Crop It Challenge

Cropping photos is one of the easiest editing techniques and it can create some very dramatic differences on the end result.  This weeks challenge is all about cropping and although we're suppose to show the results of two photos after cropping, I picked a couple extra just because.

So here's this weeks challenge from http://jackofallbrews.blogspot.com
Challenge #2 is another easy one, but a technique that is essential to modern photography; Cropping.  Since this is a pretty easy one I'm making it a two part challenge.  First I want you to fix a picture (by cropping) that "ruined" by somebody's head, random passerby, car driving by, etc.  Second I want you to take a picture that is "good" on its own but needs to be cropped to either get closer up to the subject or move it to a more pleasing spot in the frame.

Lots of clutter in this photo.

Manually cropped with Vignette effect form Picasa

Original shot with no editing

Final result with a little cropping and editing in Picasa

Neat background for this photo but a bit too much

Cropped in with some basic editing in Picasa the colors pop
 to create a beautiful background for this Sr. shot.

Extra Credit?

Hard to imagine something of value in this photo.

Manually cropped with Vignette effect form Picasa

When I shot this photo I knew I'd be doing some cropping to get a panoramic pic

Creating cool panoramic shots is one of my favorite things to do while cropping.
Simply take the shot with a wide angle setting and then use the tools to bring it to life.
Manually cropped with Vignette effect form Picasa

Color Out

Over the past year my wife and I have been participating in a weekly photo blogging challenge hosted by Erin at http://treasures-found.blogspot.com 

The premise of 30 Words Thursday is simply to post a picture and describe it in 30 words; no more, no less.

This week one of the bloggers who frequently post to the 30 Words challenge ( http://jackofallbrews.blogspot.com/ ) issued his own challenge so that he could have the opportunity to grow in his knowledge of photo editing.  I decided I'm going along for the ride.

Photo  Challenge 1) Black & White

Starting out simple:  take three color photos and change them to black and white format. Ideally these will have a different tone or impact when changed to black and white.  Other photoshop effects are allowed but the  biggest change should be the removal of color. Show the before and after pics for comparison.

Photo taken with a Canon Rebel T1i, edited with Picasa tools

I chose this photo because of the extreme color in the original.
I like the contrast created in the B&W.

Photo taken with a Kodak Easyshare M753 early in the morning on landscape setting.

I chose this photo because it is one of my all time favorites.
I like the way the sky became really bright in the B&W.

Photo taken with a Canon Rebel T4i

I chose this photo because it's a reenactment
of the Boston Tea Party
I like the way the B&W take us back in time.

Acting Out

How many times have your heard your friends

talk about their children acting out?

When the students in our school

“act out”

it’s a great thing that’s fun to watch!!

Give Thanks

Gifts from God!

There are not words to describe

the ways God has blessed my life.

My parents, my wife, my children; 

they are among the best of these blessings.

My Favorite Vacation Spot

An indescribable place

of peace and tranquility

exists along our west coast.

Pull over,

take a short walk,

and find yourself amazed

at this different world

in the California redwoods.

Deer Hunting

My wife and I went on a little deer hunting trip.

We drove around a while and got a couple of 

great opportunities to shoot some deer 

with our Canon.

Time to Move Forward

Months of advertising, mudslinging, “facts”,

and promises all to find a seat in this building.

The seats are now assigned and

the time is here

to do the right things!