Components: Electrified

A few of you who read the Holy Crop! blog asked for a little more info on the assembly components of the Electrified image that appeared in the I Have Just Three Words For You: post.  Here is a quick diagram of the components and their assemblage.

Rikk Flohr © 2013

Badlands Winter Workshop 2013 – Only 2 Seats Left

We only have two seats left for for the Badlands Winter Workshop 2013 with instructors Rikk Flohr (the Cropist) and Laurie Hernandez (Queen of the Crop).  If you were thinking about signing up this year, now is the time to do so. We are still offering the early signup discount through 9/30/2013 but expect to be sold out long before then.

Information can be found here.

We hope to see you in the Badlands.

Rikk Flohr © 2013

Pretty Pictures: Fire Abalone

This Fire Abalone traveled all the way from South Africa to a San Diego gift shop where it was collected by a photographer who had plans for it.

To purchase this image, contact us via the Fleeting Glimpse Images blog.

Rikk Flohr © 2013

Pretty Pictures: India Blue Peacock

Strutting: A male India Blue Peacock spreads his feathers in the morning sun in this image.

To purchase this image, contact us via the Fleeting Glimpse Images blog.

Rikk Flohr © 2013

Get Photographed by Me @ Adobe MAX

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

• There are so many great Adobe MAX sessions this year. Check out the full roster: http://adobe.ly/ZjK8LU

You can save $400 on registration by using promotional code COM300 http://adobe.ly/XnIP7Q and get a 1-Year of Creative Cloud – Free!

My team will be at Adobe MAX in Los Angeles this May. Stop by the Adobe & You Photography Experience in the Community Pavilion and get your complimentary souvenir photo taken with the GIANT RED ADOBE AMPERSAND. Check out this cool image below and start coming up with your distinctive pose and then bring it to LA!

Rikk Flohr © 2013

Lightroom 5–The Public Beta Is Here!

A Complete Recap of Cropping-specific features is available at Holy Crop! Read it for more detail on the Crop Enhancements.

Rikk’s Top 10 New Features in Lightroom 5
in Fast Fly-by Mode

1. Smart Previews  – Lightweight images that take the place of your Raw files throughout the LR application. Very useful for traveling and working on your images.
2. Radial Gradient Tool - All the features of the Graduated Filter and the Adjustment Brush in an Oval configuration. You can use the radial as an outside or inside the oval tool.
3. Spot Removal Brush Enhancements -  Brush Spots for unusually shaped artifacts with improved patching algorithms. New Visualizations to help you find dust spots.
4. Overlay Grid and Guidelines – You can customize a grid or a pair of guidelines to help you compose and arrange your picture.
5. Customizable Print Size Cropping Guides (pictured) Very cool. You can now see how your strongest crop will fit on various paper sizes.
6. PNG Support – You capture them in screen shots on your phone,  use them as Identity Plates, Watermarks, and End Panel marks – now you can catalog them as well… with Transparency Support intact!
7. Full Screen Mode – No Really This Time. [F] Key is a real no-fooling Full Screen. [Shift][F] handles the old Full-screen modes.
8. New Smart Filtering Criteria – There have been additional criteria added to the Smart Filters. Special accommodations for Smart Previews and PNG files have been added as well.
9. Keyboard Shortcut for Tethered Capture: [F12]= Snap!. you can now trigger a tethered capture from the keyboard instead of having to rely on a mouse.
10. Last viewed image in collection is STICKY!  The last picture you were looking at in any collection or folder is now remembered so that the next time  you go there, it is selected automatically.

There are many more enhancements in the beta.

Downers: Vista and Snow Leopard users, it is time to upgrade. The new specs say Lion or Higher and Win 7 or higher. Sorry.

Full information and a download link for the Public Beta are available at Adobe Labs.

Rikk Flohr – © 2013

Inside and Out: Peter and Paul Church

When you approach a subject, it is a good idea to study it — inside and out. (Where permissible)

This abandoned country church sits quietly in the western North Dakota farm fields and makes for an excellent landscape subject. As I stood by my tripod watching the play of the light, I noticed the glowing interior bursting through the windows.

Saint Ann’s of Hebron, ND has used my images of this church in past directories. As the church is a client of mine, I decided to take a peek inside and see if an image for them was in the offing. There I found the character of the earth-filled walls, the ancient (by North Dakota standards) pews and the freshly dressed alter from a recent anniversary celebration made for as compelling a photo as the stunning exterior.

In the intervening 5 years, the church has deteriorated. The interior is not safe to be sure and there are permissions needed to venture into structures. I urge you to photograph in a safe manner with the permission or should we say blessings of the land owner. When you photograph churches like this, share an image or two with the Parrish (if still in existence).

Only by exploring this subject inside and out are we able to tell a richer story.

Rikk Flohr © 2013