1 Adventure

Ethan

This is my younger brother Ethan while we were at the botanical gardens. I really love this photo, its quite different and the color blending together with his shirt went together well. I think why this picture works so well is the combinations of the pinks, skin tones, and just the overall presentation of the leaves overlapping the eyes. Haven't showed it too him yet, but I think he will like it.

Star Cactus Flower

Really liked the color of this image, it stood out. The cactus in the picture is a Star Cactus, which is directly related to the Peyote cactus. Similar to the one that people hallucinate on and take spirit journeys and so on. Quite interesting to see a flower from this plant, and also kinda rare when seen in nature. These plants grow natively here in Southern Texas and into Mexico. There are endangered at the moment, because of there immense similarly to peyote cactus and the popularity among collectors for plants taken from the wild. Only around 2000 plants exist in the wild. They have been destroyed by people who are in search of the cactus with hallucinogenic compounds (alkaloids) as well. When you harvest peyote cactus you cut the tops off and let the plant grow back the next year. But people usually don't know this, and uproot and destory the whole plant. Thus its endangered species classification.

Cactus Needles

Neat shot of some cactus needless, you can almost feel them. I scanned this twice, and still am not completely pleased with the result, but here it is anyway. :-)

Photo Backlog & High Definition Film

Well its been a busy past few weeks. School is over, and I have been taking so many pictures that its been difficult to get them uploaded onto the site. There are so many good shots, its giving me lots to do in the next coming weeks. Additionally, I had a few requests for some prints. Prints are free, for now anyway. If you would like any of the shots framed, that will cost you. Contact me for more information if interested.

Review of Kodax's High Definition Film
I have been testing out three different types of film the last few weeks. The first too where just for comparison with the Kodak film, those being Walmart branded Fujifilm superia x-tra and regular Kodak 400 speed film. Kodak came out with a new Kodak High Definition film a while back, and has hit stores recently in the past few months.

I took the oppourtunity to stock up on all the deals for this film, and in most cases was cheaper than Kodak regular 400 speed film. The film offers increased fine grain enchancement, better for enlargements (however a 24x36 enlargement still came up a tad grainy, including dark or night shots appear a bit grainy), and top sharpness comparable to professional type films under the right lighting conditions. I have been quite impressed with the film, and the saturation of colors its able to pick up. It also seems to pick up shading quite well in many cases for close up shots with lots of texture. You will see in some shots I took of Milk Thistle flowers to be released as soon as I can scan them that they capture white light and shading of the delicate features very well.
However I do NOT recommend this film for indoors. It will work just fine, but the colors seems a little washed out. So if want to maximize the use of this film take it in good light, outside, or with fast action. It additionally works wonders on Macro shots giving it a nice clarity and sharpness of grain. I give it a full recommendation, try it out!

I will start to review some new products and filters in the next couple of months from an amateur standpoint, meaning in situations that normal people would use the film or filters and then try to branch out to more technical stuff for those serious about their photography. Unfortunately I don't have the budget to review cameras, so if anyone wants to donate some good cameras of various types I would be happy to use them and post my thoughts on the site. Now, taking corporate sponsorships on the site. hehe. ;-)

Springs Purple Canvas

Click image for full size version

On another recent trip to Enchanted Rock, I took these macro shots while on a steep ledge on the back side of the rock. I have no idea what kinda flowering plant this was, but it was very purple, smelled sweet, and if you rubbed up against it you got a purple streak down your leg. I really liked this set of shot I took, and combined them together in relation to the various parts of the plant. It came out very cool, and I can't wait to get them in print and possibly framed.

A Couple of Roses

I took this picture on a recent trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. I was meeting my dad a local rose show, and came across these ladies as we were walking up. These ladies were so into their roses they had just gotten. One lady in particular was very fond of her rose that she looked 20 year younger as she smiled and smelled the rose. I wish I would have caught the moment it was quite beautiful. Luckily I was able to snap a quick shot of them just for fun.