Another Filtering Example

I didn't take this picture, either Ivan or my my son-in-law did. It's an abandoned structure in a mountain town not far from here. It's a fun picture. I love seeing old ruins. The basic picture is fine although it lacks a bit of focus. Are we supposed to look at the mountainside or the ruin?

With the filtered photo, the mountainside is obscured and the softened edges draw your eyes toward the architectural ruins. The texture adds hints of age and added interest.

Filtering Photos

This is a buffalo photo from Yellowstone that I took earlier this year. It's ~ok~, but nothing fab.

This is the same photo, on filters. Again, nothing fabulous -- fabulous, but the filtering gives the simple photo some je ne sais quoi. And some mystery in the details. Well, at least for me it does.

Photo Philters

I've been playing with more Photoshop filters in my spare time. A great time waster if you can get it.

Do you believe in a supreme being (god for example)? If not, do you believe that people are brainwashed (in other words; can't think for themselves)?

No, I don't believe in an all knowing, all powerful supreme being.

Nor do I believe the faithful are brainwashed. Most people simply choose to believe what they are taught growing up. The negative connotation of "brainwashing" isn't really applicable to most believers unless you choose to believe that cultural education of any kind be considered "brainwashing."

I think it's also a bit shortsighted to think that religious people are brainwashed. I think a lot of people struggle, examine and still choose to follow a particular religion. To me, it's just one of those things that we can't prove nor disprove. Unfortunately, for a lot of religions, they see non-believers as being bad, immoral, hell-bound people. I just see believers as being people who choose to believe something I don't.

Ask me anything

Don't be shy.

Ok.

Ask me anything

Do you believe in angels? If so, do you believe that they actually have wings like human portray them to have?

No, I don't believe they exist, but the idea of them is intriguing. I like the romanticised idea of wings, too.

Ask me anything

Halloween Over...now...this...

Halloween is over. Phew. One of my favorite holidays, to be sure, but for some reason all the work (Zombie Apocalypse party preparations) just seemed a bit empty to me and just more work than fun. I always say this after the big Halloween to-dos, but next year -- pizza from Papa Johns and store bought cookies. None of this homemade crap! Of course, come next October, I'll be planning the baking and whatnot yet again...

 I think what made this Halloween's preparations especially difficult is that canning season never ended. It wasn't until Halloween that we had our garden freeze. So, two days before the party, I was still putting up apple pie filling! More kitchen slaving on top of more kitchen slaving! My hands are raw from all of the dish and hand washing. I want to do more apple pie filling with the remaining apples, but after that...I may...actually...be....done?!!? Pretty exciting, for me anyway.

 On to the next set of holidays. I'm not a huge Christmas person. It's fun and all. I love the lights and the coziness that comes with it, but the consumerism gets old real fast and pretty much ruins it for me. If I had my druthers, I would do away with gifting within the family 'cept for those under 14 or so.

 While I haven't been huge on decorating the past several years, I ran across these Santos figurines and busts in a randomly received catalog from Ballard Designs. (http://www.ballarddesigns.com Specifically http://www.ballarddesigns.com/santos-with-wings/12406 and http://www.ballarddesigns.com/crowned-santos/218775 ). They really speak to me! In a way that hasn't grabbed me in YEARS. I love the simplicity and solemnity on their faces. There's a certain darkness to their primitiveness, too. Ahhhh, good stuff...just thought I'd share. By the way, I found a site that looks to carry very similar articles here: http://http://shop.santoscagedoll.com/ Even more variety. I really love coloring and expression in the bust pictured above, but seeing even more variety is pretty thrilling.