Beachy-Keen

Here are some pictures from this morning's walk at the beach. The temperature was in the mid-60's, it was beautiful - but very windy.


Flights were cancelled due to the windy conditions, and seagulls were gathered in groups along the shoreline.


Once in a while one would take off, but mostly they were just hanging around. I could relate to that!

Don't know that I've ever seen so many gulls together at one time.

A couple people were fishing.

Lots of wave action around the rocks! I stayed on the sand - much safer.

More Invert Images

Two men walking along the beach.

This one is cropped from the right side of the above picture.

Another pier shot....

Some surfers who were finished for the day.

And, last but not least, a pelican flying by in the distance.

Invert Heaven!

I was playing in Photoshop with some pictures I took at the beach the other day when I "discovered" the Invert command. I've used it before, but didn't quite get the point. (Heaven forbid I would read the manual...) This time I was converting my images to black and white, and then using the Invert command. What was black became white, and what had been white in the image became black. Above is an image of a dead crab I found on the beach. Loved the colors in it! In Photoshop, I converted it to a black & white image, and then used the Invert command, and this is what I got -

I should have had this image for Halloween! So today I was going to blog about this and post the pictures I'd converted. I decided to Google "Photoshop Invert" to get an explanation that I would use in my post. I was reading along when the phrase "invert selection" caught my attention. I realized that they were talking about converting PART of an image, rather than the whole image. I was in Photoshop as soon as I could get it to load....

This is a picture I had taken of some pelicans flying over the ocean. Along with the Invert command is an Equalize command. This seems to enhance the colors in an image.

Here's the picture after I used the Equalize command.

Then I took that image and, using the Invert command, the colors reversed. Love this one too....

My next step was to use the Desaturate command which removed color and converted the image to black & white.

Using the Invert command, dark and light switched.

My next step was to make a selection (the rectangle in the middle) and Invert that. Okay, it doesn't take much, but I was getting excited.

My last step was to again select a rectangle, this one smaller, and within the first rectangle. I inverted that and - voila - I had created a "frame" within my image. Oh, the possibilities....

Blue and White

Sometimes when something catches your eye, the best thing to do is stop and take a picture.

Casey Climbs the Ladder to Success

Hmm. Something looks interesting down there.



Ready for takeoff!



What do you mean, you're not going to pick me up and put me back on my cage??

You don't seriously expect me to climb this ladder, do you?

Just how secure is this thing?

Well, okay, here goes nothing...

No, I do NOT think this is "cute."

983, 984, 985...

The end is in sight!

Finally!!

Okay, 1 - 2 - 3 - JUMP!

Whew....

I'd just like to say that the service around this place leaves something to be desired....

Morning in Black and White

Photos taken this morning at Fort Macon State Park (North Carolina).

Caught My Eye

My walk on Friday was down by the waterfront in Morehead City. A few things caught my eye. First, Neptune looking over his shoulder. Probably been up to something, and looking to see if Mrs. Neptune is around.

Sign for a local restaurant. I noticed that they're closed for the whole month of November. Gives new meaning to the term "off-season."

A fire hydrant with a face. Really. This isn't one of my Photoshop tricks.

The first time I've even seen a duck crossing sign! Probably most useful in the spring.

I wonder where all the fast children are playing??

Close Encounters

I love texture, and see a lot of it in nature. These images are from photos I've taken on my walks. The first one is blue jay feathers. A blue jay had been killed and left by a path on the golf course. The feathers were still brilliant with color.

This is the underside of a mushroom cap that had been growing in our backyard.

Not surprising, with as much time as I spend at the beach, that some of my images would be of seashells.

I'm not sure if this one would be considered a shell or a piece of coral.

Can you guess what this one is? It's a close-up of a pine cone. Not quite the original color - thank you, Photoshop - but a great show of texture.

A beautifully veined leaf.

And last, but not least, some berries on a tree at the golf course.