I’ve told you that I am enamored of digital photography. How could a person who loves taking pictures—but is too confused by the functions and uses of a ‘real’ camera, and far too lazy to do anything like the intensive study required to become skilled with said functions and uses, let alone learn how to process photos afterward—how could I not love digital cameras and photo processing?
One of the bonuses of the ability to revise and improve my photos digitally is the element of surprise that comes when I’ve taken very dark photos (at night or in poorly lit places), open up what looks like an entirely black image in one of my favorite editing programs, brighten it and change the contrast, and voila! there’s that thing I was looking at and had entirely forgotten by then. Sometimes the photo turns out to be something I had no idea I’d shot, too, but even those pictures can be interesting in their own ways.
Take this particular black rectangle from our recent time in Prague. I knew I’d taken photos on a couple of evenings when we were out and about with our compatriots, but couldn’t necessarily say exactly what the subject of them had been. A little tweaking brought the memory out of the dark.
Gnats! There was a flurry of gnats flitting around a lamppost and making a tiny but lovely little display of sparkling fireworks, and when I took the photos I had no clue whether they would actually show anything at all, given the intensity of the surrounding darkness. But my hopes were rewarded, if not with a magnificent set of photos, at least with a welcome memory of that beautiful evening that even a clueless picture-taker like me could enjoy.
Art-Colored Glasses 
every once in a while technology comes thru, huh? I just found out that the micro lense for taking pictures on camera is better than most under about the $700 mark. It’s provided so much fun and great shots. still emotionally attached to handling the settings on “old” camera though. Enjoy your new found excitement and experiments- continue to share, though.
Thanks, Mikey! Yes, it’s not technology that I don’t trust so much as my own poor skills, but it’s always great when tech makes up the difference!! 😉 I understand the attachment to familiar and favored ways of operating (hence my slowness to get better at drawing with digital tools, even though they’re great fun). But it’s fascinating and exciting to learn those new tricks, too. 🙂
What joyful photographs! Thank you for sharing them.
I just loved how they seemed to be dancing! Especially since the light kept them attracted and away from *me*. 😉
xo
Kathyrn, your JOY is contagious!!! I LOVE these photos! I do the same thing when editing my photos, especially of late, my waterfalls. They come out dark, due to water against water (no contrast) on a cloudy day. My PS is amazing how I can get that photo to come into focus as to how I saw it. Just thought I would stop by, say HI, and say, great post, I really enjoyed it!!! Love, Amy
Thanks, dear Amy! Yes, every editing session finds me reveling in some new trick or serendipitous surprise. PS is quite the astounding toy! Love to you. Now that I’m back home at last (from the *next* trip after the photographed one here) I will be able to come by and visit at your blog again. Yay!
xo,
Kathryn
As always, excellent post. Have a lovely weekend.:)x
Both weekends since you wrote have flown by and here I am just getting around to my correspondence! Yes, both weekends were excellent, too. 😉 Hope you have a grand one starting right now, dear Janet.
xoxo,
K
I LOVE it. I have been taking pictures of the gnats lately too and have not been able to get them to turn out. Now I have a new idea to try!
Hope you have as much fun with it as I have!! Thanks for coming by—I’m looking forward to getting back in my groove now that summer’s ending, so I can visit my favorite other blogs, too!
xo
K
A “little” tweaking? Seems like a lot Kathryn! Nonetheless stunning as always (:
Honestly! Not a huge fuss. But fun! Glad you liked. 🙂 Big hugs to you, Nessa!
Cool! I spent the better part of yesterday cleaning out the “junk” closet and cam across many photos from earlier trips. Of course I had to go through them and I kept wishing we’d had Photoshop back then. One day, when I’ve absolutely nothing to do, I think I’ll scan the “good” ones and see what I can find lurking in the shadows.
Exactly. That’s a thing I’ve done a few times and intend to do much more. Not only can we mend our own scanned photos with a good helping hand from PS, but we discover hidden goodies in them. I did a bit of work on a VERY faded pic of my great-grandparents that I’d seen a zillion times over the years and got to see what their faces looked like for the first time. Quite amazing. Hope you have similar fun! 😀
xo
K
LOVE the gnat portraits! I too, push the button, wish and then enjoy the surprises:)
Sometimes the surprises are far better than the planned stuff was, in my case! 😉 Glad you know the pleasures of such adventure-shooting! 😀
xoxo,
K