Example of "Focus B&W" function in Picasa

Continuing my crusade for wide spread use of Google's Picasa program, again a FREE program, here is an example of its function called "Focus B&W". It gives you means to convert an image to black and white overall, but leaves an adjustable area of the image untouched in color. You can control the location of the color focus point, as well as size and blending sharpness of the untouched area. It's quick and easy, so it isn't perfect and image selection is the most critical part of applying this feature successfully. Let's see how you like this one.

This is Manhattan in NYC with Manhattan Bridge in the foreground.



I was able to leave out fairly well defined orange structure of the tug boat and convert the rest of the image to B&W. The key to having this feature look natural (and in many cases, like there was a lot of touch up work involved) is the image selection. The area intended to remain in color, must be well defined and not have "busy" surroundings, so as to avoid the "spill over" effect. Keep in mind, that in order to have such a feature applied in auto, programmer's used a circle as a basic shape. While the blending sharpness (or feathering effect of the transition) can be adjusted, it's still far from flexible enough for many cases. So be judicious in choosing the image and you will like the outcome. Bottom line: there is a lot to appreciate about Picasa. In the very least, it will show you the potential of digital manipulation. Sophisticated programs (like Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and perhaps most importantly the free GIMP) give an actual total control of what can be done, with an appropriate learning curve to go along of course.

If you would like to see some of other Picasa features applied, check out this short piece with examples of focus and tonal changes.
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I've been away, I've been busy, I've been ... well, still shootn'

Not so long ago, I had a chance to enter the New York harbor from the sea side and click at some of the most known features of NYC. I could not control the path of entry, so some may be disappointed, but here is my choice (always matured in Google's Picasa program, on that a bit later).

The engineering marvel of its time, the Brooklyn Bridge.

and the monument of the free World, Statue of Liberty










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Evening clouds

Shot on the way up to Port Arthur, TX.
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The "American Queen"

"American Queen" - one of the few remaining river boats on the Mississippi. Here cought on a misty morning alongside in New Orleans, LA.
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Foggy riverside

Yet another foggy day in the Mississippi river. Mornings are usually best. As the sun rises things change fast, although if the sky has "holes", it may bring along very interesting lighting.
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Small web site about skansens in Poland

I have put together a small web site about open air museums (skansens) in southeastern Poland. I will add more images in a near future, as well as more info, directions, maps etc. Worth a trip, if you're headed that way.
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An open air museum in Southern Poland

One of the photographs from my trip to a Skansen (an open air museum) in Sanok, Poland. This place is large and you could easily spend a week shooting and ... shooting. Here is a link to their official web site. Too bad it's in Polish only and the gallery of the very few images does not do justice to what's accessible. I will be posting a small gallery from that trip and it should give a better picture of what one can expect.

To keep with the subject matter, there is also another skansen about 2.5 hrs away from this one. It's located in Kolbuszowa and here is a link to the official museum's map and a photo gallery (scroll down to see some images). Also check out this gallery, all from skansen in Kolbuszowa.

If anyone needs help or pointers to zoom in on the area for trip planning, drop me an e-line and I'll do my best to help (although my response may not be immediate).