Treasure

Playing around with the Wacom tablet, I was able to create the final look to this sketch which originally was drawn with pencil. One can undoubtedly spend hours and hours in Photoshop applying filters and what not but I find that keeping thisngs simple has a lot more appeal than something too complicated. The trick is finding a balance and not going overboard with technology.

I have a second version of this final image. I'm not sure which one I like the best. Once again though, having a model that can truly inspire you, helps to get those creative juices flowing.

Allegro

Slight modification to a previous entry entitled Reflectere. Even though I was really pleased with the results obtained then, the feeling it portrayed was that of emptiness. This second version has a totally different feeling, needless to say, a feeling of warmth, presence and happiness can be perceived. Not only is this shown through the facial expression but can also be seen through the warmer color pallet that has been used. Also, this looks more like the true nature of the one who has inspired me.

Here's the previous image:

Fantastic smile

There are some people that have the ability to transmit positive energy with just a smile. One feels charged in such a way that it's impossible to not smile back. For those brief seconds, everything else around you vanishes and you feel a certain peace... although sometimes, if you like the girl who's smiling at you, peace is definitely not the right word. It's more like the urge to run towards her... or away from her depending on the situation between you two, hahahahaha.

Firetree

This image came to me after having a conversation with somebody I hold very dear to me. There are a few relationships in which there is so much passion that the intensity can only be compared to fire. If one takes care of the relationship and nurtures it, then it keeps growing, it gets stronger and the fire doesn't consume it. Hmmm.... poetic. ;-)

Hot chocolate

 

Productive day today! Learned a few tricks in photoshop today and this is the result. This image was created from scratch. Really happy with the results although there are a few things that need some tweaking in order to get it just right.

Reflection

Hot Chocolate!

12:33 AM

Further North Trip

Wacky Races?

As I was heading down to cover the AMN5 Conference, I noticed this guy on his scooter waiting for the traffic light ti change. There was something familiar about him although I was sure I had never seen him before. Regardless, I just had to take a picture of him. That mustache is something you don't get to see every day (unless you are growing one yourself). I should have taken a wider shot as well but the lens I had at that moment didn't allow me to do it.

Dick Dastardly is the name that comes to mind. Who is he? He was the villain in that old cartoon called Wacky Races and he used to drive his Mean Machine 00 along with Muttley. On a closer inspection, he may not look exactly the same and riding a scooter is definitely a step-down from the rocket powered car.

Far North

Summer in NZ! It's hard to really celebrate Christmas when the weather is sunny and warm and you have those lazy long days that seem to never end. Everybody just heads down to the beach which generally is only a few minutes away, sets up camp and start firing up the BBQs. Even when the surf isn't just right, you can always take a dip and dry yourself in the sun. Here are just a few pictures from my trip up to the Far North. I tell ya, NZ summer is hard to beat.

Beautiful pink skies at sunset turn into violets and purple. A pod of dolphins were swimming just a few meters off the coast but wasn't able to photograph them. The first time I saw a postcard of New Zealand with pink skies, I thought it had been digitally altered. I thought it was a joke, a very bad one at that... the joke was on me when finally I saw how the colors transformed themselves at dusk, I was in awe.

Lush subtropical forests with pristine rivers and lakes are easy to be found. If only summer holidays could last longer...

 Tatooine? Not quite. No giant sand worms either.  Just the Sand Dunes up by Cape Reinga which is at the very top of the North Island. Dune surfing is quite popular up here even when you might get a mouthful of sand. Gritty!

Muggy

GG

Tararua Southern Crossing

 

 

 

Wellington Spring

So you would think that because it's spring and the weather has improved with sunny warm days, the all familiar sight of broken umbrellas around town would have disappeared... well guess again! I must confess I was quite shocked to come across the latest image while walking up to work the other day. Even though we had two rainy days over the weekend, I didn't think the wind would be misbehaving. Will this be the last image of the season?

Pineapple cupcake

iPhone screen

Master and Margarita