"I think if you shake the tree, you ought to be around when the fruit falls to pick it up."
Mary Cassatt
The last few days our part of the world has been fortunate enough to experience a few days of fog and, to paraphrase Dorcas Lane of "Larkrise To Candleford"..."Fog is my only weakness", I've been out exploring a lot of different nooks and crannies. On the day of the blog image I found an area of ground fog, while on the road, and was pretty excited since it was a perfect background to a farmstead that I've wanted to capture for a long time. The perfect sunrise colors made it all the better so I made a hard right turn to find a set up location to wait for the "announcement" of the colors.
The image was processed through Nik HDR Efex Pro, then Photoshop CS5 and finally some touches in Nik Color Efex Pro 4. Color Efex provided the Tonal Contrast correction and also the use of the Split Neutral Density Grad Filter which are two favorites and with the brush tool in the software filter allows the opportunity to paint the effects on the image. The Nik brush tools and the U-point technology are great to use for those subtle touches throughout an image.
While working on this piece it wasn't too difficult to remember past mornings on the farm...out early to start chores, then in for a hardy breakfast at about 9 a.m. and then back out 'til noon. While the days were long and full there was always a sense of pride in the American Heartland that went with the work no matter how compelling the day.
Thanks for visiting the site and don't forget to stop to take a deep breath...Spring is here, my friend.
A big shout for the Baylor men's and women's basketball team for having won their way to the final eight of the NCAA tournaments. We're so proud.
My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at- http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649
For more views of my work visit;
"A Piece Of Work", Spirit Lake, Iowa http://www.apieceofworkinc.com
Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota www.lanesboroarts.org
BetterPhoto.com http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V
http://500px.com/pigs4u