Hello Again

[FrankMi]

I have been away from photography for about a year addressing a number of issues and I think it is time I got back into it.

After some soul searching on my part I think I know where I would like to fit in with my picture taking and processing. For starters, I find that I enjoy taking and processing images strictly for the fun of it, preferring to produce pictures that are enjoyable (at least to me) and pleasant to look at. I won’t be offended if you don’t like my work and I do listen to every critique that can help me be a better photographer so feel free to fire away and I will take all suggestions to heart.

Feel free also to take any of my images, change and repost it any way you feel will help improve them. I ask only that for the forum readers sake that you make it clear how you accomplished the changes as many of us may want to learn from your skills.

To accomplish my goals, I do not hesitate to use Photoshop CS5 and the Topaz Labs suite to get the best image I can from the capture I have and worry less about achieving technical perfection in-camera. That’s not to say that I don’t care about shooting accuracy or that I don’t lust over having a much better camera, but rather to say that a pleasing image satisfies me much more than an uninteresting subject that has been perfectly captured.

Most of my work is done with whatever natural light is available with the goal of producing the best looking, most interesting and thought provoking images I can. If the image is too ‘anything’ or the technique used is obvious, then it is a failure and I need to improve my skills in that area. I guess this means that I lean more toward producing artistic images and less toward photojournalism. I also like to constantly ask myself ‘what if’ questions then go on to explore different ways of producing images.

I have selected a few recent images for your consideration. All are hand held and shot with a Canon SX40. I don’t have any specific issues to resolve that come to mind but if you have questions or criticisms, please feel free to chime in.

Cartagena, Columbia



High Water Marks



Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at Universal Studios



Riverbanks Zoo Grizzly Bear Siblings



The Caribbean Princess at Dawn



By the Stream



And just for fun, The Grove Park Inn Fireplace as an animated GIF



For additional images, please visit Frostbyte.SmugMug.com

[Otavio]

Hi, Frank. Long time no "see"! It is good having you back.

Very nice "restart" shots. I liked them all, especially the Cartagena landscape and Hogwarts. On Hogwarts, though, there are some posterization lines in the sky.

Well done!

[Digital]

Frank, very nice images.


Bruce

[Dave Humphries]

Welcome back Frank, I have missed you.

My favourites above are;
Cartagena for the detail
High Water Marks for the symmetry and clarity of the receding bridge piers
Grizzly Bear Siblings for the well timed action shot

I have taken a lot of pictures since you were here last, but processed/published so few that your excellent sunset shot is still my PC desktop picture at home

I hope you are well, Dave

[dje]

Greetings Frank

Good to have you back. I see you haven't lost your touch ! Nice shots, I like 1, 3 and 4 in particular.

Dave

[Andrew76]

Hey Frank!!! Welcome home!

I'm glad you found your way back, I've sure missed your comments, photos, and critique around here.

Great shots, by the way.

[jamn4ex]

Hi Frank Glad to see you posting again. They are all enjoyable but the sibling Grizzlies are my fav.

[Kris V]

Hi Frank,
Great shots - I love the bears.
Welcome back. I missed your photos and comments.

[Donald]

Frank

How wonderful to see you posting again. One of the awful things about a forum like this is when someone who you feel is more of a friend (and I know this is just a forum and we don't really know each other) suddenly disappears, you fear all sorts of things may have happened. And the truth is, if something has happened, we'll never get to know about it. I am so happy to see you posting again.

[FrankMi]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and the kind comments!

Otávio, of course you are correct about the posterization lines and I would avoid those in any normal image. In this case I was looking for a way to convey a magical spell aura that would defend Hogwarts against the wiles of 'He who must not be named' so my goal was a bit different. I'm glad you like the image as I find it difficult to get a really good capture in an amusement park.

Hi Dave! I've missed our opportunity to banter as well so it's great to be back and see that I've not been totally forgotten.

Here is one of my favorite shots from this year, not because it's such a great image technically but rather because I was surprised that I could get an image at all. I woke before dawn on the last day of a cruise to find the ship wrestling with rough seas, over 50 MPH gusting winds and sporadic heavy rain. Just keeping my footing on deck was a concern. I liked the unusual weather-beaten look so I braced myself against a bulkhead in the dark, hoped that the image noise wouldn't overwhelm the results, and took a number of shots to try to capture the feeling. Most of the images were an expected failure but this one was the least marginal of the bunch. I hope you like it.



For an image from this vantage point, I never was sure if I should level the horizon, which can't be seen but the clouds give a good indication of where it is, or level the ship as I have done here.

Your thoughts?

[Wavelength]

Your images are truly splendid !!!!

[FrankMi]

Frank

How wonderful to see you posting again. One of the awful things about a forum like this is when someone who you feel is more of a friend (and I know this is just a forum and we don't really know each other) suddenly disappears, you fear all sorts of things may have happened. And the truth is, if something has happened, we'll never get to know about it. I am so happy to see you posting again.

Hi Donald, I apologize for not leaving a reason but I wasn't expecting to go or to be gone so long. A number of life's 'happenings' occurred and before I realized it, I hadn't been shooting or posting for quite some time. Things seem to be getting back to normal (whatever that is!) so I'm hoping that I can be a regular contributor again. Thank you so much for your concern. I saw your images in Colin's thread and my heart and prayers go out to you and your wife for a successful outcome. It is the images like yours that are so very precious and mean much more to us than all the others.

[Bobobird]

Welcome back, was wondering where you had gone off to...

Except 3rd all your usual brilliant self. You took a year off and still get this? Amazing!
I take 2 weeks off and am back to square one.

[FrankMi]

Welcome back, was wondering where you had gone off to...

Except 3rd all your usual brilliant self. You took a year off and still get this? Amazing!
I take 2 weeks off and am back to square one.

LOL, good to be back among photo friends! Yes, the 3rd and last image were both experiments and we all know how they can turn out!

Bobo, your 'square one' is so much more refined than mine, you've no need to fret!

[Daisy Mae]

I know this is just a forum

Say what???


Frank...Glad to see you back and to hear you are having fun with your photography. I am a big fan of fun!

Look forward to seeing more.

[JPS]

Nice to see you back Frank. I was only thinking about you a couple of weeks ago & hoping you were ok.
Welcome back.
John

[FrankMi]

Thanks Sharon and John. I fear I have some pent up images just waiting to be dropped on an unsuspecting forum but I'll try my best to pace the carnage out over time! Good to be back among my photo friends!

[Daisy Mae]

We are braced and ready Frank...do your worst!

You've been missed!

[FrankMi]

We are braced and ready Frank...do your worst!

Sharon, you have tempted be beyond my ability to resist! How about this?