Love to see the matching pants

There are glow-in-the-dark running shoes to help keep runners visible at night.  These shoes are an example of the new style--glow-in-the-daylight shoes.  No one will miss seeing these coming down the sidewalk.  I would love to see the matching pants--outside the Circus I mean...

Love to see the matching pants

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Cupcake? What cupcake?

Cupcake?  What cupcake?  Where?

Yes, it was delicious.  No, there are no more.

Cupcake?  What cupcake?

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Original image

Season Winding Down

Christmas has passed.  The tree is coming down shortly.  Life is returning back to normal.  The season is winding down.  My personal challenge:  pick just one thing learned from this Christmas season and keep alive all year long...

Season winding down

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Living Gift

A living gift created by my daughter for a friend.  Quite the wrapping job huh?

Living gift

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Ice Skating

Legoman Joe takes his ice skating inspiration from my granddaughter who taped some pipe cleaners to the bottom of her shoes and pretended to ice skate around (after watching the new Disney movie "Frozen").  Not to be out done, Joe found his own tin foil skates and ice rink (iPad on the kitchen counter), turned up the music and skated his heart out....

Ice Skating

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, Retouch, PhotoStudio, iPad and kitchen counter


Original image:

The color balance in the original was terrible and the colors were all washed out.  So, in addition to some cropping and use of Retouch to remove some surface imperfections, some white balance correction, saturation and contrast adjustments were needed.

Original image

Lean into the light

Leaning into the light to capture and harness all the energy possible.  Hmmmm, a simple, yet profound life lesson here...

Lean into the light

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Retouch, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

For unto us a child is born

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace."   Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born

Wonder what she's getting...

All wrapped and under the tree.  Boy will she be surprised?  Well, I think she'll like them--after all, she picked them out.  All I did was wrap them up.  And a shoe box just did not seem to do these justice so they each ended up getting their own special treatment.  Big day tomorrow!

Wonder what she's getting....

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera (amazed at the low light capability with this hand held shot), Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

Arctic Mission Preparation

All the recent bitter cold and heavy snowfall has provided Legoman Joe with just what he needs to train for his upcoming Arctic mission.  The only thing he will reveal to me about the mission is that it is top secret.  I caught him trekking around the snow the other day but still could not get him to talk....

Arctic Mission Preparation

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Original image

Test Drive

Busted!   Under cover of a heavy snowstorm I happened to be in the right place, at the right time, and captured this image of Santa test driving a new (well more like a "vintage") sled just the week before the big night....

Test Drive

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Retouch, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Original image

At the ranch

Start with a bit of iron work, do a bit of post-processing and end up with a retro-looking day at the ranch image.  Brings back memories for those who grew up in the country or those who watched all of John Wayne's movies.

At the ranch

Details:
iPhone 5, Apple camera, Snapseed, HDR Pro, Photo FX, Filterstorm, Noise Master, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

Time is getting short. Guess I'd better decorate the tree.

At least there is a tree in the family room.  A real tree this year for the first time in over 20 years.  I pulled out the aging artificial tree and was contemplating the time and effort to set it up when my youngest daughter called from college.  She talked me into getting a real tree since she had never had one in her entire life.  Her older sister was allergic to them so they were banned before the youngest was born.  Now that the older sister lives across the country and the youngest is coming home for Christmas--well, she talked me into it.  It wasn't too hard as I got thinking--it would be easier and faster to drive down and buy a real tree and put it in the family room than the effort and time it would take to set up the artificial tree.  Sold!  Even better--when it comes time to take down the tree all I have to do is drag it out to the front curb on the day the city picks them up for composting.  Whoa....it was a no-brainer.  Decorations still need to be hung on the tree though.  It's time.

Time is getting short.  Guess I'd better decorate the tree.

Details:
iPhone 5, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

Frozen Reindeer

Cold, winter(okay, not officially for 2 more days but who's counting), ice storms, snow storms.....must be the perfect time for some ice carvings that won't melt for a long time.  This frozen reindeer fits the season--both the weather season and the holiday season.

Frozen Reindeer

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm (Crop, Curves selectively applied to remove background, Saturation, Sharpness), PhotoStudio (add in background noise, vignette, framing)

Original image:

Original image

Don't bother me. I'm thinking.

I'm not really asleep when my eyes are closed and my hand is propping up my head, the presenter is droning on, the world around me is a blur and I am surviving on painfully little sleep.  I'm not dozing.  Don't bother me.  I'm slee... I mean, I'm thinking!

Don't bother me.  I'm thinking.

Details:
iPhone 5S, Apple camera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

original image

Cross Country

Coming up on the time of year when a lot of cross country movement occurs.  Over the holidays it will be planes, trains and automobiles for many a folk.  We have family spread across this great country and certainly wish we could be everywhere with them during this time.  Thank goodness for photographs, videos and Skype!  Ways to draw closer despite the differences.  For those headed out--buckle up and travel safely!

Cross Country

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


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Original image

Window to Heaven

Look up, my boy!  Look up!  Looking up to the sky in the high mountains after a recent snowfall and when the outside temperature was nearing zero degrees Fahrenheit--it was nice to be inside.  This skylight offers a window to heaven from the inside out.  

Window to heaven

Details:
iPhone 5S, Olloclip fisheye lens, VividHDR Dramatic, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

Nice Kitty...

I am not a cat fan.  Never have been.  Even though I swore no cat would ever live at my home, somehow there was a period when out kids actually convinced everyone else in our home otherwise--and I was outvoted.  But that was a one-time fluke.  Anyway, this cat makes its home in a high mountain log cabin and keeps an eye on all the guests.  That's about all this nice kitty does.  The owner has this mount on display in this rustic setting--a reminder of what may be living and breathing just outside the door.  Like most cats though, leave them alone and they will leave you alone.  After all, most cats have a mind of their own, whether domesticated or wild.

Nice Kitty...

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio

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Original image

Timber Moose

What a week!  500 employees rotating in 24 hour shifts through the Timber Moose cabin (no, really a rustic mansion in the Utah mountains).  The cabin may never again be the same but the spectacular setting remains intact and absolutely gorgeous.  A week to remember....

Timber Moose

Details:
iPhone 5S, Vivid HDR (Dramatic), Filterstorm, PhotoStudio

Original image:

Original image

Angels are close by

Angels are all around us.  Sometimes they leave tracks.  Here we caught the positive evidence of one such visit from one of the famous snow angels  These tracks only show up in the winter time when the conditions are just right....  And you believe....

Angels are close by

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio

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Original image

Only 13 days left

Rain, snow, or shine, cold or warm--it doesn't matter.  No matter where you live there are still only 13 days left to Christmas.  Unless you are on the other side of the International Date line where it is already tomorrow.  Then you only have 12 days left.  Enjoy the season, don't forget the reason....

Only 13 more days

Details:
iPhone 5, Vivid HDR, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio

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Original image

Undercover Work

Joe is undercover again trying to find out what certain people might want for Christmas gifts this year.  Watch out, he could be anywhere...

Undercover Work

Details:
iPhone 5, ProCamera, Filterstorm, ProCamera


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Original image

Cold Splash

Cold and wintery night.  Temperatures were sub-freezing.  Only the brave and penguins were out in this outdoor mall area.  Most of the people were headed to or from the theaters and the stores were empty.  This was the first time I had ever been in an Apple Store and seen more floor sales persons than customers.  And yes, I did do some Christmas shopping--the results of which will begin appearing in this blog soon.

Cold Spash

Details:
iPhone 5 camera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio, below freezing night


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Original image

Lighted Lane

Lots of noise artifacts in the sky on this image.  It was dark, cold and snowing but I had to step out of my car and capture lighted lane.  It is times like these when I need my DSLR with its big aperture lens.  But, then again, I did not have it with me.  The best camera is the one you have with you.  Therefore this image is captured.  I can remember the moment. Even with the noise it still is better than just wishing I had better equipment with me when I didn't.

Lighted Lane

Details:
iPhone 5, ProCamera, Filterstorm, Noise Master, PhotoStudio

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Original image

Tonka Tractor - Man Sized

When it comes close to Christmas and you have boys in the house (or male grandkids), you always pay attention to the Tonka Toy section of the stores.  Maybe its old fashioned.  No fancy electronic parts, no batteries, just a rugged toy to act out those growing manly urges in a young mind.  That is just what this tractor reminded me of after the post-processing.

I have to give credit where credit is due.  This inspiration for this post-processing came from Cat Milton at www.mobilephotographycentral.com.  I found an interview with her by Emil Pakarklis that inspired me to play with the original image until I achieved this final result.  Interested readers can find the interview at http://iphonephotographyschool.com/cat-milton/

By the way, I highly recommend signing up for the emails from Emil's website at http://iphoneographyschool.com.  Emil puts out some great content for iphoneographers.

Tonka Tractor - Man Sized

Details:
iPhone 5, ProCamera, Filterstorm, Snapseed, ProHDR, Noise Master, Photo FX, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original image

Now Showing

Walking by the "Now Showing" movie posters--well they used to be posters.  Now they are digital posters posted on the wall in front of the theater.  Advertisements for what is showing--like one doesn't already know what they want to see when they go to the theater....

Now Showing

Details:
iPhone 5, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio.  Only slight post-processing--removing the air vent hole lights from the side of the frames and juicing up the saturation and sharpness slightly along with adding a frame.

Original image:

Original image

Movie Night

Time for a little entertainment diversion.  What movie will you see next?

Movie Night

Details:
iPhone 5, ProHDR, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio

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Original image