Pictures Taken By you...

[Lynne50]

Interesting comparison. The color pulls the eye to the right, toward the grassy area of the hill on the right, while the balck and white, having extinguished color contrast, pulls the eye toward the center merge point of the hills.

Perhaps it's just me but I tend to like most nature scenes in color. Now portraits can look good in either.

Thanks Niamh.

Great photos Niamh. After I read your post, Virgil, I went back and looked at them both too. Good observations! In the color photo, the trees on the right do stand out more prominently and I agree in the b/w the eye tracks right down the middle.

Niamh, I think I do prefer the color one, too, but in either case they are very nice photos. I am a amateur when it comes to picture taking, but I think I do best with landscapes. I'm going to have to try some black and whites now.

[Niamh]

Interesting comparison. The color pulls the eye to the right, toward the grassy area of the hill on the right, while the balck and white, having extinguished color contrast, pulls the eye toward the center merge point of the hills.

Perhaps it's just me but I tend to like most nature scenes in color. Now portraits can look good in either.

Thanks Niamh.

Great photos Niamh. After I read your post, Virgil, I went back and looked at them both too. Good observations! In the color photo, the trees on the right do stand out more prominently and I agree in the b/w the eye tracks right down the middle.

Niamh, I think I do prefer the color one, too, but in either case they are very nice photos. I am a amateur when it comes to picture taking, but I think I do best with landscapes. I'm going to have to try some black and whites now.

I like hte b&w one better because it drags to the centre. I find that some of the features appear sharper like the rocks and pebbles in the forground and the foliage looks softer. Also in the centre middle ground you can make out the mountain stream that flows into the lake more than in the colour.
I'm an amateur too lynne, and i think i do landscape much better too. I just cant capture people in a photogenic way. I thinks it also has to do with my love of the landscape.

[Janine]

Interesting discussion on B&W verses color photography. I was watching a Hitchcock film the other night - "Suspicion" and after I watched the featurette and it showed various scenes in the B&W version verses the colorized version....then it explained how each was more effective in the B&W. It was very interesting to see the difference. However, my own thoughts on it are that you really need graphic images to make it worth while. Here are some that come to mind - interesting buildings (Niamh, you achieved that in some of your earlier shots; canyons or exposed rock in landscapes or other more pronounced or stark environments (a good example of this would be the work by Ansel Adams; fine closeup detail (such as closeups with grains of sand, objects, blades of wheat, etc).

I like your photo of the lake in both, Niamh, but I agree with Lynne, in that I prefer the color version to the B&W in this case. I think the color version has more depth, because of the subtle effect of the various colors in the background of the hills or mountains. This adds interest to the photo. Now, as to your rural photos, I love these in B&W...they have enough architectural interest to work well in B&W. In art college I had a small course - one semester, of B&W photography; we even developed film back then. It was great fun. I learned a lot of the basics. B&W can be very effective.

I just bought and installed Adobe Photo Elements; can't wait to get to using it more; first I have to learn what it is capable of. It should be great fun. I might need Dummies for APE's! eeek...there is so much there!

[1n50mn14]

Mmm. I want to visit that lake, Niamh, it looks gorgeous. Great photo.

[Virgil]

I just bought and installed Adobe Photo Elements; can't wait to get to using it more; first I have to learn what it is capable of. It should be great fun. I might need Dummies for APE's! eeek...there is so much there!

Oh I've been looking for a photo software. I just never know what to buy. Is that the one I should get Janine?

[Janine]

Oh I've been looking for a photo software. I just never know what to buy. Is that the one I should get Janine?

Virgil, I think this is the one to go with. I looked at it a long time, before I bought it. I put in into my Amazon 'wishlist' ages ago, so I could keep an eye on the prices - the go up and down all the time. I know Adobe is the best one to go with. I heard the Elements have all you would need. It has a lot; I am impressed so far. Stargazer(she has the full version) told me her friend lost her older program (full version); then she ordered this one and she loves it; the full version is super expensive. I don't think we amateurs would need the full version. For one thing, it would take too long to learn. I asked a lot when I was at various stores, if this was the one to buy and I received all good feedback. I waited till it got to $69.00 and bought it; designated 'super-saving shipping', so it was free to ship. It goes lower sometimes, but beware - they offer a rebate, but in fine type is says, that is if you already own the older version of an Adobe Photoshop program.
The one I bought is Adobe Photoshop Elements 7...has a photo of a little girl dressed in a ballet costume, with superimposed butterfly wings...basic color of the box is in blues. I have to learn the program myself. I only fiddled around with it one night, but it looks like it does quite a lot. It was easy to install. There's countless pulldown menus with lots of tools and things; it looks really interesting.

[Virgil]

Virgil, I think this is the one to go with. I looked at it a long time, before I bought it. I put in into my Amazon 'wishlist' ages ago, so I could keep an eye on the prices - the go up and down all the time. I know Adobe is the best one to go with. I heard the Elements have all you would need. It has a lot; I am impressed so far. Stargazer(she has the full version) told me her friend lost her older program (full version); then she ordered this one and she loves it; the full version is super expensive. I don't think we amateurs would need the full version. For one thing, it would take too long to learn. I asked a lot when I was at various stores, if this was the one to buy and I received all good feedback. I waited till it got to $69.00 and bought it; designated 'super-saving shipping', so it was free to ship. It goes lower sometimes, but beware - they offer a rebate, but in fine type is says, that is if you already own the older version of an Adobe Photoshop program.
The one I bought is Adobe Photoshop Elements 7...has a photo of a little girl dressed in a ballet costume, with superimposed butterfly wings...basic color of the box is in blues. I have to learn the program myself. I only fiddled around with it one night, but it looks like it does quite a lot. It was easy to install. There's countless pulldown menus with lots of tools and things; it looks really interesting.

Thank you Janine. You talked me into it.

Now which video camera should I get? Do you have one? I will need one for the fall and I want to get during the summer to practice with.

[Janine]

Thank you Janine. You talked me into it.

Now which video camera should I get? Do you have one? I will need one for the fall and I want to get during the summer to practice with.

I will ask my son. He's had some digitals he hated and some he really loved. Lynne has a fairly new camera she loves, too. I think it's Nikon Cool Pix, but don't quote me on that. Her photos were really great, from her recent trip to Las Vegas; they were very good resolution and sharp colors. I want a new camera, too. I may be looking around as well. I have to stay within a reasonable price range; but I don't think they run too high - I keep seeing them onsale but meant to ask her what model she owned. I think the Nikons are good. Ask Lynne; meantime I will ask my son.

Virgil, Alert! I just checked out the photo program on Amazon. It's down now to $59.99...I would go for it tonight. You can't get that rebate though, without owning the older program. 59.99 is the best you can do. It usually doesn't go that low. I would order it tonight and be sure to designate the super-saving shipping. Look it up in search; the link did not work....sorry

[bluevictim]

Niamh, that's a great picture of the lake.

Janine, your granddaughter is adorable!

Here's a shot I took in Kings Canyon National Park:

[Stargazer86]

Niamh- Lovely photo Though I also usually prefer nature shots in color, this particular shot works best in black and white (imo). It has a nice balance and harmony to it.

Blue- that's a gorgeous shot!!

Some pix from my last trip to Sacrament/San Francisco



San Quentin

Sacramento River

Haight and Ashbury

Golden Gate

Sacramento, CA state capitol

The Governator

Alcatraz

[bluevictim]

Great shot of the fog rolling in behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Ah, my city by the Bay!

[Stargazer86]

Great shot of the fog rolling in behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Ah, my city by the Bay!

'twas a rare and fleeting sunny moment in San Francisco Bay...

ONe of my favorite places in the world...though I'd never be able to live there

Blue, where is that park where you took the picture?
It really is a fantastic pic. Looks like a beautiful place

[bluevictim]

Kings Canyon is next to Sequoia National Park (where the huge tree that you can drive through is). It really is a beautiful place.

Here's another picture from the area:

[Niamh]

Nice pics Star!!!

Amazing photos as usual Blue!

[Virgil]

Yes I like that Golden Gate Bridge shot. I don't think I've seen that angle of the bridsge before. Is that off a boat?

I need to take some pictures of the Verazano Narrows bridge here. Much has been made of the beauty of the Golden Gate but I have always felt the Verazano is a better looking bridge.