Approaching Storm

January 5, 2014 – A little Magic Scrooberizing

Approaching Storm

Approaching Storm

This year’s iPhone photography challenge is as much about venturing out from my normal photography to see what I can produce creatively with the iPhone and the many Apps that I use. Tonight’s picture was done with a couple different Apps, or actually three. The native camera, an App called Painteresque and another called Snapseed, all to produce what you see here tonight. The title above pertains to one of the processes the Painteresque App goes through.

First, I’ll be honest and say I totally forgot about shooting my iPhone photo for the day until I looked up from my computer and noticed that it was almost dark outside! For me, the dark and the iPhone are not two things I like to put together as I hate to use flash and with the iPhone the darker it gets the more noise you get in the photo unless you use flash.

The wind and snow had started to fall and so I thought perhaps a shot of the trees in my yard against the last light of the day might provide for an interesting photo. So I shot a series of the tops of the trees that I liked and made my way back into the house to thaw out.

I liked the way the trees looked, but I wanted a more blurry, movement type effect and so I thought I’d see what I could do with the App called Painteresque and after trying several different style effects I finally settled on the one called Painteresque 1. It was close to what I was thinking in my minds eye, but not quite. I saved the photo with the effect applied, opened that one back in the App and then applied it a to the image I had saved to get this final photo that I’m happy with.

The only thing I did in Snapseed is apply the border. The watermark was applied in Photoshop where I cropped it to the right size to post to the web.
I’m really pleased how this one turned out and I’m excited to try some of the other effects as the year goes on and also some of the other many Apps that I’ve not really played with that much that I’ve bought.

January 4, 2014 – Veterans Portrait Project

Ray Ligon, Army - Photo by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

Ray Ligon, Sgt, U. S. Army

Now that we’re into the New Year I’ve started back photographing veterans for what will be a photographic exhibit at the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts in the Anne P. Baker Gallery. I worked on the project during one of the month-long photographic challenges I did last year that many of you may have seen.

I have been thinking of doing a project like this ever since I retired from the Air Force back in 1995 and after I retired from the newspaper game I decided that I wanted to move forward with the project.

I’m centering my subjects on Hopkins County, Kentucky, the county I live in, because otherwise the project could go on forever. As it is there’s no way I could photograph all the veterans in even Hopkins County, so I’m trying to limit the project to 100 veterans that served during World War II, Korean War or Viet Nam. I know there’s many more veterans out there that are worthy of highlighting for their service to our country, but I have to make the project manageable.

I’m also looking for any veterans from Hopkins County that have received the Silver Star and I’ve got the names of several and if you know how I could get in touch with any of them or their descendents please send me an email.

They are: Barney Q. Hopkins, Arthur M. Yarbrough, John B. Kiskaden, Russell Cornell, James B. Cunningham, Walter W. Fitch, Roy L. Greenfeather or Billy R. Qualls. There may be more and these may not all be from Hopkins County. The names are from a Star Night Gala program that was presented by American Legion Post 6 in 1990.

I also want to include as many POW’s from these wars and so if you know of any in Hopkins County that would be willing to allow me the honor of photographing them as part of this project please let me know.

The exhibit is scheduled to open around Memorial Day of this year and currently I’ve got about 35 portraits so far.

Contact me at: jim@jimpearsonphotography.com

 

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

January 3, 2014 – Snow storm shoppers

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

My sister and I went by Kroger tonight and while walking through the store it seemed that there were isle after isle of shoppers. For a second we couldn’t understand why there were so many people there shopping at 3 in the afternoon, and then it hit us… there’s a winter storm threat for our area!

It amazes me to this day how people stock up so much when there’s a threat of an incoming storm, but I guess having lived through the Ice Storm of 2009 where most folks in the region was without power for up to two weeks or more, it’s a little more understandable.

We weren’t two of the storm shoppers however! We just stopped by to pick up a few things, or perhaps a few more things after we realized the weather was moving in.

Being in the military for 24 years and living everywhere from Norway to Alaska it just doesn’t seem to bother me as much as it does most folks I guess. Anyway, it provided my picture for the day.

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

January 2, 2014 – Pine Grove in the snow

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

As many of my friends know I walk every morning with a couple of friends at our local city park that has a trail that’s 1.25mi in length. I really enjoy the trail and as you’ve seen in the past it’s one of the sources of many of my pictures, especially shot with my iPhone as it’s always with me.

Today it was miserably cold and snowing and I almost talked my walking partners out of today’s exercise, but they insisted that since we were there that we should go ahead and brave the elements. Besides, I’ve always told them that the hardest part of exercising in the winter was getting out the door, and of course they through it back into my face.

Well, today’s photo comes from today’s walk. There’s this one area we walk through along one of the lakes that goes through a grove of pine trees and one of the older trees fell sometime in past few days resulting in today’s photo. I just love how the snow produced a slight misty quality. Sometimes you just never know where you’ll find a good picture, even on a bad weather day.

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

January 1, 2014 – The Clouds

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

Photography by Jim Pearson, (c) 2014

As if I don’t have enough photography challenges for the New Year, I’ve also decided that I’m going to post a picture a day that I’ll be shooting with my iPhone. There’s no specific theme, just what I find daily that I like along my path.

I’m a sucker for clouds and every-time I see a nice formation I just have to pull over and find a spot that makes for a pleasing picture for me. This photo was shot off of KY 70 as I headed into town to take some pictures of my great-great niece Elaina for another challenge that will be posted next Monday. I just love the way the clouds were just rolling across the sky.

I did all the post processing with this picture using the Snapseed Application. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to share with the world!

belair 6x12

Getting back to film

Well, it’s a new year and I think I’m going to force my self to start shooting more with the film cameras I have. Last year I bought a Belair X 6×12 Medium Format camera to use on some of my road trips last year and I think I may have shot 3 rolls through it. That’s not much considering you only get 4 exposure per roll of film.

So, with that being said… this year I’ll be doing 12, month long challenges that involve shooting film. Each month will have a different theme and while my goal is to post one picture a month, I hope to come up with more than that that I feel are worthy of sharing here.

Of course my darkroom has been used pretty much as a storage room for the past several years and as you can see from today’s video clip, I’ve got to do some cleaning and re-arranging so I can start using it again. Not sure that the dead of winter is the best time to be starting this endeavor as some of the stuff stored here will have to be moved to my workshop. But, as friend Fred Jones says, “it is what it is.”

Jim Pearson Profile Photo

Happy New Year!

Jim Pearson Profile PhotoWell, 2013 has come and gone. For 2014 I’ll be posting photos from two different photography challenges that I’m participating in with the West Kentucky Photography Club.

One is a weekly, year long challenge and the other is a monthly, year long film challenge. Of course I’ll be posting other favorite photos that I shoot as well.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures from this past year and continue to do so in 2014!

Please help me grow my fan base in 2014 by inviting your friends to my blog and by sharing my pictures! Happy 2014 everyone!

12.31.13 Christmas-Church Snowman

December 31, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.31.13 Christmas-Church Snowman

December 31, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” I found this church with a snowman and penguin in it’s front year today in Hopkinsville, Ky to finish off this year’s challenge and thought it was a bit unusual. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/800 sec f/8 at ISO 500 with a Sigma 24-70mm lens at 46mm.

12.30.13 Christmas-Munns School

December 30, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.30.13 Christmas-Munns School

December 30, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” A wreath adorns the door of Munn’s Schoolhouse in Madisonville, Ky. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/500 sec f/8 at ISO 1250 with a Nikon 70-300mm lens at 85mm.

12.29.13 Christmas-Navitity Scene

December 29, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.29.13 Christmas-Navitity Scene

December 29, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Nativity scene at First Christian Church in Madisonville, Ky. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/30 sec f/8 at ISO 4000 with a Sigma 24-70mm lens at 26mm.

12.28.13 Christmas-Santa and the baby

December 28, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.28.13 Christmas-Santa and the baby

December 28, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Baby Jesus visits with Santa, Frosty and Mrs. Frosty while waiting to be put away till next Christmas. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/500 sec f/7 at ISO 500 with a Nikon 18mm lens.

12.27.13 Christmas-Vets Cem

December 27, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.27.13 Christmas-Vets Cem

December 27, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Christmas wreaths still adorn the graves of veterans at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, South of Hopkinsville, Ky. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/500 sec f/11 at ISO 500 with a Nikon 70-300mm at 100mm.

12.26.13 Christmas-The day after

December 26, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.26.13 Christmas-The day after

December 26, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.”It’s the day after Christmas and it seems a robot has taken Santas place at the mall. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot with my iPhone 4S. Exposure info: 1/20 sec f/2.4 at ISO 80.

12.25.13 Christmas-Trash Cans

December 25, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.25.13 Christmas-Trash Cans

December 25, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Well, everything’s unwrapped and the debris of the day has made its way to the curb as another Christmas Day comes to a close. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/125 sec f/5.6 at ISO 500 with a Nikon 70-300mm at 240mm.

12.24.13 Christmas-Damion rides present

December 24, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.24.13 Christmas-Damion rides present

December 24, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Tonight at my niece’s house Damion opened one of his Christmas presents enough that he could see it was a big dump truck and decided to go ahead and ride it rather than finishing the unwrapping process which made for this memorable picture for all of us. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/40 sec f/2.8 at ISO 2000 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 24mm.

12.23.13 Christmas-Chrystal at the Airport

December 23, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.23.13 Christmas-Chrystal at the Airport

December 23, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” My niece Chrystal waves goodby as she prepares to check her bag curbside at Nashville for a Christmas Flight to Colorado to visit her son Brad and his family for the holidays. A gift to her from her sister Jeanne and brother-in-law David. It’ll be the first time she gets to hold her grand-daughter Emily. She has been rather excited. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/100 sec f/5 at ISO 500 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 36mm.

12.22.13 Christmas-Boxes

December 22, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.22.13 Christmas-Boxes

December 22, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” We had Christmas for the little kids tonight at my sister and brother’s place. The boys got all kinds of presents, but one of their favorites was the boxes the train table came in that I gave them. I guess things never change as I was the same way with boxes when I was growing up. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/50 sec f/2.8 at ISO 4000 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 36mm.

12.21.13 Christmas-Kids making decorations 1

December 21, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.21.13 Christmas-Kids making decorations 1

December 21, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” I had a hard time picking my favorite photo from today’s Christmas Tree Ornament making at my sister’s house. I settled on this one of my nephews, Xavier and his dad, Christopher as they worked on one of them. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/60 sec f/2.8 at ISO 4000 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 32mm.

12.20.13 Chirstmas-Xaiver Decorating Tree

December 20, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.20.13 Chirstmas-Xaiver Decorating Tree

December 20, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Xaiver places the star on top of the tree as he helps decorate the Pearson family tree with his grandmother, Chrystal, as his great-great uncle Davie holds Elaina who watched every part of the process. Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/160 sec f/2.8 at ISO 4000 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 24mm.

12.19.13 Christopher and Maria Christmas 004

December 19, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.19.13 Christopher and Maria Christmas 004

December 19, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Today I did some studio shots of my great-great niece Adriana and this was one of my favorites! Please feel free to share!

The image was shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/60 sec f/4 at ISO 1000 with a Sigma 24-70mm Lens at 24mm.

12.18.13 Christmas- New RAV4

December 18, 2013 – Year long photo challenge

12.18.13 Christmas- New RAV4

December 18, 2013 – This month’s photographic challenge topic is “Christmas.” Today I bought a new red camera bag for Christmas for myself. I think it’ll hold everything I want to carry.

The final image is a composed of a 5 exposure HDR shot on RAW with my Nikon D800. Exposure info: 1/500 sec f/10 at ISO 500 with a Nikon 18mm lens with 5 one stop + – bracketed exposures.