Category: Photography

Mysterious Leaves

Published / by adminjc / Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone,

I’m always looking for interesting things to photograph. Backgrounds, textures and interesting subjects can be found anywhere. The other day my wife and I were taking our evening walk, and in a neighbor’s yard I saw some interesting leaves on the ground. They were brown, with a dusting of white that almost looked like frost. They were also in interesting shapes, including twists and curls.

I grabbed a handful of leaves, brought them home and photographed a few of them in a Foldio 3 light tent. I had some nice graphic images, but I wanted something different, so I one of started playing with one of the photos in Smart Photo Editor. I bought this program many years ago and always have fun playing with it.

After trying many images, I came up with ten that I thought looked good. Here are a few of the images I created. I hope you like them.

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Let me know if you have any questions about the images or how I made them.

You can check out ON1 here https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz Use my 20% discount code, colburn20 for ON1 Photo RAW, or its plugins. The discount can’t be combined with other discounts.

You can purchase these images, and many other images of mine, on various products at my RedBubble shop here www.redbubble.com/people/jeffcolburn/shop

Have Fun,
Jeff

ON1 Effects, version 2023.5 free until 1/31/2024

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

I have great news, ON1 Effects (regularly $69.99) is free until January 31st for anyone. (free license to own, not a subscription). It can be used as a plugin or standalone product.

Key Features:

  • Extensive collection of photo effects, filters, and presets
  • Stackable effects for customized edits
  • Game-changing Super Select AI for effortless enhancements
  • Mask AI for precise masks without tedious brushing
  • Customizable AI Adaptive Presets for one-click solutions
  • Use Layers to create quick composites, blend multiple images, paint in new skies or backgrounds

Head on over now to get your FREE copy here https://www.on1.com/effects

Have Fun,
Jeff

An Old Water Tower, In Sepia

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Lately, I’ve been getting the urge to do some black and white images of modern looking architecture. There’s nothing in my town, or within a half hour drive. Just old buildings from a ghost town and Native American ruins. But nothing modern looking.

So I drove an hour up to Flagstaff, Arizona, but nothing modern there either. I did see this nice water tower. It looked old, so I decided to give it a sepia look. I processed it in ON1 Photo RAW and tried several different sepia presets with a film look, and settled on this one, “Black and White Alternative BA10.”

an old water tower, in sepia
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I finally managed to find some nice modern architecture an hour away, in Phoenix. I just took a few images on my trip there, but will be going back in February to take many more photographs. I’ll be posting some after I process them.

You can purchase this image on various products at my RedBubble shop here www.redbubble.com/people/jeffcolburn/shop

Check out ON1 Photo RAW at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Use my 20% discount code, colburn20 for ON1 Photo RAW, or its plugins. The discount can’t be combined with other discounts.

I hope you have a great New Year.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Video – How I Processed This Image – Sunset At The North Rim Of The Grand Canyon

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Check out my latest video, “Sunset at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon” at https://youtu.be/cnXhJNxzL90 and learn how I created and processed it using ON1 Photo RAW.

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You can see all of my videos on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcd8nqgH0CiaveaIlKbE1mA

You can visit ON1 here https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz Using this link will give me a little money, costs you nothing and lets me keep making videos.

You can also use my 20% discount code: colburn20

Have Fun,
Jeff

Old School in Globe, Arizona

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Photographers have many different reasons to photograph something. Some record beautiful, or strange, places and things. Others like to make all kinds of photographs of people, and others use composites to bring their imagination into reality.

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One of the reasons I take photographs is to record history before it vanishes. Some of my photographs include giant Ponderosa Pines that have died, ancient Native American ruins and old buildings.

This photograph was taken in Globe, Arizona. It shows the Hill Street School that was built in 1920. It’s a beautiful old building with lots of broken windows that give it character. The image was taken several years ago, and I was planning to go back next year to take more photos of this gem. Then I saw on the news that the building was being completely renovated to provide 26 apartments for seniors.

While it’s nice that the building will be put to good use, it is one more historic building that is being renovated to look brand new.

But I have my photos, and the historic, and original, look of this building is preserved for future generations.

Why do you take photos? Post your answer in the comments below.

I processed this image with ON1 Photo Raw. Check it out at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Use my 20% discount code, colburn20 for ON1 Photo RAW, or its plugins. The discount can’t be combined with other discounts.

ON1 also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk to you.

Give the just released ON1 Photo RAW 2024 a try, and save some money too.

Have Fun,
Jeff

A Tarantula At Our Front Door

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

The other night I found this cute little tarantula at our front door. I used to see them often around our house, but this is the first one I’ve seen in several years. I think that climate change and city growth may have reduced the tarantula population. It’s nice to know they are still around.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Eclipse – October 14, 2023

Published / by adminjc

I hope you were able to see the eclipse. I couldn’t get the special solar glasses, but life provides.

This image of the eclipse was provided by a bush just outside our front door.

And this image was created by the slots in our blind over one of our windows. Nature is truly amazing.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Tracking Fall Colors 2023

Published / by adminjc

Global Warming could make this an interesting season for fall colors. With the flooding, excessive heat and numerous wild fires, I’m not sure what to expect. Hopefully, the reds, yellows, oranges and other colors will be popping up soon, so grab your camera and take some great photographs of Mother Nature’s big show.

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To help you get the most out of your shooting, I’ve updated my annual list of links about fall colors and where to find them. Since I live in Arizona, I’ve put together a special section for my state. But I also have an extensive listing for the rest of the country and a listing for Canada. There are also links to articles to help you take great photographs of Nature’s display of color.

As you go to these websites, you will often find many links to other sites. You could easily spend an entire day following link after link, or just go to the main pages I have listed here.

I hope you get some fantastic photographs this year. Feel free to leave a comment with a link to your images of changing colors. I’m sure everyone would love to see them. And if you have a favorite place to shoot that’s not on my list, let me know.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Leaves changing color
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Arizona

  • Fall Colors on the Coconino – This Coconino National Forest site explains why leaves change colors, what trees produce what colors, and hikes to see this wonder of nature.
  • Fall Colors in Arizona – Links to sites for fall colors, broken down by the month they change color.
  • Leaf-ometer – It tells how the leaves are changing around Flagstaff.
  • The Pinal Mountains near Globe offer several trails with maples, sumacs and sycamores that change color. Colors usually peak in late October. Check out the Ice House Canyon trial, Six-Shooter Canyon trail and the Pinal Mountain Range. Ice House can be hard to find, so get directions from the Ranger station in Globe.

The Rest Of The Country

There’s a National Fall Color Hotline too, 1-800-354-4595. Call this number and choose the area of the country you’re interested in and get information on leaf color, scenic drives, peak times for the colors and other fall activities.

Aspens on the Kachina Trail kachinatrail-0098
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Canada

Articles

Save 20% on ON1 Photo RAW

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

I have some great news for you. You can save 20% on your purchase of ON1 Photo RAW products.

ON1 Photo RAW

ON1 just gave me a 20% discount code, colburn20, which you can use when purchasing ON1 Photo RAW or the ON1 plugins. The discount can’t be combined with other discounts.

You can purchase ON1 here https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz or sign up for a free 14-day trial.

ON1 also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk to you.

Give ON1 a try, and save some money too.

Have Fun,
Jeff