Photoshop and photography

I have been playing with a 30 day trial of Photoshop from Adobe. It has come a long way from when I last used it which was more than 10 years ago. 10 years in the computer world is like in eon in real time. They offer this 30 day trial in the hopes that you will buy the software of course but what the did which in my opinion is brilliant, they now offer a monthly subscription which makes this affordable to the casual user. It allows the saving of what would otherwise have been a disappointing photo. The first 2 photos are untouched but I liked parts of each so I darkened the sky a bit which is shown in the 3rd.
       Back in the prehistoric days of film photography you got whatever the person running the developer thought it should look like. I remember getting several rolls with a green, red or blue bias to the entire roll. It was very frustrating. I tried to develop a relationship with developers who did the processing on site so they would understand what I was looking for especially with the astro photography I had done. Sadly these places are mostly all gone now. Here are the results.

Underexposed

Overexposed

Somewhere in between which I like

It also allows you to make changes from this

To this

And from this

To this



I am having fun with this program and will probably become a subscriber which allows you to get the latest updates as the are released. It is so easy to use now as compared to the past it's a pleasure to use. Bravo Adobe



Some odds and ends

These are some odds and ends photos I took out in Water Mill and Bridgehampton. This first one is of a Downy Woodpecker. This one is a male as distinguished by the red on the back of his head. It is very similar to the hairy woodpecker but is smaller and has more white on the wing. I stopped at the Sagg Swamp Nature Preserve this day and when I got out of the truck, I heard what I thought was the tree above me creaking. It sounded similar to two trees when the make contact. I looked up and didn't see any trees making contact with the one hanging over me and then I saw him move from one limb to another not more than 20 feet away. I snapped several shots of him and liked this one the best. He wasn't hammering away but rather like he was testing the wood. Looking for soft spots and listening for insects within. I did have to lighten him in photoshop just a bit.

This first one was an Osprey perched over its nest in Bridgehampton. I also lightened him a little to show more detail. Check out those talons. Several years ago I was fishing with my brother on a local lake and we heard a tremendous splash behind us. As we turned around, we saw one of these magnificent birds taking off from the water with a fairly good size Large Mouth Bass in its talons. It was an awesome sight. The second shot is one in flight over the pond at The Old Mill in Water Mill. He was actually hunting and watching the water below. I also had to lighten it as the sun was above it and wanted to show the color pattern on the underside of its wings.

This one is of a Great Egret just taking off from the water. It has been cropped and lightened just a smidge. A smidge is just less than a bit in case you were wondering.

And this is the scene looking south over Mecox Bay in Water Mill as seen from the main road just accross the road from where the above photo was taken. I might photoshop the sky from the fist shot and put on the seond shot as I like the railing in the view but the sky is better in the first one. Judge for yourself.

After seeing the two side by side I would lean towards the first shot being slightly underexposed. I was playing around with it and can darken the shy a little to make the clouds pop a little more. Will post when I do it.
        It's such a serene setting and full of wildlife but with the beauty of the place comes people, and lots of them. With them, they bring ignorance and lazyness. I know it sounds condescending but how else can you explain this 

and this

and this

Need I say or show more? Is it any wonder the Heron I called to have resued got trapped by garbage on this very lake? This makes me sick. We only have one planet. It sustains our existence. Once it's destroyed, so are we. It's that simple. Please respect our planet and don't be a slob. Think about what kind of world you want to leave for your future generations to inherit. The "precious" vehicles that were so important to keep clean will have been long gone to the shredder before these plastic bottles decompose.

"My bird" made facebook

Call me crazy. I really don't care and it wouldn't be the first time, but I have gone to visit the bird I helped get rescued and have been in contact with the rescue center about it's progress. It is doing well and I hope it gets released soon. The rescue center put up a great picture of it on their facebook page. You can see it here. It may be a bit deceiving as to its size. It actually stands about a foot tall. I knew he was in good hands. This center is outstanding in it's response and care of these injured animals.

Angels of Mercy

That is the only way I can describe them. I am talking about the people at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center. Yesterday  I decided to stop again at the pond by The Old Mill at Watermill in the Hamptons hoping to spot more Ospreys or an Egret or Blue Heron. I almost didn't go but at the last minute I decided what the heck, it's a nice morning. To my surprise there were 4 Egrets which I will post pictures of in a later post. I also spotted what I thought was a Blue Heron further away. After taking some shots of the Egrets I noticed that something didn't look right with the Heron. Then as if to point out the bird was in trouble one of the Egrets flew over to where he was and perched.

I kept watching through the zoom lens and realized the bird had a tangled wing and was caught in the branches above the water and away from the shoreline. Sadly, my eyes are not what they used to be and to the unaided eye, this bird could have easily been mistaken for a plastic bag caught on the branch. I started observing him through the zoom lens to get a better perspective.

When he tried to free himself however there was no doubt that this was a bird in distress. I put down the camera and picked up my smart phone and did a search for wildlife rescue and it brought me to the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center which had a 24 hour hotline. I made the call and was called back literally within 2 minutes. That was at 7:10 am. When I broke for lunch at 12:45 I called to check on the status of the bird. It turns out it was a Black Crowned Night Heron. A nocturnal bird that I had never seen before or heard of. I thought it may have been an Osprey as it was too small to be a Blue Heron. It was not only rescued but treated and being cared for by these angels of mercy. It turns out the bird got tangled in some fishing line which got it snared on the branches. He had to be suchered and was thin. He was listed as stable but in critical condition. I hope this little guy makes a full recovery.

WHY? Why do people act like slobs in public places? I did some metal detecting at local beaches last year and could not believe the garbage left on our beaches. It absolutely disgusted me and reminded me why I stopped going to the beach. There is a load of garbage on the opposite side of this lake by the roadway. Is it really that important to keep your car clean that you think it's okay to trash a pristine and beautiful ecosystem like this? PEOPLE, THINK ABOUT YOUR ACTIONS!!! If you want to be an irresponsible slob, do it at home. I don't enjoy looking at your refuse and I really don't enjoy seeing birds and other wildlife pay the price for your laziness. Oh yeah, I fish too (catch and release only) but don't leave garbage and tangles of fishing line behind.

I can't praise the people at this wildlife center enough. It was not an easy resue to execute. GREAT JOB!!!!

Update 4/5/13 I stopped by center to see the bird and got an impromptu tour of the small yet impressive facility. The bird was not eating and seamed angry about his temporary captivity. That was in the afternoon on 4/3/13. I called today (4/5/13) and the bird was eating and gaining weight and doing well. They are doing some great work at this center. I can't praise them enough.