Luminosity Masks

Ron NiebruggeGrand Tetons, How to, Photos, Travel, Wyoming 2 Comments

Horseback Riding in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

Horseback riders this past fall in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

If you followed the link in yesterday’s post on saturation masks, you will realize Tony also offers actions for something called luminosity masks as well.  This is another subtle, but powerful tool that frankly I haven’t mastered and rarely utilize, but I plan to spend more time trying to master them over the next month as we begin to adjust our autumn photos.

So why discuss it if I don’t use them yet?  Well, I have recently discovered another use for these masks that make them much more valuable, but I will save that for the next post.  Again, this is a relativly advanced topic that won’t interest everyone.Read More

Saturation Masks

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, How to, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Beavertail Cactus

I recently discovered a wonderful new Photoshop tool – the use of saturation masks.  This is somewhat of an advanced tool – if you don’t use layers and masks in Photoshop (you should), this won’t make much sense, but I do believe many subscribers here may find it useful.Read More

Frozen Waterfall

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 10 Comments

Frozen Waterfall

Frozen waterfall, Seward, Alaska.

I ran by this waterfall in town a few days ago and noticed it was starting to look pretty nice thanks to our recent cold spell, but then I forgot about it.  I owe local truck driver Bob Valdatta a big thank you for giving me a call and heads up on the waterfall today.  He said it looked as good as he had ever seen it, and he was right!  There are so many cool photo possibilities right there.

By the way, we are forecasted to get at least a foot of snow thanks to an incoming storm.  I hope they are right!

Snowy Mountains

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

snowy mountains

The snowy mountains of Mt. Alice from the home office last night, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

A few people emailed after my mountain post earlier this week to ask if this was really the view from the house.  I should point out, I am shooting these with my 100-400 at about 300, so that does tend to exaggerate the impact a bit – there is about 3 miles of ocean between us and the mountains, but otherwise that is the view.  It is awesome to have a photo opportunity like this right out the door!

Route 66

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel 2 Comments

Route 66

Route 66, Arizona.

Even historic Route 66 looks better with wildflowers! 

It is hard to believe this little road was once the main East / West highway to California.  I explored long sketches of the road through California and Arizona in 2005, and in many places you would rarely see another car.  It was kind of fun to try to imagine what this road was like back in its hay day.  It had to be some adventure crossing this country, especially in the summer.

Here are more Route 66 photos.