Bird....big bird....really big bird! (Blue Heron perhaps?)

Bird....big bird....really big bird! (Blue Heron perhaps?), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Just seconds after firing off a few exposures, this winged beast took flight. Guess he had more important things to get to?

You know, the nice thing about a slower economy and housing market is the opportunity for these critters to enjoy their native habitat a little more. There has been a lot of insanely selfish over development here is South Florida over the past few years. Neighborhood after neighborhood built on precious land full of houses that the end buyer could never afford in the first place, but I am sure you are quite aware of all that. I must admit, its nice to see it slow down a bit.

As far as this image, I did a little experiment with a couple of textures and a little Topaz filters. Hope ya like :)

Trecking about the Swiss Alps (gasping for air and thirsty as a dog!)

Trecking about the Swiss Alps (gasping for air and thirsty as a dog!), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Yeeeeup, I might have kept this one on the ole' stove a bit too long. Overcooked as it is, I still kinda like it.

I spent a bit of time on this hike, partially from not being in tip top shape, but also because there was so much to see. The clouds change up in a flash providing a constantly evolving feast for the eyes.

Isolation in the San Juan Islands

Isolation in the San Juan Islands, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." - George Moore

Is it me or are these weeks just flying by! Seems like our season just started out and bam....summer plans are being made, the South Florida events schedule is winding down, and....(insert third item for sentence balance...sorry, I can't think of one...)

I tell ya, if it wasn't for weddings, I don't know what we would have done this year. Of course, I have a little bit of a back log of images to get to, so stay tuned :)

Speaking of weddings, tomorrow finds me hopping over the pond a bit to the Bahamas for, yes you guessed it, another wedding! This is just quick look see at the event space to fine tune the logistical plans for the tech side of things. If all goes well, it will be a nice destination event for us towards the end of May!

Hope you have a great week and hope you like the quotes. My time recently has me searching a bit in the self growth area as you might have guessed. More on that soon too :)

Stumbling about the beach in the San Juan Islands

Stumbling about the beach in the San Juan Islands, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

And on a totally unrelated note...

"Remember that after browning the fish and then placing the pan in the oven for 20 minutes, the metal handle is really not quite ready to grab after just 1 minute on the stove top. I indeed have the burn marks to prove it after this evenings fiasco in the kitchen."

(just a little nugget of insight for ya)

Cheers everyone :)

Colorful muck along the shore in the San Juan Islands

Colorful muck along the shore in the San Juan Islands, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Feel like taking a walk in the nuclear sludge? Its no secret that HDR really pulls out the color in a scene....color that may or may not have actually been there! As is so often the case, its all up to the artist...or in this case...me :)

I remember not a couple of short years ago, a fellow photographer and digital artist in an attempt to apparently speak his mind at a training class shouted out something like "of what value is this HDR stuff? You'll never see it in any publications or ads!" Wow, kinda shortsighted indeed. Just the other day in fact, I opened up a copy of National Geographic Explorer and counted over 15 images that were obviously tweaked. From ads to feature stories, lets face it, HDR processing is now a widely accepted technique as well as art form.

As promised this week....music to enjoy the image by. (could you imagine tuning that thing by the way?!)

Palm Beach - a special place

Palm Beach - a special place, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Sometimes I forget how lucky I am. In fact, just the other day I took a knee jerk reaction turn and headed over the beach with my little one after school and pounced about in the sand (not here as this is the intracoastal.....beach is much cleaner!). After spending a few wonderful moments there, I had to stop and wonder what in the world has prevented me from taking the 7 minute trip from my place over to this paradise recently.

In continuation of my little theme this week, I am posting a link to the music that inspired my creation of the image this evening. I first heard Josh Varnadore perform this live last year at a church that we were lighting a Passion Play in. I hope to hear more from him someday! Very catchy tune and a wonderful message. Hope you like :)

A hike in the Swiss Alps - Zermatt

A hike in the Swiss Alps - Zermatt, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

I've been searching for "themes" of sorts to tie in my blog posts for the week, or at the very minimum....nuggets of wisdom. Not sure if any of that makes sense in the slightest, but yet I plunge forward....

Music is powerful. It is quite often the catalyst for setting the mood when I head out for capturing the feel of the location and......(good grief, this is going absolutely nowhere....)

aaaanyway, hope you like what I created in post. I applied a bit of a painterly look with Topaz and of course, photoshop. And as far as the music that drove the mood? (I guess thats the theme of the week....The music that drove the mood!)

In a spiritual place - St. Pauls Cathedral

In a spiritual place - St. Pauls Cathedral, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

My posts of recent seem to find me searching through the ever deteriorating file of finished images in a desperate search for the "Image of the day." I guess this one works as this evening brings a close to one of the holiest days of the year for Christians.

I have designed, programmed, and operated lighting and effects for countless passion plays and church performances over the past 25 years. Today was no exception. I must admit, it doesn't matter how many times I run the ques, I can never quite make it thru the run of the play without viewing a portion of it thru tear filled eyes. When the synergy of the stage drama, music, sound, costuming, and lighting all come together in its beautiful harmonious blend, we're in the zone. Its with that passion that I embrace the art of "painting with light". How wonderful to be able to apply this gift with such a wonderful message. Thanks Robert and all the great folks at The Covenant Center for allowing me to be a part, once again, of such a wonderful presentation. I look forward to the next one!

An infrared look in Jupiter, FL

An infrared look in Jupiter, FL, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?" ~Howard Ikemoto

How cool is that quote? It is so true. I have frequently said, that we are all born artists. Its a shame that somehow, just beyond youth, life seems to get in the way while our current society tends to beat that out of us. For the lucky few, the journey eventually brings you back to that opportunity to speak from within.

A brilliant display to end the day - West Palm Beach, FL

A brilliant display to end the day, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

"Everything in creation has its appointed painter or poet and remains in bondage like the princess in the fairy tale 'til its appropriate liberator comes to set it free." - Ralph Waldo Emerson