Thanks for taking a picture of me Jana! You are amazing!

Followers

WHO IS BALD IS BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY?

Well, it's me of course! Hi, I'm Scott, just an ordinary guy who loves life and all the little nuances that it brings! Simply put, I'm a father to a wonderful son, a husband to a beautiful wife, and an amateur photographer who enjoys looking at the world through a piece of glass! I took up photography a couple of years ago, after having gastric bypass surgery. Since 12/07, I have lost 180 pounds, but found a real passion for documenting life with my camera. I could say that the big names out there have inspired me, and they have, But my true inspiration comes from the people I meet everyday who share the same thoughts and zeal I have for photography. We are truly blessed with some really great photographers around Nashville. So, what are you waiting for.... ...grab a camera, snap some pics, and enjoy life to the fullest!
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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Home is where the heart is!

The other day, I had to make a run over to Baptist Hospital.  No, I wasn’t sick or in too much pain, I needed to visit the Protein Queen (aka: Recovering Fatty) , and pick up some supplies!  You see, I’m just like one of these guys you see standing on the corner with a sign that says…”Will work for food!”  Only I do computer/blog work for protein :) 

Baptist Hospital

  I had also picked up RJ from school, so he went with me.  When we left, we found a parking garage near by, and thought it would be a great place to take pictures from.  So, we grabbed the camera from the trunk, set up the tripod, and started snapping photos.  The boy was like a kid at Christmas , running around hollering at what he found from his perch on high!  The highlight, he found his school.  He proudly proclaimed that his school was 15 miles away and he could still see it.  In truth, it was less that a mile from where we were!

Head MagnetI love color, there I said it.  I’m not a black and white type person.  This is a renovated Government Housing Project near RJ’s school.  Heck, these house’s look better than mine!  Project  Just a simple parking garage at Baptist hospital.  It was the angles and lines that drew my eyes to it.

garage

But in the midst of filth and grime, in the center of all that is wrong with the world, one light shines through.  God’s grace is always there to embrace us, to love us, and to shower us with beauty!  Right there, on that cloudy day, the heavens opened, and He proclaimed that He is still there and on His throne!suns rays

panorama

I love my city!

Have a wonderful day!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

May your day be filled with…

Black Eyed Susan

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fall Colors 2009

I made a point to ge out of the house yesterday.  My main goal was to track down some beautiful fall colors.  It seems that it’s just about the right time of the year here in Tennessee to see those leaving just a changing!

 

So, here ya go!  I thoroughly recommend that if you have a hobby, or something you enjoy doing, go Nike on it. 

“Just do it!”

   fall 3

fall 1

 

fall 11

fall 9

 

Just click on the above album to view all of them!

How to throw a rock in the lake!

That’s right folks, my son has regrettably agreed to demonstrate the technique needed to “throw a rock in the lake”.  You too can learn this skill just by following his patented throwing strategies.  If assistance is needed with perfecting your skills, RJ is available for a fee!

9 panel framed

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Winner, winner, chicken dinner……..

……well, not for me!

I did not win, nor was I an Honorable Mention in the photo contest I entered the other day. It was the one for “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” from I ♥ Faces.

You know, there is one part of me that says, “Geez Scott, did you really expect to win?” Not really, because there are some really good, no let me scratch that statement. There are some really great photog’s that entered. I mean some of the shots blew me away! But then some of them were really boring! Click here for the winning entries and honorable mentions.

I guess I’m a little biased with my shots. When I posted this shot, I really felt good about it. I could feel the emotion of the runners, but more importantly how the woman in the pink hat felt.

Then again, sometimes it’s nice to be shot down so to say. No, I did not expect to win, but I did expect at least an honorable mention.

What does this type of rejection do to a person? 1of 2 things is going to happen…

1) I’m going to sit on my butt and never enter another contest again. In fact, I’m never going to take another picture again!

or

2) I’m going to pick myself up, dust myself off, and start snapping pics right away!

Well guys and gals, the answer is #2. In fact, this afternoon, I plan on taking RJ to watch his old football team play. And you just know my camera is going to be in my hand. Football 07

Then later this afternoon, or tomorrow sometime, I plan on driving around and getting some fall foliage shots. The leaves are just about at their peak, or just beyond, and I’ve been waiting for this time of year!Keebler Elves 08

So, be prepared for some new photos and reflections from me…

Monday, October 19, 2009

"PINK WEEK” Photo Challenge

button_-_photochallenge1

Pink_Week

Think Pink

~Racing for the cure~

This week's challenge over at I ♥ Faces is "Think Pink" in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My next door neighbor is a Breast Cancer Survivor, so this has hit home really hard.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Photoshop weekend!

This weekend it has been really cold in Nashville.  I mean it’s the coldest day we’ve had since last winter.  Geez, the thermometer is reading 36 degrees this morning.  That’s just plain cold.  In fact, coffee is not really helping either!

Well, this weekend I’ve been playing with Photoshop again.  Man, this is one wicked program!  Since the weather has turned chilly, I decided it was a good time to design this years Christmas card.  Now, I’m not gonna show you that one yet, but I will share with you what else I have been working on.

A BOY AND HIS CELLO

storyboard sto'ry·board' v. A panel or series of panels of rough sketches outlining the scene sequence and major changes of action or plot in a production to be shot on film or video. 

I could not be prouder of my son and the progress he has made with his music!  In one short year, he is becoming a great cello player.  The way he can listen to a song and then play it on Betty (his cello), is amazing.  He has now started playing guitar as well. 

Dad, this one’s for you…he saw the guitar I had given you oh so many years ago and asked if he could play it.  Every Friday he packs up his guitar for lessons at school. 

I have truly been Blessed!

C Ya!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

FIX - IT - FRIDAYS & BAD BACKS

FacesFixIt

Well, it’s time once again for a Fix-it-Friday over at I Faces , and this one was hard. The shadows on the right, and the over exposure on the left. Like I said, this one was tough!

10-16-09

Original photo from Christal from A Moose, A Bear & A Ladybug

10-16-09 edit-Edit-2

Edited photo

Corrected exposure using layers. Then went on to use a couple of filters from NIK Color Efex Pro, specifically “Lighten/Darken Center” and “Glamour Glow”. Then added a vignette around the edges. I used PhotoShop. Lightroom and Nik for my photo editing.

I know it’s not perfect, but it’s better!

Art is very subjective. I’ve truly learned what the statement “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” really means. What I find nice, others may find appalling. But that’s OK, cause the only person I have to please is me…I mean my wife!

Oh yeah, what else can you do when your back is down and out…

Fixit2

Have fun!


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Taking it to the next level!

Today I attended a photo workshop that was truly inspiring, yet educational as well. Bill Fortney was the instructor, and he is one truly amazing man!

He shared a quote from Jay Maisel that really made sense:

“There are 2 kinds of photographs, ones you keep, and ones you share”.

Today, I share!

shelby park fall 08-6 shelby park fall 08-1 shelby park fall 08-2 shelby park fall 08-4 shelby park fall 08-3shelby park fall 08-5

Fix-it Friday

FacesFixIt

One of my new blogs I look at is “I Heart Faces”. One of these days, I figure out how to add the “heart” symbol to text!

I truly enjoy is editing photos. I believe it makes me a stronger photographer. If I can fix a photo in Photoshop, it then helps me to think how I can make the shot better without editing.

So, every Friday I Heart Faces has a “Fix-it Friday” photo that anyone can download and play with. Well, here’s my effort at it. Not much has been changed except exposure, a little white balance adjustment. Then added in a crop and rotate.

3994151621_b0b9988785_b

Original photo from Kim @ My Family’s Circus

3994151621_b0b9988785_b-Edit

3994151621_b0b9988785_b-Edit-2

NIK Color Efex Pro-Glamour Glow

The fun part is experimenting with the photo!


Sunday, October 4, 2009

Computer Hi-Jinx

It is amazing how far we have come when it comes to computers.  I remember sitting down at my Dad’s first computer (a Commodore 64 mind you), and having a blast at all the things you could do!

This weekend, I was received my copy of Photoshop CS4 Extended.  Wow, what a program.  I have been playing around with it all day, and truly love all the bells and whistles. 

Rose original

Original image taken at my B-I-L’s wedding in 2007.

 Rose textured

Texture image

Rose aged

Aged image

I will say this though, I am truly overwhelmed with all there is to learn. My good friend Melinda (Recoveringfatty.com), told me you learn it, and then you can share with me!  Most people would  be up set with that, but not me.  I am really enjoying  the opportunity to learn something new.  Then if I can share with someone else, that just makes it better!

 Centinnial Park Original

Original image.

   Centinnial Park Glamour Glow

Image with “glamour glow” added

Centinnial Park textured

Textured image

Hey, who knows, maybe one day I can quit my day job, or should I say jobs?

Peace!