Garage Sale Vol. 2

Good Saturday afternoon.  Last year, I posted a blog called Garage Sale Vol. 1.  Well, here is volume 2.  For today's entry, I wanted to share some pictures that I have recently taken or edited.  Each picture has a different focus so there is not a certain theme as to why I chose these pictures rather than other ones that I may have in my "library".

The first picture was taken before going to the Kevin Hart Comedy Show at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY.  This theatre is absolutely gorgeous.  I would hope that one day that I would have the chance to take pictures inside of the theatre.  If you have never been to the Palace Theatre or even the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, KY, I would recommend you visit for a show or even just to tour inside.  Oh and Kevin Hart was absolutely hilarious.  I almost peed my pants a few times as I was doubled over laughing the majority of the time.

The second picture was taken while in Franklin, KY at Loving Chapel Baptist Church.  The way the sunlight was entering through the window it highlighted the program that the woman in front was writing on during service.  The story behind this picture is the woman taking the notes is 80 years plus.  For years she has taken notes of each church service (songs, sermons, etc.).  On this day, I was able capture her doing something that she has done for year...

. 

The third picture was taken at Lake Linville in Rockcastle County.  I know that I have referenced this lake and pictures taken there a few times...so I will not elaborate more than to say...the view was wonderful.

The fourth picture is of a rose given on Valentine's day by a co worker's husband.  When waiting around for a file to print, I noticed that the rose viewed from this angle looked like a heart.

I chose the fifth picture because of the connection between the man and dog.  It is a little different than most pictures that I post on here because the pictures is of a person rather than a landscape or an object. 

The final picture was taken on Boonesborough Road (Hwy 627) one evening as I was coming through Winchester heading back home.  The lines in the sky go well with the lines of the horizon. 

As I said before...this is sort of like a garage sale.  I hope that you all have enjoyed these pictures as much as I have in sharing them with you.  I hope to post my more "artistic" pictures on my blogsite rather than posting them on Facebook.  Maybe one day I will get into Flicker, but who knows.  I want to thank each of you that view this site for your support and confidence with continuing what has now become a primary hobby for me.  I am excited about this year and hope to capture my life of adventures in pictures :).  Thank you for the opportunity to share with you my pictures, my thoughts, and my reasons on this blogsite.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!! (for more snow)

I can't wait for more snow.  This weekend, we finally got a good snow in Southern and Southeastern Kentucky.  The pictures on tonight's blog were taken outside of Williamsburg, KY near the home of friends.  After getting my car unstuck from the driveway (true story), I had my camera out taking pictures of the winter wonderland.  I did not get to take too many pictures as it was late in the evening on this day.  I will say this...that this snow wants me to have at least one more good snowfall before spring, especially one as beautiful as the past one that we experienced here. 

Last year, I mentioned about me being a "weather nerd" in training...well, it probably has gotten worse as I was following this previous storm closely on a weather blog written by the meteorologist Chris Bailey (http://www.kyweathercenter.com/).  If you have never taken the opportunity to view this website, then trust me...you are missing a treat.  Well, I hope that you enjoy these pictures below.  For those of you that did not receive anything in the recent snow, maybe you are like me and CAN'T WAIT!!! for another good snowfall.  To those that are ready for winter to be over...sorry :)



Why? Well, Whynot?

Good evening and Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!!  Most of the times, I blog about the pictures that I have posted, certain edits that I have used, the "why" of the picture, and give some background information as to why I chose to highlight a particular picture.  Well tonight, I will talk about the Whynots...or well, at least the ones that did not make the Facebook cut or did make it to Facebook, but was not really good.

In using Photomatix, I have found myself going back through old pictures and seeing if the edits will enhance the picture from its original.  I have quite a few pictures that do not make the cut.  It is easy to post 4 really good pictures (what I think are good pictures), but of those 4 there are hundreds (and I mean hundreds) that are sub average and down right poor.  The first picture is one those hundreds that did not make the cut.  I took this picture in rural Laurel County.  When I took the original picture, it was a cloudy day and the barn and shiloh were dark and dull.  I honestly forgot that I even took this picture until last night when I was going through a folder.  When I uploaded the picture using Photomatix, I was like WHOAAA...maybe I need to reconsider this picture and others like it that I have chalked up as one of the hundreds.

The second picture was taken on Kummer Road (Spraypaint Road) in Franklin, KY.  The picture was taken with a 2 minute exposure.  This picture was one that I posted on Facebook, but the spraypaint on the road was not highlighted.  So, when I uploaded this picture, I felt that I needed to resuscitate this picture back to life :)

The third picture was one of many that I took on a fall day at Eagle Lake in Morehead, KY.  I posted one of the pictures so there was no reason to post the others that featured the bench, trees, and reflections of water from different perspectives.  When looking through the set of pictures again, I chose this picture to edit using Photomatix and found that the program enhanced the color of the trees reflecting on the water.

The fourth picture was taken in Renfro Valley, KY.  The original picture's white balance was off and with it being a cloudy day, it did not turn out to be a good picture.  The Photomatix program highlighted the mill, which to me is the main focus of this picture.  Go ahead and say it...I am a sucker for reflection pictures... You know what...you're absolutely correct.

The final picture was taken in Larue County at the base of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park.  The picture was posted on Facebook, but compared to others that I have taken....I would rate it as sub average.  So, why now?  For me, the Photomatix program enhanced the spiritual feeling that I had when I took this picture.  This picture reminds me of a place in the Garden of Gethsemane where Peter, James, and John were waiting for Jesus as he walked further ahead and prayed.  I imagine them waiting for Jesus to return.  Where I took this picture, there was a little stream running behind me.  I felt that I could close my eyes and hear a man in the distance praying, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:36)

Rewind the Time

Good evening to everyone.  Tonight, I wanted to share some more pictures that I recently edited.  I am not trying to overuse the Photomatix program...but it is hard not to with some pictures.  I believe all of tonight's pictures were not posted on Facebook...for whatever odd reason.  Well, all except for the last two pictures.  The one of the grapes was taken using my Kodak Point and Shoot back in August 2010 at Talon Winery in Lexington.  Oh well...I'm tired, I will try to do better next time with commentary.  I will leave you with this...don't drive and shoot (Picture #1).  :)   

(I-75 North between mile marker 25 and 29 in Corbin, KY)

 (Taken in Morehead, KY)

 (Taken outside of Mt. Sterling, KY on Highway 11 before Fleming County)...please take notice of the rainbow.

(Road before Wood Creek Lake in London, KY)

(Talon Winery in Lexington, KY)

(taken off of Spraypaint Road - Kummer Road in Franklin, KY)

Pictures...RECHARGED

Happy Saturday Afternoon.  Today's blog features pictures that I took throughout the course of 2011, but "revisited" them to provide pictures for today's entry.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, I purchased a program called Photomatix (shoutout to DarthAngi).  I have used this program to provide additional edits to pictures that I have taken previously.  Let me know your thoughts on these pictures.

The first picture was taken at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County in Spring 2011.  I am considering this picture to enter into a couple of photo contests.  :) 

The second and third picture was taken in Chicago at Milennium Park.  While walking through the park, there was a couple taking their engagement or wedding photos.  The third picture was of a group of kids preparing for a quinciera.

The fourth picture was taken at the Daniel Boone Festival in Barbourville, KY in the Fall of 2011.  At the parade, this young girl was sitting on the fire truck with her parents. 

The fifth picture was taken in Chicago at Chinatown at a restaurant called Dim sum.  While waiting for our food, I tried to capture the image that my eyes were seeing, but unfortunately my camera did not...that is until I edited the image using HDR.

The final picture was taken in the fall in downtown Frankfort, KY. 







So, let me know what you think :).