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?!)

Lighting painting in the San Juan Islands - Racalling a great week at a DLWS workshop

Lighting painting in the San Juan Islands - Racalling a great week at a DLWS workshop, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

I have a few images that have been hanging around waiting for their turn in the limelight. You know, it sounds kinda silly, but these little files have waited around very patiently and to be honest with ya, are getting a bit upset about the new images from Europe coming in and muscling their way to the front of the line. I mean, that one yesterday totally cut in line like a Frenchman at a taxi stand at Gare de Nord!

Yeah, I know, just a bit weird.......

So this little group of images.....

Taken last year about this time at a really great workshop I went to called the DLWS or Digital Landscape Workshop Series run by Moose Peterson and Laurie Excel. If you are ever considering a workshop for your photography, I highly recommend it. I link to it on my blog. What I liked most about the experience was that it forced me to look around at all the opportunities that are available. When given a little time to let it all in, its refreshing to find a world that you might have not had a chance to really see. I guess it kinda hit me as a parallel experience to this summer. Sometimes you have to take yourself out of the groove.....way out of the groove.....to realize that you were actually in a rut. It happens to alot of us, I know. When you feel that happening, give yourself a chance to step back, open your eyes to what you have, reevaluate your mission, refocus, set some new goals, and get back into the game.

Driftwood....lotsa driftwood - San Juan Islands, Washington

Driftwood....lotsa driftwood - San Juan Islands, Washington, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Its been said by many that to excel in any endeavor, you must surround yourself with the right people. That concept rings so true in the photo workshop environment. Although its been about a year since my trip to the San Juan Islands, that feeling of passion and teamwork is what I remember most. Its also quite fun to head out into a location and have the chance to see how your fellow classmates see the world. It was quite amazing that twenty to thirty sets of eyes in the same location actually did produce 20 to 30 unique interpretations! As in many areas of life, perspective is a personal path that you choose for your journey. It is with that perspective and vision that I continue to allow my mind to explore.

So, a little bit about this beach. Enough driftwood or what?! I usually love to find a bit of that when scouting a new beach or shoreline to photograph, but this was out of control!

Deep thoughts about days past

Deep thoughts about days past, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Depending on your perspective, it can be downright creepy or as I like to see it, fuel for the imagination. As life flies past us and we try to keep up with our lives while focusing on the moment and perhaps the immediate future ahead, it's sometimes nice to stop and unplug. I did just while at a photo workshop up in the San Juan Islands last year. While peaking into this old wreck, I tried to imagine what might have been part of the history of this dilapidated structure. Mind you, I have always seen the beauty of decay, but the feeling I was trying to connect with had nothing to do with the physical place. What celebrations had possibly occurred here. Was it a summer getaway for families to reconnect, tell stories by the fire, or get to know each other again. Did the old place house some sort of summer camp filled with youth creating fond memories for days ahead. If you really get a chance to slow down and "feel" the location, you can almost hear the voices. Truly, if these walls could talk (or at least whats left of them), I would love to listen :)

Afterglow Mausoleum in Friday Harbor

Afterglow Mausoleum in Friday Harbor, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

So after cruising thru a few images I have ready to regurgitate into the online world, I decided on this one. I have a couple like this that I might throw out there over the next couple of days. Images that I worked on, but have no real remembrance to what it was I was actually photographing. I kinda like that though. I seem to get a little carried away looking for compositions, color, details, and all that stuff and seem to, well, just bypass the real information like what the hell I am photographing!

While up in the San Juan Islands on a little photo workshop last year, I happened to stumble across this kinda bizarre little memorial of sorts out in the woods. I remember some very unique and strange details....like 7 columns, one column incomplete, 6 chairs....I am sure it all had some sort of signifigance. Also, the fact that it was in the middle of the forest added to the mystery. I bet it's pretty spooky at night actually! Anyway, thanks to the internet, here a little more, or shall we say ALOT more, about the site.

Real actual information about the location!

Driftwood for days

The South Florida coastline, as unique as it is, is kind of dull for me as a photographer. I am always on the prowl for details to use as subjects. Rocks, shells, driftwood, garbage......well, maybe I would pass on the garbage. That being said, I just about jumped out of the car before it was completely stopped when I found this gem of a site. For some reason, this beach in the San Juan Islands in Washington State had what appeared to be a complete forest of driftwood stung out all over it. Score! For what seamed like a couple of hours, I climbed all over these huge logs, branches, and twisted trees like an 8 years old at the monkey bars. Its processed a bit dark, but works for me this evening. Enjoy :)

Old boat outside the harbor

A photo workshop is a cool environment to be a part of, but wandering the island after the workshop was over was kind of rewarding as well. I found a few disintegrating jewels on this trip. I have always found the beauty in decay of just about anything in my travels, and this little boat just seemed to be a perfect subject.

San Juan Island-sunrise

As I finally make it back to the hotel after a late night load in here in Tampa for a Superbowl Party, this sunrise shot represents what is about to happen oh too soon!

reflections

In an ongoing promise this week, I am trying to post some simple and uncluttered images. Not sure why.....maybe because it's in sharp contrast to the week we have ahead of us at work....anything else but simple. As always, even with all the chaos that is bound to unfold as the week progresses, I am sure we will come out shining. We always do! I have a great team and after the last 2 days, I think we are off to a great start.

Anyway.....

This one was created while I was in the San Juan Islands a few months ago. I noticed Laurie Excel taking shots of boat reflections and decided to do the same. This one was created with multiple images and then layers were created in Photoshop. I then used layer masks, multiple blend modes, and.....

Ahh, who am I bullshittin', I can't remember exactly what I did at all!

My only regret is that I didn't capture more of these. I kinda like this one. Hope you do too :)

Lone tree along the edge of the Island

After the group had left Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, a couple of us decided to head out on one of the whale watching boats. Although, the trip only offered a few glimpses of seals, I was rewarded with some great conversation. Mark Kettenhofen was with us from Nikon. He was there as a guest teacher on the DLWS workshop. While we were out on the boat, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the unique topography of these barren islands as they passed by. An occasional boat house here and there, rocky coastlines, crashing waves, deer running across the dry grass hill. Almost like they were chasing the boat as we cruised along the coast.

Anyway, getting back to Mark..

We talked about a book of his that was due out called "America from 500 feet 2". All of it was shot from an ultralight by he and Bill Fortnoy......talk about a cool project! I haven't bought it yet, but I plan to. If you get a chance, check out this link. Very slick site !

www.americafrom500feet2.com

Fence

Off to O'ville (Orlando) for a short getaway (too short actually). See ya Monday evening :)

Dock detail

Well, since i've been posting a few images from my trip a few months back in the San Juan Islands, guess I'll continue. I have a file of processed images that I have already worked on for just such days. I keep them there as I think they deserve a life......even if just for one day. Go go my little image......off into cyberspace.....enjoy (my God, that sounded stupid!)

Oh Yeah, one more thing (if your still reading this that is)....I updated my portfolio on my NAPP site (quite possibly, the worlds best photoshop training organization ever) and my portfolio made the editors choice this week! I am one of 6 photogs that they chose! Kinda cool :) Here is the link....

http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/image/155190

Driftwood Sunset in the San Juan Islands

I am not sure quite how it all got here, but the hundreds of thousands of logs and driftwood outside of Friday Harbour in the San Juan Islands made for a pretty cool subject. I found myself climbing all over these like a kid.....looking for the "perfect perspective. More to come someday (if I can find the time to process them), but for tonight, it was this ones turn.
More from the weekend events to follow soon.

For now, hope you enjoy this one :)

The edge of the Island

Enjoy....

Mike, that's it? Nothing profound to say about the image?

Well, not really...

Okay, well, where is it from at least?

Oh, sorry.....The San Juan Islands....

And?

Well, kinda tired....that's it really....

Allrighty then.....guess that's it....

Geeeez!

(Seriously, thanks for viewing! )

Follow the tree

One of the coolest things about being on a photo workshop is to see how everyone else sees the same area. If you are ever considering it, I think its a great way to spend a few days with like minded people. Moose Peterson and the great folks at the Digital Landscape Workshop Series ran a pretty well oiled machine....a nice balance of shooting time, classroom sessions, and inspirational talks.

We had arrived at this location here in the San Juan Islands outside of Seattle, WA for an afternoon shoot. I was personally on a mission to do a little infrared capturing of the warm fields of dry grass and these most unusual trees.
Hope you like :)

Sails down

Here's one that I captured in the San Juan Islands this summer. Although it has nothing to do with where I am now, it does resemble the rays of sun that are going to be beaming into my hotel room here in Miami to wake me up in about 3 hours. Thats of course if the jack hammering, hammer drilling, and general cacophony of maintenance sounds don't wake me up first! Video is the only way to tell this story, and oh boy, do I have a few clips to post. Look for more on that soon!

Perspective

It's amazing what you can see if you really open your eyes...

For starters, there are many ways to view the same thing....

Perspective....it's all in how you look at it....

Hmm.....makes you think a little bit.....

Very profound Mike...., but....,..... Whats with all the dots.... ?

Net in the Sunrise at Friday Harbor :: HDR

I really don't have anything profound to say about this because I am watching the VP debate, so, enjoy! And, oh yeah, if you are an American and are reading this, remember to vote! If you live in a country that has this privilege, you should embrace it.

Lighthouse in the San Juan Islands

This little lighthouse was perched on the hillside in the San Juan Islands. As everyone was on the left side working with a flash system with a "Salty Dog" model that Moose setup, I decided to investigate the uncrowded right side. This little lighthouse was on stage with a very blah sky, so I decided to overexpose with the intent to paint in a cool texture later. Hope you like!

Lines from Hut to Hut

I can't tell you what these buildings are for the life of me. I captured this design while in the San Juan Islands near Roche Harbor at a place called English Camp.

Here's a bit of info on it from Wikipedia if you are interested:

San Juan Island National Historical Park, also known as American and English Camps, San Juan Island, is a U.S. National Park on San Juan Island in Washington, made up by the sites of the British and U.S. Armies' camps during the Pig War. Both of these camps were set up in 1859 as response to a border dispute triggered by the killing of a pig. The camps were occupied for 12 years, until the Treaty of Washington was signed, negotiated by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany. The British abandoned their camp in November 1872, while the American camp was disbanded in July 1874.[3]
The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961,[1] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.[2]
The park is divided into two parts; an American Camp where US soldiers were stationed, and an English Camp, where the British Royale Marines established a garrison. English Camp is the only part of a US national park that commemorates an English military site and the only one that flies the British Union Flag.