"Ooh, shiny thing" is a a frequently used phrase in my house (and in my family)! It has come to mean "I should be doing {insert less-than-fun task here} but I'm actually doing {insert more-fun task her}. Is there anyone else out there who suffers from being easily distracted?

When it comes to art shows I'm usually very organized...but that organization is often done at the last minute (often the night before into the wee hours of the morning). As I was preparing for Art Around Adams a couple of weeks ago, as per my usual, I was getting everything ready the day before I was supposed to set up my display.

Part of my to-do list was to inventory my note cards.  Let me tell you, there are A LOT of them! Some of them have been in my stock for quite awhile and as I was going through some of the older ones I was struck by how much my photographic style and processing skills have evolved over the years. Some of these photos are perhaps a bit underexposed or maybe a little crooked...the kinds of things you might not notice when you are starting out. 

So, as I was sorting through cards I got the brilliant idea to go back and reprocess some of these old images! Of course, processing photos is more fun than doing inventory so you can probably guess how that went. :)

Here is one I stumbled across:

As you can see - with a few minor tweaks in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 it is already a MUCH better image.  I straightened and cropped it and then adjusted the white balance, exposure, and clarity. While it looks a lot better in the "after" photo, I knew it could still be even better, so I took it in to Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.  The results are absolutely stunning!!

Teatro Antica di Taormina (Teatro Greco) (click here to purchase a print of this image)

The detail I was able to bring out using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 blew me away - and this is a JPG!!! (I wish I had shot RAW back then, but you live & learn, right?) This photo was captured in March of 2007 with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel 300D - the original rebel, a mere 6 megapixels - and the 18-55mm kit lens. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter how fancy your camera is, you just have to know how to use it! Having good post-processing software (and knowing how to use it) helps a lot.

So, there you have it - this is what I do when I should be doing the more mundane tasks of running my photography business.  Although inventory was pretty important, I'm pretty sure I wasn't wasting my time with this one.  Seriously, it blows me away that this gem was hiding on my hard drive and I didn't even know it!

I guess that means it is time to start digging through some of my other old folders of photos.  I wonder what else I'll find? :-D

Have a wonder-filled day!

Tomorrow is opening day at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, CA! If you are planning on attending I encourage you to stop by the Exhibition of Photography. There are some amazing pieces on display this year! (I can say that from first-hand experience after attending last night's artists' reception.) I'm a bit bummed that none of my photos earned a ribbon this year, but the competition was tough! There are sooooo many talented people out there!!

I know that you, my loyal followers, like my photos regardless of the judges' choices so I have a giveaway for you! How would you like a FREE ARTIST SIGNED NOTE CARD?

Here is what you have to do:

• Like Angela Andrieux Photography on Facebook
• Attend the San Diego County Fair and visit the Exhibition of Photography
• Find my photos in the Exhibition of Photography (there are 3 of them) and snap a photo of you standing next to your favorite one (you must be in the photo)
• Send your picture with my photo to me along with a brief explanation of why you like the image through ONE of the following means: (Please note that by sending me your photo you are giving me permission to post it to social media on your behalf.)

- Facebook (you must tag Angela Andrieux or Angela Andrieux Photography)

- Tag me on Twitter (@angandrieux)

- Tag me on Google+ (+Angela Andrieux)

- Comment on this blog post with a link to your image

- Send via email to angela (at) angelaandrieux (dot) com

Along with my eternal gratitude for participating, the first 100 people who complete ALL of the steps listed above will receive a FREE Artist Signed Note Card depicting their favorite image from the fair. One entry per family, please. That's it! Easy enough, right? There are no strings attached, nothing to buy - except your admission to the fair (which you should do anyway because the fair is awesome!)

In case you forgot which photos you should be looking for, here they are:

"Through the Arches" (click here to purchase a print of this image)

(you'll find this photograph in the Black & White Architecture category)

"Behind The Prado" (click here to purchase a print of this image)

(you'll find this photograph in the Digital Art - Photo Manipulation category)

"Deceptive Swell" (click here to purchase a print of this image)

(you'll find this photograph in the Color Waterscapes/Seascapes category)

Happy hunting & enjoy the fair!! If you have any questions about this giveaway please comment on this post or contact me directly via email.

Have a wonder-filled weekend!

Going through old photos is kind of like a treasure hunt. As a photographer I usually take hundreds or thousands of photos on any given trip. When I get home I cull through them and pick out a handful of favorites, spend time editing those favorites, and maybe a few of those make their way into my portfolio.

Once in awhile I like to go back through the photos that didn't make the original cut. This is where the treasure hunt comes in. Many of these photos are simply memory shots, photos that no one else will likely see - fun to look at, but there was a reason I didn't blog them or add them to my portfolio. But every now and then I stumble across a photo and think "Wow, how did I miss that?"

Maybe it needs a bit of tweaking and the technology a few years ago wasn't there to really "fix" it or maybe I just didn't know how back then...but now I do, and suddenly I have this new gem of a photo!

Thats is how I feel about the photos below. In the "before" versions I've already made minor tweaks to exposure, white balance, and cropping in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. The "after" photos show the changes made in Topaz Clarity, which was officially released today!

In the image above I really see the difference in the clouds! The buildings and the water also have a bit more detail and a touch of extra "pop" to the color. Click here to see a larger version of the final image.

In this image I see the difference from Topaz Clarity primarily in the clouds and the lighter colored building. You can see the detail of each and every brick but not in a crunchy, overprocessed way. Click here to see a larger version of the final image.

I've had so much fun going going through my Venice photos. It is such an amazing place! I hope I get to go back again someday...but for now I'll relive the trip again and again every time I look through my photos.

Don't forget that Topaz Clarity was released today! Retail price is $49.99 but if you purchase before May 31, 2013 and use the promo code "claritynew" you'll get this awesome piece of software for just $29.99!

Last week I got my hands on a pre-release version of the new Topaz Clarity I've been having a lot of fun playing with this new software (a plug-in for Lightroom & Photoshop). As its name suggests, it boosts image clarity and brings out details that you may have not otherwise noticed.

To test it out I pulled out some photos from a trip I took to Venice in 2009. Its always great fun for a photo geek like me to reprocess old images. Its amazing how far technology has come in the last 3-4 years!

The image above is one of my all-time favorites from Venezia (Venice). I captured this image sitting in a butterfly position on the edge of the Grand Canal, near Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square). I LOVE the angle I captured - its unlike any other Venice photo I've seen (which is no small feat considering how many people photograph Venice each and every day)!

Now that you know a bit about this photo and why I love it, lets consider the processing.  The top image is the one that has been in my portfolio since 2009. I processed it in Lightroom, whatever the current version was at the time.

The bottom image was processed with today's technology - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 and Topaz Clarity  Right away I notice a few differences - the colors pop a bit more, and, thanks to Topaz Clarity  there is more detail in the clouds, water, and the reflections in the bottoms of the gondolas. I didn't do anything crazy with Topaz Detail, I simply applied the Landscape preset "Color & Contrast Boost II."

This software has several controls that you can use to increase or decrease the effect of the preset (or create your own preset). For most images a preset is a starting good point, but I liked what it did to this image and ran with it.

So, what do you think? Do you have a preference between the two images? I definitely like what Topaz Clarity can do and am looking forward to its official release tomorrow!

If you'd like to add Topaz Clarity to your toolbox it will be released May 22, 2013. It will retail for $49.99 but will be available at a special reduced price of $29.99 through May 31, 2013 with the promo code "claritynew".

Yesterday, as part of a product shoot for a client, I was able to capture a few pictures of beautiful Godetia - lovely flowers that come in shades of red, orange, and pink. As I was messing around with the focus ring on my lens I rolled the barrel in the opposite direction and was captivated by the effect. It turned my image into something like an impressionist painting. Its not my usual style, but I thought I'd share it with you anyway.

Sometimes it feels good just to play, to see what my camera can do outside of its (and my) usual routine. What do you think of the results? This image was captured with an Induro AKB1 Tripod mounted Canon EOS 7D and Canon 60mm Lens. Minimal processing was done in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 and the border was added in Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to call your mom and/or give her a hug if she lives nearby!

Just a quick post to wish you a good week. Its raining in my neck of the woods, but I love it! I hope you have a bright and sunny day wherever you are, even if the sunshine is only your state of mind!

This photo was captured with an Induro AKB1 Tripod mounted Canon EOS 7D and Canon 60mm Lens set at 0.3 seconds at f/11, ISO 100. The Calla Lillies pictured above are from one of my commercial photography clients, J.R. Organics Farm. See more photos of these beautiful, graceful Calla Lillies here.

When you capture a photo, especially a wide-angle, take a good look at it.  Zoom in once you load it on your computer...chances are your camera caught something that you didn't realize was there.

The details that my camera captures constantly amaze me.  Sometimes its a rotten surprise, someone or something that you didn't want in your otherwise beautiful image.  Other times, a zoomed in glance shows wonderful things...like Hearst Castle and a flashback to great childhood memories. :)

Let me explain: the photo below was taken a couple of weeks ago while my mom and I were camping in San Simeon. It had been a foggy, but fun morning.  Mom & I had driven nearly up to Big Sur and back, stopping to photograph whenever the mood struck. As we were heading south, at around 2pm, we pulled into the Piedras Blancas beach lookout. The fog was FINALLY starting to lift and it was gorgeous!

I took a path out to a lookout point out on the rocks and looked back toward the beach. I set up my tripod and took this long-exposure photo (30 seconds at f/10, ISO 100, 50mm). 

At first glance I knew I liked this photo, the colors popped out at me, especially the turquoise cotton candy-like water; but it wasn't until I got home and started editing that I noticed a few things. In the upper left there is a building on the hillside barely visible in the haze of the lifting fog.  I zoomed in and noticed it was Hearst Castle!

As I continued to examine the photo I also noticed a big drainage pipe on the beach on the right hand side. Now, you may think that isn't important, or maybe it even detracts from the photo, but for me it was a "ah-ha!" moment.

When I was a kid my parents would tow our camping trailer up the coast on the weekends. We'd find a lovely spot and set up camp. Piedras Blancas was OUR beach. We'd spend the weekend playing in the sand and splashing in the waves if it wasn't too cold and fall asleep at night to the sound of crashing waves. It was heaven.

One of the things we explored while camping here was the drainage pipe (shown above).This pipe runs underneath Highway 1 and is quite large.  We would use it to cross underneath the highway to go for walks in the open land on the other side. The pipe was dark and scary, but it opened up to a new and beautiful place. It was kind of a portal for adventure!

You can see why this beach holds a special place in my heart, and how an ugly, old drainage pipe can spark great memories! I was really excited to see it when I zoomed in on this photo. This place has changed a lot since I was a kid. There were no lookout points with fences and paths, just a bluff with a trail down to the beach here and there. There were no elephant seals and only occasionally did we share our beach with other campers. Thinking back on the times my family spent at this beach makes me smile.

Sometimes it pays to explore your photos, look closely - you never know what you'll find!

Have a wonder-filled day!

Something beautiful to start your week:

"Science only adds to the mystery, wonder, and beauty of a flower." ~Richard Feynman

This photo of a California Poppy was captured at the Cambria Nursery during a macro photography seminar from High Sierra Workshops. It was shot hand-held with a Canon EOS 7D and Canon 60mm Lens at 1/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100. Processing was done in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Have a wonder-filled week!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a fun infographic on Facebook about what your Instagram filter choice says about you. Its a fun piece (check it out here), and it got me thinking about a conversation I had with a customer at an art show last year - is the easy access to photo editing tools like Instagram (which make a photo of just about anything look pretty cool) ruining the art of photography?

The gentleman I spoke to last year had very strong views on this issue and conveyed that it was far too easy for anyone to go make a piece of "art" with a smart phone and that it was taking something away from serious artists. While I agree that just having an iPhone and Instagram doesn't make someone an artist, neither does having a fancy DSLR and Photoshop.

Serious "art" aside, I think tools like Smart Phones, Instagram, and a host of other photo editing apps have done something far more important: we - you and me - are creating an unprecedented visual history of our generation. Anthropologists and archeologists of future generations will look back on the photos we made to get an idea of what life was like.

Previous generations recorded life on stone walls, papyrus scrolls, handwritten books, the printing press, photographs, moving pictures, etc. Now, with the digital age, we all have access to such amazing technology! We are able to easily record all the events of each day. We share on Facebook, Twitter, and all manner of social media what we ate, where we spent our money, and what we are doing for recreation - the amount of content we are generating for future historians is incredible!

So, do I think that smart phones and photo apps are ruining art? Absolutely not! There are still going be people who create pieces that tell a story, or evoke an emotion - they are the artists, regardless of the medium. It could be a canvas & pastels, a woodcarving, or a photograph from a smart phone OR several thousand dollar DSLR. The creator of the work could have spent two minutes or two years creating it. But if it tells a story, makes you think, or makes you feel something, does it matter how it was created?

And yes, maybe now there are more of us artists, but is that really a bad thing? Countless studies have shown the importance of the arts in schools, how those who are involved in art, music, etc. are often the critical thinkers and more well-rounded individuals in our society. I believe having a creative outlet as an adult is no less important and keeps our minds from stagnating.

My iPhone and photo apps (including Instagram) is just one way I stay creative throughout the day, even when I don't have my DSLR with me or don't have time to pull out my crafting supplies. It keeps my mind nimble, and more importantly the creative outlet keeps me sane.

What do you think? Instagram - love it or hate it?

Frogs always surprise me. Not in the "jump unexpectedly" kind of way (although that isn't outside of the realm of possibility), but in how photogenic they are. Frogs can be seriously adorable! And I'm not a fan of critters in general.

A couple of weeks ago while I was attending the Workshop Summit by High Sierra Workshops, I got to attend a Macro presentation. Toward the end of the presentation they brought out a Red-Eyed Tree Frog and invited the class to take turns photographing it.

What a cool frog!! His colors are amazing! Here are a few of my favorites - and be sure to scroll down to the end for a "before & after" of this first photo - you'll see why I cropped it. :)

This one may not fall into the "cute" category...but it certainly is cool! His eyes are amazing (and a little creepy)!

And, as promised - here is a before & after of the first image in this post:

Now you see why I had to crop it :) - I was shooting with a bunch of other crazy photographers, all pushing and shoving to get THE shot! Everyone was {mostly} good natured and decent about taking a turn and then making room for someone else.  I call that "workshop etiquette", but that is a whole new topic for a different blog post.

If you liked today's post you may enjoy this post from my old blog with photos from another macro workshop I attended a couple of years ago.

Until next time, my awesome loyal readers, have a wonder-filled day {afternoon/evening/whatever}!!!

Friday night I was scrambling to submit my entries to the San Deigo County Fair Exhibition of Photography before the 11:59PM deadline. It had been a hectic week...why should my Friday evening be any different?

At around a quarter to ten I hit a tech glitch in their system. I paid for four entries, but was only able to upload three of them! I was on the phone with them several times on Saturday, and then played phone tag on Monday, but at least they are working on it.  I am assured that my 4th entry will be submitted. Whew!

So, here they are:

Through the Arches (Balboa Park, San Diego, CA)

Behind The Prado (Balboa Park, San Diego, CA)

Well Played (Vintage Baldwin piano in the atrium of the Embassy Suites Hotel, San Luis Obispo, CA)

Deceptive Swell (William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach, San Simeon, CA)

What do you think? I'd love to hear some feedback on these pieces.

Wish me luck! I'll find out if I made it past the first round of judging by May 1. Until then I wait with my fingers crossed!

Spring weather on the Central Coast is fickle. One moment you are shivering in a cool ocean breeze as the fog rolls in, and the next you can get a sunburn from the warm Spring sun.

This past weekend I experienced the extremes of bundling up, scarf and all, and wishing I had gloves, to a bit of a sunburn on my face and neck and wishing I hadn't worn a long-sleeve t-shirt (and had put on a bit more sunscreen) and then an hour later shivering again while I ate my lunch on a restaurant patio in the shade.

Today's photo is another of my daylight long exposure images - this one a mere 10 seconds (compared to the image I shared yesterday, which was a 30-second exposure).

The things I love most about this photo are the colors and the story it tells of the fickle coastal weather - a bit of sun and blue sky along with the fog and the wind. Always brilliant, always unpredictable.

The photo above (10 seconds at f/9, 58mm, ISO 100) was captured with a Induro AKB1 Tripod mounted Canon EOS 7D and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens with a B+W 10-stop Neutral Density Filter. Processing was done in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.

Have a wonder-filled day!

This past weekend was so much fun! I got to go camping with my parents, improve my photography skills (thank you High Sierra Workshops), and play with my new lens (a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens) & filters! One of the filters I purchased was a B+W 10-stop Neutral Density Filter. This amazing gem significantly reduces the amount of light entering the camera which allows me to take super long exposures, even in the brightest of daylight sun!

Until I purchased this filter I was only able to take long exposures near dusk. Being able to smooth the motion of water in the middle of the day was a sort of revelation to me. In my opinion it takes a snapshot that anyone with a camera could capture into something special, something that requires time and effort to create.

Below is one of my favorite shots of the weekend, taken at William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach in San Simeon, CA.

30 seconds at f/10 , 24mm, ISO 100; Captured with my Induro AKB1 Tripod mounted Canon EOS 7D and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens using my B+W 10-stop Neutral Density Filter stacked with a B+W Kaesemann Circular Polarizer. Processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 and Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Notice the smooth water? The long exposure smooths out the motion of the waves and creates a beautiful, ethereal effect. I love it!

I have quite a few long-exposure shots to share with you over the next several days (possibly weeks, we'll see how often I can discipline myself to sit down and blog...I've been delinquent lately and this week only promises to get busier).

Until next time, have a wonder-filled day!

Yesterday was a BIG day for me - I got my first 'L' glass lens - the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens!!!

For the last several years my walk-around lens was a Sigma 18-200mm Lens. It was loved and well-used; but about three years ago (around the time we left Italy) I started noticing some problems with it. The photos I was capturing just didn't seem as sharp as they once had.  For a long time I suspected it was me. I have shaky hands - problem #1, my tripod (which I only used occasionally) wasn't terribly stable - problem #2, and my knowledge about photography had grown and I had a better idea what to look for in my photos - not really a problem #3.

About a year and a half ago I upgraded my tripod (Induro AKB1 Tripod) and it made a huge difference, but I still was having issues with my photos coming out on the soft side. By shooting on a solid tripod I was able to rule out the shaky hands issue so I knew had a lens problem.  Thankfully my mom had a similar lens I coud borrow while mine was away for repairs so I shipped my lens off to a Sigma repair facility.

A couple of months and over $100 later I got my lens back and everything seemed ok. However, with my last few photo shoots I've noticed soft focus issues again. Disappointed, I considered sending it back for another service and contemplated buying a new lens. A new lens sounded like a lot more fun! (and also made more financial sense). My Sigma lens was between $400-500 when I bought it and a new one today is only $399. I'd already spent over $100 on the repair and without a guarantee that it would actually be fixed I didn't see the point in spending more money on that lens.

Initially I contemplated buying a similar lens - either the Sigma 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM or Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens. I talked it over with a few photog friends and they encouraged me to step up to the Canon 'L' glass. I've lusted after 'L' glass for years and the more I thought about it, if I was going to jump in, now was the time. It was a big purchase and it'll take some adjustment to go from having a zoom range of 18-200 to 24-105, but I can already tell the tradeoff is worth it!  Just check out the images below:

If you zoom on the image above you can see the stunning clarity of this lens, and this is hand-held, folks!

And another:

Zoomed in:

Incredible, right? I'm thrilled with my new lens and can't wait to go out and play some more!!

All photos above were shot hand-held with a Canon EOS 7D and Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens in my parents' yard in San Luis Obispo, CA in the gorgeous Edna Valley.

Have a wonder-filled day!

Another image from my Sunday walk in Balboa Park:

"Life is a fairy tale. Live it with wonder & amazement." -Welwyn Wilton Katz (quote found on Goodreads)

This image was captured with my Canon EOS 7D & Lensbaby Composer. Processing was done in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, Topaz Adjust 5, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and OnOne Perfect Effects 4 Free.

Sometimes its such a beautiful day you just have to go out and play - so that is what I did yesterday afternoon. I took my camera over to Balboa Park, put my just-for-fun Lensbaby on my camera, and went for a walk. The park was crowded. I think everyone needed a day in the sunshine after the rain we've had for the past few days. With the crowds come the vendors, the do-gooders with a cause, and the street musicians.

I focused on the music. I love the surreal effect of the Lensbaby - how its selective focus blurs the edges of the frame.

Each of these photos was captured with my Canon EOS 7D and Lensbaby Composer and processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 then converted to black & white in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

My mom came down this week for a visit! We decided to go out and play and for us playing is going somewhere fun with our cameras.  It was a cold & windy, but beautiful & sunny day so we headed to La Jolla. It was the middle of the week and cold so I didn't expect it to be busy - but its La Jolla so even on a cold day its busy. It took us almost 30 minutes to find a parking place!

We actually scored a primo parking space right above the Children's Pool, a perfect place to pull out our cameras to capture the seals and sea lions that have taken over the area. It appeared to be birthing season and there were mamas and babies everywhere!

Mom & I had a lovely time in La Jolla! It is such a beautiful place, I just wish it wasn't always so busy & hard to find parking. Regardless, I need to go back either in the early morning or at sunset to capture some long exposure shots. It'll be awesome!

Sunday afternoon I went for a walk through the University of San Diego campus. I had always suspected that it would be a gorgeous place to photograph, and I was right.  The USD campus is STUNNING! I picked the perfect day and time for a photowalk.  The air was crisp, the sun was shining through breaks in big puffy rain clouds, and the campus was desserted.

Hughes Administration Center

The main purpose in heading out for this photowalk was research for an upcoming project.  I have a client who is looking for a photo of a school and he suggested the University of San Diego campus.  Since I'd never been there before I thought a bit of reconnaissance was necessary. As I drove in I fell in love with the architecture and wistfully wished I was 18 and heading off to college again so I could study in this beautiful place. I think it will work perfectly for my project, though for my client's purpose a model posing as a student would be a great addition. Any volunteers?

Immaculata Parish Church

Maher Hall and Plaza De San Diego

Maher Hall and Plaza De San Diego

Hahn University Center/Student Life Pavilion

Immaculata Steeple reflection in the windows of the Hughes Administration Center

Afternoon light on the fountain in Plaza De San Diego

Maher Hall, Through the Arch

Immaculata Parish Church

Can you tell I enjoyed my walk through the University of San Diego campus? I hope my photos do justice to this beautiful place and I can't wait to do my client's photo shoot on location here. By the way, I'm serious about needing a model so if you'd like to volunteer please let me know and I can fill you in on the details.

Have a great week!

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."

~Brad Paisley

Isn't that a great quote? Even though we are already a couple of days into 2013 I still feel the sense of optimism that a new year brings. With that sentiment in mind I decided it was time to give my website a fresh look.

Please let me know what you think in the comments or via the contact form on my website. Is there anything I can improve or make easier to find?  I appreciate ALL constructive feedback!

Stay tuned for exciting things happening at Angela Andrieux Photography! I don't make New Year's resolutions, per se, but I do have a lot of ideas and goals that I will be tackling with renewed energy. I look forward to seeing what 2013 has in store!