Author: adminjc

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

Shooting At The Arizona Renaissance Festival

Published / by adminjc

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is back. If you have not been to the Festival, you should go as there are so many diverse things to shoot there. You can photograph: performers, arts and crafts, buildings, people in costumes, weapons and much more.

I photographed this crystal at a booth that sells all kinds of crystals. I tried several different presets in ON1 Photo RAW to bring out the colors, and went with Vivid Landscape #VL7, then used sliders to boost the Saturation and Vibrance a little. I also used the healing brush to remove some scratches from the crystal.

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.

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

If you visit the Festival, post your comments and/or advice to other photographers in the Comments section.

Have Fun,
Jeff

Old Spring Houses

Published / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Here you can see two of the several old spring houses made by early settlers along the Lamar Haines trail in Flagstaff, Arizona. There is one on every spring in the area. The openings used to be covered by a door. Settlers would create them to keep the springs clean by preventing falling leaves and animals from getting into the water.

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While this was great for the settlers, it suddenly removed the water supply for the animals and insects. This would mean the animals, like deer, elk, rabbits and birds, would have to move elsewhere to find water. And the settlers wouldn’t have any animals to hunt for food.

The spring houses aren’t very large, and I would have a hard time fitting through the door. But you can usually reach the water without going inside.

The Lamar Haines trail is a very nice hike and we have taken it several times. If you know where to look, you can also find Native American pictographs. But be aware that parking is very limited.

You can purchase this image, 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

Have A Happy, And Slightly Twisted, 2023 Holiday Season

Published / by adminjc

Following are some of my favorite Holiday music videos. You’ll find the entire spectrum from traditional to shall we say, unique. I hope you enjoy them.

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You has been a very popular Christmas song for many years, enjoy.

Here are a couple of songs from Taylor Swift, Santa Baby and Christmas Tree Farm

Check out these very cute birds.

Lindsey Sterling, is an amazing hip-hop violinist with some great moves. Listen to her perform Joy to the World and if you’re wondering, this entire video was shot in France. And there’s also Angels We Have Heard on High and We Three Gentlemen.

Next is Pentatonix, an acappella group whose voices blend beautifully. Listen to their versions of My Favorite Things, Hallelujah, Little Drummer Boy, White Winter Hymnal and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

I’ve always been a big fan of Jewel’s music and poetry, and was fortunate enough to see her in concert once. Listen to her amazing voice as she sings Ave Maria, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Silent Night.

Celtic Woman sing Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and two other songs.

There’s always someone who thinks Christmas us just a bunch of Bah Humbug. This video is for you. I hope you enjoy Carol of the Old Ones.

My favorite irreverent Christmas song is The 12 Pains Of Christmas. Have a listen.

Karen Carpenter was an amazing singer, and left us all far too soon. Listen to Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

I’ve always liked Gloria Estefan’s voice and music. I was even a member of the Press when she dedicated her statue to the Wax Museum in Buena Park, California. I have some great pictures of that event.

Christmas is more than presents and parties. It’s about reaching out to those in need, righting the wrongs in the world and putting the Christmas Spirit in all we do, all year long. In this video you’ll see wrongs that need to be righted, and successes that have been achieved. We can all do something, big or small, to help others. Go out and help others. Hear Silent Night and This Christmas by Gloria Estefan.

Many years ago there was a great Christmas special called “A Claymation Christmas.” It shows the amazing things that can be done with this form of animation. I hope you enjoy these videos, and remember, it’s all done with clay. Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer and Joy To The World.

The Piano Guys make some great music. Check out Carol Of The Bells and O come, O come, Emmanuel.

Another great piece of Christmas music is the Christmas Canon by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Is it really Christmas without hearing Madonna sing Santa Baby?

And finally, check out this drone show and this house using The Force to show you Star Wars Carol Of The Bells.

What’s your favorite holiday video?

Have a Great Holiday Season! Party on!!!

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