The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

For many years now, we've sent photo holiday cards out to friends and family. Usually, it's been some sort of a story about our "happenings" that year. Last year we did a composite, showing some of the highlights of our first months with Wild Blue. The tough situation this year was picking... so many cool places, so many great memories; hundreds of images.

We decided on one from our first C-Brat gathering on Lake Powell (shot by Chris with our camera). From a design point of view, I really like all the leading lines and asymetrical composition. And then, what to do with the image? Over the years, we've done actual cards incorporating a photo, some slim-line with a greeting on the side, some custom designs. I made up several layouts for consideration, and then Joan said, "But, what about Molly? She isn't in that photo." So, I added her image in a couple different places and Joan made her pick.

What looks like a simple greeting card has 18 different layers, most with their own tweaked effects. This is part of what I did for a living. I picked the background color from the background of the image, added effects in Wild Blue's trim color, added depth, highlights and textures to give the whole thing some dimension, and...

Christmas07OvalUSE2MolE.jpg

With Thanksgiving 3 days behind us, we are officially in the holiday season. So, from our house (boat) to yours - Happy Holidays!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim and Joan,

Thanks so much for sharing your adventures and just plain messing around trips...

Beatiful card!

'Hope you'll survive the mid fifties temps down there...

We really enjoy perusing your log and the photos are top notch and engaging!

John
 
Thanks for the kind words, Dr. John. Our chilly weather didn't last (even though it was actually two northers, one right on top of the other) - it was back to 70º and sunny today, and is predicted to be 82º for a high and 66º for the low on Saturday for the Lighted Boat Parade. :D

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim and Joan

Beautiful Christmas card and fantastic photos of the dolphins. We too are like kids in a toy store every time they show up. They never lose there charm and excitement for us.

Again thanks for the sharing,

Jay
 
Hi Jim,

Great holiday card!

What software would you recommend to play with for creating pictures with layers? Keep in mind that I have not used photoshop or any other picture software.

Thanks,
Steve
 
Hi Steve,

Photoshop is the industry standard; the tool I worked with daily in the studio. I've been using it since version 2.0, and it's the only imaging software I currently use. I'm afraid I'm not up to speed on any other consumer programs that may have layering ability. Perhaps Photoshop Elements? Maybe others here can offer an opinion based on some hands-on experience?

Much like the discussion on which camera to buy... I was asked that all the time. I needed the best imaging equipment available, but it was only a small part of the equation; lighting to best suit the situation, software (like Photoshop or PCPro) to do the processing, imagination, and experience. Digital imaging didn't necessarily make a photographer's life easier, but it certainly added a lot more "tools" to be able to get what a client wanted. Now, with a bevy of "pro-sumer" cameras available, it is certainly more affordable to get high quality results. But once you've got that image, a powerful program like Photoshop gives you unlimited options... I used to try to get inside clients' heads... if I could visualize what they imagined, Photoshop allowed me to create it. A client (while looking at a photo-art image) asked, "How long did it take you to make that?" My response: "30 years." :wink:

For something simple like changing contrast or exposure, enhancing color, basic retouching, and cropping, it is probably overkill. But, it's what I know... and when the time comes that I want to really "work up" an image, nothing else comes close. Sorry I can't offer a different alternative. I know that learning PS can be daunting.

So, anyone else have a good suggestion for Steve?

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim and Joan-
We love the Christmas card! Many good memories of the Lake Powell trips. Can't wait to see pix of the light parade. We're looking forward to being winter Texans. The weather here is still too chilly for good boating. See you soon.
 
A friend who is a retired professional photographer and who always creates great pictures out of nothing (well light and color I suppose) once told me that he responded as follows"

Question:
"Say that is a pretty nice picture, what kind of camera did you use to make it?"

Answer:
That is like saying "Say this is a delicious apple pie what kind of oven did you use to bake it."

Regards and thanks to all for the great pics.

Mark
 
Brent and Dixie - We're really looking forward to seeing you. We talked about you two today... for the first time since we came down here 12 years ago, we took "the Wave", our 2-bus public transit system. Hauled our bikes over to the island and rode our little legs off (OK, Joan's legs are a lot longer than mine).

The run to Port Aransas last week was just a "recon" trip for when you're here. :wink:

Mark and Dr. John (and not implying that you two are a couple, not that there's anything wrong with that) - For most working photographers, the camera is just a box for holding the image until you can do something with it... the image happens in your head before you press the shutter release. From my days of doing seminars, when you get a bunch of pros together, there is less discussion of "what kind of camera" and more of "how did you light that?" The literal breakdown of the word photography is: painting with light. :photo
 
Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply. I did not realize that photoshop was the standard. I see that there are many variations of the program available. I will have to get a copy of one of the less expensive versions and start playing with it. Maybe next year I can make a greeting card - but don't hold our breath.

Steve
 
Jim,

Interesting to hear that about the lighting... In painting they say that value does all the work and color gets all the credit. 'Sounds like photography is similar in that vein.

Thanks again for posting like that, Jim, er Jim and Joan, not meaning that you're not a couple - not that there's anything wrong in that, or not that there's s'posed to be posting like that, but ... well those were sure some good porpoise photos.... whew!

John
 
Your journal regarding your trip to Port Aransas made up our minds to go there to play for a week in early January! We so envy you guys the time to go and explore as you do. I need about three more years before I can start taking extended trips. We never get tired of reading the narrative of your adventures!
 
Thanks, Steve. As I mentioned to you in a PM a while back, deep south Texas is home, but for a shorter visit, there is more convenient cruising to be had in the Port A/Rockport/Corpus Christi area. Let us know when you're going to be there.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
"Are you serious, Clark?" *

JMBLightsE.jpg

We spent most of the afternoon and early evening decorating Wild Blue; about 2/3 of the way done. Here's how she looks so far...

LightsE.jpg

There are some more blue lights, some "chasing" stars, a spiral Christmas tree, and our topper - this 8' tall inflatable lighthouse (w/Santa and snowman) yet to go...

LightHouseE.jpg

We have our theme. We have "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" spelled out on the bow rail. Chasing lights around the side windows. The red bow on the bow (and how often do you get to use both of those in a sentence :wink: ) flashes, and the light in the lighthouse rotates, so we should have our animation. We'll still be in the same category as some bigger budget boats, but at least this year we'll look more festive.

I still have to figure out how we're going to mount the lighthouse up there... it's supposed to be windy Saturday night! I'd kinda like it to make it through the parade. I'm thinking I will use the same rachet straps we use to strap our dinghy on top... but that lighthouse is pretty flimsy. I intentionally didn't want to put the lighthouse on just yet... that's our "theme", and I didn't want our local competitors to see exactly what we are doing! :xlol

Holiday wishes,
Jim


* That line is from cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Clark says: "Hey, Kids, I heard on the news that an airline pilot spotted Santa's sleigh on it's way in from New York City." And Eddie says (after a pause)...
 
:cocktail WOW :cocktail Don't let Molly sharpen her claws on the lighthouse!!!! :lol:

It looks great! I think you should make sure to have your acceptance speach formed before the parade.

Caty
 
I love where Molly is in the Holiday card! Great job--as always with your photos, and a great photo shop job on the card.

I used to do semi professional photography in college and Med school to pay some of the bills--and did my own dark room work. Thru the years, I went back to Kodachrome for slides and our lectures.

Then Photoshop came along--and it was just like being a kid again.
I have Photoshop 7 and Creative Suite.

But for the person who wants to get into post processing, Photo shop Elements (now at #6) is an excellent program. You can do almost everything you can do with Photoshop (except some professional features)
There are both plug ins, and "secrets" which will unlock even more than is touted in the ads and manuals. It would be an ideal program to learn on. Elements 3 has almost as many features as 6 and can often be obtained for a very low price. Many cameras come with a version of photoshop elements. The MAC I photo also allows a number of manipulations--and there is Photoshop 3 for the MAC.
 
Good thinking, Mike! :idea: I was planning on drilling holes in the cabin top and putting in some eyebolts... it's better than the "curly" tent stake things that came with the lighthouse! :mrgreen: I tried 'em - don't work worth a darn in fiberglass.

Heck, maybe I can use the lighthouse as an anchor light! Or put a green light on the back side of the rotating white light and park the boat at an airport?

Since I can't be there right now, ask Judy if she'd slap you upside the head for me. 5200, sheesh; the boy ain't right.
 
LightUpE.jpg

The lighthouse is up. Secured in 6 places. Now, it remains to be seen if it will stay up. :xlol (Insert your favorite Viagra joke here) We only inflated it long enough to set and secure the lines; we'll turn it all back on this evening so the neighbors can enjoy it. We've already had lots of comments from folks who saw it last night.

Just got a call from the parade organizer... 6 boats have dropped out, giving the predicted windy weather as their reason. :( I have enjoyed this parade for years, and it would be a darn shame to see it dwindle away... any of you Brats wanna trailer to deep south Texas for this Saturday night? I still have a few lights left. :wink:

It's actually still here right now (78º and 174% humidity - the breeze usually dries things out); I'm hoping for a bit of wind to see if this will all hold together for a few hours.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
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