Photo – Digital art photo of leaves, titled “The Old and the New”
I thought this assortment of leaves was interesting and quite a contrast. It is a mixture of Oak and Dogwood leaves that have fallen from their trees, combined with the new growth of spring. Â
We have been having unusually warm weather this fall. It has a lot of plants in our yard springing up already, such as the green violets in this photo.Â
Photo – Digital art photo created from an out-of-focus original photograph
I’m not a wildlife photographer per se, but when an opportunity presents itself like it did here, I’d be a fool not to try to capture it.
Photo – Digital art photo created from an original photograph
Last week, I posted the photo above and had viewers guess how it was created. Thank you, Richard Wong, for your participation in the guessing game. Thanks also to all of you that studied it, but decided not to participate.
Here is how it was shot
It had been raining for several hours. After it stopped, I went out to the deck to dump the water out of the chairs. You know, the really popular outdoor folding chairs almost everyone has? Fortunately, I looked at the puddle that had collected in the chair before dumping it. Floating in the puddle were these beautiful Oak leaves and the lighting was just right. I went and got my camera and took a series of shots before dumping the chair. Â
This is how it was processed in PhotoShopÂ
Step 1 – Image Adjustment
Step 2 – Selected Hue/Saturation
Step 3 - In edit, changed the setting from master to blue.Â
Step 4 – Gave it a +70 in saturation.Â
Step 5 – Selected Filters
Step 6 – Selected Poster Edges
Now that the cat is out of the bag, how many of you had it right all along?
Photo – “Pumpkin and Petunias” in Nevada City, CA
This fall decoration really caught my eye and I love it for two reasons. It’s simple. It’s also unique. The unique combination of the Pumpkin and the Petunias is quite a contrast. One way to add impact to a photograph, is by including contrasting subjects in the composition. Â
Photo – Digital art photo of an old firehouse in Nevada City, created from an original photograph
This is another shot of historic Nevada City, in California’s Gold Country.
Photo #1Â – Rock Shop in Nevada City, CA
While wandering around Nevada City in search of fall color, we stumbled upon this little Rock Shop. I found it so interesting and unique, I had to shoot the h**l out of it! When you have a great subject in front of you, it’s always a good idea to shoot multiple frames. It’s far easier than returning to the location later!
  
Photo #2 – Rock Shop in Nevada City, CA
As I walked around to the other side, beautiful sidelighting was striking it. This turned out to be one of my favorite photo subjects of the day!
 
Photo #3 – Rock Shop in Nevada City, CA
It really pays to get off of the main drag and visit some of the side streets. That is where you can often find the more unique subjects, not the ones everyone else shoots!
Photo - Digital art photo of Oak leaves in Auburn, CA, created from an original photograph
This photo was shot on my deck right after a nice, long, rain.
Any guesses as to how it was created? I’d love to hear from you. I will keep you guessing for a few days, before I reveal the details.
Have fun!
Old firehouse in downtown Nevada City, California.
It’s not too late to see the fall colors in Nevada City. This shot was taken on Monday of this week. My husband and I got up there just in time to see peak fall color. If you are thinking about visiting there this weekend, I don’t think you will be disappointed. It will probably be spectacular for a few more days.
Photo – View of the soaking pools on Buckeye Creek
Here is another shot of Buckeye Hot Spring. This photo shows what the soaking pools actually look like. Posting this makes me want to jump in the car and go there right now!
This wraps up my photo essay on our fall colors trip last October.
Buckeye Hot Spring, near Bridgeport, California.
This is one of our favorite hot springs in California and a soak here is free! It is located on the creek, clothing is optional and you can often have it all to yourself. Plus, it is a short drive or walk from Buckeye Campground.
The small pool in the foreground is a hot water source. This pool is scalding hot and is not for soaking in. The water flows down the hill from this pool and eventually drops into Buckeye Creek. There it mixes with the creek water and cools down to temperatures suitable for soaking.
Woman enjoying Buckeye Hot Spring, Eastern Sierra, California. Put this on your “Bucket List!”
If you are going, make sure you take everything you will need with you (towel, snacks, water etc.) and wear good footwear. The walk down to the creek is very steep and slippery in spots and you won’t want to make the trek too many times. If soaking at night, be sure to pack a flashlight also.
Every time we travel scenic highway 395, we make it a priority to visit Buckeye Hot Spring!
Directions – To get to Buckeye from the northern end of Bridgeport, turn off of Route 395, turn west on Twin Lakes Road and travel seven miles. Turn right just past Doc and Al’s Resort, then cross the bridge going over the creek. Continue uphill along a gravel road, past Buckeye Campground. At the top of the hill you’ll find a parking area. The springs are down the trail from the parking lot. Closed in the winter.
