A Photo a Day (or at least I'll try!) - # - DreamCatcherPhotography's Photos

Welcome to my Photo a Day on the Daily photo community. I did a project 365 on Facebook last year, but I'm looking for more CC from other photographers, and I enjoy seeing other's work and learning their techniques. I'm pretty passionate about photography and I love to share ideas and technical stuff! I've been a Canon user for over 30 years. At the moment I'm using a 5d Mark ii and a 50d, with L lenses, and I process on an iMac. I am also a major software junkie! Comments and Constructive Critiques always welcome!

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DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/22/2013 ~ Shadows and Light on the Bayou

The Chicot Bayou in Louisiana is a very still, quiet place. But if you paddle slowly, and really take the time to listen, you will hear it is actually alive with sound. The soft whisper of dragonflies buzzing by, the croaking of frogs, the soft splash of turtles, slipping from their perches on logs in the sun. The wind rustles sweetly through the cypress tree tops. Your senses become alive to the subtle light and shadows, the sweet smells of water lilies and hyacinth blooming. Keep an eye out for alligators.. they live in the bayou too, but they fear you more than you fear them. They're not a worry, just a treat to see. The bayou is a wonderful, magical place.

Thank you for the kind comments on yesterday's No Turning Back Now shot! It truly is a 'Jeep Thing'. Some people might think we're nuts to drive these trails, but honestly I feel safer on them than I do on Houston's crazy streets that I drive on a daily basis! My hubbs drove 'big jeeps' in the Army and National Guard for 12 years so I have a lot of confidence in his skills. I guess it's just how you look at life. Every day's a roll of the dice. Have a fantastic Wednesday.. it's 'Hump Day' already!!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/21/2013 ~ No Turning Back Now

Black Bear Pass, the infamous Jeep trail made famous in a song by CW McCall

Besides taking photos this is the other thing I like to do! Every summer for the last several years my husband and I spend a week or so in Colorado, near Ouray, driving our Jeep Wrangler (my daily vehicle) on the best Jeep trails in the world. One of the scariest is the well known Black Bear Pass. This is a view from inside my Jeep as we made the descent into Telluride via Black Bear last July. From this point on, it is one way, downhill only into Telluride. There's no turning back, and no way to chicken out, or you'll have a $1000 plus towing bill. And you better pay attention and know what you're doing. It's one of the most dangerous trails in Colorado. You miss a turn, and you'll roll thousands of feet. You can see how the trail winds around and disappears over the edge. Just below the edge, out of view, are The Steps, a very narrow and rough section of the trail. Following The Steps is Adios Curve. The trail makes a sharp turn to the right and if you miss it, well... adios. After the curve begins a series of switchbacks, several that require 3 point (or more) turns. Which means you're backing up and pointing the nose of your Jeep at an abyss thousands of feet high. So you might wonder why anyone would do this trail! The view is indescribable. The air is so fresh and clear, it's like being on a cloud. The adrenaline rush is quite addictive, and the bragging rights are pretty cool. I work and plan all year for this - my days of rough riding in Colorado.

A view of the switchbacks and Bridal Veil Falls can be seen HERE as well as other photos of Black Bear Pass and additional scenic trails in Colorado.

Thank you all for the kind comments on yesterday's Colorado Wildflowers shot! Can you tell I have summer vacation on the brain??

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/20/2013 ~ High Meadow Wildflowers

This is a shot from last summer, of Colorado's beautiful alpine wildflowers. I believe these are a type of clover. Summer is fleeting in the high altitudes of the San Juan Mountains near Telluride, but no long summer could bring a more colorful and splendid variety of wildflowers. The hillsides and high meadows are blanketed in every color of the rainbow. This particular shot was made along Black Bear Pass, at about 12000 feet above sea level.

Thank you for the kind comments of yesterday's Vanishing Edge Fountain shot!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/19/2013~ Vanishing Edge Fountain

This vanishing edge fountain is at the Houston Museum of Fine Art. I felt there was too much going on color wise in the original image, with some really bright greens in the upper right. I processed this with Topaz Adjust in the Clarify setting, then in Photoshop I desaturated everything, except for the blue water.

Thank you all for the nice comments on yesterday's Abandoned Truck shot. It's such a cool old truck, in such an amazing setting. It overlooks an old ghost town and a cool old abandoned mill. I didn't get to comment too much yesterday. We worked in the yard all day, and it barely looks any different. Have a wonderful Sunday!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/18/2013 ~ Old Abandoned Truck

Animas Forks, Mining Ghost Town, near Silverton, Colorado. Digging through my archives, this is from our Colorado Jeep trails trip last summer. I'm thinking about this summer's trip, and trying to plan our stops. This old truck sits up on a hill, overlooking the old Ghost Town of Animas Forks.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on yesterday's beach sunset shot! You guys ROCK! Have a great Saturday!!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/17/2013 ~ Sunset on the Sand
Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL

From my Spring Break trip in March. It looks like a nice, beachy day, but the wind was howling and it was bitterly cold. Not many beachcombers that Spring Break!

Thank you all for the fun and funny comments on yesterday's Got Cows? Shot! It was a hilarious find, and even more funny to think of them as giant Chia Pets! Speaking of pets, my youngest came home with a ferret last night. It's the cutest thing, and I know it will be a most willing photo subject! Have a wonderful Friday!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/16/2013 ~ Got Cows??

Only in Texas!! I found these Longhorn topiaries adorning the front lawn of a house in a very exclusive area near Hermann Park, in Houston. I'd have loved to have put my lens through the iron fence bars and avoided the lines, and I probably would have if not for the very large hedge, and my husband's warning that 'There's probably snakes in there'. So please just pretend they're not there :)

Thank you all so very much for the lovely comments and votes that put my Japanese Umbrellas shot in the 2nd place slot yesterday! It's such an honor to have my photo enjoyed by so many! The name of the restaurant is 'Ra' and they have locations throughout the US. If you like sushi, I highly recommend them!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/15/2013 ~ Japanese Umbrellas

These Japanese Umbrellas serve as lighting in the foyer of my favorite sushi restaurant. My sweet hubby indulged me for Mother's Day and took me here, even though he hates sushi! Fortunately, they also have a variety of Japanese/Chinese dishes too.

Thank you for the lovely comments on yesterday's Oil Paint shot of the Roses and Reflections! Wow, today's already Wednesday! Have a great 'Hump Day'!!!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/14/2013 ~ Roses and Reflection Pool
Hermann Park, Houston

I am enjoying my new toy, and have yet again processed another photo in Oil Paint (Pixel Bender)! This is a shot of the reflection pool at Hermann Park, in Houston. I liked the roses and the perspective, but the original photo just didn't have the 'pop' I wanted it to have. I think the Oil Paint effect really works on this one. You guys be the judge. The original image is HERE

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on yesterday's Sam Houston Statue shot! This scene is also from my Mother's Day outing, and the statue is directly behind me. Hermann Park is definitely one of the prettiest spots Houston has to offer!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/13/2013 ~ General Sam Houston

Bronze statue of General Sam Houston in Hermann Park, Houston. Samuel "Sam" Houston (March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was a nineteenth-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He is best known for his leading role in bringing Texas into the United States.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on yesterday's Antebellum plantation shot. I wish I knew the name of this house, but didn't make note of any historical markers. I do know it is somewhere off I-49 in Louisiana, South of Alexandria. This particular mansion is a private home and not available for tours, but there are several throughout the state that are.

Edited to add: I just realized this has the wrong date in the metadata. Not that it really matters, but I actually took this yesterday. Saturday I had an error message and had to pull both batteries. I guess I reentered the wrong date. Oopss.

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/12 2013 ~ Memories of Scarlett and Rhett

This Antebellum plantation home is near Alexandria, Louisiana. It reminds me so much of the home in 'Gone With the Wind'

Thank you all very much for the kind comments and well wishes on yesterday's The Graduate shot!! I am indeed so proud of my son! He is the best kid, so bright and so hard working. He worked his way all through college, and still managed to stay on the Dean's List the entire time. The best thing is.. He already has a new job in his field!

Have a wonderful Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/11/2013 ~ The Graduate

Yesterday was day of joy and incredible pride for me. My son, my oldest, graduated from the University of Houston, Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. This shot is of him when they called for the Honorees to stand.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on yesterday's Stark House shot! It was a busy day so I didn't get to comment on everyone's wonderful images, but I did get to browse a bit, and as always I am overwhelmed by the amazing talent on this site! You all are such wonderful inspirations!! Have a fantastic Saturday!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/10/2013 ~ The W.H. Stark House

This elaborate Victorian House is located in Orange, Texas. It is a house museum and is open for tours.

From Wikipedia: The W. H. Stark House was home to William Henry and Miriam Lutcher Stark, who spent a lifetime collecting rare and unique decorative objects. Miriam Melissa Lutcher Stark moved to Orange with her parents, Henry Jacob Lutcher and Frances Ann Lutcher, in the late 1870s. As co-owner of the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company, Henry Jacob Lutcher, along with his wife, began the philanthropic dynasty that continues to benefit the Orange community today.

In 1881 Miriam M. Lutcher married William Henry Stark, who made his fortune in banking, oil, rice, insurance, and the timber industry. They moved into their home in 1894 and occupied it until 1936. They were passionate collectors and instilled in their son, H. J. Lutcher Stark, a lifetime dedication to philanthropy and the arts.

When the Stark family moved into their new home, W. H. Stark was forty-three, Miriam was thirty-five, and their son Lutcher was seven. They were the only family to inhabit the house. When W. H. and Miriam Stark died in 1936, Lutcher Stark closed the house, which remained vacant until 1970 when restoration began. Restoration continued for ten years until the house was opened to the public for tours on February 10, 1981.

Construction on the W. H. Stark House began on June 29, 1893, with completion in 1894. The house is classified in the Queen Anne architectural style, which is characterized by long sloping roofs, second floor balconies, Jacobean chimneys, wide verandas, and octagonal or round towers.

Interior ceilings are 12 feet (3.7 m) high on the first floor, 11 feet (3.4 m) high on the second floor, and 10 ½ feet (3.2 m) high on the third floor. Exterior walls are ten inches (25 cm) thick with two layers of diagonal storm sheeting. Interior double walls are sixteen inches (41 cm) thick. The floor plan is duplicated on two of the three stories and includes a concrete basement, which is unique in Southeast Texas.

Cypress was chosen as the basic material for the structure of the W. H. Stark House because of the damp conditions in the area. Longleaf yellow pine was used for the intricate design work. Turned pieces were formed on a foot-operated machine lathe, and each board had to be cut and measured for a precise fit. All framework was selected from the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Mills.

The 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m2) home appears much as it did in the 1920s with fifteen rooms and three stories of original family furniture, carpets, silver, antique porcelains, and American Brilliant Period cut glass. The ceiling in the Music Room is oil painted on canvas by artist E. Theo Behr and features an allegorical scene with cherubs. The house also holds many unique objects, including a one-of-a-kind sterling silver Gorham Manufacturing Company tea service in the Louis XVI style, a rare copy of the Napoleon death mask, and decorative silver and china.

The W. H. Stark House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission.

Thank you for the super comments on yesterday's Reeds and Reflections shot! I appreciate the positive feedback on some of my weirder Photoshop adventures!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/9/2013 ~ Reeds and Reflections

Trying something different and a bit out of the box. This is a shot of reeds sticking out of the water in a small pond nearby. About 1/2 the image is the reeds, the other half is their reflections, but it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. I processed this in Topaz Simplify, then in Photoshop in the Poster Edges filter. I over saturated it to go with the abstract effect. Not sure I like it, but it was fun to make :)

Thank you all for the nice comments on yesterday's Iroquois Beadwork shot! I still have several more pieces to photograph and post. Arctangent asked if the Iroquois still produce beadwork. They do, but now the pieces go mostly to private collectors rather than to be sold as souvenirs as the craft was originally developed for. I prefer the old, antique pieces, mostly because I feel they have a story to tell. I do have one piece of modern beadwork. It's pretty, but it's only story is me, LOL, and I already know mine!

DreamCatcherPhotography > 5/8/2013 ~ Iroquois Beadwork

Two Iroquois Beadwork heart shaped pin cushions from my collection. Both date to the early 1900's and were sold in the Niagara Falls region as souvenirs. Hand sewn and beaded by members of the Iroquois Nation, and stuffed with sawdust. The one on the left is faced with woolen fabric and unfortunately has fallen victim to moths. You might also notice the black bead within the white beading on the upper left edge. It was common for the artist to add one mismatched bead to show that only Mother Nature could make something perfect.

I shot this photo with my son's new 6d. Neat camera! Very lightweight and compact. It's full frame, but unlike my 5d2 it has a much smoother shutter and uses SD cards, which are cheaper but slower, than CF. I like the fact that it has GPS built-in. No need for a note book or a map to try and figure out 'where was that'?! Still, I like the weightier feel of the 5d2.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on yesterday's Cardinal shot! I'm having a blast with Oil Paint, but it's very hard to not go crazy with this effect. I have to keep telling myself that restraint is a good thing... But I have a hard time with that! Have a super Hump Day!!

5/22/2013 ~ Shadows and Light on the Bayou

The Chicot Bayou in Louisiana is a very still, quiet place. But if you paddle slowly, and really take the time to listen, you will hear it is actually alive with sound. The soft whisper of dragonflies buzzing by, the croaking of frogs, the soft splash of turtles, slipping from their perches on logs in the sun. The wind rustles sweetly through the cypress tree tops. Your senses become alive to the subtle light and shadows, the sweet smells of water lilies and hyacinth blooming. Keep an eye out for alligators.. they live in the bayou too, but they fear you more than you fear them. They're not a worry, just a treat to see. The bayou is a wonderful, magical place.

Thank you for the kind comments on yesterday's No Turning Back Now shot! It truly is a 'Jeep Thing'. Some people might think we're nuts to drive these trails, but honestly I feel safer on them than I do on Houston's crazy streets that I drive on a daily basis! My hubbs drove 'big jeeps' in the Army and National Guard for 12 years so I have a lot of confidence in his skills. I guess it's just how you look at life. Every day's a roll of the dice. Have a fantastic Wednesday.. it's 'Hump Day' already!!