Ordinary to extraordinary is a collection of freelance photography and a veritable cornucopia of random musings, made by Larry Wyatt.

16 April 2007

Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

It was a wonderful day in the neighborhood. The clouds diffused the light and I was able to walk into my front yard and into a neighbor's yard and make some photogaphs. Granted, it wasn't Mr. Roger's neighborhood, but it'll do. The flowers look so beautiful under such diffused light.

Here are some examples. Just click on any of the photos for an enlargement. As always, comments and suggestions are always appreciated.






























Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

14 April 2007

Colors

One of the most fascinating things about photography is that it can be as documentary and realistic as you like or it can be as simple as the presentation of colors, without regard for form or function.

In this installment of Ordinary to Extraordinary, I'd like to present some abstract photos that primarily highlight the colors present in scenes that I photographed. There is no attempt to present any of the items in the photographs as realistic. Instead, the photos are more impressionistic in nature.

The following images were captured in-camera with very little if any post-processing. I hope you enjoy them. Just click on any of the photos for an enlargement. As always, comments and suggestions are always appreciated.













Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

12 April 2007

Black and White

Some hard core photographers suggest that the only true form of photography is black and white photography. While I don't agree with this sentiment completely, I am fascinated by black and white or monochrome phtography. Now when I say black and white, I mean black and white. I like my black and white photos to be very contrasty. By this I mean, the photos show few shades of grey between pure black and white. It is certainly not everyone's cup of tea(decaf, of course) it is my preference.

The following photos were captured in color and converted to black and white in post-procesing. I hope you enjoy them. Just click on any of the photos for an enlargement. As always, comments and suggestions are always appreciated.
























Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

09 April 2007

A Night at the Museum

A few weeks back I took a photography trip to the Houston Museum of Natural History. It wasn't at night, but you gotta admit that it does make a catchy title for this installment of the blog. :-)

Anyway, the museum is a fascinating place and a photographers dream, provided you have a camera with a wide aperture and high ISO. Flash photography in most museums is a no-no and so are tripods. You lose depth of field using such large apertures and therein lies the trade-off.

At any rate, below are some images that I captured at the museum. All are made with a Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro lens. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcomed. Just click on the picture for a larger image.

This first picture is a diorama of a lion attacking a zebra.

























This capture is a miniature of a Mayan temple.



















This photo is a statuette that I thought looked very ominous.

















This is a pendulum clock. It's very cool!!


















Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

07 April 2007

Moody

Happy Easter or Passover to y'all.

I take many landscape shots and for most of the better ones I use a post-processing technique called The Orton Technique. I like it because it creates an ethereal mood to the photographs.

This process involves the use of duplicate layers and Gaussian blur, which can be done in almost any high quality post-processing program. I use Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI. A simple Google(TM) search for "Orton Technique" will yield plenty of results for those interested in more information. Here are some examples of some recent landscape photography.





























Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

05 April 2007

Abstract Flora

Abstract photography captures shape, patterns, textures and form without suggesting the actual full scope and nature of the object being photographed. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and intriguing forms of photography. It is also one of the most challenging forms of photography because it requires the ability to see shapes and forms without concern for the subject. Just for fun, as you move around today, try to see shapes, textures and patterns instead of objects. You'll be very surprised by what you see.

Below are some of my attempts at abstract floral photography.

Just click on the photograph for a larger image.

This is a leaf in full Fall colors.

















This image of blades of grass, to me, is very soft and sensual.
















This is a close-up of a daffodil. It appears to me that you could lie down in this photo and go to sleep.























This capture demonstrates both soft and hard textures in the same photograph.
























Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt

01 April 2007

BIG MONEY!!!

Holy schnikes!! I won the stinkin' Texas lotto, to the tune of $19 million. My heart hasn't slowed down since 9:55 last night when they had the drawing. I guess I'll be getting that new camera gear I've been wanting, and my 4x4 and a new home and a rippin' new fishin boat too!! I'm finally going to get the Canon 600mm f2.8L IS lens!! Let me think, today is April 1st and they said I could pick up the check on the 5th. How much do I rock!!?? Austin, Texas here I come!!


Anyway, on to photography. It's Spring and the flowers are in bloom here in Texas. Of particular interest are the wildflowers that bloom most anywhere there is a relatively large patch of un-mowed turf. Just around the corner from my house is a bayou(Houston is the bayou city). Many of these are not bayous in the strictest sense of the word. Those of you in other parts of the country will call them drainage ditches. I can hear my mother-in-law making some snide comments about 'Yankees' right now.

At any rate, Thursday afternoon past, I mosied over to the bayou and captured some wildflower pictures. I used a soft focus filter on the first two captures. Images were made with my birthday presents: a Canon 50mm f1.8 MK II lens and a set of Kenko extension tubes. All were shot handheld. This Canon lens is wonderful!! By the way, time's not too late to send belated birthday gifts. :-)

Enjoy!!


































Well, there you have it. April fools!! I did find 19 cents of the Kroger parking lot though.

Remember to keep clicking that shutter, because if you aren't clicking, you're just holding an expensive black box that makes lots of noises.

Please don't pirate my images. I've worked hard to make them. Please enjoy them, but don't steal them.

Copyright 2007 Lawrence H. Wyatt