Relic from the past

When was the last time you found a full service island at a gas station?  If you live in my part of the country they just do not exist anymore.  The closest thing I have found in my travels out west is one gas station in Beaver, Utah where the friendly attendant will wash your windshield and clean off all the highway bugs as you pump your gas.  Other than that we are all on our own and a sign like this is truly a relic of the past....

Relic from the past

New Piano or Pregnant Utah

I see either a new piano or a pregnant state of Utah in this image.  Wait, the Utah thing fits since Utah has the highest birth rate of any state in the country.  I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder....

New Piano or Pregnant Utah

Inside View

Get down close and inside.  That is the mantra used to produce today's image.  Down close and inside a new grand piano and this is one of the views you will see.

Piano Strings

Train Station in HDR

Old train station in Salt Lake City, late afternoon, ProHDR app.  Standing in the middle of the street with my ProHDR app and this is the result.  I love this iPhone camera and all the apps that help make such fun images.

Train Station in HDR

Girl in White

Those who follow this blog will recognize this setting--piano recital time my daughter.  The place is an auditorium at a local piano dealer.  This photo is one of the piano teacher's students (face slightly blurred to hide the identity).  I like this one as a mood image more than anything else.

Girl in White

 

Piece of Wedding Cake

Today's photo is from a close-up on a wedding cake.  As we went to the reception and greeted the happy new man and wife, we passed by their wedding cake.  Of course, out came my iPhone and seconds later I had a few pictures.  Later I opened them up, selected this one and did a little post processing for this result.

Piece of Wedding Cake

Tractor Rust

I found this old rusty tractor used as an antique landscape decorative piece on the lot of a local nursery.  After buying my fertilizer and a few other items for the yard, I noticed the extent of the rust on this tractor and it then started begging me to take a picture.

Tractor Rust

Reflections at the mall

New City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake City offers this image of reflections.....

Reflections at the mall

Red Roses, Red Roses

Red roses and black tablecloths--that's what we found at a recent wedding reception we attended.  So while sitting around the table with our refreshments and eating too much sugar, I snapped a picture of the table center piece.  With a little cropping and tweaking in Filterstorm I ended up with this color rich image.

Red Roses, Red Roses

Life is like a box of chocolates......

Life is like a box of chocolates....you never know what you are going to get.  (Name the movie)

Life is like a box of chocolates....

In-N-Out Burger Secret Menu

Let me tell you my secret....

All it took for me was to discover one of the secret menu tricks..... Now I love In-N-Out Burger.  Used to be that I did not like to eat here because I would order one patty and get more lettuce and tomato than meat and too much sauce.  Just was not for me.

Then I read an article that explained the secret menu options.  Now this is my favorite hamburger place.  The best order for me is as follows:

• Double meat (two meat patties)
• Mustard fried (mustard spread on the patty before it is cooked on that side)
• Grilled onions (chopped onions cooked on the grill with the meat)
• Lettuce, tomato and ketchup only
• Extra toast bun (bun toasted longer than normal)
• with well-done fries (fries cooked longer than normal)
• Sometimes an occasional root-beer float with more ice cream, less root-beer

Now that's a hamburger meal!  The other advantage of the secret menu burger is that it must be custom cooked so it comes of the grill fresh and hot every time.

For all who are tired of the standard fare just Google some of their secret menu items and try something new.  The adventure then begins......

Secret Menu is the key

Yellow Roses

Flowers work every time.  Whatever the occasion, or even if there is no occasion, flowers will brighten up the day.  These yellow roses brightened up the day of several people.  Before they departed for their message of cheer, they begged to have this picture taken and a little aged/grunge processing added.  Have a great day!  Say it with flowers to your beloved or anyone else who needs some cheer.

Yellow Roses

New Shoot

Simple image of a new shoot on the tree in my back yard.  Processed with Filterstorm, PhotoStudio and Instagram aps.

New Shoot

Sun Peek

A view of the sun peeking through the foliage in my backyard.

Have a great day!

Sun Peek

Piano Recital

For today's post I will share the evolution of this final image taken at my daughter's piano recital this week.

The final image:

Piano Recital

Now that is nowhere close to the first image.  Let's go on the journey.

So we are at the piano store where they have so many beautiful new pianos that are just pieces of art (more images from that part of the visit to come in future posts).  In the auditorium we are sitting through the piano music pieces of all the students.  When my daughter plays I am just enjoying the moment.  She has played for many years and we have many pictures so I did not even bring a camera this time--only my iphone camera.  My wife leaned over near the end of her piece and asked if I was going to take any photos.  I quickly opened the Camera+ app and snapped a few photos just prior to the end of the piece.  Here is the original photo that I later worked over for the final image.  It all started out from this last second, hand held, picture taken with the only camera I had with me....

Original image

From here I began to work on the photo.  I played with it in Filterstorm and Snapseed and came up with this next image after some cropping and adding some effects....

Evolving image after some post processing

Subsequently I saw an image on a forum created by the AutoPainter app that I really liked.  So yesterday I bought the AutoPainter HD app on my iPad and began playing around with the effects created by turning the image into a painting.  I used all 4 artistic styles and picked the one in the final image (shown at the top of this post) as my favorite.

Just so you can see what I picked from, here are the other 3 styles the app created.  Which do you like?  For the final image I added the frame from the PhotoStudio app.

Isn't this stuff just so fun!

Reflections at Redbox

Just a normal trip to the grocery store, actually a trip to the Redbox machine at the new Harmon's Station Park store, again taught me this important lesson--the most important camera is the one you have with you.  I had found the Redbox machine with the movie we wanted and reserved the movie from home.  Now all I needed to do was to pick it up.  So then I get to the machine and there is a line of several people in front of me.  Of course each of these several people had their young children with them, had no idea what movie they wanted, and were taking forever scrolling through the movie list and trying to satisfy their young ones.  Of course the young kids can never make a decision when faced with so many choices.

So I am growing impatient with this process and wondering why me.  After checking my email and pacing around my little spot in line, I finally looked up and noticed my surroundings.  It was only then that I noticed this great photo opportunity right in front of me.  It never would have come to my attention if I had not been forced to wait so long in line behind these indecisive parents and kids.  I pointed my iphone camera into the store window to capture these reflections.  Some tweaks in my favorite processing apps--Filterstorm and PhotoStudio and this is the final result.  Yep, the most important camera is the one you have with you.

Reflections at Redbox

  

Cobra

So during the vintage and custom car show held in Moab, Utah a couple of weeks ago, we were walking down Main Street watching the "show" as the vintage and custom cars drove back and forth all evening long--sort of like an informal parade.  Some would show off their stuff like the low-riders that would rise and lower the front and back of their cars as they drove by, like the hot rods that would burn some rubber on the streets, like the loud exhaust rumble from those with no mufflers, like the old vintage cars with grey haired drivers waving at the crowd....  Good times were had by all.

As we walked down the street I came upon this Cobra parked at the curb.  A beautiful vehicle that attracted my attention.  Since it was parked I pulled out the camera I had with me (iPhone 4S of course) and began to take some pictures.  The more I took the more I saw.  I was circling the car taking pictures.  Even laying on the ground and getting all kinds of views and experimenting with different camera apps.  So while I was doing this the owner walked over and asked if I would like to buy it.  He was disappointed when I told him I just wanted pictures, although I did complement him on such a beautiful vehicle.  At the same time he slipped a non-discrete For Sale notice onto the driver's seat.  As he walked away I looked at the notice.  I could have driven away in this beauty for only $50,000.

This image was made with the Pro HDR camera app that let me capture the top of the car, the surrounding landscape with the setting sun and also let me capture the detail inside the dark radiator snout.  A little tweak of saturation and cropping in Filterstorm and a frame and vignette from PhotoStudio finished up the image.

Sure wish I would have had an extra $50,000.....  Next time maybe I'll ask to at least take a test drive while I "consider" the purchase.

Cobra

Shadow Cowgirl

Late afternoon sun, sidewalk iron sculpture, long shadow, bare wall.....all made for this image I just could not pass up.  I little cropping and some Instagram processing and here she is....

Shadow Cowgirl

Happy Mother's Day

A simple image today to commemorate all the Mother's in the world...theirs is a work truly unappreciated though most impactful.  Happy Mother's Day to you all -- especially my mother, my wife's mother, and the mothers of our grandkids.

Happy Mother's Day!

Smiling Grill

Love this one for the color, the lines, the grill, and the vents.  It reminds me of a big smile--this kind I have when I get an image like this and am able to share it.

Smiling Grill

Rear view mirror backside

Over the years I have taken a few photos of the reflections seen through various rear view mirrors.  This one is the first that I can remember where the reflection off the rear view mirror is from the rear of the rear view mirror.  The shiny chrome on the back side of this vintage car rear view mirror offers in interesting perspective of the other colorful cars in the park during the Moab, Utah vintage and custom car show.

Rear view mirror backside

Car show bumblebee

This car reminded me of a bumblebee--the yellow with black strips.  Gorgeous car, beautiful colors on a nice day at the Moab, Utah car show.

Car show bumblebee

Cadillac Lady

I recently attended a vintage and custom car show that literally took over the town of Moab, Utah.  Hundreds of cars--all parked for display Saturday morning in the park.  Friday and Saturday nights they cruised Main Street for several hours putting on a show for the locals.  I was looking over one Cobra parked on the street on Saturday night and was taking several pictures.  Soon the owner came over and struck up a conversation with me and slyly slipped a For Sale sign on the seat.  He wanted me to know that I could buy it from him for only $50,000.  It was a beauty though.  Today's post is the classic Cadillac Lady hood ornament from around 1937 I believe.  (I thought I would just be able to Google the image and find out since I don't remember the sign on the car that was displayed.  Man, I never knew there were so many Flying Lady hood ornaments.)

Cadillac Lady

S'more Time

One just cannot go camping without pulling out the marshmallows, the roasting sticks, the chocolate, and the graham crackers.  If your going to smell like campfire smoke you'd just as well do it with a S'more in your hand.  This is a fitting day to post this picture from our recent camping trip....I just returned from my biannual dentist visit where I got a clean teeth bill of health.  Just in time to relish the thought of some campsite goodies...
Wait!  I don't even like S'mores.  I do like to roast marshmallows and let others eat them though.

S'more Time

North Window Arch

The North Window Arch in Arches National Park as recorded with the HDR Pro app.  Not quite as spectacular an image as the one from yesterday but still gorgeous and inviting.  Definitely worth the trip.

North Window Arch, Arches National Park

HDR Window View

Arches National Park, South Window Arch and HDR Pro app, enhanced by Filterstorm and PhotoSudio app tweaks.  Creates an image that makes me want to go back to the moment.

South Window Arch, Arches National Park

Joe goes to Moab

Our recent weekend trip to Moab and Arches National Park was so enjoyable.  We got in some hiking to many natural arches, some Jeep climbing all over the redrock country, some white water rafting on the Colorado River and even a large vintage and custom car show that took over the town (and all the hotels and motels which made us end up in tents at the local KOA campground).  Over the next few posts you will see some of the results from that trip.

First is today's shot of one of the natural bridge arches in Arches National Park.  Visiting Arches National Park in late April is perfect.  The weather is still cool to moderate, the sun is shining and the crowds are not yet everywhere you turn (at least in the National Park--if you come on car show weekend they are absolutely nuts in town).  Anyway, Joe came along on some of our hikes and the first shot includes evidence that he was with us.

Joe goes to Moab

Shark Bite?

Having lived all of my adult life with only nine toes, I still often am asked what happened to that second toe that is missing.  Since I am usually asked when we are on a boat or near the water when I happen to be barefooted, I respond to children saying, "Shark bite!"  That usually makes for either an eerie silence or unlocks the flood gates....

I will play it up for a while touting the advantages of missing one of the middle toes--I have a spot to rest the tip of my fishing pole while laying down on the boat.  That does not last long because everyone knows I do not fish--fish just stink up the boat.  I finally do come clean and admit to the boring industrial accident that smashed my second toe beyond repair and also smashed my big toe before I turned 19.  I still have to use the Dremel tool grinder to shave down my badly shaped big toe nail every few months.

I like the Share Bite explanation better....

Shark Bite?

Chocolate Fruit Bowl

One of my daughter's latest Pinterest inspired projects was to make a chocolate bowl and fill it full of fresh strawberries.  Man, this looks delicious and, even better, it was delicious!  Eat your heart out....

Chocolate Fruit Bowl

What's for breakfast?

I try to eat healthy to avoid the bad health genes I inherited.  A little exercise and some healthy eating (well, except for the few deserts that I cannot seem to avoid) go a long way towards keeping my blood pressure and cholesterol under control without having to resort to the drugs so prevalent in today's society that only treat symptoms and not the problems.  Anyway, as I prepared my morning shake I noticed some of the contrasting colors that make up today's photo.  A little low-sodium V-8 juice, some carrots, spinach, a banana go into my Blendtec blender.  Before it is all finished, I add some Greek yogurt, some mixed berries and some whey protein.  Then together with my scrambled eggs (4 egg whites and 1 whole egg) fried up in coconut oil using my cast iron frying pan--I finally have my regular breakfast.  Tasty, healthy and filling.  It helps me justify eating so many oatmeal cookies when they are fresh out of the oven.

What's for breakfast?

Springs

I just love this iPhone camera!  No, it does not have near the capability of my DSLR but it is always with me and can do some amazing things for a camera that is disguised as a phone.  I am still amazed at just how close it will focus.  The number of available photo processing apps is just mind boggling.  In just a few minutes (or less sometimes) I can snap a picture, crop and process it and end up with a nice and unique image.  Since I started posting my daily images on Instagram, I had to crop them to a square.  I have stayed with the square format which has, in and of itself, become somewhat of a challenge on some images.

Today's image is a close-up image. I call this one "Springs"--and will show the process from beginning to end in this post.  The final image is here:

Springs

This image was created from the springs that hold my vibrator to my hand.  Here is a picture of the source.

The source (from a distance)

I moved in close to the vibrator and took the first image of the springs.  My original image before any post processing is here.

Original image

From this original image it was just a matter of cropping, adding some contrast, curves, and saturation adjustments (Filterstorm App which I use a lot) and a vignette and frame from the PhotoStudio App.

The entire process took only a couple of minutes.  An everyday item used to create a fun image in just moments.  Did I say I am loving this iPhone camera?