God of War Diaries

Post Processing: Before and After Photos

 

If you're a regular follower of my blog, you know I am a first-time DSLR user. At the end of last year, I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and give digital photography a try. I didn't know any better so I bought a used Nikon D100 via Ebay. The Nikon D100 was introduced on 2002, and is a discontinued 6-megapixel digital camera designed by professionals and advanced hobbyists.

When it comes to photography, my preference is to shoot landscapes and city skylines at night.

Most people think that to take great images you need a camera that has all the latest bells and whistles. For a long time, I drank the kool aid and pretty much thought the same thing too. New cameras with all the bells and whistles are usually the most expensive. Don't presume that most expensive gear is the best.

Lately, I've been receiving more compliments, more than usual, from family and friends about my pictures. Some people have suggested to try to sell my images, to turn it into a second career. In all seriousness, I am actually considering it, but I digress.

One thing most photographers you know won't tell you, is that they make their images look amazing by enhancing it further in post-processing. Most likely, every picture you have been impressed within the past few years has been post-processed.

Once the image is captured, the process is half-way done. Post-processing of an image is from 40-50% of the imaging process, and post-processing varies from photo to photo. To show you what I mean by post processing, take a look at these "BEFORE and AFTER" images of St. Patrick Cathedral in NYC, and Philadelphia City Hall. The images of the "BEFORE shot" are straight out of the camera, untouched, with zero editing/adjustment :

BEFORE

AFTER

 

BEFORE

AFTER

 

The other day I made personalized prints of some of my best images to send as postcards. I showed the postcards to a friend from the restaurant near my work, he was so impressed with the images that he asked me to sell him my camera. He didn't believe me when I tried to explain that I use photo editing software for post-processing editing effects. I told him that he can find a much better up-to-date used camera, than buying my 13 year old Nikon D100 ancient workhorse.

Adobe Photoshop Elements is a fantastic program, and usually my first choice for photo editing. Depending on the image, in no particular order, I use a combination of various programs like Topaz Adjust, Adobe Lightroom and Photomatix Pro HDR.

I like to use post-processing editing software to make my images look more vibrant by bringing out incredible detail. The proof is in the pudding, they give my images a crisper vibrant look.

There you have it, my photography in a nutshell. This is the reason why I don't need an expensive camera. If I knew then what I know now, I would have purchased a Nikon D5100 body which includes "Live View" capability. If "Santa Claus" or "Los Tres Reyes Magos" read my letter this time, hopefully they will bring me one this year.

Donald Trump a Republican candidate for Führer of the United Fascist States of America just went Full Nazi

 

Donald Trump, a Republican candidate for Führer of the United Fascist States of America, said today there should be a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” including Muslim citizens who are currently abroad.

Today also happens to be the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii. As World War II unfolded, many Japanese-American citizens of the United States were forcibly removed from their homes and lives and placed in “internment camps.”

Reacting to Trump's outrageous and racist proposal, which was met with outrage and lots of attention online, rival Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush called Trump “unhinged.” Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, called the ban “offensive and outlandish.” Hillary Clinton said the idea was “reprehensible, prejudiced and divisive.”

The proposed ban of “Muslims,” however you define and verify that identity, would apply to immigrants and visitors alike. It's pretty clearly a violation of the First Amendment.

Donald Trump removes all doubt: he is a pompous, racist, ignorant, elitist, running for President as a fascist demagogue.

You can find the original article written by Xeni Jardin: HERE.

El pueblo de Puerto Rico pide voto castigo para el gobernador Alejandro Garcia Padilla

 

Leyendo los comentarios en los periodicos locales de Puerto Rico sobre la crisis economica, lo mas que se menciona es que en las proximas elecciones le van a dar un voto de castigo al gobernador Alejandro Garcia Padilla.

Desgraciadamente somos un pueblo de poca memoria, y no queremos aceptar que somos complice del desbarajuste en el que se encuentra sumergida nuestra isla.

La realidad es que una gran parte de la crisis economica en la cual nos encontramos es culpa del mismo pueblo puertorriqueño. La triste realidad es que a la hora de votar en las elecciones, todo los años preferimos darle el voto al mismo alicate incompetente de los dos partidos principales del pais.

Le damos el voto al mismo soplapote que por generaciones se ha estado robando los chavos en la alcaldia o en el Senado. Acostumbramos a votar por el mismo charlatan, el que ofrezca mas mantengo y ayudas gratis, el mismo politico chanchullero por el cual voto nuestra abuela, nuestros padres, etc.

Nuestro pueblo es un pueblo masoquista, nos gusta que nos traten mal. Pasamos las de Cain con Fortuño y el Partido Nuevo Progresista, y de castigo le dimos el voto a Alejandro Garcia Padilla y los secuaces del Partido Popular Democratico. Sacamos a Guatemala y le damos el voto a Guatapeor.

El Partido Popular Democratico y el Partido Nuevo Progresista son los que han llevado nuestra isla a la quiebra, y todavia nos estamos quejando como nos tratan y abusan de nosotros. La culpa es de nosotros, el pueblo puertorriqueño, por continuar dandoles el voto.

Ahora, por joder a Alejandro Garcia Padilla y sus secuaces del Partido Popular Democratico, hablamos de darle el voto de castigo y votar por el Partido Nuevo Progresista en las proximas elecciones. Ya se nos olvido por el via crucis que nos hizo pasar el Partido Nuevo Progresista el pasado cuatrenio, y ahora los queremos en el poder otra vez.

Un pueblo que elige politicos incompetentes y corruptos, no es victima, es complice de la incompetencia y la corrupcion.

Tenemos Que Cambiar El Status En Puerto Rico, No Basta Con Substituir Al Gobernador

 

A veces yo me pregunto en que mundo vive nuestro pueblo puertorriqueño que todavia espera milagros de sus lideres politicos. Cuando la realidad es que los dos partidos principales del pais son responsables de llevar la isla a la bancarrota.

Puerto Rico tiene una deuda de mas de 72 billones de dolares. Los trabajos estan escasos, la economia por el piso, miles de nuestros hermanos y hermanas puertorriqueño/as abandonan la isla todos los meses, y la mitad de la poblacion vive bajo el nivel de la pobreza.

El pueblo eligio a Alejandro Garcia Padilla esperando un milagro. Garcia Padilla prometio sacarnos del atolladero que nos habia metido Luis Fortuño.

Mire mi gente, hay que ser realista, si Fortuño hubiera ganado las elecciones, estariamos en la misma situacion en la cual nos encontramos hoy en dia.

Estamos a ley de bancarrota, y cuando llegue el mes de enero del 2016, no habra dinero en el presupuesto del gobierno para pagarle a nadie.

La crisis economica de Puerto Rico no se resuelve cambiando a Alejandro Garcia Padilla por David Bernier, ni dandole el voto a Pedro Pierluisi ni tampoco a Ricky Rosello. Los dos partidos principales de nuestro pais, los representantes de nuestro status colonial, el Partido Popular Democratico y el Partido Nuevo Progresista son los responsables de la crisis actual en la cual nos encontramos.

Es hora de romper el cordon umbilical con Estados Unidos, Tenemos que dejar de seguir chupando la teta que mantiene esclavizada nuestra isla, y regir nuestro propio destino.

Ya bien lo dijo mi compueblano Rafael Cancel Miranda, "mientras sigamos siendo colonia, no tendremos los poderes para resolver la situacion".

¡Coño despierta boricua!