Category Archives: Art

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New Lens and Macro Techniques

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Playing with new 1:1 Macro Lens and Zerene Software using Tripod and Focusing Rail. Light was a Floor Standing Ottlite we use for art projects.

The Zerene software takes all images taken with focus from near to far perspective then massages them into one image.

Each image comprised of about 15 or more shots each positioned about a millimeter and a half apart to give extended depth of field. I’m a novice at this but practice makes perfect, right?

 

I’ve included pics of the hardware used in the setup.

A remote shutter resease is essential! I achieve the results you desire you do not want to move the camera!

A focusing rail is also a must. The rail allows you to move the camera very short distances at a time with precision.

 

 

 

Of course a sturdy TriPod is a Key Element.

I use a 100mm Tokina 1:1 Macro lens. A good macro lens is expensive so you may find ways to do the job other ways. Extension Tubes and/or a close lens that attaches to your lens like a filter. This is often called a diopter.

 

 

 

I used a art light because when I was shooting I lacked enough natural day light.

In this case my subject was flowers but many objects around your house may become unique macro opportunities. Let you imagination run wild. You never know what you might create photographically.

Olivella’s Near SMU

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Our good friends Dennis and Susan Burket recently introduced us to Olivella’s near SMU in Dallas. What a treat!

You’ll be talking about their great Pizza for a long while. The ambiance if quite artsy. Kind of that you might expect around SMU.

The variety of pizzas is amazing and amazing tastes from the “out of the box” chefs. Pizza is just one of their specialties and their wine list is great!

Check out Olivella’s fare by clicking here.

Join Cliff and Joyce at Art Shows Around Texas

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Don’t forget to check out our “Events” Section to See Where we are going to be and join us at your favorite events. Each event we do is carefully chosen and fun for the entire family Come See Us!

The Waxahachie Gingerbread Trails Festival Arts and Craft Show was a great show. We enjoyed meeting all of you that stopped by and met us. Many of you purchased images to adorn your home and office.

The Parker County Peach Festival in beautiful downtown Weatherford Texas on July 9th was super hot but lots of fun.

The Peach ice cream and Peach Cobbler was to die for and there was plenty more great cooking too.
Our next show is October 8th 2011 at the Robson Ranch Women’s Club Holiday Market.

Why Canvas For Art and Photography?

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Today Canvas is the often the First Choice for Portrait and Scenic Art and Photography

  • Canvas Provides an Appealing Texture of Art/Painting
  • Canvas is Light and requires no Glass Protection
  • Inkjet Inks used to Print on Canvas are Far Longer Lasting than most Photo Processes
  • Canvas offers many Choices of Finishes, Mat, Semi-Gloss and Glossy
  • Canvas can be pulled around Stretcher Bars Like a Painting
  • Canvas Printed around Stretcher Bars is called a Gallery Wrap and Can be hung as is!
  • Canvas can be framed for your personal decor.
  • High Resolution InkJet Printing on Canvas is Called a “Giclee” Print
  • Most Canvas Prints are sprayed with a Special Varnish to add Protection and Contrast to the Print.

All of us have Cherished Photographs of Family Members, Special Friends or Special Times. Just imagine showing Canvas Prints of your Favorite Photographs.

At Bluebonnet Memories we can transform your Photography into a Work of Art.

  • We use Epson and Canon Printers – Our largest can print up to 44″ on the short side
  • We capture images via Professional Scanning or High Resolution Photography
  • We Spray your Masterpiece with Glamor II Coating with HVLP Spray Guns
  • We Stretch your Canvas on Stretcher Bars or Mount on a Variety of Surfaces

Wildflowers in Front of ColorDynamics in Allen TX

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ColorDynamics doesn’t only print dynamic colors, they “grow” dynamic colors.

Just a short drive North of Dallas in Allen Texas you can find a lovely display of Texas Wildflowers of magnificent colors.

If you love taking pics of Wildflowers you will enjoy this colorful display.

Just exit Hwy 75 (Central Expsy) and go East on Bethany in Allen, TX. about a half mile on the Right. If you get hungry go back West, cross 75, and find Waters Creek on you left. Enjoy yourself at The Cheesecake Factory, The Brio, Grimalidi’s Pizza, The Blue Fish, the Londoner and more great places. Waters Creek is a great venue for shopping a leisurely stroll.

Oh Yes! If you are taking pics try early morning or late in the day near sunset. Don’t forget your tripod. It will help you stop motion. North Texas usually has gusting winds in the Spring and a good tripod and cable release will help you to not add to the problem. Get down and shoot across the flowers. It will make them look much fuller.

Capturing Memories that Last

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Anyone can take a normal snap shot and many do just that. We all have photos that we find in the attic and have faded much as our memories. Some become important milestones in someones life. But most capture little that excites our interest.

How much better to hone the skill of capturing emotion, candid glances into a persons soul. Maybe the picture tells of a day in time that captures both the beauty of the moment as well as the heart of our subject. Maybe the composition catches the special event in a special way, an interesting angle or a unique use of light. The awareness of the world in which the image was taken if often forgot. Our memories may need a connection to a meaning event or experience.

How many photos are left with out notations of who is in the photograph, the date and location of the event.

Good photographs tell stories and are created by the mind of the creative photographer. Good photographs seldom just happen. They are a developed skill and carefully planned. Anyone can be lucky but a good photographer succeeds often. “Awareness” is a great tool. Be on the lookout true emotion! Be thinking of a pleasant and unique way of capture a great image.

Go to galleries, read books, check out photographs in magazines and journals. All in all, think and plan and be looking for says to capture the heart! It makes a difference.

Photographs on Canvas

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Canvas has an amazing texture the spells “Painting”. A Photograph on Canvas offers a special contrast to everyday photo papers.

A Gallery Wrap Giclee’ Print wraps around stretcher bars and can be hung as is or placed into a frame that enhances any decor.

We all have favorite photographs that Canvas will bring instant attention and enjoyment to. Bluebonnet Memories can turn your favorite photos into a work of art that you, friends and family can cherish for a lifetime!

We can print as small as 8″X8″ to 40″x 80″ or even longer. So let us know how we can bring Memories to Life with Canvas.

Flower Photography

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The beauty around me is always amazing when  I take the time to notice and enjoy it. Flowers are always a joy and one if our favorite subjects. Colors, Contrasts and Textures are always present. Springtime always brings a special time for new colorful growth. The lovely Tulip is provides a wonderful c0ntrast to the stark Winter colors.

There are so many ways to photograph flowers. What awesome ways we can capture the beauty of plants and flowers. A short trip to a local botanical garden can yield great opportunities for close up and landscape images.

Often there are great opportunities to include sculpture, rustic buildings, hills, paths and other delights that can enhance our photographic experience.

On close up shots we can open our lens with a small stop say f4 or so. This will blur our background and highlight our subject. Shots covering a large area or landscape will require a smaller lens opening using a large fstop number like f12 or f14. Remember the the fStop number is inverse to the opening of the lens. Point and Shoot cameras will have a flower icon for flowers and a landscape icon for far pictures covering a wide area.

Getting an unusual angle will often enhance the photo. Often I will shoot close ups near eye level. Large areas of flowers may seem fuller and richer if taken across the area near the ground.

I cannot emphasize how important a good tripod is in getting sharp flower pictures. Look for one that does NOT tie the legs together. Legs need to go nearly flat for ground level shooting.

We could write a book on flower shooting but this little bit might get you thinking a bit outside the box. So go out and take some super flower photos!