Wow has it been a crazy week around here! Long days combined with overnight work have absolutely wiped me out but a three-day weekend is on it’s way bringing some much needed rest and relaxation with it.

Today’s image is an abstract I created using a photo of flowing water from a local river. I’m really enjoying creating this type of image and I’m learning quite a bit about the use of Photoshop as a medium for digital artwork in the process. Just experimenting has already taught me a great deal but there are a lot of techniques that I both want and need to learn how to perform that will help me create something closer to what I see. One thing that I have learned is to let the initial captures sit for a few days (or longer) after importing them, the base image used here was taken over two weeks ago and only in the last few days did I see something in it that I wanted to bring out.

The technique will come with practice, it will get easier and I will become better but right now I’m just taking my time and letting these images speak to me when they are ready.

Gear: Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF-S 18-135mm Lens

Settings: ISO100, 60mm, f/16, 2 seconds

Software: Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS5

There’s really nothing special about today’s image, it’s just a decaying tree stump covered in moss. What caught my attention was how vibrant the mosses were against the dull color of the forest floor.

Gear: Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF-S 18-135mm

Processing: Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS5

Don’t you just love it when you literally stumble onto a great composition! Well that’s what happen with this image. I had just finished shooting what would become River Crossing and was making my way further down the trail when I came across this scene. The tree had fallen right through the middle of the only laurel bush in sight. It kind of reminded me of a scene from any number of bad movies where the speeding car always hits the only trash can in the entire alley!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Gear: Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF-S 18-135mm Lens

Settings: ISO200, 22mm, f/8.0, .4 seconds

Processing: Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Topaz Adjust 5

Today’s image is somewhat of a departure from my normal post and takes me in a direction that I’ve felt drawn toward for quite some time. I’ve mentioned before that I wanted to work more in the abstract during the year ahead and I have already posted a few of my initials attempts over the last month. This however is a little more intense than those first images! To say that it has had heavy post processing work is an extreme understatement. Photographers typically use software tools more like scalpels than pick axes but working on this turned that notion on its head. This felt more like carving a sculpture from a slab of rock.

The final piece is based on the photo below, it is a simple image of water flowing in a local river. While out on a recent photowalk, I took several shots of water with the sole intention of using them to create abstract works like this. I’m finding that the creation of images like this can be a bit like free-association – you start with a base image then just play with it until something jumps out at you. Once that certain ‘something’ has your attention, it is impossible to let go. The rest is just using the tools bring your vision to fruition.

I realize that this type of work isn’t for everyone but I am very interested in hearing your thoughts and feedback. This form of ‘transformative photography’ (if that is really a term) speaks to me on a level that I’m not sure that I even fully understand. It definitely allowed me to unleash some create juices and apply processing techniques that I have not found a need for to this point.

Gear: Canon EOS 60D, Canon EF-S 18-135mm Lens

Settings: ISO100, 135mm, f/16, .6 seconds

Processing: Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Topaz Adjust 5

It’s hard to believe that January 2012 is already in the books and February is upon us! The days are beginning to get longer and temperatures are starting to climb ever so slowly. Before we know it will be the middle of summer so get cracking on those goals and to do lists!

With the short days and poor weather January wasn’t the best month for shooting. With that being said I decided to use my favorite long exposure shot from last month for this month’s calendar. Download, share and enjoy!

Use the links below to download the size you want!

February 2012 Desktop Calendar 1600×900

February 2012 Desktop Calendar 2560×1600