California!

[Swartzy]

Ok, so those of you who live and frequent there may not be real excited...but I don't get there much and had a little opportunity to get out for landscapes. Had a Sunday for San Fran and a Wednesday for the 17 Mile Drive (Pebble Beach).

#1

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/334172508_pn9MY-L.jpg

#2
Lone Cypress Tree

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/334172718_5GLao-L.jpg

#3
Bay Area Pano

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335753536_tgqwP-XL.jpg

#4
A power plant with the moon

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335753823_YNfKE-L.jpg

#5
Old Mission at Carmel

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/334172760_ggokp-XL.jpg

#6
Finally got a sunset

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335296379_Bv8MK-L.jpg

#6
A large container ship

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/334172562_hjD9u-L.jpg

#7
The Artist

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335753277_qZTi8-L.jpg

#8
Interesting trees

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/334172695_gxt46-L.jpg

#9
http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335753365_Doqgr-L.jpg

#10
My "Oooooooh Baby" wall hanger :wink

http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335296340_FPVo4-L.jpg

Was a great time. Thanks for looking! :lust

[raptorcaptor]

Excellent captures! :clap

[DJ-S1]

Wow Dave, fantastic images! :thumb

[Travis]

Beautiful shots Dave. 3, 6, 8, and 10 are spectacular (the rest are merely great.) :D

[Dee]

Excellent!!!!!!

I live here and I don't have shots that good :-(

[Tango]

these are so exciting! :bow

[Nikolai]

Hey not fair, why SF and not LA? :rolleyes
Great series! :thumb

[Awais Yaqub]

These are beautiful Dave !! :clap

[goldenstarphoto]

Hey not fair, why SF and not LA? :rolleyes
Great series! :thumb

Because there's nothing interesting in LA.....:rofl

[ChatKat]

Because there's nothing interesting in LA.....:rofl

We just display our quirky-ness differently down here 'cause we're a bit more spread out....

[Tango]

hey dave, on the other thread when i said i havent seen you around, i meant i havent see you around lately....(just wanted to make sure you knew that:D )

the other strange thing is i thought you were from SF....:scratch
guess im lost...:D

[dlplumer]

Beautiful shots :clap

[Swartzy]

hey dave, on the other thread when i said i havent seen you around, i meant i havent see you around lately....(just wanted to make sure you knew that:D )

the other strange thing is i thought you were from SF....:scratch
guess im lost...:D

Hey Aaron...thanks for the kind words. Nope, not from San Fran but was born in Burlingame :D. I've been hanging out in the people section quite a bit then was away for a few weeks. I seriously miss landscaping and haven't had a chance to get out with weddings/portraits and all. Finally had a chance once in CA and am very happy we had a couple good days for it.

All my life I've wanted the GG bridge as my grandfather had a home in Berkley overlooking the entire bay area. I remember when visiting at 10 years old how spectacular the scene was (a long time ago) and thought since then what a great photo op. Too bad he died and the home was sold. Really a spectacular view up there on the hill top. I'll try to hang out on this forum a bit more as it's a great place to be.

Thanks again!

[Albert Dickson]

#2 and #8 are out of this world good! The rest are just great:):thumb

[schmoo]

#4
A power plant with the moon
http://Swartzy.smugmug.com/photos/335753823_YNfKE-S.jpg


Wow wow wow!!!! How come I never see the Bay Area looking like this? :bow :bow and another for good measure: :bow

I love your use of fog and light in these. Perfect.

Your power plant shot in particular just knocks my socks off. You've totally kicked the bar up a notch for SF photography!

[djspinner2k]

I love 10. how did you get it to pop out like that.

[Swartzy]

#2 and #8 are out of this world good! The rest are just great:):thumb

Thanks Albert! Glad you like the artistic ones! I thought they turned out pretty nice :wink

[Swartzy]

Wow wow wow!!!! How come I never see the Bay Area looking like this? :bow :bow and another for good measure: :bow

I love your use of fog and light in these. Perfect.

Your power plant shot in particular just knocks my socks off. You've totally kicked the bar up a notch for SF photography!

Yo...Schmoo.....wow, thanks for the kind words. The fog is fun...just have to work it in CS3 with layers/masks/opacity blends. I thought the power plant worked up real well...even though it's a power plant....hehe. Guess that's what makes it fun.....any subject can look cool if you get it right :D

It would be a blast to hang out in the SF area for like a week...so much to see.

[Tango]

before i go and start investigating how to do fog, do you know/have a "best" tutorial link?

[geospatial_junkie]

Wonderful mood in these, especially #6!

[Swartzy]

before i go and start investigating how to do fog, do you know/have a "best" tutorial link?

I don't have any links but could steer you in the right direction. Generally for skies/fog I like to duplicate the original layer and set the mode to "muliply" for starters. Creating a layer mask and sometimes using the gradient tool then painting in other areas with a lower opacity brush is also useful. Then move the overall opacity slider of the layer to get what you want. I'll also use selective color layers (numerous) and paint what I desire there as well. Skies typically require some dynamics and multiply mode will provide that.

Often times, I may use multiply over the entire photo to begin with as it adds depth, albiet at a lower opacity then go from there. Much of my processing is with layers and masks whether it be saturation, curves, levels, etc. Even sharpening gets specific with layer masks. Guess I like seeing how things take shape and go from there.

Hope this helps!

[Tango]

ok, thanks for that info. i will try.
i hate being a visual learner...gotta youtube ?:D

[photosbyDan]

dave they are all just great! but I think I would have to hang up number 3 I think it would be the most stunning print :bow

[Swartzy]

dave they are all just great! but I think I would have to hang up number 3 I think it would be the most stunning print :bow

Thanks Dan! I was contemplating the idea as well. Wifey really likes #10 and wants that over the piano...hmmmmmm....maybe I could build another wall????:D:D:D

[Dogdots]

Oh you were in my favorite spots...we use to drive 17 mile drive every Saturday when we lived near there.

They are all good..brings back many memories, but the reflections of the lights from the bridge on the water....fantastic :clap

[snowalker]

What I need to look for?

[picturegirl]

I have been to San Fran so many times and have never had the oppurtunity to photograh the GG in the sun!!! Awesome pics:clap