Reflected Sunset

Turning around again I saw the painted sunset sky and clouds reflected in the windows of my car (yes I did wash it earlier in the day).  A different perspective of the gorgeous sunset.

Reflected Sunset

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Painted Sky

We were in a local frozen yogurt shop treating the grandkids to a treat when I heard one of the clerks exclaim, "The sky looks like a dream?"  I turned around to see the gorgeous sunset painted sky and clouds, grabbed the camera that is always with me, and ran outside.  Opening up the vividHDR app (it takes 3 photos and then combines them into one HDR image) and choosing the Dramatic mode, I took a few pictures.

Painted Sky

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Mall time again

Yep, grandkids in town and 4 females in the house means trips to the mall and trips to the mall and trips to the mall.  Today's image is from another entrance to a mall.  Yes, again....

Mall time again

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Rock Nest

Background information:
For those recent followers you will notice that I post one picture each day taken with my iPhone and processed only on the iPhone or the iPad.  I include the finished product and the original image so the reader gets a feel for what has happened during my post processing.  And yes, I do crop all images to the square and place a border on them (from the PhotoStudio app).  Why?  It has just become "my style" for this blog--no other reason.  My images are usually just snippets from everyday life.  I rarely do abstract, highly processed images although you may see some along the way.  And, oh yeah, my little Lego Man Joe often makes his way into the blog also.

Future:
I do have plans to include an occasional video showing the actual post processing steps from the original image to the final image.  I have done it once and plan to repeat it again in the future.  I also am developing some plans for another contest with a good prize (I am working on ideas for it now).

Today:
With family visiting there are now four females in our house.  So what do we do a lot?  Of course we go shopping.  While these girls and ladies check out the deals, I hang out at the closest chair.  This one happens to be by the creek giving me a few creek side photos.  Today's image is this rock nest in the reeds.  Rock on!

Rock Nest

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Creek Reflections

Here I am again--along for the ride while the crew is shopping at the mall.  While each go their separate ways I hang out by the creek.  This time I get down low and close for a image of creek reflections.  After all isn't this little touch of nature in the middle of a commercial shopping mall just a bit of relaxing heaven?  Especially for those not in heaven when shopping...

Creek Reflections

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Hidden Fish Head

I was snapping away, taking pictures of a creek bed with the flowing water and patterns on the bed.  Only later, when looking closely at the results did I see this image with the blue/purple image of a fish head poking out from the left side (well, sort of.... one has to slip a bit back into childhood and awaken the imagination that used to find various identifiable objects formed by clouds in the sky--only this is on a creek bed with colors and not in the sky with clouds).  The more I look, the more it seems like the fish has its mouth open and is swallowing a worm.  What do you see?

Hidden fish head

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Road Trip Regular

Unfortunately it is the long road trip that makes fast food a regular.  Driven by the desire to make quick progress to get to the journey's end, fast food seems to be the means to that end.  Not that I ever eat at this place but the yellow did make for a high contrast with the blue sky for a nice photo.  Turns out we just stopped for gas close-by for this photo.  However, we had way too much fast food on our trip.  I did discover just how hard it is to stay on a no added sugar, no grain diet, little processed food diet while visiting the fast food establishments and gas station convenience stores.  Finally at one station I found some dehydrated natural grapes (yek!) and a package with two boiled eggs and not added ingredients.  That, along with some nuts, was all I got.  Some success at last.

Road Trip Regular 

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, Retouch, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Hard to leave

It sure was hard to leave this gorgeous red rock country in Sedona, Arizona.  Hard to leave the scenery but even harder to leave the extended family that gathered together for a few days.  What could be better--family together from around the world in a world class beautiful location?  Doesn't get much better than that.

Hard to leave

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera, Snapseed, MobileMonetHD, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Hanging Out to Dry

After swimming in the river (well, officially the creek) it is time to dry everything out.  Couldn't pick a better scenic background in which to play like this on a hot summer day.

Hanging out to dry

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera (HDR mode), Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Modern Swimming Hole

Yesterday's post was an image of the swimming hole in Oak Creek, a creek running through Sedona, Arizona.  Well, Sedona has many swimming holes.  Today's image is one of the more modern swimming holes.  Yes, with the grandkids we spent some time at this one too.

Modern Swimming Hole

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera (HDR mode), Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Oak Creek Swimming Hole

Sedona, Arizona and it's time to play.  And of course the place to play is in Oak Creek.  Find a nice swimming hole and spend the afternoon.  Nothing quite like it...

Oak Creek Swimming Hole

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native Camera (HDR mode), Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Red Rock Country

I think I found a place for my second home.  This red rock country and area around Sedona, Arizona is just absolutely gorgeous.  I could definitely live in a place like this.

Red Rock Country

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoShop


Original image:

Original Image

Road Trip

Driving, driving and more driving.  That is the definition of a road trip.  All nine hours of it through this beautiful land of ours.  Mountains, desert, plains, rain, sunshine, road kill, windshield kill and high gas prices are all part of the experience as we roll along the road.  Thank goodness for 80 mph speed limits!

Road Trip

Details:
iPhone 5S, Native camera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Peach Crop Coming Along Nicely

Getting this post up late tonight.  But I still made it.  Lego Man Joe is checking on the progress of the peach crop and finds that it is maturing nicely--well some of it.  Bugs got to some of the fruit so we may be picking out worms on those (or maybe eating them for some protein....).

Peach crop coming along nicely

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

On the rocks...

Found Lego Man Joe on the rocks this morning.  More like "in the rocks" if you really think about it.  Looks like he may be checking out his boldering skills...

On the rocks

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

HAM-ing it up!

Getting ready for some HAM radio volunteer work next week--helping out with the behind the scenes support at the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade--a big event commemorating some Utah history.  Dozens of local amateur radio operators bring their hand held radios, earphones and willing hearts to assist in all the logistics that make for a good parade.  I use my trusty Kenwood Tribander TH-F6 radio for duties like this. It is a tiny, but powerful "handi-talkie" as we call it. My trusty portable key to the HAM radio world.  Bring on the parade...  

HAM-ing it up!

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Kitchen Window Bamboo

The little bamboo plant was not doing so well in the basement since our daughter moved out so we finally moved it to the kitchen window where it could get some love and attention and be in the company of the only other indoor plants that seem to thrive.  It does stand out, or at least stand up, now that it is by far the tallest of any plant in the window.  The Olloclip fish-eye lens gave me just the perspective needed for this shot.  

Kitchen window bamboo

Details:

iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Olloclip fish-eye lens, Snapseed, PhotoStudio

Original image:

Original Image

Zucchini invasion

It's mid-summer now.  We had our first 100+ degree day today.  Even the inside of the garage is at 100 degrees.  But, never mind, it certainly does not affect the two zucchini squash plants in our back yard.  Yep, the zucchini invasion is in full bloom and we can hardly keep up.  Some goes to steamed with butter, salt and pepper, some goes to baby food for a grandson and other pieces make their way into green smoothies.  In any case--time to eat some more they are invading...

Zucchini invasion

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, ProCamera, Olloclip fisheye lens, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Swimming in the shag

Me, I'm laying on the floor trying to take a nap (which, of course, is not going to last long since the floor is much harder than it used to be when I was younger...).  While I snooze away I happen to find Lego Man Joe doing a little work out--swimming in the shag.  He just cannot sit still or relax...

Swimming in the shag

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

View from down under

Crawling around picking up stuff spilled from the table and noticed this view from down under.  It's the view my young grandson has as he is learning to crawl around on the floor.  Things look pretty ominous from down here.

View from down under

Details:
iPhone 5S, vividHDR, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Counting Pennies

Pennies arranged all over the table.  Grandma is helping visiting grandkids with a little math fun.  Math fun? Yes, with cash involved they do get involved and they actually do have some fun.  Hey, I have fun when cash is involved too...

Counting pennies

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Filterstorm, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Guess What? The answer is here.

This was yesterday's posted image with a contest to guess just what it is.  The answer is at the end of this post.

Guess What?

Thanks for guessing.  Some of the guesses included

• microorganisims growing in Tupperware tucked in the back of the fridge
• paint peeling off rusty cement
• rust on my boat trailer
• old skin
• spilled milk
• soapy car wash
• rusty metal
• a coin
• tree bark
• driveway puddles
• stained glass
• water running down car window
• a duck (?)

My wife said she won the contest because she "guessed" exactly.  The only thing is that she saw me take the photo--sort of an unfair advantage that makes her "guess" not really a guess.  Hey, she gets my money anyway.

The answer is:  this is a digitally enhanced (via Snapseed and PhotoStudio) picture of the inside wall of my Blendtec blender after finishing my healthy fruit and veggie shake.  The original unretouched image is below:

Original image

Everything is on the level here

Working on a household project and Lego Man Joe is hanging around helping our when he can.  Here he takes a close look at the carpenter level and lets me know everything is on the level from where he is standing.

P.S.  For those waiting for the answer to yesterday's "Guess What" contest post--you'll have to wait a little longer.  I will post the answer tonight.  Jack Hollinsworth publishes a daily paper called "iPhoneography Times" on Twitter and he picked up and published yesterday's "Guess What" post so I am going to wait until the end of the day before I reveal the answer so that his readers have a little time to place a guess.

Everything is on the level here.

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Guess What? - 24 hour contest

Okay so today I am trying something new.  I will give $10 via PayPal to the person who can accurately guess what this photo is and there is a 24 hour time limit.  I am also posting it on my Twitter and Facebook and Instagram accounts to see if I get any takers.  I know, it's sort of random but I am curious to see if I get any guesses.  Stay tuned for the "secret" disclosure tomorrow...

Guess What?

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio

Looking up the down staircase

Rather than the normal view down the winding staircase, this is a photo looking up the ten story staircase in one of the oldest high rise buildings in town.  Since I was going to the top floor and had just come in from the 95 degree heat outside, I decided to take the elevator rather than the stairs.  However, I could not resist grabbing this photo first.  Such beautiful design and workmanship in this old building.

Looking up the down staircase

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image

Vintage Stairway

They just don't make office building stairways like this anymore.  This building has been around since the early 1900's and still functions as an office building.  A visit here took me back down memory lane as I recalled coming here some 50 years ago with my grandmother to see one of her doctors.  A true vintage and beautiful stairway for our town.

Vintage stairway

Details:
iPhone 5S, ProCamera, Snapseed, PhotoStudio


Original image:

Original Image