Posted on by Jan Williams Photography

Photo Editing: How to manipulate color to create a focal point – Snapseed

Click on images to enlarge.

In looking over trip photos, the original image taken in Venice has a great memory attached it. But the composition screams of chaos: strong competing colors; multiple lines from buildings, windows, street reflections…. It is soooo busy that your eye keeps looking for a place to rest. Through manipulation of color by using a filter overlay, I was able to change the mood to reflect the rainy day, while adding a subtle focal point.

Below is the recipe for brushing in color using the Retrolux filter. Watch Video. Note: this brushed-in color technique can also be duplicated using tools provided in other photo editing software/apps. To see a demonstration: WATCH VIDEO

Manipulate Color Recipe

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Monkeying Around – Animal Photography

Brookfield Zoo-Urangutan.jpg

f/6.3; 1/800 sec; ISO 3200; 187mm

spider monkey.jpg

f/6.3; 1/400 sec; ISO 6400; 210mm

Brookfield Zoo also known as the Chicago Zoological Society is located in Brookfield, a suburb of Chicago. One of my favorite places to visit is the monkey house. There are quite a variety and more than a few that are happy to pose.

Posted on by Jan Williams Photography

Wrens – Bird Photography

 

We were lucky this year to have a couple of wrens build their nest in one of our birdhouses. Every morning we wake up to their wonderful sounds and singing. For such a little bird they have a powerful set of vocal chords.

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Bird Photography-Blue Herons

Fishing for Lunch

Spent a long time watching this blue heron hunt for fish on the shores of Delavan Lake in Wisconsin. Their process of catching fish is very interesting. The heron will stand very still in the water upright, but as it moves to a new location it cocks its head and neck to one side to scan the water surrounding it. When fish are spotted, it crouches its body down very close to the surface of the water and tucks its neck in close to its body. And then it waits – when the time is right with extreme force and precision it dives for the fish.

Gaining Speed.jpg

Taking Flight.jpg

Ready to Launch.jpg

Two Cranes.jpg

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Photography-Friendly Hummingbirds

Hummingbird-In flight

f7.1; 1/2000 sec; ISO 800; 250mm

“With Brave Wings She Flies”…..I never get tired of photographing hummingbirds. Each comes with its own personality. Some are very shy and hide behind the feeder hoping you won’t see them while others seem to pose for the camera. The other day, I was approaching the house. I heard the buzzing of the wings and chirping sound of the hummingbird. You can’t really hear their chirp unless you are really close. To my surprise this hummingbird (who is a frequent guest at our feeder) hovered about two feet in front of me, eye level, staring at me for at least 20 seconds before taking off. It was such a thrill to learn it was not afraid of me.