Recently I took some photos over at the University of Richmond. And I actually cropped this photo to not include the lamp post because the light was not in focus. But now, with the help of PS Elements I’m able to make some different decisions regarding some of these photos. Include the actual sunset, not just the reflection in the windows and so forth. It’s very liberating and hopefully works for the viewer.
Yesterday on my walk around Maymont Park I spent some time with this cool bird, the Barred Owl. He only has one eye and if you’re an owl that’s a major problem. But he’s still standing proud and tall on his perch watching the people.
And then, today, I read this article about a plan to hunt the Barred Owl. And I’m thinking there’s a good chance that all the Barred Owls are going to the polls in November and voting NO to this plan. Or maybe I will have to cast a vote for them. Is this really necessary? Can’t we let the owls work things out for themselves? I don’t know how many programs I have watched about Africa where a big animal is stalking a small animal and people are watching or taking photos. Nobody would dare intervene in nature’s drama.
Only in America, I guess. Seems like politics is involved. I can understand why alligators and deer are harvested every year. But owls? What’s next? Near-sighted walkers who get in the way of bicyclists?
You might like. . .books about owls!
I have discovered a new, very relaxing pastime. It is using the cloning tool in PS Elements. In a way it’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle only not quite so exacting. It took me awhile to figure out exactly how this thing works. On this photo things seemed to go better if the photo was magnified quite a bit.
And the weeds went away! It was a lot more fun than actually picking weeds. And no need to clean up afterwards, either. I think there is a big improvement in this photo using this operation. But, as always, I’m open to different perspectives and hope to learn something every day from you, the reader. (Also it may actually matter whether you are looking for this sort of change in the photo or not in order for it to be successful.)
Today I took the walking routine to Maymont Park where the hills will wear you out and was happy to find they have lost their power! Twenty years ago they were killing me! So I guess you can be in better shape at sixty than forty. Or fifty than thirty! Or forty than 25!
Anyway, you get the picture. Here are some photos. The weather was fine. One of the horses looks like he has some problems and he is in a good place to receive the care he needs. One of the Red Tailed Hawks seems to be missing some feathers or maybe even most of his wing.
The sky was a nice blue with some wispy clouds. I have been studying Adobe Photo Elements lately and tried to use the clone tool on some of the clouds where they were blasted out. Let me know if any of them look like they are manipulated. The sheep photo may be a bit bright.
But it’s great fun playing with them (the tools…not the sheep). And I have been working on using manual controls with the Nikon D70. Understanding depth of field and the various combinations of shutter speed and aperture. Reading a great book about photography called Understanding Exposure. It’s all a little too much for my aging brain but the daily exercises with Lumosity are going well so maybe that will help.
I mention this to encourage anyone out there who feels like they are “losing their mind” to find it and make it stronger so it won’t get lost again anytime soon.
It really does pay, all joking aside, to work on the mind and body, especially as we get older. As someone once said, we do things to ourselves that would make us really mad if someone else did them to us!
Here are photos of a beautiful day at Maymont Park and the Japanese Gardens at Maymont with the animals.
