So I admit this is an odd posting.  I really understand if people don’t like this picture or even don’t get what I’m trying to do.  (In fact I expect that response from most).  But as I spent three hours today trying to create the image I thought I’d post it.  I should say here that I don’t think this is a great image, but for a first attempt I think it’s OK.

So what’s this picture about?  What am I trying to do?

This is an exercise in focus harvesting.  The premise is simple.  You take a number of shots of the same subject but focus each time of a different part of the image.  Then (in post processing) you create a new image that includes the “parts” you want in focus in the finished image. I guess it’s a bit like HDR, but with focusing. So why do this?  Why not just take a picture of the leaves I hear you ask!

Well the reason for doing this is to have better control over how the viewer “sees” the image.  By playing with different image aspects like focus, color, brightness and contrast etc., the picture can kind of force the user to start looking in one place and then travel around the image as the photographer intended.  For me the images can also take on an almost 3D look with some parts almost popping out of the photograph.

This is my attempt at that.  If you hold the mouse over the image below you will see the original picture I shot (or at least one of them), and I highlighted where you are supposed to be “drawn” first, then second and so on.  Have a look and let me know if it works and what you think.  This isn’t something for every picture but I wanted to give it a go.

Today our Halo warriors are carrying out Torture training.  Why? Coz they can, and it’s funny 🙂

I watched a video the other day on something called focus harvesting. This involves taking numerous shots of the same subject but with the focus on different things.  You then blend the images together to create a shot that ‘kinda’ looks three dimensional.

So I headed out today to find something to shoot and found some interesting flowers and foliage that might work.  While out I also took the photograph below.  I actually shot this building back on January 19th (when it was covered in snow), but all the white stuff’s gone now and I thought the building from the other end looked nice, especially with the bushes below.  The down side of today was it was quite overcast, so the sky wasn’t that interesting.

Anyway, when I got home I had a bit of a Halo frenzy and took nine different images for my Halo postings.  By the time I finished taking the pictures and processing the shots, it was too late to fully process my attempt at focus harvesting so I decided to post the community center below.

Look out for the focus attempt in the next few days.  Mind you if it sucks I will never post it! 😉

With Valentines Day approaching, the Halo troops decided some tactical training was required.  No idea why, just thought it was funny.

I really like this image but I’m not really sure why!  There are so many things wrong with the photograph like the lack of anything really interesting and the horizon in the middle of the image.

However when I showed this shot to Lisa it was one of her favorites too.  I guess there is something in minimalism!

This one was taken on the road between Kirkland and Redmond in David E Brink Park.

It was the post sticking out of the water that caught my eye, that and the floating platform out in the lake.  The whole area was completely deserted and the sky looked great, at least that’s why I took the shot.

I know, this has happened to us all.  You happen to hold a few balloons and all of a sudden you take off.  Hugely embarrassing!

I needed a color infusion today, I’ve been uploading too many drab, gray images!  Luckily the other day Lisa came home with some Yellow Gerbera Daisy’s (yes I know that’s probably a made up name but that is what it said on the sticker on the flowers).

Anyway, Lisa really liked the color of the flowers and there was one that she described as the “perfect flower”.  So when she got home she said “This is one of your images of the day”.  Being a good husband (and a little scared of Lisa) I immediately grabbed my camera and took the photograph below.

Today we find our Halo heroes talking to their dogs, who apparently haven’t been very good today!

I was out looking for a new location to shoot, somewhere local but a place I haven’t tried.  Earlier in the day I’d looked at mapquest to see if there were any parks near work and I found Clyde Beach Park in Bellevue that overlooked Lake Washington.

The sun was starting to go down when I arrived and the water was really calm.  I liked the fact that the sun was going to fall over the peninsular and there was a guy sat at the end of the peer just staring out over the water.

The sky also had a nice orange tint and after shooting lots of cold blue and grey skies it made a great change.

The only downside is when you shoot directly into the sun you are going to get some lens flare, and I wasn’t let down.  Fortunately it doesn’t hurt the image too much.

The halo guys found an old etch-a-sketch and I have to say I was very impressed with their image!