|
|
|
|
|
Places To Go: |
Wildflower season in Minnesota begins in April. Listed below are some of my favorite places to photograph wildflowers. Most of these locations are in the "Big Woods" region of Minnesota.
In the spring before the trees have had a chance to completely leaf-out the spring ephemerals bloom. These beautiful flowers have a short time span to bloom and pollinate, it is between the spring thaw and the tree leaf-out when over 95% of the sunlight is blocked from reaching the forest floor. If you have not experienced the spring ephemeral bloom you have missed out on one of the most incredible natural wonders that can be found anywhere in the world.
Because the bloom is short lived and weather dependent it is anyone's guess as to the exact dates. Typically the best times to go are in early May just before or just after Mother's Day.
Ok--you want to score some points and get out in the woods at the same time? Bring your honey to any one of these locations for the best bouquet of flowers that money can't buy (please don't pick them, just make some awesome photos for him or her to enjoy!)
Carley State Park has an awesome display of Virginia Bluebells, Whitewater State Park and Nerstrand Big Woods State Park have a wide variety of spring flowers including some great Heptica, Carolina Spring Beauty, and the Minnesota Trout Lily (found only in a few select areas of Southern Minnesota.) Go to http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.htm for more information.
You might want to try these Rice County Parks as they are rich with photographic opportunities: http://www.co.rice.mn.us/parks/caron.php or http://www.co.rice.mn.us/parks/fallscreek.php .
|
|
Items For Sale |
Inks for the Epson 2400
My Epson 2400 gave up the ghost and I have a surplus of ink cartridges to sell. These inks are still in the original boxes. I have listed the inks and expiration dates below. I am only selling them as a block--no singles!
1-Lt Lt Black 05-08
1-Lt Black 04/09
1-Matte Black 05/08
2-Magenta 07/08
2-Lt Magenta 05/09
1-Cyan 06/08
1-Lt Cyan 10/08
2-Yellow 03/09
Retail Cost: $132
Your Cost: $60 Shipping Included!
If you are interested in any of these items call (218) 834-0756, ask for John. |
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum 50/100 Year
Anniversary
June, 2008 |
There are several events this year at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to commorate the 50/100 year Anniversary of the Arboretum and Horticultral Research Center. In June "Northern Treasure, The Story of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum" will be released this book was photographed by John Gregor.
On June 13th John will open an exhibit of Photographs from the "Northern Treasure" book project at the Arboretum's Reedy Gallery.
|
| "Tuscan Dream" Exhibit
Extended Through Mid-April
Opening in May:
"Intimate Details, Closer than you have ever been " By Val Doherty
|
|
Stay tuned for details about opening reception events.
Waterfront Gallery is located at 632 First Avenue, Two Harbors MN 55616.
Hours: Wed-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-3.
In addition to Fine Art Photography and Photographic Education, Waterfront Gallery features; Custom Framing, Books, Notecards, Hand-made Jewelry, Music, Journals, and other fine gifts.
|
| The Color Of Tuscany
Sept 6-13 |
| "The Color Of Tuscany" Photographic Workshop has 5 openings left!
Call (218) 834-0756 to register.
| |
|
Spring Newsletter
April, 2008 |
|
|
Greetings!
Today is April 11, 2008. Outside the winds are blowing at about 20-35mph, there is 8 inches of fresh snow on the ground and clinging to tree branches. The forecast is for another 8 inches over the next 12 hours. Ahh-don't you love the northland!
Actually the late snow blizzard is a wind-fall for me as I have a client who needs some winter images shot a little further up the shore, so later today I venture out for some winter photo-fun.
 Spring is a time of change and movement. This last week for two mornings in a row I came across a pack of four wolves alongside the road on the way to town. The pack has three grey wolves and one black. The Alpha male is a large grey with a distinctive scar across his snout. On both occasions I stopped the car and watched the pack for several minutes. The first time I was lucky to have my camera with me. I have posted a couple of those photos here.
Most likely by the time you will read this newsletter the snow will be a memory of the past. Therefore the "Places To Go" section is focusing on opportunities for spring wildflowers. The "Tech-tips" is a section on the use of the history brush in Photoshop. This article is based upon the lecture that I gave at the TCACCC Spring Break event last month. Don't overlook the "Items for Sale" where I am selling off some extra ink cartridges from my old Epson 2400.
Enjoy the spring! 
John Gregor |
|
|
Digital Spring Color On The North Shore,
June 19-22, 2008
 From the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior to the wildflower meadows in the forests of the Lake Superior Highlands, this road trip workshop combines the colorful character of the land and people with the classroom experience of a digital workflow workshop. Designed to take you from concept, to field, to computer, to print, this workshop experience brings you full circle and will improve and round out your photographic technique and workflow. First we will spend two days on the road to capture images in places of stunning beauty. Then we will retire to our state-of-the-art computer lab in our new workshop facility adjacent to Waterfront Gallery in downtown Two Harbors, Minnesota. There we will spend two days reviewing, editing, post processing and printing our work from the workshop. Each participant will work on their own workstation. All workstations are networked to Epson printers. At the conclusion of this workshop you will go home with discs full of new images optimized to produce stunning exhibition quality prints. This workshop is perfect for those who want to learn the skills that will complete their vision and turn their images into eye-catching framed photographs. Your own laptop and Photoshop software is not required but welcomed.
Cost: $995.00 (Payment schedule on request.) Maximum 10 participants. Cost is for 4 day field trip and Classroom sessions, including some meals, and lodging. Lodging is based upon double occupancy, single option if available is extra. Costs do not include: transportation, event admission fees (if any), and out of pocket expenses. If you are flying in from out of state contact us prior to your reservations, we will work with you to help you arrange your flights, any hotel accommodations needed prior to or post workshop.
or call (218) 834-0756. | |
Using The History Brush in Photoshop
Setting up and using the History Palette:
When CS3 comes out of the box the palettes on the right side of the screen are: Navigator, Color, Layers. Click the little gray x in the upper right corner of the "Color" palette-don't worry as a photographer you will almost never need it, if you do want it back simply go to the pull-down menu Window and click on the "Color." Now go to the little icon boxes just to the left of the "Navigator" palette. Click on the top box which is the "History" palette. You can drag the History palette anywhere you want to put it on the screen. I place it just below the "Layers" palette. Under Photoshop's "Preferences-Performance" set the number of History States to "50 States". The History Palette records all actions that we complete on an open image. It is not savable, once the image is closed and reopened the History States begin with "Open." To undo an action simply highlight or click on the action above the unwanted action in the "History State" the image will revert to that state in its history.
History Brush tool:
I have found that the history brush tool is the most used function that I use in Photoshop. As noted above to use the history brush you must first set-up your history palette.
All history brush functions must be done on the image background not a layer.
Go to the pull-down menu and select: Image/Adjustments/Curves. I like to use curves for most of my image adjustments because as I noted earlier I believe it applies the changes in the most natural manner, you could use any of the adjustment options in the pull-down.
Looking at just the area you want to lighten, darken, increase or decrease contrast, change color or whatever you want to do, make the necessary adjustments on the curve dialog box (or other dialog box you have selected.)
Now go to the bottom of the History Palette, the middle icon on the bottom of the bar is a "camera" click on this icon.
Scroll to the top of the History Palette, you will notice that a new icon layer has appeared titled "Snapshot 1". Click on the blank box to the left of the icon, this sets the "History Brush Source."
Scroll to the bottom of the History Palette, highlight by clicking on the last action BEFORE you made the Image/Adjustment correction.
Now select the History Brush from the tool palette. Adjust the size and feather of the History Brush on the menu bar just below the pull-down menus. Set your opacity to aprox 25%.
You can now apply the changes to the image by simply brushing the color or density changes onto the areas you want to apply it. Changing the brush size and opacity settings will need to be done for personal preference and individual need.
Any number of changes can be applied to the image before the "Snapshot" is History Brush Source selected. |
| 2008 Workshop Schedule
2-Day Workshops:
"The Art of Seeing Photographically"
Des Moines, IA April 19-20
"The Art of Seeing Photographically"
Bloomington, MN May 17-18
4-Day Field/Lab Workshops:
"Digital Spring Color" Two Harbors,MN
June 19-22
"Digital Fall Color" Two Harbors, MN
October 2-5
5-Day Field Workshops:
"The Minnesota Roadtrip" Effie, MN
July 23-27
8-Day Field Workshops
"Tuscany, Italy" Italy
September 6-13
4-Day Computer Lab Workshops:
"The Digital Image and Fine Art Printing"
Two Harbors, MN November 13-16
"The Digital Image and Fine Art Printing"
Two Harbors, MN November 20-23
Coming in 2009:
Superior Shores, The South Shore and Michigan UP, June 2009.
Newfoundland July 2009.
Both of these workshops promise to be favorites and will fill fast. Call now to be added to our wait list.
For more information go to www.coldsnap.com |
|
|
|
|
