Park Sunset v3

One of those sunsets from Collierville. I added just a little bit of magenta to the midtones. If you couldn't already tell. ;-)
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/4 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/29
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 25mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, levels, blended, saturation, color balance, dust cloning, border.

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Currently Listening To: David Bowie - Diamond Dogs - Singles Collection Vol. 1 - 2000

Hi. This is Alicia. I am the reason Patrick hasn't posted really anything lately. He has been pretty busy. So I am finally back in Martin and starting classes again Monday. The first couple days of classes are never fun, but luckily I have some friends in most of my classes which should help the situation. My younger sister is a freshman at Martin this year. WOO HOO! I am pretty excited about that (obviously). It will be nice having her around. Luckily she is tons of fun so Patrick and all my friends love her too.

I really feel like this would be a good spot to put a picture. First of all, I have none to put on here. Second of all, trying to change one of Patrick's pictures on photoshop as a joke could go terribly wrong. Third of all, the only thing I would be able to do on photoshop would be to change the picture to black and white or duotone (and even then, it would probably take me a while). But just me talking about not having a picture took up a lot of space and time, so I'll move on.

So to everyone, have a great year whether you are starting school again, or working, or you know...doing other things. Stay safe, try not to get too stressed out about unimportant things, and choose good activities.

o rly?

The developers must've noticed Barrens chat and figured "hey, let's make a joke." Because really, who ever heard of the name "Yarly" ? Even in a fantasy game. Haha.. oh well, funny stuff.
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Joel came over the other day! That was awesome.
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Alicia comes "home" tomorrow! That is awesome.
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Currently Listening To: Prince - Little Red Corvette - 1999 - 1983

Confused?

Kleine Häuser

Shot these at Grand Rivers, KY. They've been there for years, I don't guess they're for sale. Anyways, they remind me of this old Polish movie I saw years back. It was about a witch that lived in a house much like the green one towards the center of this picture. I don't remember much, but I know it was friggin' awful. I really liked the colors of the original, but it didn't make it stand out. It was "okay" but not "special." So I decided to go with the memory of the old movie I saw. I remember it had a greenish tone (like expired film), but the color red jumped out. So I went for a happy median. A Curves layer for cross-processing set to an opacity of about 60%.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo, Just In Case There Wasn't Enough Of That Above-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/15 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/3.5
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 22mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, levels, cross-process, saturation, border.

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Currently Listening To: Yngwie Malmsteen - Braveheart - Facing The Animal - 1998

Hey Alicia

Thanks for the comments babe, a very welcome surprise! Even twice. ;-)

I love you!

Vinsten's Re-Education

The road to being promoted in the guild "Evil Ones" is a little more than... bumpy. Try taking a trip across the world to a forest full of beasts I can't even see the levels of (Feralas). Then being ordered by Big Brother to take off everything except my guild tabard (though I still have my Azure Silk Hood on here). Then to be summoned to none other than The Two Collosals, with the rest of the guild there (including my brother). These are places so tall, that when viewing from the bottom, the game "fog" meant to clip out terrain at max distance (my slider is at max too) begins to clip the mountain. Well, when I was summoned, I dropped right on the very edge of the cliff, but not off. I was supposed to fall. So BB duels me, I don't attack. Whoever attacks BB is a traitor and guilty of treason against The Party. He casts fear on me, intending for my body to go running off the cliff. My uncontrolled body runs all along the edge, but not off. Again, I was supposed to fall. So finally, he tells me I must prove my loyalty to BB by throwing myself off. I say "gladly!" and throw myself off.

Bam, dead. The funny part is, the rest of the guild thought they were supposed to jump to... and they jumped right after me. BB and I were unlucky enough to fall just short of the bottom floor, and (we're both locks) neither of us thought to Soul Stone so we could rez ourselves. He didn't think to because he didn't plan on everyone jumping. I didn't think to because I didn't know what we were going to do. Haha.. so a good 40 minutes is speant ghost walking from the graveyard to our bodies, and then figuring out how we were going to get to them. Kaputt managed to hit the bottom floor, as did Pub I think. Anyway, it was good fun and a comical unintended mass suicide. And I am now a member of the Outer Circle. Woo! Didn't think that remembering so much from 1984 would benefit me in WoW.

My bones, Derbose's (BB) bones, and the bones of I think.. Kaputt after trying to leap down so he could rez us. Hehehehe...
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Currently Listening To: System of a Down - Needles - Toxicity - 2001

Magical

One of those times when I look at something that no one else would look at and see it in black and white. Suddenly, it clicks and becomes something beyond real. Something that doesn't exist beyond imagination. Even though I can post process any of my shots into black and white, simulating any filter I want, it's always good to know I'm shooting B&W and only B&W. Lucky for me, I don't have to change out film rolls to take the same shot in color. Even still, I didn't take this one in color. To me, this only belongs in B&W. And its story belongs in my imagination.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): 350D's B&W Parameter Setting with Yellow filter
Shutter Speed: 1/60 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/9.0
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 55mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, levels, border.

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Currently Listening To: Yngwie Malmsteen - The Bogeyman - Unleash The Fury - 2005

Gaming (For Fun)

Ah, yes. I have returned to the warm fires of Orgrimmar, the burning hot sun of middle Kalimdor, and the insanely idiotic banter of "Barrens Chat." This is not my first venture into the World of Warcraft, though it has been nearly a year since my last visit. At this point I can't help but think "why did I ever quit?" I'm a level 25 Undead Warlock. This is the farthest I've ever played an Undead, let alone a Warlock.

Enough has changed since last time to respark my interest. First of all, the weather effects are amazing. Never had I played a game and felt as if I was really walking through a forest in the rain. Besides the weather effects, there have been many significant improvements to all sorts of things. For one, fishing is much more practical as they've added sagefish pools (special fish that restore mana as well as health) and debris (increased chances of "catching" items or boxes of stuff). This is very good, especially since I'm an Alchemist. This means I can catch some cool stuff while fishing for Oily Blackmouths or Firefins.

Anyway, a lot of this is making no sense, I'm sure. It's like describing D&D to my parents. The whole time they're trying to be nice but can't help but bring up the fact that I'm a total nerd and that "someone killed themselves because of D&D" even though that was more than 20 years ago. Well.. at least the sistuation they would be thinking about. But I've never attempted to discuss D&D with my parents, nor have I ever had enough reason to tell mom and dad everything I know about D&D (which is limited anyway).

Nathan made a rogue and played for a while, but has recently stopped for no good reason. Oh well, suit yourself I say. I'm enjoying the heck out of it and plan on making level 60 this time. Tomorrow I have a promotion "ceremony" in Feralas. This is more or less the entire guild (Evil Ones) coming and watching me do whatever the guild leader says... around a bunch of high level mobs. I can already see the hefty repair bill for all my equipment. But it'll be worth the guild rank of "Outer Circle." Oh yes, the guild uses the same ranking system as George Orwell's 1984. Sweet.

(Falling from the Zep before having enough health to survive the fall is a bad idea)

The Realm: Dalvengyr
The Name: Vinsten
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Currently Listening To: A Perfect Circle - Weak & Powerless (Tilling My Grave "Mix") - aMOTION - 2004

Woohoo!

She's coming back soon! I can't believe it's already been so long. I can't wait until she's only 30 minutes away. But I really can't wait until she's right beside me in time. This is a silly picture of her mini-golfing. Hehe.. just for fun.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/6 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/4.5
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 35mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, minor saturation increase, border, levels.

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Currently Listening To: Rammstein - Seemann - Live Aus Berlin (CD2) - 1999

Spore

Nothing much to say here, just some fungus I found while taking a walk one day. I wanted to get the full row of fungus, but knew that the shot would be too busy if I kept it all in focus. Lucky for me, the first couple pieces of fungus are in focus and not much else.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/60 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/5.6
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 55mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, minor saturation adjustments, border, levels.

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Currently Listening To: Third Day - You Are So Good To Me - Offerings II: All I Have To Give - 2003

Dizzy

This really makes me think of a desert, or maybe a really cold day. Working this shot was fun. I liked the way it was naturally, but I really found something different when I adjusted the colors and flipped it clockwise. So yeah.. I didn't shoot it planning on this much post processing, but it worked. Comments are welcome!
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/200 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/9.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55mm
Post: Processed RAW in CS2, color balance, border, levels, clockwise flip, 70% opacity cross-process layer.

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Currently Listening To: Evanescence - Call Me When You're Sober - Promo - 2006
(Promo is not the name of the album, DUH... But currently it's radio only, which means that it's on radio promo discs. And my brother downloaded it.. and.. wtf was I talking about. Why are you reading this? You're bored. Idiot. Don't talk to me like that. SFTU! OMG WTF. kthxbai

Happy Birthday Alicia!

I'll be back Thursday.
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Currently Listening To: Jewel - You Were Meant For Me - Pieces of You - 1994

Life: v5

This was a shot I had really been wanting to do for a while. I had never seen it done before. I know someone out there has, but I didn't see it. It's pretty hard to find a skinny tree with a bunch of other skinny trees several yards behind it! But I found this one and snapped off a few shots. I wish I had my tripod with me, I could've done an HDR. That or multiple layers to bring out the exposure of the foreground tree a little. Anyway, no big loss, I still love this picture as it is. My favorite part is the texture of the foreground tree compared to the trees in the shallow depth of field blur. But I will still take any critique. :)
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/13 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/5.6
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 39mm
Post: Processed RAW in CS2, color balance, border, levels, stamp tool on the of the blown out highlights towards the canopy.

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Currrently Listening To: Shiro Hamaguchi & Seiji Honda - Cosmo Canyon - Final Fantasy VII Piano Collections - 2003

No Hiking

Hmm, by signing and paying my ticket, not only do I plead guilty, but I waive my right to a TRAIL by the court. That really sucks! I had plans for that trail. I was going to hike that sunnuvagun. Oh well, seems I'll just miss out on the TRAIL by the court. This is a crop of a (bad) picture of my stopping violation. It actually means to say "TRIAL by the court." Obviously, someone screwed up. I wonder if this voids the ticket... Or if there really is a trail by the court and they really don't want offenders to be on it. "NO! This is a LAW trail! No criminals!"
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Currently Listening To: David Bowie - Always Crashing In The Same Car - Low - 1977

WHO KNOWS BOWIE???

A Small Moment of Truth

Matt... I've just got to say this. I think He Is Legend is one of the worst bands I have ever heard. They rank right there with Nickelback and all those crappy pop stars on my list of hated music. Seriously. I know you want so bad for me to like them, and enjoy cranking them in your car those few times I rode with you, but no. I refuse to like a band that sounds so friggin'... awful! If I could, I'd punch every single one of those talentless losers in the throat. Then I'd cut in between their toes with a dirty razorblade.

Other than that, you're not exactly on my good list. Between drinking and tobacco use, among other annoyances, I can't really see why I would want to hang around you much. First off, don't you ever bite Alicia again when she comes back. That pissed me off. Second, don't you ever try to kiss me on the fricking mouth again. I don't care if they dared you too.

That is all. Just got to thinking a lot tonight and decided it was time to get some stuff off my chest.
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Currently Listening To: The Fray - Fall Away - How to Save a Life - 2005

Life: v1

Ah yes, the "water on the grass" shot. This was shot after a fairly heavy rain one day after work. When I RAW processed it, I was sure to take out some of the warmth. I wanted that look of constant growth and health. It's usually a photography no-no to frame a shot so that the subject is centered. However, in this case I saw the subject as the "X" where the blades cross. Even then I wanted it close to the center since the flow simply worked better that way.
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Thanks for the comments Steven! Olympus has some good cameras. I would've got an E-system camera if it weren't for the price difference and lower selection of lenses. I love how their SLR's have a vibrating sensor to keep dust off. That is friggin' awesome.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/100 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/8.0
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 55mm
Post: Processed RAW in CS2, minor saturation decrease, border, levels.

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Currently Listening To: Dream Theater - Lines In The Sand - Falling Into Infinity - 1997

Lloth: v2

I love this little spider! I barely caught this little guy (or girl) as he/she was repairing its web after a heavy rain. Once it was done, it just curled up in the fold of a leaf. One of the 90 shots I took today after work. I was annoyed with most.. this lens is awful. Boo stock 18-55 Canon lens! Hooray Sigma! Or at least that 60mm Canon macro lens...
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizing Filter
Shutter Speed: 1/40 of a second
F/number (aperture): f/11.0
ISO: 800
Focal Length: 54mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, minor saturation increase, border, levels, noise reduced in NeatImage (the best noise profile app out there, in my humble opinion).

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Currently Listening To: CCP: Jon Hallur - Rose of Victory - EVE Online Soundtrack - 2001

Park Sunset v4

One heck of a gorgeous sunset from one of the parks in Collierville, TN. I had a fairly good time getting this set of photos, despite the mosquitos, heat, and dust on the CMOS sensor. The only subject more beautiful that evening was Alicia. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this photo, I put a lot of work into it, mainly in post processing!
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Filter(s): Kenko Circular Polarizer
Shutter Speed: 1/2.5, 1/2, 1/1.3 seconds
F/number (aperture): f/22
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18mm
Post: Processed RAW in CS2, three photos merged together using layers, variable exposures achieved by using reveal masks and white to black gradients. Minor saturation increase, color balance, levels adjusted for contrast, High Pass overlay for sharpening, and cloning out of dust specs caused by a dirty CMOS sensor (now clean).

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Currently Listening To: DragonForce - Once In A Lifetime - Sonic Firestorm - 2004

Resolved

I did something strange today. Someone from my past came in to eat today, someone that had hurt me pretty bad. I had struggled with it for a long time, hating her now and then. Ever since meeting Alicia, I have been happy about the way my life has been. Happy for every turn, every moment that brought me to her and made me someone that she could love. At first I didn't know how to react, no other customers were in the building, and I wasn't sure if she'd recognize me. I still don't know if she did. But even if she didn't recognize me, there was something I had to do for myself. A "I forgive you" and a "thank you for doing what you did." So I paid for her and her friend's meal anonymously. It seemed to have made their day, and I've felt like a huge weight just released itself from me. Thanks Leah, for doing what you did years ago. I'm with someone now that is everything I ever dreamed and more.
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Currently Listening To: Metallica - Outlaw Torn - S&M - 1999

28mm: Four

I've started a little series titled "28mm" . Quite simply, it's me, my 350D, and an old Vemar 28mm f2.8 lens (M42 mount, purchased for my Yashica). I don't know what the focal length adds up to on an APS-C sized sensor like the 350D's, but I know it really doesn't seem as wide as it did on the Yashica. That's fine though, it's easy to focus, and it's aperture closes from f2.8 to f22, without the M42 switch being tripped (like my 50mm Yashinon-DS). The lens is crying for a hood, any angle while in direct sunlight usually causes the lens to flare. It's okay sometimes, but other times it's far too much and certainly gives incorrect readings to the 350's exposure metering. Anyway! I love the "bubbling" in the deeper portions of this photo, combined with the warm tones, it really gives the sense of "heat" . This series is all about reacting to shots. Less planning and more shooting. It could be good, it could be bad. Either way, it's fun and a great way to use this used $30 lens.
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-Technical Mumbo Jumbo-

Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT)
Lens: Vemar 28mm Manual Focus
Filter(s): N/A
Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec
F/number (aperture): f/2.8
ISO: 400
Focal Length: ~28mm
Post: Processed JPEG in CS2, minor saturation increase, border, sharpened using High Pass filter, levels, color balance.

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Currently Listening To: Evanescence - Breath No More - Anywhere But Home - 2004