iPhoneography Art Show in Moscow - Art Affair

I will be showing and selling my Palouse images at the Art Affair July 13th 2016. 

Hope to see you there.

There will be over 20 different images available. Prints in barn wood frames, metal prints, luster paper prints and postcards. Come pick a few!

iPhone Photography - iPhoneography - Workshop for All Skill Levels

iPhone Creative Workshop will be awesome. Be sure to find time to join Lynette and I in Lake Tahoe this October. It will ignite your creativity in a whole new way. Let's grow and learn together!

Click here for all the information.

iPhone Photography Processing - Sunshine to Rain

Processed with DistressedFX, Rainy Daze and Snapseed

Take a look at yesterdays blog post of my first serious iPhone photo. The image of the beautiful blue sky and gorgeous fall colors.
Today I processed that image with a challenge in mind, how to create a moody rain storm. The photo has now taken on a very gloomy appearance. Amazing how just a few processing steps can change the mood completely.

DistressedFX

First step that came to mind was to use DistressFX to add texture and tone down the saturated colors. See above for the setting that were chosen.

Rainy Daze

Next the image was processed in Rainy Days. Don't you love the way the trees glow? An unexpected bonus.

The final photo at the top of the blog was also processed in Snapseed, desaturating the colors and adding structure for more definition to the rain drops.

Try it yourself.

My iPhone Photography Beginning - September 2010 iPhone 4s

Unedited ProHDR Image from 2010 

My AH HA moment

I have been going through several old hard drives looking for images to put on Dropbox so I can access all my iPhone photos in one place, when I came across this photo. iPhone 4s - Sept 2010

The scene:
I am in New Hampshire at a photo workshop with my Nikon camera when John Barclay informs me of an app called ProHDR that I must install on my iPhone. Ok I think, I'll give it a try. Then a fellow student Dan let's me borrow his iPhone holder for a tripod. (crazy looking thing).
As you see by the photo it is a gorgeous day. I set up my iPhone Camera next to the shore of this river, opened the app ProHDR, tapped the button, watched the screen saying 'calculating, hold still' and then a few seconds later this incredible HDR processed image appears on my screen.
For the next several months (embarrassing to think back on sometimes) I was a crazy girl, thrusting the iPhone in anyone's face that was nearby to show them my latest photo and exclaim 'WOW, look at this, amazing, it was taken with an iPhone, can you believe it?" I was hooked and became know as the App Queen as I absorbed everything iPhone Photography.
What a great journey it has been. 
I must also mention Harry Sandler as he is my gracious mentor and friend that guides me to learn so much about photography.
There are many others that influence and inspire - a few include: Lynette Sheppard, Karen Messick, Dewitt Jones, Laura Peischl, Bobbi McMurry, Helen Breznik, Dan Burkholder

Night iPhone Photography Comparison

Since ProCamera just released the in-app purchase 'LowLight+' I went to the Portland Winter Light Festival to capture some comparisons between different camera apps.

I am the visual comparison type, not the technical type so this comparison is purely visual for you to decide for yourself what image you like better. If you want to find out how the different apps are technically capturing the image I am sure there is plenty of opportunities to find out through a Google search.

The first image in each pair is the original capture focused and exposed with a tap on the center of the flower. The second image was processed in Snapseed with two folder settings: HDR Scape - Nature - 100 and Details - Structure - 100. This processing technique was to show the noise not as a suggestion for the best processing option.

There are obliviously differences in the results. I can see that LowLight+ has much smaller noise particles, with an interesting pattern in this example. However to accomplish this the image is much softer.

I was most surprised by the Native Camera and SlowShutter (by Cogitap) results. Even though without processing they all have very little noise.

iPhone Camera Night with Snapseed

 

Camera+ Night with Snapseed

 

ProCamera LowLight+ with Snapseed

 

SlowShutter Night with Snapseed

 

Morning Has Broken

Morning has Broken

As I sit in my warm car in between rain squalls I am looking out at the Okarito Lagoon. The air is moist and everything is cast in gray, a stark contrast to the brilliant greens in the gorge the day before. 

The mood is quiet and still, even with the birds fluttering about. 

Among some brilliant mountain peaks that were meant for a less cloudy perfect sunset location. However even last night the showers and mist prevented a peak at their grandeur. 

A small boat house is sitting proudly at the shore of the lagoon. A simple 'Information' sign is at the top of the ramp. 

The rain has stopped for a moment, perhaps I'll have a closer look. 

The processing for this image includes a texture later from the boat house siding. I captured the image with the hope that it would be fun to use. 

Smash Palace - New Zealand

What is this girl going to do when she's driving 100 km down a country road at 8:30am and sees a sign pointing turn right now for 'Vintage Car Museum'? Put on the brakes fast, but not fast enough and figure a safe place to make a U-turn.

 

As I approach I saw rusty vehicles everywhere, acres of them. Piled high, rusting into the ground, with ferns growing out of them, with wooden wheels, most with steering wheels on the left and there were even sheep milling about to keep the grass down-how awesome is that. 

A dream come true. 

I find rusty fascinating. The patterns, textures and color as they deteriorate   The models of cars here in New Zealand vs the places in the US were so new and different. Many small cars, few hot rods, even the trucks and buses were tiny. 

After spending only 1.5 hours outside I finally went into the 'museum' for a $5 donation admission charge that was promised would go into a fund for the 'new' museum. 

I walked up a narrow steep stairwell and found what can only be described as: a car part hoarders dream! Millions of organized chrome gems. Starters, grills, license plates, chains, hub caps, head lights, carburetors, electric wiring, radios - every piece from those gutted shells in the junk yard outside - AMAZING! 

Walking around I was quite careful, even tiptoed when observing the floor bowing under the pile of complete motors. Wondered how the building didn't collapse under the weight of so much metal. 

What a rewarding morning I had!

To Paris with Love

Feeling very sad that there is such cruelty in the world. Caused me to pause and appreciate my life a bit more. Hug the ones you love, life is uncertain. 

Fear Not - Adventuring in New Zealand

Fear not the unknown my friends, 

Celebrate the adventures,

Discover your limitations along your journey,

Not through an imagined barrier. 

Seek with confidence, love whole heartedly,

Find happiness, contentment and joy

It is all within you.

Now go!

Morning in Fantasyland

Today I was a canvas being painted over and over again. The motions were smooth and precise, a wonderful practiced rhythm with just the right amount of pressure.  The paints were silky at times, cool then warm, slightly scratchy then sticky. The smells were incredible; pleasantly floral, light and heavenly. I even once licked a slightly sweet honey from my lips. 

I encouraged myself to be present and in the moment. To allow complete relaxation while not falling asleep. To be appreciative of each stroking touch. 

I was rewarded by feeling lighter, a weight noticeably pulled away from me, replaced with a peaceful smile through me. The sensation was one I never experience before and long to feel again. 

An hour Timeless Facial at the Polynesian Spa was a unforgettable experience. 

Moment Lenses Comparison at Cape Reinga

   

Native Camera Lens

   

18mm Moments Lens

60mm Moment Lens

Cape Reinga

Being a spiritual person I enjoyed my too brief visit to this place on earth. I was ever so grateful to read the Māori beliefs that this most significant land held.  

A simple pōhutukawa tree that survived on a rock cliff for so many years, is known locally as the kahilka. Significant for many reasons, one is that it has never blooms and more importantly its roots help guide the dead to their final resting point. 

So many other plaques shared the Māori tales of awe and wonderment. 

To tourists the most obvious site is the lighthouse as it contrasts white among the greens and blues. I too was captivated by the scene. 

I used vividHDR to capture these images. The first one is without any lens attachments. The second is with Moment 18mm and the third is Moment 60mm. In my opinion, the Moment lenses are the best in the market. 

For fun I also included this mileage sign post that can be found at the base of the lighthouse. 

New Zealand Giant Dunes

Te Paki Stream and the Giant Sand Dunes

Excited is how I felt when driving the 3km from the main road to the Giant Dunes, hoping to explore both the dunes and access Ninety Mile Beach. Arriving about 8:30 am there was a couple eating breakfast at a picnic table and a photographer returning to his car, otherwise empty in this expansive landscape. 

At the end of the dirt road I was confronted with whether or not to drive down a sandy bottom stream to access the beach. The option was intimidating, so I chose to be smart, park the car and walk. Ugh... Even though I hate defeat, this girl knows her limitations. 

Along the shore there was evidence of many birds that spent their morning looking for morsels. Some prints were 4 inches long, while others were merely three dots clustered together. 

The stream was shallow, only 4" at the deepest point, with a firm bottom of rich red sand that had various patterns sculpted in it. Gorgeous!

After walking for about 15 minutes I had yet to reach the ocean nor could I see it, so I climbed up one of the massive dunes. Taking small steps and being mindful of my recent sprained ankle, it took some effort to reach the point to where a glimpse of the Tasman Sea was present. 

With the dunes still towering above me and the sea so far in the distance I felt very small, very humble. I sat. While sitting I began to hear so much:

A slight breeze 

Trickle of the stream

Ocean waves crashing in the distance

Faint sporadic variety of bird calls 

A fly buzzing past

And at the same time it was almost silent. 

After a few moments the artist in me was anxious to take some playful photos. So off I went with a photographer's eye looking at angles and for subjects. 

With all this searching about the dunes were quite messy with the presence of my butt and scattered foot prints. However the evidence of my adventure was only fleeting, as Mother Nature would easily blow away all evidence of disturbances in her dunes so simply, making the elegant patterns complete once again. I just love that!