Daily Photo - Riverfall
Even though I know the science inside out, the idea that one hemisphere swings into Autumn while the other turns into Spring always is a very cool concept to me! It's so strange to go from the southern hemisphere where the colors are just starting to change to the deep oranges and reds -- and then arrive in the northern hemisphere where everything is just starting to bloom!
This is a perfect little river down in Argentina. It emptied from a big glacial lake, so there is always a bit of a strange color and tinge to the water... but it is very nice and other-worldly, in a way.
Little Update to the Noiseware Review
You guys know I love Noiseware and use it all the time. I added another screenshot to the Noiseware Review so you can see it in action under normal settings.
I have used many different noise-reduction software packages. Many are very good! In fact, it's almost a push. To me, it comes down to the best UI -- and, for me, personally, Noiseware is the easiest to use.
What is your experience? Do you have Noise Reduction software you prefer?
From Trey Ratcliff at www.stuckincustoms.com
Tags: stuck customs stuckincustoms stuckincustoms.com travel blog travelblog photography photoblog photographyblog hdr high dynamic range imaging digital processing software tutorial hdrtutorial south America argentina republic argentine argentino Patagonia República andes natural scenic wild wilderness mountains cold icy frigid panorama hike hiking outdoors riverfall river fall water rushing trees valley green foliage glacial lake Nikon d3x april 2009
This HDR is from a single RAW file, as about 20-30% of my photos are. If you look in the free HDR Tutorial here on the site, you can see page 3 talks a bit about how to do this. It's quite easy!
Before, I talked about my desire to try to get off the main highway in Iceland. But when you have cool horses like this lining up along the highway, it's hard to find a reason to get off!
I don't always like to use a flash when taking photos of horses because I think it scares the animals. I prefer just to shoot wide-open with natural light and see what I can recover later with the HDR process.
In this case, these two horses were playing with one another, weaving their heads and necks together in a little dance. I stood there with my camera, trying not to intrude on their private horse-moment, when they stopped for a quick second in this pose.
Read more here at the Stuck in Customs blog.
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Daily Photo - An Icy Cold Evening
I'm always amazed at all the little living things in the most extreme conditions. I'm a big fan of all those science shows that talk about various organisms and extremophiles that barely cling to life in the most bare of circumstances. I was reminded of this while at this icy cold lake in Argentina.
I'm used to moss and lichen and this sort of thing growing in more temperate climates, so I was surprised to see whole rocks covered in it, especially with little icebergs floating nearby. It did give some nice color to an otherwise blue-cold-stark scene.
The only thing more stark than this scene was the cooking waiting for me back at the camp. I don't mean to say anything bad at all about the two Russian women that were cooking for me -- but over a week's worth of in-the-bush Russian food is enough to harden any soft man. My main mate on the trip was ex-Soviet military, so he was used to these sorts of rations and seemed to enjoy it -- or, at least tolerate it with less of a grimace.
Facebook Fan Page
We have a nice and active Facebook Fan Page -- I invite people to freely share their photos, comments, and the like. I also occasionally pop in there to answer special questions and give sneak previews on cool things -- so be sure to join up!
I added a little widget over there in the right column -- you might just see your bright and shiny Facebook-smile appear over there on day! :)
From Trey Ratcliff at www.stuckincustoms.com
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"Is the house really THAT red?" my wife asks me. Yes, oh yes, it is... But now I am taking her to Iceland with me, so she can see these bright colors for herself...
I don't know if it's a Scandinavian thing or what, but we just don't see colorful houses like this in the states. I think we either have brick, or white, or slightly off-white, or perhaps a light beige, or maybe something daring like a mauve-eggshell-white... I mean, I'm just as bad... mine in stucco. I don't even think my homeowner's association would let me paint it red. But, knowing Austin, with a bright red house, we'd probably have a few commies show up in Che Guevara shirts, wondering where the free pizza is...
- Trey Ratcliff
Read more here at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Tags: Iceland icelandic stuckincustoms treyratcliff stuck customs stuckincustoms.com travel blog travelblog photography photoblog photographyblog hdr high dynamic range imaging digital processing software tutorial hdrtutorial trey ratcliff world Europe Ísland island north atlantic midatlantic ridge cold red house painted bright colorful mountains field fields valley grass green window idyllic mountain clouds wild scenic nature natural pastoral june 2010 nikon d3x
Our giant reticulated friend, unable to articulate, was forced to gesticulate in the most ridiculous manner.
from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
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