Arizona Trip

I just returned from a trip to Sahuarita Arizona where my brother and his wife live. Fantastic trip despite the fact im still not able to do much at all and get tired very easy. However we did do alot of driving around and I did a lot of shooting out the car window. He would just pull over where ever I said to stop.
We did go to a few spots where I could sit down where ever I needed to like the Desert Museum. Benches every so often and no set pace. I really hate being sick when there is so much out there to do. I didnt get to do a whole lot of what I wanted to do but did get some good shots.

This is just a touch of what I am trying to learn....I've gotten into brushes and using layers with them. There sure is alot more than I thought to using brushes correctly...
I have a long long way to go!

Here are three shots that are going to be a start of a calendar. I am still up in the air about whether to make each shot the same style or if I should use some different styles so each one is unique? Any thoughts?
Ther are plenty of barns around ohio so i have plenty to chose from.

this is from a few shots taken of my nephew. I was planning on some darker more urban feeling shots using him as the model but turned out it was a bit early and locations were not to what i wanted so ended up with these processed shots.....
Hope you like them!

Hey guys, haven't been on in a while here or updated anything. Sorry for the lack of interest but really have been having a go of it as of late.
Anyways, here are a couple shots from a recent outing to the lake. Since my last post i have gotten a few gifts that are really making me get out there and shoot such as new gear!!! Im still trying to get my head around all the settings and the best ways to use the new body and lenses but I think I am starting to get the hang of it.
Hope you like them....they are both of a Museum ship down by the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. Its the William G Mather. The D200 and 10-20mm sigma wide angle really did do a goo job on these. The first had some processing done to it to get more of a glow to the sky. The second is pretty much how I saw it with a couple little tweaks.

Zoo outing in the Heat!

These are two shots from a recent quick trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It was close to 90 degrees so I did not hang around too long but managed a few decent shots....
I really like this flamingo shot...might be one of my best as far as the look and feel i get from it.
All i am doing these days is some basic post processing along the lines of clarity contrast and brightness. Also I give a vignette to the shots...
I can't seem to post one with a bit of vignette. Might be cause I read it helps keeps the viewers eyes in the frame. I think though I am over doing it a bit.....

Had the day off sunday so I decided to get out and take some shots.....
Wasn't sure where i was headed and had a few spots in mind but remembered this place. I drove past several times and just caught the hint of a nice little stream. Once I pulled in there were loads of people and kids and cars and sunbathers and all sorts of things going on behind the trees. I used Qtpfsgui on these two and the landscape shot i actually used two layers one to glam blur the leaves of the trees and the rest sharpened. I like the looks of both and took many more some of which you can find on my flickr stream. It was a real neat little spot to shoot and probably not so much of a hidden gem as I originally thought.