Creative Processing

When travel restrictions keep a photographer at home for months at a stretch, it’s a perfect time to exercise one’s creativity with new ways to process images in the archives. On this sunny day in June, I pulled up one of my favorite images of 2020: my daughter and son-in-law on a dog sled in Wyoming with a stunning background.

I was so happy that my dogsled, traveling just behind Courtney’s sled stopped in an opportune spot for me to frame her sled before tall pines, snow-capped mountains and a happy sky, blue with puffy clouds. And for just one second, Courtney and her husband Scott looked up at me and smiled. The triangular composition gives the scene balance and also offsets the white dogs.

Processed in Photoshop and Topaz Simplify, this photograph gained a painterly effect. I believe that the viewer can more easily place themselves in the scene when the faces are modified. I hope you agree that this image is more than just a family photo now.

Our winter adventures in Jackson Hole will give us some interesting options for holiday cards this year, and maybe a 2021 calendar. I’m sure your photographs from your family trips bring you joy at this time.

Monterey Bay in Watercolor

Just one year ago, I stood on Hurricane Point looking north into Monterey Bay, admiring the white Cumulous clouds and the boulders offshore. I shot a wide angle landscape photo, so I could remember the beautiful scene.

From Hurricane Point on this clear day, the offshore boulders form leading lines to the most prominent boulder.

A year later, I processed the same image in a new way to simplify the shapes and colors with a watercolor effect. What do you think?

I gave the image a dynamic boost and simplified the details to create a watercolor effect with Topaz Simplify.