Seriously Brillient

Isn't this an incredible expression!  From the Alexandria Zoo this is one of the largest land birds originating from Australia and for the life if me I can't remember its species!   I had to take this through a no climb wire fence and so I had to do a severe crop on it.  After I got done with some exposure work I tried a dry brush filter on it and it really picked up the texture of the horn and the glassy eyes.  Such a great contrast. and so brillient!   

Fun In The Sun

I entered this cool photo in the monthly theme contest at Better Photo.  It has right now Editor's Pick which pleases me.  It is not the traditional kids playing in the summer sun and water like most that have been sent in.  This is a man painting the Santa Cruz lighthouse in December!  The day was so lovely and warm for this time of year on the coast and you just gotta enjoy the lady on the bench taking a snooze.  I am guessing its his wife who is enjoying the sun in her own way.  So I treated this with a light watercolor wash in spirit of the painter and his canvas.

San Juan Mission

This lovely set of columns from the San Juan Mission was
right for the lens with the sun so bright and making the shadows interesting.   It was a bit over exposed I felt and lost much of its texture in the brick and surface so I did some processing of dry brush effect which I think enhanced it.   San Juan Batista, Gilroy California from a visit in December.

Another Editors Pick

I have been a member of BetterPhoto.com for ages
and I get so tickled when one of my photos is chosen for
the final round for their contests.   This is called
Siblings.  Taken with my 100-300 mm Sigma out my
kitchen window.  I posted a bigger version of this on
the previous post.  To see my gallery at Better Photo
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=86733

Birds!

I got to digging around some of my photos that desperately need worked on and found this great sea gull from our visit to California in November 2010.  Santa Cruz boardwalk has an abundance of willing models who love nothing more than posing for the camera.  Processed with textures.

Unlike the Seagull these little siblings come regularly to my birdbath and have some growth yet.  The parents are almost black with blue wing tips and a few spots on the chest.  I have no idea what they are but they are entertaining!  Processed with dry brush.