Mike Houge

Studio work:

Winter is a good time to work on improving ones skills and this weekend - with all the ice- was a perfect one. The above amaryllis was definitely a work in progress. While working inside on cloudy days, lighting is always a concern and background is another. So after rearranging the dining room and creating the proper background- I started the process.

I previsualized what I wanted the image to look like but the right side of the plant was too dark. I decided to use a flash light to lighten it up but that also was a work in progress - as it needed just the right amount. After lots of trial and error, I finally had what I wanted but the work was just beginning.

Next in the computer after a little cleanup and a slight crop- on to OnOne software for some creative textures. This software has really given my creative juices the shot in the arm I needed. It has made the layering process easier than the photo shop work I was using before. After several attempts I ended up with the above image, which I hope you enjoy.

Have a great week and thanks for taking time to stop by.

 

 

Quick trip:

The above is a capture of the old foot bridge from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. It was one of those wonderful light snows and no one had been on the trails yet. As it turned out, I had the whole park to myself and I was able to capture the bridge with 6 inches of fresh snow and no footsteps. It was so quiet you could hear the snow falling off the trees.

I had to cut my trip short due to bad weather but the time spent in the parks was memorable. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by

A work in progress:

I think one of the hardest things photographers have to remember is the camera never sees the world the way our eyes do. Countless times after a day of shooting I'll look at the images downloaded on the computer and wonder what happened. I'm sure that image looked much better at the time I clicked the shutter- what happened?? Our eyes are wonderful at seeing three dimensions , colors and shadows but the camera can only capture a one dimensional world.

The reason I bring this up, is that the above image was taken a while back and it has never (up to now) lived up to what my eyes saw or what I envisioned. I truly has been a work in progress. I hope you enjoy this little piece of Iowa winter. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.