Wednesday, March 24, 2010

It was one of those March days

when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~ Charles Dickens


Except for one little weather hiccup on the first day of spring, which brought a couple inches of snow, things are looking good here in northern Illinois. The snow was completely melted by the following day and the brutally cold wind of Saturday night had calmed to a pleasant breeze. On my way to Core Mariae to visit with my Dad, I saw my first big drift of daffodils covering a south facing bank along Spring Creek Road.

I took my camera with me Friday and got a few photos as I moved from place to place during the day.



A lovely sunrise greeted me as I drove down my little lane on the way to work. The ground fog sweeps along the low lying troughs like a frothy river.



This is the Kishwaukee River very near to where I work. Clouds building all day brought snow late that evening.


The Kishwaukee River views were taken using a new (new to me) type of photo editing called tone mapping. Both images are pseudo HDR from a single photo image.

Photographs have a limited dynamic range which is inadequate to reproduce the full range of light intensities present in nature and visible to the human eye. Tone mapping is one step in the HDR (high dynamic range) editing process. Tone mapped images have more luminescence and more of a three dimensional look. I know I'm not explaining this well but it's only because I don't understand it myself:) I'd like to thank Jennie at Views From My Camera for her advice on HDR photography. Thanks Jennie, this is fun!

38 comments:

tina said...

Your words are lovely describing the fog as a 'frothy river'. That suits it perfectly because I thought it was either water or snow. The HDR really makes the river look like an old timey painting from the old world. Very neat. I hope you had a good visit with your father and that he is doing well.

Sherri said...

Marnie, I love that sunrise picture of yours! How interesting the fog was-it is like a frothy river! Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I'm glad our mascot is a polar bear!!

Judy said...

I love that sunrise! The colours are so vivid!

Gayle said...

Wow! Simply incredibly beautiful! I have been thinking of that quote often lately as it looks warm and isn't too bad in the sun, but you freeze in the shade.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Marnie, I am trying to learn some of the 'new' things in the world of Photo Editing... I struggle with some of them because they don't look like what the area or the picture really looks like.

I still have a tendency to like the more natural-looking pictures the best... BUT--I'm listening and learning..

Hugs,
Betsy

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Marnie, the second river shot looks almost like a painting. I'm very curious to see what the river photos looked like before you used the filter. Thanks for the link to the post, I will check it out.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Me again.... Thanks for showing me that Cake Topper... I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.... I have bookmarked it for some future celebration. Thanks again.
Hugs,
Betsy

Dawn said...

Wow! The river shot reminds me of a puzzle portrait, how beautiful!

Cheryl said...

Well I don't understand it either Marnie to be truthful but I do know the photographs are beautiful and really do jump out at you....

Lovely work......

Lona said...

Marnie what a gorgeous sunrise. I love how you edited the river picture. It looks like a painting.

BeadedTail said...

The sunrise is gorgeous! Beautiful photos from your neck of the woods!

Anonymous said...

Is there an iPhone app for tone mapping?? I really like how it reproduces the coloring to an almost alien looking landscape, but totally natural to our planet (I hope you know what I mean). I use Photo Shop CS3 and I bet there's an action or some manipulative settings you could use to get that effect (HDR). All three of your photos are stunning.

Happy Spring! Ms. Marnie!

Gail said...

Marnie, I am practically leaning into the monitor looking at that marvelous sun rise...and the swirling river of fog below it...Simply stunning! What an interesting photo editing technique...I don't understand it either...but it does make for good images.

I hope your dad is doing well?

Gail

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Wow, these are some photos.

Susie said...

I think all three pics are pretty but the sunrise pic is just beautiful!

Hope your dad is still continuing to do well.

marmee said...

it is fun playing around with editing tools but it takes me so much time. i need to take a class.
lovely photos, marnie.

sweetbay said...

The sunrise and river are so beautiful. I hope your dad is feeling better.

Rose said...

These photos are beautiful, Marnie; the last one especially looks like a painting. I use such a simple photo editing program that I should look into this. I was so disappointed when I got home from AZ and discovered that all my photos of the Grand Canyon look washed out. But I'm not sure a photo could even capture the magnitude of such a place.

Hope your Dad is doing better.

Skeeter said...

I do not understand Camera Terminology but do know that these pictures are spectacular! They look like paintings. How wonderful of you to play around with this technology…

walk2write said...

Tone mapping does make your photos pop! The edges of the river are more defined. I am such a hopeless tech-flop! Good thing you're not.

Kathleen said...

Tone mapping sounds interesting Marnie. I've never heard about it before but I love the look of it.
You are ahead of us if you have daffodils blooming. I have one clump (that is positioned along a flagstone retaining wall) about to open (but only because it gets extra heat). It's been a fairly frigid March ~ I'm hoping for a better April. :-)

joey said...

What can I say besides, stunning, Marnie! These amazing photos look like oil paintings. I too am intrigued with HDR photography ... looks like you've mastered the technique!

Anonymous said...

Those HDR photos look like paintings to me, fabulous! Keep practicing, it looks like fun.

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you've only had one weather hiccup. We're having one today, with snow, rain, cold winds...but in more cheery news, WOWSERS for the HDR photos. I had never heard of this before, so now I must go look at Views from My Camera and learn more! The effects on your photo is very cool.

Kahshe Cottager said...

You have produced some wonderful photos Marnie. I would say you are now well on your way with HDR. It gets you hooked I think! Just think - you are only at the tip of the iceberg with what you are going to be able to do!!! *-)

Hope your Dad is feeling much better now.

It was nice of you to put a mention in your blog .. thank you!

Naturegirl said...

Marnie lovely images and photo editing in your post today!
Enjoy Spring's sun rays!

The Tablescaper said...

Wow! Those photographs are breath taking. How lucky for you that that is your ride to work!

- The Tablescaper

Jann said...

Gorgeous photos Marnie, I love how you touched them up, they look like greeting card photos! Your header photo is beautiful too!

garden girl said...

Your photos are breathtaking Marnie. I've never heard of tone mapping, but it's very intriguing.

*Ulrike* said...

Such pretty photos! I always like photos of rivers, sunrises & sunsets!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

What a lovely sunrise--and a lovely way to start the day. Your pictures of the Kishwaukee River are beautiful. I can see the greater detail in the second one, but I like the steel grey/blue of the water in the first. Very interesting to learn a bit about HDR photography.

troutbirder said...

Beautiful words and the light and shadow of the second picture is especially interesting. Thanks Marnie!

D said...

Marnie, absolutely stunning photos, especially the sunrise! and I do love your header photo. I do hope warmer weather is coming your way. Diana

Tina T-P said...

Hi Marnie - I love all your pictures - (The one of the river near your work is beautiful) and your story of the 'possum is hysterical - we get them all over here - hissy things - I can't stand them!

I was interested (from your profile) to see that we have some favorite musicians in common - have you ever listened to the piano music of David Lanz - he is a huge favorite here. Natalie McMaster's husband, Donelle Leahy was here with his family's band last week and altho he is very good, I think she is much better :-) - we also had the pleasure of seeing The Smother's Brothers live about a month ago - they are still very funny - this will be their last tour -(both in their 70's but you'd never guess). Enjoyed reading your blog. T.

Anonymous said...

Glad spring is springing where you live. It is here too. Thanks for the info on photography. Your photos are beautiful.~~Dee

Southern Lady said...

Pretty pictures. I don't know how I missed them last week. I hope you have a wonderful day! Carla

Kerri said...

You've captured that sunrise so beautifully, Marnie and your description of the fog is perfect.
I especially love the blue tones in the top river photo, but they're both gorgeous. The tone mapping sounds interesting and looks like fun.
We had a possum eating under the birdfeeders a couple of weeks ago and it made me think of you :)
I looked at Jennie's photos - they're gorgeous! Thanks for the link.

Jan said...

I'm glad you're seeing clumps of daffodils now, Marnie. Your photos truly look like artwork. This new HDR editing is quite amazing! Your photos by themselves are awesome...and I love that first one of the sunrise...gorgeous! Your last one really does look like an old painting--magnificent! The river scene in your 2nd photo is just beautiful...though bitterly cold.