2013 Photo Review and The Famous Nose Picking Gorilla!

I keep forgetting to post some of my photographs that I have been working on over the last year...  I do regularly post some on Google+ and Twitter.  I need to keep doing it here also.  Here are some of my favorites of the last year:

The Sheriff's Residence, Noblesville, IN

Washington Park Lighthouse,  Michigan City, IN

Along with Photoshop I have been using Photomatix.  I really love the tonal contrast touches.


And here is my favorite over the last year.  I wanted to come up with something creative for Nick's Junior football picture.  Here are the results:

Nick Bolt 2013, Noblesville High School

Get it?  Bolt.....Lightning?  It was very fun.  And who can resist my nose picking gorilla picture captured at the Cincinnati Zoo?  I love this zoo. You should visit. Which reminds me, what do you find in a clean nose????? Fingerprints!   Next show at eleven!

Nose Picking Gorilla, Cincinnati Zoo

Please, no use of the photos without permission.  Also, I am still looking for an editor for my first ebook. Please contact me if you are interested...

If you are interested in the details of these photographs, you can check out the original posts. Here is a link to the Google+ posts:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RickBolt/posts

If you like this post and think it would be valuable to someone you know, please share it on the social network of your choice for me, okay? All you have to do is click one of the buttons below. Then add me to your Google+ circles.

Thanks,

 --Rick
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https://twitter.com/rick_bolt

2011 Kids Eden Park Picture

Every year now for a few years we always take the kids to Eden Park for an annual picture. Since we are former Cincinnatians, we feel obligated.  I absolutely love Eden Park and the Mt. Adams area.  I hope to retire there one day, if I ever get to retire!

This is the picture from 2011.  We found this spot where they have these rocks laid out in this awesome arrangement that fits the group well.  I put everyone in there places and started snapping away.  This is one of those moments that just make me chuckle. (click the picture to get the full view)

 You can see that they are all smiling nicely and looking good.  Sammy decide to go into a Buddha moment and put his hand up.  I guess it matched him having his hood up. And let's not mention the trash in the photo on the bottom step to the left.  This is why I am not a professional photographer!

Despite all of that, this is probably one of my favorite pictures of the kids.  It is one of my favorite places on Earth with all of my kids there.  No professional photographer in the world could have captured the fun personalities of them all like I did here... so there!

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I Can't Believe It!

I can't believe it.  My little neice Tana is engaged.  Of course she is not the tiny little girl I still see her as...She is in her last year of college before she goes on to be a teacher. Congratulations to you and Adam, kid!   Tana asked me to take her "save the date" pictures.  Of course I was happy to do it.  I think they turned out wonderful...Congratulations guys!

My Quest for the Ultimate Black and White Photograph.

Since trying out my new darkroom equipment, I have realized how much work I have to do to get a really good black and white photograph. I have decided to forgo printing images for a little while to really pursue getting the photo correct on the negative. I have found several people on Flickr that have been helpful. I have also found Fred Parker's site to be helpful when it comes to determining exposure. I have read books on the Zone System. I have borrowed some "old time" gear from a coworker friend, which includes a light meter and an old TLR camera. It is incredible how much I have learned in the last couple months, yet it is daunting to see how far I have to go.... Just to think it all started with the purchase of some old manual lenses for my Nikon D40 (Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens). I guess there is no doubting that I am a true geek!

I guess you don't realize how difficult some things are until you try them yourself. I have to admit, I never thought the kids would be into this like they are. I get asked almost every night when I get home from work; "Can we make some prints today?!??!!??" I guess I will have to hurry up and learn to get the photo right so they can get back in the darkroom! They really like to see the image come up in the developer. They have asked me to take more photos of them so they can develop their own photo with them on it. They now stop turning away when I point the camera at them! This has been a very fun project to do with the kids and I am glad that we have all had a chance to experience it! When we get a little better at print making, we will scan one and upload it for you to see...