". I got out my 180 Macro lens and had a fun morning in the dinning room shooting a throw away Amaryllis.

Jellies plus

2012-01-31T10:18:00.003-06:00

Using the iPhone to photograph a jellie exhibit in Chicago, I added a water reflection at the bottom of the image with an app called "Water My Photo".

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T13:48:00.002-06:00

Another great year has started in the world of Digital Photography.

It has been less than a year since I started playing with an iPhone 4 and it has been a fun time. Not that I am limited to just the apps with the iPhone, but the fun of taking a photograph, editing it with a bit of creativity and then sharing it one within just a few moments of capture is amazing.

I am starting the new year with more experimentation with textures and various overlays to ad to the creative look of the image. For the this image I used on the FlyPaper Textures of Painterly. The original scene was an early October 2011 image from Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountains.

IiPhone with Hipstamatic app and Nik Silver Efex Pro

2011-12-24T11:08:00.002-06:00

I photographed this resting Lion through a glass window with my iPhone 4 at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. I used Hipstamatic camera app using the John S lens and Inkas Film. This image was then changed into B/W with NIK Silver Efex Pro. I really like the square format for this image.

I am back

2011-12-11T18:11:00.003-06:00

My time and interests have moved in other directions the past few months. Last week I shot images at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. My goal for the shoot was the jellies exhibit. Here are a few of the images.

Chicatown - Chicago

2011-09-01T15:03:00.001-05:00

This late afternoon image from an alley in Chinatown needed B/W. Original was a three shot HDR in color.

Breath taking Sunrise

2011-09-01T12:26:00.001-05:00

One of the most spectacular Sunrises on Lake Michigan was photographed at Gillson Park in Wilmette, IL. This is my favorite image of the week. (So far)

More Man Made Waterfalls

2011-08-28T09:23:00.002-05:00

Water Falls are still a favorite. This still photograph does not have the sound of the moving water but we can still capture the action of the water and details of the setting through HDR.

Chicago Botanical Gardens Water Fall

2011-08-27T08:51:00.002-05:00

Using a 17-40 wide angle zoom on a Canon 5D II, I shot various over and under exposures and combined them in to a 32 bit image in Photomatix Pro. My goal was shooting a waterfall with slow shutter speeds to get the milky look to the water and also have control of the shadows and highlights using HDR software to combine the images.

More iPhone art from our yard

2011-08-26T11:30:00.002-05:00

A new rendering of the Cone Flowers before they are picked over for seeds by the Goldfinchs

Antique "Caddy"

2011-08-21T14:54:00.001-05:00

The black beauty was parked in a Door County restaurant just waiting to be photographed. "Always have a camera with you"

iPhone captures bug on poppy

2011-08-18T06:10:00.001-05:00

My iPhone art is getting to be more fun all the time.

iPhone at Lincoln Park Zoo

2011-08-07T16:10:00.002-05:00

Don't Wake Me Up......... iPhone

Sunset on the City

2011-08-05T14:05:00.002-05:00

This was an early Sunset for a Summer night. Because of a Sunday evening, none of the lights of the city were on. This was an HDR panoramic image shot with a Canon G12. 12 total shots.

Shadow Study - iPhone

2011-06-15T09:01:00.001-05:00

I like the mystery to the image. The small tree's shadow on a blacktop road.

Rivers & Rails - iPhone

2011-06-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

This has been updated on the iPad with a new NIK app.

Study in shadows - iPhone

2011-06-12T13:53:00.000-05:00

This makes for a very graphic image with the color removed.

Record shot on the cell phone

2011-06-10T08:43:00.001-05:00

Plantings have enjoyed the hot wet weather.

iPhone Slow Shutter app

2011-06-08T15:15:00.002-05:00

These Petunias look more like a soft painting from using Slow Shutter app and PS Mobile. Second image had an edge modification and slight burning in of areas.

Backyard Compositions - iPhone

2011-06-06T11:42:00.002-05:00

Memorial Day iPhone

2011-06-02T16:42:00.000-05:00

Spring Flowers on June 1, 2011 Chives

First Iris of the Year - iPhone

2011-06-01T10:48:00.000-05:00

No retouching used.

Before the Rain - iPhone

2011-05-29T14:52:00.000-05:00

I used hipstamatic app with John S lens and ank 1935 film.

Skylight - Symphony Center taken with the iPhone

2011-05-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

Again the best camera is the one that is with you. I had my iPhone and looked up the circular stairs and balconies at the Chicago Symphony Center. The image was converted to monochromatic in NIK Silver Efex Pro.

Starved Rock State Park with a Point & Shoot Camera

2011-05-21T08:39:00.002-05:00

I shot 3 different exposures hand held with a Canon G12. The photo was taken in Wildcat Canyon. This HDR image was in a cayon not hit by direct sunlight which made for a better image.

Structure iPhone photo

2011-05-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

Take away the Dandelion flower which is replaced by the seeds which then blow away and the beautiful simple structure of the plant is remaining. Standing tall against the brick wall, the stems become part of nature's Art.

The Chicago Trump Tower on the iPhone

2011-05-07T08:53:00.002-05:00

I set the single exposure to capture the tower which left the foreground way too dark.
This time I reshot the image using iCamera HDR app. This HDR app is my favorite for HDR and it opened up the foreground and maintained the tower.
Then put textures and colors into the image for more of a fine art look that I was after. The app was Photo Wizard.

Available light in school theatre

2011-05-02T10:44:00.002-05:00

The color and costumes of a school musical rehearsal. I used high ISO and 2.8 on the lens.

iPhone in the backyard

2011-04-30T16:32:00.001-05:00

This tree is hidden behind the garage where no one sees these beautiful flowers that last one of two days depending on the wind and rain.

Birds on the Mississippi

2011-04-29T14:26:00.004-05:00

With the Mississippi River flooding it's banks at the Quad cities, only a few White Pelicans were available to photograph.

iPhoneography before and after app. work

2011-04-28T08:29:00.002-05:00

"Urban Barn" - The original iPhone photograph is a good record shot of the old barn.
This Fine Art image was made with changes in FX Photo Studio. I was tempted to crop off some of the grass in the foreground but I like the shadows of the bare trees.

iPhone Photos of Stairs to the Dome

2011-03-30T08:22:00.002-05:00

This image was taken with iCameraHDR app shooting an over exposed image and and one under exposed image. These were combined in the phone with the above result. Image was taken in the Chicago Cultural center at the Washington Street Entrance.

Single images

2011-03-21T20:55:00.000-05:00

Garden Hose
South Shore Trains
Barrington Area Library

4 images into one - Like a Quilt Block

2011-03-21T20:49:00.001-05:00

Garden Hoses
South Shore Electric Trains
Rafters in the Barrington Area Library

From traditional to old chemical darkroom processes

2011-03-20T09:25:00.002-05:00

This was a straight photo hand held with light from lamps.
This was changed into black and white with the Photofx app.
Using Photofx I then changed the image into an old darkroom process called Palladium. The use of apps continues to make the cell phone's digital darkroom exciting for me.

2 more days until the 1st Day of spring

2011-03-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

A quilter on St. Pat's Day

2011-03-17T13:18:00.002-05:00

This video was done on the iPhone

Photographer, Bike Rider - Mark

2011-03-17T13:06:00.001-05:00

No snow - no ice, Mark is ready for the first day of Spring. Handy Dandy iPhone camera.

Think Spring iPhone

2011-03-16T09:05:00.002-05:00

"THE BEST CAMERA IS THE ONE THAT IS WITH YOU" - Cell phone, small point & shoot what ever. These indoor tulips were beautiful and in good light.

Your cell phone camera is always with you? Use it!

2011-03-15T09:49:00.002-05:00

Walking through a shopping center we saw this wall of paper roses. I had to catch the colors and shot shapes. This is an image thata with a little blur added becomes more of a mystery as to where and why.
Any place near an open filed or body of water or a high spot on a hill, becomes a viewing place for a morning sunrise. Now with daylight saving time we can experience more sunrises with our longer days. The colors always vary with the weather conditions.

Perfect Lighting for iPhone Photography

2011-03-14T10:25:00.002-05:00

The soft light of late afternoon rendered perfect light for the iPhone camera. The stained glass colors were in their glory. No apps or PS used. I did crop and straighten.

iPhone - Barringtron Ara Library

2011-03-12T19:30:00.001-06:00

I loved the lobby design work of beams/ post and woods struts to look like trees. I used an HDR app to control the differences of light.

Amaryllis in bloom

2011-03-11T10:58:00.003-06:00

These beautiful flowers are being grown by the Des Plaines Park District and now on display. I use the iPhone for capture and to create "flower" art.

The "Vintage Look" with the iPhone

2011-03-10T10:13:00.001-06:00

This conductor was working under various stage lights and I tried a new app call Vintage. This is the result.

Andy Warhol Comics

2011-03-09T11:52:00.001-06:00

An iPhone app gave this camera club computer lab a comic book look.

How close for the iPhone?

2011-03-08T08:16:00.000-06:00

The iPhone can get about 3 to 4 inches from the subject and focus.

Some ask why HDR?

2011-03-06T07:45:00.002-06:00

Straight image from iPhone Camera to computer to blog.
This image was taken in the iPhone app HDR Pro, processed in the cell phone moved to the computer for storage and into the blog. No Photoshop or computer work. True HDR is to capture the wide range of light as seen by your eyes. This HDR app shoots two separate images and then combines them together before saving.

HDR on the iPhone

2011-03-05T13:29:00.003-06:00

Symphony Concert about to start.
Modern Wing visitors. All editing done in the cell phone.

Think SPRING (16 days) using the iPhone

2011-03-04T08:21:00.002-06:00

All of the above photos were taken with my iPhone in a Fabric Store. I added a watercolor effect to the 2nd and 3rd image with one of my favorite apps.

2011-03-03T16:21:00.000-06:00

more iPhoneography Leaning Tower in Niles, IL

2011-03-03T08:23:00.003-06:00

This was an HDR image to open up the shadows on the side away from the sun. The iCamera HDR app was used both to photograph and process the HDR combination.
Here I used an app to make a pencil drawing. All done in the phone.
This was another view photographed in HDR with two images combined in the phone.

Two different iPhone apps for HDR

2011-03-02T09:04:00.002-06:00

This app (iCamera HDR) on the auto mode had more control over the highlights. Two photos were taken, combined and then you get a series of sliders to adjust. This app has been updated with new software.
This photo was from (HDR Pro) app. It works very well. I did not have the same control over the bright lights. Both photos were taken in a coffee shop. Again, I used the auto mode. The app shot two photos and then combined them into one image. No post editing was done out side the cell phone.

Musician in rehearsal with the iPhone

2011-03-01T08:29:00.002-06:00

Tim, a string musician was rehearsing for a performance. I used the iPhone and then edited the photo with photoforgephoto app. This changed the image into a sepia tone with a more graphic look.

Pre-Civil War Campground - iPhone

2011-02-28T12:01:00.002-06:00

Scene taken at the old Methodist Campground in Des Plaines started in 1849. This was an HDR 2 shot image taken in the iPhone and then converted to B/W in the iPhone.

More trains from the iPhone

2011-02-27T15:35:00.001-06:00

This image was edited with PhotoForge and I used the Oil Paint setup.

iPhone Photography In to Chicago

2011-02-26T13:34:00.002-06:00

I aimed the iPhone out the dirty window of the first train car as we came into Chicago. I added a little single shot HDR effects of over detailed look and this is the image.

HDR Pro with the iPhone

2011-02-25T11:04:00.003-06:00

I sat in the family room with my iPhone and used the app called HDR Pro. With the app set on auto, the camera shot 2 separate exposures and then combined them into one image. This image had details outside the windows as well as inside the room. This would not be possible with one exposure.

iPhone Photography Before and after Editing

2011-02-24T12:08:00.000-06:00

This editing was all done on the iPhone 4

iPhoneography

2011-02-23T10:34:00.002-06:00

This barn is Chicago surburia is the eye of many photographers. I did one image yesterday with the iPhone. The sky was blank so I added a weathered look with an app.

more iPhoneography

2011-02-22T19:34:00.003-06:00

The is using an app (application) called "You Gotta See This" I shot over 20 images with the app and moved the camera and then told it to stop shooting. I then had a choice of back grounds and how the layout went together. This was standing at the computer train station in Des Plaines, IL. All done in the iPhone.

Theme and Variations

2011-02-21T10:26:00.002-06:00

Here is the original photo shot with 2 exposures and combined in Pro HDR app
The others are different adjustments and changes to the original. All photos were taken and adjusted on an iPhone 4. The apps are all available for $.99 to $1.99 each.

More iPhone Photography

2011-02-20T12:23:00.002-06:00

Going through a car wash. Only cropping was used to the photo.
Mountains of Snow. This parking lot was used to dump snow from the streets in Des Plaines. The special edge was added as well as some light balancing.
Waiting for the train to pass. Des Plaines, IL has over 40 train intersections. The artistic work on the image was done in "100 in 1 Cameras" app by Trey Radcliff of HDR fame.

iPhone Photography

2011-02-19T11:04:00.002-06:00

Single image with pseudo HDR over detailed look
Six images stitched into a panoramic with the Autostitch app.

This image was a 3 exposure combined image and then I used in the phone an app to give a watercolor look. iPhone Photography is new to me and so much fun. It is like always having a camera and your digital darkroom in your pocket. I am using the new Verizon iPhone 4G and the images have been processed in the iPhone using various apps recommended by three outstanding photographers: Dewitt Jones, Tony Sweet and Dan Burkholder. You can also do HDRwith various apps that cause the phone to take various exposures and then combine them into one combined image. More on iPhoneography in a later blog.

Chicago Cultural Center in IR

2011-01-26T09:23:00.001-06:00

This image was shot on a Canon G10 converted to Infrared. IR gives the interior stone a soft look. Just the opposite from bright sun light outside.

Fishing on the Des Plaines River

2011-01-09T16:18:00.001-06:00

It is fun to shoot Summer noon time scenes with Infrared. Here is an image that I just pulled out of the archives.

Artist at the beach

2011-01-02T19:28:00.002-06:00

Most beach areas in Door County Wisconsin are rocks not sand. A perfect area for local artist to have fun with instant art as seen above. I photographed some of these rock stacks with a Digital Camera converted to Infrared.

Sparks Land in CadesCove

2011-01-01T13:33:00.002-06:00

The Smoky Mountains is becoming one of our favorite vacation spots. It's close to Illinois and is very photographic in Spring and Fall. Sparks Lane was photographed in October 2010. I shot 7 exposures and combined them in Photomatic Pro before going to Photoshop CS5.

Ghost Town Lodge

2010-12-28T07:48:00.001-06:00

This Ghost Town in Montana still had an active Masonic Lodge that met once a year. The lodge met on the second floor and the first floor was originally the town school.

Fall scene in the Smoky's

2010-12-26T17:58:00.001-06:00

The water was golden in color from the suns refelection on golden leaves. These rocks looked like a fish having a bite to eat.

One stop

2010-11-05T09:52:00.002-05:00

Daniel announces "One Stop"

Sandhill Crane in Indiana

2010-11-04T09:02:00.002-05:00

One of 5000 Sandhill Cranes in migration to the South. Captured with a Canon 100-400 lens.

The Angel Oak

2010-10-09T12:47:00.001-05:00

HDR (three shots) blended in CS5. This images was photographed with a Canon 5D converted to Infrared by Lifepixel. They say this tree is 1200 years old. Some of the lower limbs were over 75 feet long.

Walk to School

2010-09-23T15:18:00.001-05:00

I used a Canon G10 converted to a Color Infrared Camera, but this image really worked better in black and White.

Backyard Fun

2010-09-20T12:08:00.001-05:00

Sitting on the patio is a good way to photograph our local birds visiting a feeder. More to come.

Along the des Plaines river

2010-09-06T16:06:00.002-05:00

Taking some time on Labor Day to return to Wadsworth Landing on the Des Plaines River and shooting in Infrared was a good feeling. There is serenity and peacefulness close to home.

Tall Ships

2010-09-02T14:19:00.002-05:00

This 4 mast schooner "Windy" was part of the Tall Ships Parade of Boats on Lake Michigan by the Chicago Skyline. It was a blank sky so I used Color Range in Photoshop to select the sky and drop in a new sky for the image.

Sunday night our patio - Imagine the sounds!

2010-07-25T20:00:00.001-05:00

It finally cooled off so we can sit out side. Then guess what happens. O'Hare chooses our home for a flight path.

Beautiful Colors on a Gloomy Day

2010-07-19T15:29:00.003-05:00

It always wonderful to view beautiful flowers on a cloudy, hot, humid Summer day.

2010-07-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

This version was HDR tone Mapped as a single image in Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro.

2010-07-17T14:12:00.000-05:00

This version has been tone mapped by Photomatix Pro as a single image.

2 Photographers under Cloudgate

2010-07-17T13:54:00.002-05:00

The 14 different shadows are reflections of the three photographers taking a picture under the"Bean". I laid the Canon G11 on the ground near the center of the Bean and set the 10 delayed shutter.

The Big Eye in HDR

2010-07-14T21:42:00.001-05:00

Using a Canon G11 point & Shoot camera with AEB (auto exposure bracketing) and then in to Photomatix Pro, this is the resulting image.

Three Story Eyeball

2010-07-11T16:35:00.001-05:00

Photographed with a Canon 5D converted to Infrared with a Lensbaby Composer using a pinhole insert.

Later at Night - End of Twilight

2010-07-08T08:06:00.001-05:00

As light changes further into darkness, so does the need for noise reduction.

Twilight at Buckingham Fountain

2010-06-22T17:25:00.000-05:00

HDR - 7 exposures combined with Photomatic Pro.

Gateway to the Temple

2010-06-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

Infrared from Infrared Color on a bright sunny day.

Backyard Fun

2010-06-15T09:55:00.001-05:00

Infrared with a Lensbaby using a Plastic insert, no Aperture ring and a wide angle attachment.

Infrared at Night

2010-06-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

More Floral Images

2010-06-03T16:58:00.002-05:00

These Bleeding Hearts were photographed at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

2010-05-23T13:09:00.001-05:00

The busy background was hidden with a black matte board. 5 different focused imaged were taken. I did not focus the stems of the flowers.

Hungry Baby Red Tailed Hawk

2010-05-20T13:06:00.001-05:00

Found right here in the Chicago suburbs. 500 mm lens with 2X extender and flash with a better beamer.

Infrared Color and High Dynamic range Photo

2010-05-19T07:56:00.002-05:00

Here is a new take on Buckingham Fountain in Chicago. To the human eye it was a bright sunny morning and blank sky. The infrared brought out clouds that the eye could not see.

A Beautiful Rose through a Lensbaby

2010-05-15T12:04:00.001-05:00

Dream on. This is fun, play time with photography.

Infrared with Soft Focus from Lensbaby

2010-05-13T19:02:00.001-05:00

This combination seems to work with white Caucasian skin.

Dream #1

2010-05-06T13:32:00.002-05:00

This image was photographed with a Lensbaby Plastic Lens on a digital camera. The soft effect is very similar to the Holga Film Camera. The monochromatic image adds to the nostalgic look.

Mathession Falls

2010-05-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

HDR/IR with a Canon G10 and hand held. This is one of the many Infrared images from a resent scouting trip to Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.

Joe's Barn in IR film looks

2010-05-04T11:18:00.002-05:00

I am discovering NIK plug-ins for Photoshop and I like the fast controls and effects. This was an Infrared image and I added the IR film look and transfer edges.

Lensbaby Softfocus

2010-05-02T09:17:00.002-05:00

Who stated that everything needs to be in focus? I used a new Lensbaby Composer with a Soft Focus lens kit. This river bridge over the Chicago River becomes a mood image with the rust of time evident.