That Faded, Old Film Print Look

Waikiki Beach, by Reed A. George

 

I have no idea why I occasionally find it fun to take a decent digital photo and do my best to make it look like it was taken with a toy camera with cheap plastic lens. But, I do.

 

I wonder how long this type of manipulation will remain in demand? It seems like as soon as no one (or very few people) know the true look of old faded film images, this will go away.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Storm Approaches the Manor House - Lumix DMC-LX100 and Snapseed

I ventured out from the office today as a storm approached. Here's my interpretation of the scene.

Storm Approaches the Manor House, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f8, 1/250 sec.

Manipulated in Snapseed on iPad

 

Here's the original image from the LX100.

 

The springtime seasonal allergies are killing me right now, so I paid the price for being outside. But, the clouds were so dramatic, I had to run out and get the shot. The Panasonic DMC-LX100 made that very easy.

 

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Live Oak Tree - Lousiana Plantation - From Raw Image to Interpretation

I just returned yesterday from the LHSA (International Leica Society) Spring Shoot in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

One of our (brilliant) activities was a visit to Belle Haven Plantation, which has been closed to the public for many years. We were extremely lucky to get access. The enormous live oak trees on the property were so beautiful. Here's a raw image that I took of one of them.

 

Live Oak, Starting Image, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Summicron 35mm f2 Lens

iso 400, f5.6, 1/60 sec.

 

I walked out into a huge puddle of standing water to get this shot. I exposed to keep the highlights from blowing out, knowing that I could recover detail from the shadows with the M9 file. Right out of the camera, it looks underexposed.

 

I decided to do a quick edit on the image in Snapseed, on my iPad. Here's the result.

 

Live Oak, Interpretation, by Reed A. George

 

I'm sure that I can make a nice straight image from this file, but I kind of like this manipulated version. I purposefully added the vignetting around the edges, simply because I like the look.

 

Maybe I'll post the same image processed in Lightroom with much less manipulation. It will be interesting to see which version I like best.

 

If you're interested in the LHSA, check us out by (Clicking Here).

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Playing With An Old Image - Pigeonholed

It's fun to go back and see what you were shooting several years ago, and with what gear.

 

Here's a shot I made ten years ago with my Nikon D70 (my first DSLR) and Nikkor 70-300mm ED lens:

 

Pigeonholed, by Reed A. George, 2004

 

I decided to play around with it a little in Snapseed on my iPad. Here's what I came up with:

 

Pigeonholed, Ten Years After

 

I understand that many will prefer the straight, original shot. For me, it depends on my mood. Tonight, I like the dark, slightly ominous version.

 

That old D70 was really a decent camera. Nothing to compare to my new Nikon Df, but still quite a camera. And the 70-300 ED lens was a pretty good zoom, too. Now I have replaced it with the VR version, which is even better.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Live Oak Tree, New Orleans' Audubon Park

Live Oak, Audubon Park, New Orleans, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 35mm f2 Lens

iso 200, f16, 1/60 sec.

Edited in Snapseed

 

On one day of my trip to New Orleans, I took the streetcar line to Audubon Park. Actually, due to construction on the streetcar system, I had to make part of the trip on a bus. In any case, the park is lovely. The light coming through the branches of the amazing, enormous live oak trees there was amazing, even mid-day on a clear, bright day.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Flight Delay - Thank Goodness for Snapseed

My airplane seems to have a "maintenance" issue, which is apparently interchangeable with a "mechanical" issue in airline terms. They seem distinct to me, but what do I know?

 

While I sit here waiting to hear whether I'll be home tonight or not, I decided to edit and post an image from Japan.

 

Japanese Garden, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

iso 200, f8, 1/60 sec.

Edited in Snapseed

 

The garden in our hotel in Hakone, a historic resort about an hour from Tokyo, has a stunning garden. I have been traveling and shooting a lot. This reminds me that I have a lot of material to edit from our Japan trip. More to come!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

My View of the World Today (May 3, 2014)

Due to the generosity of a friend, I'm relaxing in the French Quarter in New Orleans this weekend. What a great setting. You never know who's going to walk or ride by the open shutters.

 

Open Shutters, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

iso 200, f3.5, 1/500 sec., edited in Snapseed

 

 

I made a series of images of people and other things coming by the open shutters throughout the morning. Friends of the owner drop by and say hello from time to time. No agenda, no stress. I can use this once in a while!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Chinatown Sky, San Francisco

Chinatown Sky, by Reed A. George

Leica M6, Kodak 400 Color Print Film

 

I have always been attracted to the Chinese lanterns and dragon-design lightposts in San Francisco's Chinatown. In this shot, the clouds against the bright blue sky, boxed-in by the building roofs, provide a nice backdrop for them. The diagonal line of the lanterns also works for me.

 

This is a low resolution scan that I downloaded from The Darkroom's online site. I added some saturation in the lanterns, and darkened up the shadows under the roof eaves, and added the frame in Snapseed. I may do some more work with this image when the negatives arrive in the mail next week. I'm sure it will look somewhat different if I scan it at home and post process with Lightroom.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

DMC-LX7 Landscape in Two Versions - Which Do You Prefer?

Here's a shot I took in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii:

Lahaina Seawall's End, by Reed A. George

Panasonic DMC-LX7

 

I used Snapseed on the iPad to crop and straighten it. The square format worked much better than the original rectangular composition. I like the shot, but don't love it. The fence in the shadows is a major drawback in my opinion.

 

As I sometimes do, I took this image quite a bit further with some of Snapseed's effects. Here's the result:

 

Same Shot, Manipulated

 

Personally, I think the modified version has more feel to it. The fence is still there, but doesn't bother me nearly as much. I hate to admit that I enjoy manipulating images, as I consider myself a "straight" photographer. I also find it ironic to add imperfections to a perfectly good digital image. But, I do like the outcome.

 

Opinions?

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Snapseed - Too Much Fun

Here's a shot I took for work recently:

 

Unedited Shot

 

 

Pretty okay, I guess. Fun to shoot. But then I decided to play around with it in Snapseed. Here's the result:

Edited in Snapseed

 

I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I think this is really fun.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Some Fun With the Lumix DMC-LX7 and Snapseed

I am on the airplane, returning home from a visit with my parents in Oklahoma. I didn't do a lot of photography on this trip, but did get out for a morning hike at Roman Nose State Park, near the town of Watonga. Here's a simple shot I made of a butterfly at Roman Nose.

 

Backlit Butterfly, by Reed A. George

Panasonic DMC-LX7

 

Certainly what caught my eye in this instant was the backlighting, with the pattern showing through the thin translucent wings.

 

I thought I'd play around with this shot on my iPad, using Google's Snapseed program. Here's what I came up with:

 

After Snapseed Adjustments

 

In order to get this effect, I used one of Snapseed's vintage film colorations, cropping, and of course a custom frame. I tried not to overdo it. I find it reminiscent of cheap color print film and drugstore processing. Kind of fun.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Subway Snapshot - Japan

 

Subway Snapshot, by Reed A. George

 

I am struggling to get home tonight, returning from the International Leica Society (LHSA) Spring Shoot in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I am also struggling to get a post written today. Working on my iPod, without my normal bluetooth keyboard (due to airplane mode turning off bluetooth), I decided to go through the images stored on my iPad and pick an image I like. Here you see it.

 

I can't even remember which camera I used for this shot. My guess is it's the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7, but it could have been my Leica M9. I edited it on the iPad, using the photo editing app Snapseed, adding the framing effect and adjusting white balance.

 

I do know I shot it in the Kyoto subway. I like how both people are using their cell phones, and how the woman at left is looking at me. I can even live with the tilted perspective.

 

Thanks for hanging in with me on a challenging day for producing my blog post.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Google and Nik Software - Here's An Answer To The Naysayers!

 

Church on Kauai, by Reed A. George

Processed with Nik HDR Pro Software

 

Last October, I wrote an entry about the news that Nik Software had been purchased by Google.

 

(Click Here) to see that post.

 

Nik makes a suite of software products for digital photo processing - everything from black and white conversion to high dynamic range (HDR), and more. I only owned their HDR Pro product - until now. I have always been pleased with how HDR Pro works.

 

At the time the news of the Google purchase came out, there was a significant amount of speculation that this was bad news for serious photographers, that Google would focus only on Nik's low-end products for web use, etc. I wasn't so sure.

 

I'm happy to report a couple of things that show Google's really in this for the good of photographers as well as casual snapshooters.

 

First off - they've slashed the prices on the whole Nik Suite. I remember seeing it for ~$400 before the Google purchase. Now, it lists for $149!

 

(Click Here) for an article on the price cut on USA Today's website.

 

I think this is great news. You get the significant horsepower and development capabilities of Google at a MUCH lower price than when the company was independent. Hard to complain.

 

Next, I heard a rumor that if you owned any Nik software from the past, even a single package (like me), you could get a free download of the entire suite. Sounds too good to be true. So, I tried it. I went to the Nik homepage, found the contact page, and asked the question. I was completely honest, told them I only owned HDR Pro, and had heard a rumor. They replied very rapidly, asked for my HDR Pro product key, and affirmed that I can receive the entire suite! I haven't received it yet, but expect to very soon. Wow. That is customer service.

 

(Click Here) for Nik's contact page.

 

So, while they sometimes definitely are, big companies aren't always the evil empire. Thanks, Google!

 

One more thing - Nik's lower end product, Snapseed, is also very cool. Search my blog if you want to see a few examples.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

My new Kindle eBook on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7, how to set it up and use it, is available here:

 

 

 

Spanish Girl on Train

I took these two shots on a train, on the way to the Spanish coastal city of Sitges. Individually, I don't think they say much. Together, they remind me of some of the details of the day - the weather, the sounds of the train on the tracks, the day we had exploring the Mediterranean beach and sights.

Spanish Girl on Train, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Processed with Snapseed

 
I'm in the process of working out how to use my iPad for photo backup on travel. I'm not quite there yet. As a result, these pictures don't have metadata associated with them (a problem I think I know how to fix), so I can't say the exposure details at this point. Not that they matter much - it's the feeling and details of these shots that mean something to me.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 

Street Portrait, Barcelona

 

Killer Scarf, Beautiful Smile, by Reed A. George

Panasonic DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.6 Lens

 
As we were leaving the Segrada Familia (incredible cathedral by Gaudi' in Barcelona, Spain), this was a shot that I just had to get. What first caught my eye was the design of her scarf. Her face was hidden, as she looked down at a map or guidebook. I walked past her, but just could not go on without at least asking if I could take her picture.
 
I simply said "May I take your picture? I love your scarf." She nodded, smiled, and we were off. If I'd missed this shot, it would have been in my mind forever. I'm so glad I caught it.
 
Oh, by the way, I promise to post something without Snapseed processing tomorrow...
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 
 

Snapseed and Barcelona - Do They Mix?

Well, by the time this posts, I'll be home. But, I wanted to show a few images I've processed using Snapseed, an app on my iPoad, on our family trip to Barcelona, Spain. Snapseed makes it fun and easy to really add some character to your images.
 
These were all shot on Panasonic cameras (either DMC-G3 with 14-140 f4-5.6 or 25mm f1.4 Summilux, or the DMC-LX5). I'm too tired this evening to look up the details... jet lag, you know.
 

Enlightened, by Reed A. George

Le Meridien Stairway, by Reed A. George

 

Textured Steel, by Reed A. George

 
I know, I always say that I'm not into processed images. But, Snapseed sure makes it fun. I hope you don't mind this departure from "straight photography." I think they all give a nice feel for my experience so far in Barcelona. What an incredible place.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 

Before and After - Some Fun With Snapseed

Here's a rather pedestrian shot of an old telephone pole that I recently took in New Hampshire.

Before - Old Telephone Pole, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8

iso 200, f8, 1/125 sec

 
I really like the details in the pole, and the old wires hanging down. But, it was literally in the middle of a swamp, and I couldn't get a better perspective on it.
 
I decided to play with the image in Snapseed on my iPad.
 
(Click Here) for info on the mobile version of Snapseed.
 
Anyway, I did a few things to the image in Snapseed. First, I converted it to black and white, then, I used the tilt and shift function to restrict focus to the center of the pole, then I applied some "grunge," and finally an organic frame and a little grain. Here's the result:
 

After - Disconnected, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8

iso 200, f8, 1/125 sec

Manipulated in Snapseed

 
I don't always go for manipulated images. And, I absolutely hate working at the computer as compared to being out using my camera. However, in this case, I think a few minutes on the iPad absolutely transformed this from a boring image to something at least a little intriguing.
 
All things in moderation, I suppose.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 

Manipulated Images - "Grunged Japan" by Reed A. George

I warned you - this post contains manipulated images. I just arrived home from Japan. For most of my trip, I had weak or no internet connection, so you can expect to see several posts about Japan now that I'm back and reconnected. On the airplane ride home, I experimented with some fun manipulations of Lumix images I took on the trip, using an iPad app called Snapseed.

 

(Click Here) to find out more about Snapseed.

 

Here are some examples:

 

Grunged Japan #1, by Reed A. George

 

 

Grunged Japan #2, by Reed A. George

 

 

Grunged Japan #3, by Reed A. George

Grunged Japan #4, by Reed A. George

Grunged Japan #5, by Reed A. George

 

Grunged Japan #6, by Reed A. George

 

Now I know these are not my normal images. That's the point. I wanted to do something a little different. Snapseed was just the ticket to accomplish that. I've used a pretty stochastic approach to these, and didn't follow any recipe. They include combinations of "Vintage Film," "Organic Frames," "Center Focus," and "Grunge" (hence the name of the series).

 

They are so manipulated, I think it suffices to say that all are Lumix photographs, taken with either a DMC-G3 or DMC-TS3.

 

Grunged Japan #7, by Reed A. George

 

I hope you don't mind indulging a little break from my normal style with me. I wouldn't want to use these effects every day, but they were a nice little diversion on the flight home.

 

Let me know what you think!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

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