Guest Post and $100 Fracture Gift Card Code Giveaway!
I’m grateful for the opportunity to guest post on the Fracture blog. Head over for a few tips on getting started with post-processing. The fine folks at Fracture have also provided the code for a $100 gift card that you can win in the giveaway below!
If you haven’t tried Fracture, here is your chance to take a free test drive. Fracture prints your photos directly to glass – it is a picture frame and mount all in one. I’ve had some of my images printed on Fracture and have been very pleased with the results. The prints are sharp with vibrant colors and look great on glass.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win the gift card. Don’t have a favorite image to print? I’ll throw in one of mine – you can select any image from my 500px portfolio and I’ll send you a link to download that image for your personal use.
1 winner will be randomly selected from a maximum of 50 entrants. Good luck!!
Day Trip – Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Mayville, WI provides a sanctuary for a number of migratory birds and waterfowl as well as a variety of other wildlife. A leisurely stroll around the Horicon Marsh is sure to provide some great opportunities for the photographer. Given our crazy Wisconsin winter, we were a bit early to catch any blooms but there were plenty of birds to occupy my lens.
Canada Goose
Canada Goose and Goslings
Canada Goose
Tree Swallow
While in Mayville, don’t miss the chance to experience the flavors of New Orleans (and check out some of my New Orleans images) at the NOLA North Grille.
2013 – My Favorite Images
Lighting study
Classic Mustang Interior
Friday Night Lights
Bourbon Street
Pink bicycle
Jackson Square
Waiting
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
The catch
Great Blue Heron
Reflection
Storm clouds over the lake
Sunset
Fireworks on the 4th
Oriole in the rain
Scenes from the State Fair
Ah…the State Fair…the animals, the exhibits, the FOOD. Deep fried butter anyone?
In between bites during a brief excursion to this year’s fair, I was able to collect a few images along the midway. Unfortunately, the skies were essentially a seamless gray leading to rather boring backdrops. In order to add a little interest, each of the images below was post-processed with the Perfect Effects Suite from OnOne Software to create a vintage look. I also layered in some bokeh to add to the overall effect. Stay tuned for a screencast tutorial on creating this look.
Side show sign at the Wisconsin State Fair
Tilt-A-Whirl sign at Wisconsin State Fair
http://jarrod-erbe.artistwebsites.com/featured/state-fair-tilt-a-whirl-jarrod-erbe.html
Super Dog sign at the Wisconsin State Fair
Riding the Flyer at the State Fair
http://www.etsy.com/listing/159259165/state-fair-flyers-12-x-18-fine-art-print
Ferris wheel at the Wisconsin State Fair
Tales From the Back Yard – Insect Macro Photography
Summer is here and the insect world is humming which means that your own backyard will provide almost limitless subjects for macro photography. At a minimum, you’ll need a camera, preferably as DSLR with a macro lens (e.g., Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens), and a bit of patience. If you have the opportunity to get out early in the morning, particularly if it was a cool evening, you may find that your targets are more tolerant of you approaching with your camera.
I’ve been shooting a few macro images around the backyard (when the mosquitos are on break). Here are few examples of what I’ve caught so far.
A harvestman scavenging on a leaf
Harvestman (Leiobunum) scavenging on a cup plant.
Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) enjoying a snack.
Green Darner (Anax junius)
Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Eastern Forktail Damselfly (Ischnura verticalis)
Plume moth (Pterophoridae)