Archives
A Sample of Pop’s “Bee” Images

Tuliptree Blossom with Guest

Another Day at Work

Apis Workers' Party

Predator

Some of Your Beeswax

Sedum Bumbler

Look of Defiance

Chicory Bee

Bumbling Bees

Garden Cafe

Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond

Pick Your Poison

Blind Side Attack

On a Mission

Honey Bee on Sedum

Covering the Cosmos

Center of the Cosmos

Three's a Crowd

Popular Spot

On A Pedestal

A Sample of Pop’s “People” Photo Collection

Big Harry Fireworks Display

To Impress the Girl

Different Perspective

Sweet Ride

Perfect Little Piggies B&W

Flipping the Light Fantastic

Festival of Flights

To the Crowd's Delight

Amish Go Round

Wondersome One

The Stars In Her Eyes

Tuesday's Child

Sleeper Hold

Considering the Next Move

Sugar and Spice

Front Porch Portrait

Caged Competitor

Early Adoration

Child In the Ligtht

Stroll Through the Weeds

Attention Grabbing

Eye Contact

On the Line

Eyes of Wonder

Rounding the Curve

Troubadours of Basin Spring Park

Down by the Creek

Sun Day

Catching Some Light

EAA Fireworks

Hear Me Roar

Pops Photos

Photo Restoration – Before & After

Photo Restoration, B&W, Photo Repair

Chalk this one up to the magic of Photoshop and hours and hours and hours and hours of tedious work.

The background story: A good friend came to me with this photo and asked if I could fix it. The photo is a little more than 50 years old.  The subjects are siblings that were separated shortly after this picture was taken – I believe, due to the death of one or more parents.  My friend’s father (little boy in the overalls) is the one who had the original, and only known copy.  It was recently discovered rolled up and literally falling apart. My friend wanted to have it restored, as much as possible, and present it as a Christmas gift to his dad.

The original was a bit smaller that 16×20 inches.  It had been printed on a thick paper that time had made very stiff and brittle.  My first step was to scan it and create a digital file that could be manipulated in Photoshop. The My scanner will only scan 8.5×11 inch images. To get the full photo I had to make multiple scans of it, being sure my scanned images would overlap.  The photo itself presented a lot of problems, because of its stiffness and the areas of major wrinkles actually had small small pieces of the image that were falling off.  That stiffness also prevented the image from laying flat on the scanner.  I was very worried about damaging the original just by unrolling it.

After scanning was complete, I had to join all the pieces of the puzzle to come up with the image you see on the left.  (Actually, some work had been done to it try to even out the tone and remove the tiniest of wrinkles before I saved the “before” image you see here.)

Once I had the “before” view you see above, it was a matter of removing the big wrinkles and recreating some of the areas where the image had flaked off, like on the boys knee or the tall boys face and neck.

When I first saw the photograph, I wasn’t sure how good I could make it look.  Trust me, the “before” image doesn’t do it justice.  I actually took on this project to test my own skills – to see if I could really do it.

After the multiple hours of eye straining work, I think it turned out pretty good.  I’m not completely pleased with it, because I can see plenty of other things that need to be fixed. I would have also liked to work more on the background.  Time decided for me, when the project was complete.  I had worked on it when I could, for several months, and stopped the week of Christmas, so I could get a 16×20 print made for the gift.

I learned a bit through the process and honed my Photoshop skills as well.  The greatest lesson learned?  Do not take on another project like this unless… 1) you have a lot of time…and… 2) someone is paying you a boatload of money.  Now that I know I can do it, that challenge is not as motivating.

Final word:  My friend presented gave his father the photo for Christmas and everyone was delighted and amazed by how good it looked. I also gave him the file on a CD so they can print more copies for the other family members.

I consider it a happy ending.

You can get a closer look at this side-by-side image by clicking on it.

A Christmas Story – Opening Act

Algoma, Lighthouse, SunriseThis is the way the day started in Algoma, WI on Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Christmas morning.  The sun had to force its way through a band of low clouds hugging the horizon over Lake Michigan.

Myself and another area photographer were there to witness and record it.  Obviously, neither one of us had young children at home to open presents on this early Christmas morning. I was actually on my way to church to prepare for the morning’s service and stopped (as I often do) for a quick round of pics.

Click on the photo to see a larger version of it.

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Harbor Slush

Winter, Ice, Algoma, Lighthouse

The harbor at Algoma, WI was busy making slush on the morning I snapped this image.  There were chunks of ice undulating with minimal wave action.  As they moved, ever so slightly, together and apart, the slush in the water created by the cold temperatures was pushed up between the chunks of ice, creating the ridges seen here.

This was taken right at sunrise on a Sunday morning.  If you squint, you can see the first hint of the morning sun on the horizon, just to the right of the lighthouse.

If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see a larger version if you click on the photo.

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View from Shore

Lighthouse, Kewaunee, Sunrise, BeachI know most people prefer to sleep in on Saturday mornings.  Not me.  I’m up before the sun and scouting out potential, natural beauty.  For me, another hour or two of sleep just isn’t worth what I might miss on a calm morning in the pre-sunrise glow.

This is one of my favorite Saturday morning locations.  This was the scene just before the sun appeared over Lake Michigan and the lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI…as viewed from the beach.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Morning Pastels

Look what I found!  This is a pre-sunrise view of the Algoma, WI harbor and lighthouse.  It was a cold December morning where the surface of the harbor looked like a giant, undulating  slushie.

I had been feeling bad for myself because it had been awhile since I was able to get out and take some new photos.  My last opportunities (usually early mornings on the weekend) didn’t work out – time wise, weather wise.

While fiddling with my camera, experimenting with a different setting, I found a group of images I had taken more than a week ago and forgotten about.  This is the first of a few I will post in the near future.

Click the image to view a larger version.

Ending on a Sky Note

Sunset, Rural, Farm

It is not uncommon for me to put an immediate halt to whatever I’m doing, grab my camera and bolt outside to catch a sunset.  The sofa in our living room faces a western window where it’s hard to miss the warm glow illuminating the sheer curtains.  There have been times, in the middle of a conversation, I’ll say, “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.” I then dash for my camera and out the door.  Thankfully my wife, Sara,  is very understanding.  I’m rarely out there for more than a few minutes and, when I return, life generally picks up where it left off.  Sometime later, I’ll get around to reviewing the exquisite light captured from an earlier moment…and maybe post one or two.

Click the photo for a larger view.

Behind the Veil

I was looking forward to getting some photographs of a lunar eclipse last weekend.  In our area, the effects of the eclipse might be visible just about the time the moon reached the horizon, early in the morning.

I got up early and checked the skies.  The moon was full, bold and bright.  I checked the outside temperature. It was around 10-degrees above zero.  That was much colder than I wanted to deal with for the time I would be spending outside trying to capture the eclipse at is peak. I started our van and let it warm up.  When it was time to shoot, I packed my camera bag and tripod into the back seat and drove to the end of our driveway…where I could open the side door and shoot in relative comfort.

Just as the moon was nearing the horizon, a band of clouds rose and obscured my view.  If there was any eclipse effect, I didn’t see it.  Of course, I took a lot of photos anyway and this is my favorite of the bunch.

To see a larger version, simply click the photo.

Guarding the Beauty

Spider, Dianthus, Flowers, PinkThis is kind of a beauty-and-the-beast image.  The Dianthus flowers in our yard caught my eye.  As I moved in to take the shot, the little crab spider made himself known. I didn’t see him until I was right on top of him.  I backed off…then moved in…then backed off…then moved in.  When I moved in, he would take an aggressive stance.  When I backed off, he would relax.  Whatever his strategy was, it must have worked well since, judging by the girth of his tiny frame, I’d say he hadn’t missed any meals.

This photo was taken several years ago with my old Kodak camera. A little “vintage” Pops Digital for you.

For a closer look, click on the photo.