Don't Laugh

Today is very gloomy, lots of clouds, and rain threatening but never quite reaching the ground. The view out the window changes every few minutes, and when I saw some big, puffy clouds, I grabbed my camera and took several bracketed shots. I started at -2EV and ended with +3EV. This was going to be my first try at composing an HDR photograph.

Here is the "normal" auto-exposed photo, which I tweaked in Photoshop using curves and levels. Nothing special.

When I merged six images into the HDR program, and then tweaked them using Topaz, I came up with this:

Yikes! Not what I was expecting, not at all realistic, but it is very dramatic and "artsy," which I do like. The clouds ended up with some pink highlights - I have no idea how that happened. Later, however, when I looked out the window again, I did notice some pink in the clouds and the sky. It was just a lot more real looking than the HDR photo, which seemed to harden that pink color.

I can tell I will be having a lot of fun learning how to do this properly!

Last Chance

Photo:  Ballyvaughan Flowers

copyright Mary Lanigan Russo

This is the final week of the exhibit, "In the Deep Heart's Core: Ireland by Chicago Artists."  There is some great art work on the walls of the Beverly Arts Center, at 111th and Western Ave.  Don't miss it!

My Etsy Shop

Photo:  "Galway Reflection"

copyright Mary Lanigan Russo

I have just opened a shop on Etsy, a web site that is designed for artists and crafters to sell their wares.  Please stop by and visit.  My shop has giclee prints and cards, as well as my "Tea Time" note cards.  I will continue to add to the shop, so visit often!  Just click here.

My First Manipulated Polaroid

My first foray into the world of manipulated Polaroids (a few years ago) resulted in this image, "Spider Tea."  I loved it so much, I scanned it and had it printed as a 24"x24" canvas.  The process of manipulating the soft emulsion of Polaroid film as it develops, and before it hardens, was fascinating.  I discovered the joy of creating an image that looked almost like a painting, but began as a photograph...magic!

This image can be purchased as a giclee on canvas, and also in my set of "Tea Time" note cards.  

I spent part of this afternoon adding links to other art and photography sites and blogs.  Please let me know if you would like me to list your URL here, as well.