Tag Archives: Landscape

Look Up and Imagine

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140629_Leafy Texture by © 2013 Karl Graf. Fuji X-T1. XF18-55mm @ 55mm, f/4.5, 1/350 sec, ISO 1600

Over time, I have learned to frequently look up and see.  On a hot day walking along Lake Galena, I looked up and saw the bright sun shining through these maple leaves.  In the bright sun, the leaves looked pretty flat.  At the time I took this image, I thought about adding a texture.  So off I went looking for something interesting.  I found an old cherry tree covered with a thin green fungus.  The texture caught my eye.  I combined the two to come up with the above image.

For reference, the texture image is below.

140704_Texture Background by © 2013 Karl Graf.

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Morning Peace

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140418_SanJuan by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS @ 78mm, f/16, 1/25 sec, ISO 400

Looking back at images from last summer, I recall taking this photo with a thought of peacefulness.  We were on San Juan Island near the Limekiln Lighthouse waiting for Orca’s to come by.  While waiting, I looked up at the hillside above me and saw this scraggly pine and white daisies.  It was quiet and peaceful.  All I wanted to do was sit and enjoy the moment.

In processing this image, I added a little contrast and graduated fog to enhance the peaceful feeling I had.  It was a beautiful day and moment.

 

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Thinking of Warmer Times

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140218_SanJuanIs_SouthPoint by © 2013 Karl Graf. Canon 7D, EF-S10-22 @ 10mm, f/22, 1/10 sec, ISO 200

In the depth of winter, my mind wanders to warmer times.  Last summer we joined a couple of friends on San Juan Island in Puget Sound to photograph Orca’s.  One morning we woke early to catch a sunrise.  The sunrise on the horizon was not very interesting.  But looking behind me, I saw the gorgeous warm sunlight on the western shore of the point where were standing.  Lesson learned from John Barclay, “When photographing a sunset or sunrise, make sure to look behind you!”

 

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Lone Tree

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131227_Lone Tree (1 of 1) by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF24-70mm f2.8L @ 70mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

Looking back over some photographs taken this past summer on San Juan Island, WA, this image of a lone tree hanging on to a ledge above the water caught my eye.  I recall taking this image and trying to get the ripples and the bright reflection of the sun to frame the tree.  I spent about one half hour just moving around and trying different exposures and shutter speeds to get what I was looking for.  When I reviewed the photographs last summer, I was disappointed with the color image.  Today I worked with the subtle shadows and reflections to come up with this B&W version.

 

 

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Inversion

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131226_PVPark_InvTexture (1 of 1) by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MKIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @ 24mm, f/11, 1/125 sec, ISO 400

My friend and mentor, John Barclay, has been posting a couple of images that he post processed by converting to Black and White, inverting, then adding a texture overlay.  This is my first attempt at the process.  What fun!

This image was taken on an overcast day at Peace Valley Park, Bucks County, PA.  The trees were just silhouettes against the grey sky.  It was a very boring image.

 

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Bridge in the Woods

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131224_PV_Bridge in the Woods by © 2013 Karl Graf. Canon 5D MKIII, EF24-70 f/2.8L @ 68mm, f/8.0,1/400 sec, ISO 400

Well, we tried for a White Christmas.  The 60-70 degree temperatures we’ve had during the last several days melted all the snow.  The temperatures are dropping again and we will have a clear and brisk Christmas Day.  No snow, but is still should be a beautiful day.  We are thankful for each and every day.  Each one is beautiful in its own way.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!

 

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An Abstract Perspective

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131220_PV_TreesAbstract by © 2013 Karl Graf.

Trees and woodland areas always capture my interest.  The horizontal fallen trees in the foreground and the vertical living trees in the background caught my eye.  When was re-looking at this image taken 11 months ago, the same lines caught my eye.  However, the color tonality was very subdued and boring.  I felt in a “painterly” mood, so Topaz Simplify came to the rescue.  I used Topaz to give it that “artistic” look as well as bring out a little color and enhance the edges of the trees and leaves.

Here is the straight out of the camera image.  Today I prefer the “painterly” view.

131220_PV_Trees by © 2013 Karl Graf.

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Death Valley: Mesquite Dunes – Ripples

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131128_Mesquite Dunes - Ripples by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS with 1.4X extender @ 280mm, f/11, 1/90 sec, ISO 200

This was one of Chuck’s stops.  He even put down his tripod to take an image.  What caught my eye was the contrast between the smooth dune face and the ripples on the down hill side.  I also liked the “scallops” on the dune’s edge.

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Death Valley: Mesquite Dunes – Waves

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131127_Mesquite Dunes - Waves by Karl G. Graf. Canon 7D, EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS with 1.4X extender @ 98mm, f/22, 1/4 sec, ISO 200

This image was taken along the trail of Chuck Kimmerle’s footsteps.  He did not stop here, so must have not thought it was interesting.  The mini-scene reminded me of a set of waves rolling into shore.  I worked the scene from multiple angles and came up with this as the view that most depicted waves.  I actually was thinking B&W when I took this image.  The shadows and early morning light provided the sharp contrast along the sand ripple edges.

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