A CREATIVE ADVENTURE photography by denise ippolito

More From Lonaconing Silk Mill

denise — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:25:08 +0000

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The above image is a 3 image HDR capture created with my Canon 5D Mark III using my Canon 15mmm Fisheye lens; manually bracketing while working in manual mode. The image was processed with Nik HDR Efex Pro & Color Efex 4 (use code BAA to save 15%). I chose the Realistic Strong preset in HDR Efex Pro as a starting point. I then reduced the structure and strength and did a bit more tweaking. In Color Efex I chose the Duplex filter; it is one of my favorites but rarely used by others…. Whenever using any filter it is best to selectively fine tune the adjustments you’ve made in Photoshop. After applying each filter I may make several additional adjustments; I might use the opacity slider, change the blending mode, make a curves adjustment, etc. Adding a layer mask allows me to apply the adjustments only to specific areas (rather than to apply them globally (to the whole image). Using the control points is an option but using layer masks gives me greater control. My main point is that I never want to hand over complete control of my images to any filter program; doing so yields “images gone wild.”

The above image is dedicated to Judy Burr. Judy went with me on my first workshop to Lonaconing and she happily returned for a second visit. I first met Judy during an end of the year competition where we were both judges. She has a great outlook and a terrific smile. She spent a lot of time looking up and capturing ceiling images on both visits. She made me look at the lines of the pipes in a different way. Judy enjoys traveling, photography and she has won several PSA awards .

The small featured image at the very top was created in the basement at Lonaconing. I used the Multiple Exposure Feature in my camera set to two images and with my 24-105mm lens I slightly zoomed in for one of the exposures. Processed in Nik Clor Efex. I liked the eerie effect that the in-camera effect added to the image.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Check out my guest blog post for Nature Visions:

I would like to thank my friends at Delkin Devices for their generous support.

Irises

denise — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:02:34 +0000

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On my way back home from my trip to Lonaconing MD I stopped to photograph these Irises which were around the corner from my house. I had considered waiting until morning when I had gotten some rest from my trip but I wanted to capture them before the rain got to them. For the top image I used Fractalius to help emphasis some of the lines. I only used a touch as I didn’t want it to over power the Iris. The deep purple was very appealing to me. I used Alien Skin Snap Art to help me create the painterly look of the second image which was my favorite. To learn more about creative filtering for flower images check out my eBook “Bloomin’ Ideas”.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Lonaconing Silk Mill Windows

denise — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:16:04 +0000

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I just returned home from a weekend in Lonaconing Maryland where I conducted a 2-day workshop at the Lonaconing Silk Mill-aka Klotz Throwing Co. Several of the folks that went on my first workshop there in March returned to photograph the mill again. We had a nice group of 11 folks and everyone enjoyed the mill and all the hidden treasures! During the summer months shooting inside the mill was a comfortable temperature as opposed to the cold March mornings many of us experienced on our last visit. The lighting in March was much different also as there were no leaves on the trees and it allowed for more shadow type shots and greater available light. When I first walked into the mill I said “who painted the windows?” it wasn’t until I did a double take that I realized the trees added this soft green effect to the windows. Instead of trying to create the same style images as on our last visit I decided to work with what we had. I loved the soft green look to the windows and decided to try to create something interesting from it. For the images above I used the Multiple Exposure feature in my Canon 5D Mark III to create the in-camera effects. With my Canon 24-105mm lens I just had to adjust the focal length between the two multiple exposure shots to achieve the graphic look above. The Multiple Exposures added a great 3D effect to the images. The broken panes in the middle images added yet another dimension.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

The Art of Photography

denise — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:18:41 +0000

Art is an expression, a feeling, a liberation, a vision. It has a heart beat of it’s own that lives inside of you. It is something that you take everywhere you go. I am not talking about the education of art or the “I graduated from Art School” claims. I am talking about the soul that cannot rest until its vision is complete. The passion that takes over to pursue a dream or a whim. The beginning with no end in mind, the start of something fresh, an idea, a thought, an impression, a faint notion, an awakening…

MIDWAY ATOLL BAA IPT

denise — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:50:25 +0000

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Waiting list only now.

MIDWAY ATOLL BAA IPT: March 25, 2013 (from Honolulu, Oahu, HI) 7-FULL DAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $7895 ALL INCLUSIVE FROM HNL. Co-leader: Denise Ippolito. Limit: 15/Openings 0.

Midway is a world renowned wildlife photography destination that ranks right up there with Antarctica, East Africa, Japan in winter, and the Galapagos. And like the Galapagos, most of the wildlife is inordinately tame. Click on the composite image to enjoy a larger version.

What’s included? The round trip charter airfare from HNL to Midway and back, all lodging and meals on Midway. The food, both American and Thai, is killer good so do not plan on losing any weight, all associated national park fees as well as transport via large golf cart. For the most part we will stay together as a group. Those wishing to photograph on their own with some restrictions may rent bikes. Also included is in-the-field instruction. Informal image sharing and Photoshop instruction will be available most days for those sitting next to me or looking over my shoulder in the lobby of Charley Barracks early mornings, evenings, and during break time.

What’s not included: The cost of the airfare from your home to and from HNL. Your meals in Honolulu. The cost of your hotel room on March 24th and late check out if needed on April 2. Personal items and souvenirs purchased on Midway.

If you wish to register for this trip please call us at 863-692-0906 immediately. If no answer please leave a message but send an e-mail to me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net. You will be given instructions for sending your deposit check for $800 to us here: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245 (mail) or 4041 Granada Drive (courier), Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Do note that while many trips are advertised as once in a lifetime, this one may very well be that once in a lifetime opportunity as there is constant talk that each season may be the very last.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Dueling Birds

denise — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:49:10 +0000

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The Great Blue Heron image above is a 2 image merge that I created by extracting each bird from it’s own background. To make an easy extraction using CS5 you can follow the tutorial below. After making the extractions and putting them each on a separate layer I duplicated each of the layers and reduced the opacity of one of the layers for each bird. I used the transform tool to move the birds in the frame where I wanted them. I applied my “soft fix” preset (settings below) in Fractalius to the entire image with a layer mask and I revealed some of the details of the original merged image. To learn more about creative filtering check out my eBook “A Guide to Creative Filters and Effects”.

My Fractalius “soft-fix” preset settings: (if you are using a newer version the settings will be side by side)

sharpness 11
line width 25
radius 69
diffusion -05
depth 13

sharpness 18
line width 10
radius 27
diffusion 08
depth 02

brightness -36
saturation -10

EXTRACTION:
1.Open your new background image and also the image that you would like to make your extraction from (which will be referred to as your original image).
2. You should now have 2 images in Photoshop.
3. Select original image (Ctrl A), Copy (Ctrl X) and Paste (Ctrl V) to the new background image. Alternately you can go to Window> Arrange> Tile Horizontally or Vertically.
4. Using the Quick Selection Tool located at the top of the left menu bar, make a selection of the object to be extracted from your original image.
5. While your selection is still active, Go to Select>Refine Edge, Once the dialog box opens for Refine Edge make these selections:

* “View”- Choose either white or black background depending on the color of your subject- e.g. dark subject choose a white background so you can easily see the selection.
* ”Radius” slide the radius slider to around 2 or 3. This is something that you will need to experiment with, but 2 or 3 is an average.
* ”Contrast” slide the contrast slider to approx.10% however again this will be different for every image.
* “Output” slide this to approx. 60%. Sometimes I don’t even touch this slider.
* ”Save” choose to save this as a “New layer with layer mask”.
* Click on the Brush Icon and paint along the edges until you are happy with the selection.
* Click OK
* You should now see your extraction/selection on your new background.
* If your selection needs some fine tuning you can activate the layer mask then right click on it and select Refine Mask, This will bring up the same type of dialog box as the Refine Edge. Choose the Brush Icon to make some quick adjustments.
* You can also fine tune your selection via the layer mask using the brush tool with either white or black paint.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Anemones

denise — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:55:25 +0000

Image © 2012/Denise Ippolito Photography
Anemone with Fractalius

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Image © 2012/Denise Ippolito Photography
Anemone with Nemesia background flowers

Image © 2012/Denise Ippolito Photography
Anemone with Fractalius and onOne Perfect Effects applied.

I photographed these Anemone flowers the other day while visiting a local nursery. I added Fractalius to all of them but the red Anemone flower with the yellow Nemesia flowers in the background. I chose a shallow depth of field for that one so that the Nemesia would be a blur of golden yellow, I think the golden yellow tones are a bit competing but I do love the bright vibrant colors.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Cheap, Short-Notice, Practically Private Instruction at the Santa Clara Ranch, near McCook, TX

I am looking for one, possibly two, or even three (the latter a long-shot), photographers to join me, Arthur Morris and Jeff Wendorff at the ground level water hole blinds on the Santa Clara Ranch near McCook, TX. Amazingly, Google Maps has never heard of McCook, TX. But not to worry, it is on Mapquest
You would need to be in McAllen, TX on the late afternoon of Monday May 14, 2012. If you are on our flight to McAllen (United 1621) know that we might stop to do some giant sunflower photography on the way to the ranch which is about an hour west of McAllen. There will be morning and afternoon photography sessions on Tuesday & Wednesday, May 15 and 16th and a final shorter session on the morning of Thursday May 17th. The three leaders will be flying out of McAllen on the 1:27 United flight to Houston.

We will have a variety of songbirds coming to the water along with some snakes and possibly a few mammals that will surely include Mexican Ground Squirrel. Bird species will likely include Painted Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Black-crested (Mexican) Titmouse, Bronzed Cowbird, Long-billed Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, and Olive Sparrow. As migration is underway we may very well be in for a surprise or two. Other possibilities include Green Jay, Lark Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Groove-billed Ani, and Audubon’s Oriole among others.

What’s included: lodging in the simple but modern ranch-house which has ac and wi-fi! Blind fees. Image sharing and individual and small group Photoshop lessons. We will share the cost of a shopping trip and all will get to experience some BIRD AS ART home cooking (unless the want to do some cooking themselves). Lunches and dinners will be healthy and simple but oh so good.

What’s not included: ground and ranch transportation and the shared cost of the food. We would be glad to try to set you up with a car pool partner.

Recommended gear: a minimum of a 500mm f/4 lens with both teleconverters and an extension tube. A sturdy tripod along with a Mongoose M3.6 or a Wimberley V2 head, your flash, a Better Beamer, and a flash bracket. An intermediate telephoto would be a huge plus if we are lucky enough to have deer, armadillo, opossum, collared peccary, or dare I even say it aloud–a bobcat come in for a drink. There might be some flowers around….
Cheap, Short-Notice Practically Private Instruction at the Santa Clara Ranch, near McCook, TX. 2 FULL and one half-day (includes lodging and blind fees): $999.

Dates: May 14th, 15, 16 and 17th (2 1/2 days of photography)

CrabTree

denise — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:14:36 +0000

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To create the CrabTree image above I started with the Sally Lightfoot Crab image at the very top of the page which I created while in the Galapagos co-leading an Arthur Morris Birds As Art Galapagos Photo Cruise. The second image I used to create the look was a tree image that was captured in Central Florida this past winter. I started by selecting the front crab from the top image and created approximately 30 duplicate layers of the selection (not all at once but a few at a time). Then I used the transform tool and changed the size and angle of each layer and positioned them on top of each other until I filled the tree. I wanted it to look as though the tree was draped in crabs but I didn’t want the crabs to be “in your face obvious” so I softened the look of them with the Fractalius Filter. A texture overlay finished off the look. To learn more about creative filtering. Check out my eBook “A Guide to Creative Filters and Effects”

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Connecticut Trip Tulips

denise — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:20:22 +0000

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The tulip images above were all created during my recent trip to Connecticut. I conducted two workshops for the New Haven Camera Club and the Connecticut Association of Photographers. Some of the images were created using the Multiple Exposure feature on my new Canon EOS-5D Mark III. I was experimenting with sandwiching two back-lit images in the same capture. I liked the soft “Orton Effect on steroids” that it created. Some of the multiples were done using a camera movement technique.

______________________________________________________________ denise ippolito

Santa Clara Ranch

denise — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:36:07 +0000

Cheap, Short-Notice, Practically Private Instruction at the Santa Clara Ranch, near McCook, TX

What’s not included: ground and ranch transportation and the shared cost of the food. We would be glad to try to set you up with a car pool partner.

Dates: May 14th, 15, 16 and 17th (2 1/2 days of photography)