Mooned!

Sorry, Places 2 Explore has mooned you!!!    I had always wanted to try and take this shot.  Now that I have my 70-200 VR and teleconverter combo…I wanted to give it a try!  It is not easy.  I really think a 200-400 would be better, but still not bad for a semi-standard lens.   I read up on how to take a moon shot…so many notes of advice.  The best solution is to take a bunch at different settings. One key is to lock up your mirror…check your manual for those scoops!    It all depends on time of day, weather, lens, camera, etc…  I added the “Flood” plug-in and it becomes a nice fun shot!

Talke Photography Settings:

• Camera:  Nikon D300
• Lens: Nikon 70-200 VR f/2.8 + Nikon TC-14EII (1.4x Teleconverter)
• Setting: Manual Mode
• Focal Length: 280.0mm
• ISO: 100
• Exposure:  1/125
• Aperture:  f/8.0
• Gear:  Tripod, Cable Release, Mirror Lock Up
• Post Process: Adobe CS4, Viveza, Flood Plug-In

Paris, France – Optimus Prime Lens

Here is Optimus Prime Lens (a new Transformer?)  Sometimes a little photoshop fun can lead to something artistic!  I was working a photo from Paris a bit ago and came up with this shot.  What could it be a Transformer?  Alien?  A robot from Logan’s Run?  Funky indeed!  If you look closely you may get it….so here is the original…

A carousel right near the Eiffel Tower!   A long exposure blurred the ride.  The Eiffel Tower are the arms!  I used the plugin called Flood to mirror the photo and created something fun!   Flood is a cool plug in.  You can create some water effects and/or an exact mirror effect like I used in this shot.    Have fun and let your in inner artist create photo magic!

Talke Photography Settings:

• Camera:  Nikon D300
• Lens: Nikon 10.5 Fisheye f/2.8
• Setting: Aperture  Mode
• Focal Length: 10.5 mm
• ISO: 100
• Exposure:   6 seconds
• Aperture:  f/22.0
• Gear:  Tripod, Cable release
• Post Process: Adobe CS4, Flood plug in

Boulder, Colorado

Photoshop – Flood plug-in

Here is the picture below from Boulder of the Flatirons modified with the “Flood” plug -in.  You can see I added an artificial lake!  And it was easy!  I think you can go crazy with any plug-in – just keep yourself in check.  The options you can make are never ending!   For this plug-in visit Flaming Pear.     Have fun with your reflections!

Texas Wildflowers – Painted Blanket

NIKON D300, Nikon 105 VR, Photoshop

As Texas Wildflower season is coming to a close soon I wanted to post a picture of my favorite flower – Painted Balnkets.  Here in Texas we sometimes have roadsides filled with these.  From a far they look nice, but up close they are beautiful!  I took a close up shot of this Painted Blanket and blacked out the backgournd in Photoshop.  Then I used a plug-in called Flood.  You can find it at Flaming Pear.  This plug-in is fun.  You can instantly  put anyone or anything in a lake!  I tried a mountain landscape shot I had and it came out great – with a new lake reflection added!  I’ll post it tomorrow. You can also download a trial of this software.  Give it a try if your inner artist will alow – enjoy!