Cloud Formations

Joe, I will try your suggestions with the cloud filter.
Every time I try it out I make a mess of it. I think I have to try that filter a few more times over and over again. I am really lousy at it and have not used it enough in order to really know what that filter does.

I use mostly curves and levels. Never auto! EVER!!

I think composition is the key to any good photo. I try for that.

Joe, give us a few examples from my files and what you were suggesting with the cloud rendering filter.
Also water??
Adobe Photoshop skills are endless to learn!!!

Be my guest please and pull out all of your tricks!!!
You do not have to use my photos.
You can use your own photos to show us here.
Any rain storm photos to show as an example?

How about a Texas twister!? :

I took your photo and added some Rendered Clouds to the sky and to the water.
I didn't put a lot of effort into it, but did "smudge" the edge of the water and the edge were the sky clouds meet the trees. That blended them together a bit better.

I have used this technique on some photos that have a grey or bland sky. It seems to brighten things up a bit.

The first photo is the original, the second is the altered photo.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/MinoltaZ2/Mirror01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/MinoltaZ2/Mirror04.jpg

Joe

Holly Molley!!!
Joe, just fantastic!! Now, tell me the cloud filter setting and how to do that. Every time I go to that filter I turn everything into disaster.
You have enhanced my photo.
Tell us the settings that you used so I do not have to spend all evening long to figure it out.
Now my mirror image photo looks really good. The sky and the lake looks great!! Just a great enhancement in order to bring out the clouds.

Maybe you should help out in the Graphics Forum as well.

I kid you not! I have not gone to that Forum in months.
Grim tries to help out there often and I like him.
Grim is a professional by the way.

-Kevin

I will do a write-up this weekend.

"Render/Clouds" produces computer generated clouds.


..

Joe, I am looking forward to that next week. I did try sky filter last evening after trial and error, got the results and time consuming for me.
I did not see any options and my results looked like yours in the sky and in the lake. Well, It was worth the try for me to experiment with.

-Kevin

A one page tutorial on how to use Filter / Render / Clouds:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/Mirror01D.jpg

The tutorial uses the Magic Wand tool.
If you are not familiar with the Magic Wand tool, here is a tutorial on it:

http://websitetips.com/articles/photoshop/magicwand/

..

Joe, Thanks for the tutorials. I will check them out absolutely. :

hjfok, Beautiful!!
I liked the knight also. Cute kid.

I think that you had some nightscapes last year that I enjoyed.

Thanks,

-Kevin

Jump, When are you coming to Boston!?
You will have many sights to photograph.

-Kevin

Jump, Dead Sea photo from Jordan was impressive for cloud formations.
?At hotel near the Dead Sea before raining.?
That was really impressive!! I guess you like your Nikon D3.
Your photos are wonderful.
How do you keep everyone Jumping!?? Just great!

I have an authentic recipe for the Jordan Baharat (spice) for you to enjoy.
Make it at home and remember the tastes of Jordan that you and your family enjoyed on your trip.
You and your family will love to cook with it.

BAHARAT RECIPE
From the net: For anyone who desires an authentic taste of the mid east. This recipe was learned by watching the net and a friend in Jordan when she was grinding her family's monthly supply.

For 2 cups US Metric:

Ingredients
* 1/2 cup whole black peppercorn
* 1/4 cup whole coriander seed
* 1/4 cup cassia or cinnamon bark
* 1/4 cup whole cloves
* 1/3 cup cumin seed
* 2 teaspoons whole cardamom seeds
* 4 whole whole nutmegs or 1/4 cup ground
* 1/2 cup ground paprika

Directions

1. Basically, just place all the spices except the paprika and nutmeg in a blender or adequate grinder and process until it becomes a powder.
2. If necessary you can grind 1/2 cup at a time.
3. Grate the nutmeg and blend this with the paprika into the spices.
4. Store in an airtight jar.
5. Generally in some areas, they lightly toast the spices in an oven to bring out more flavor.
6. You can gain this also by putting the amount you're going to use, on a hot dry fry pan and toast it for a few seconds before using.
7. This not only makes the kitchen smell good, but brings out a richer flavor of any spice.
8. *Note* You can also use ground spices, but using them whole is the authentic way.
9. Four nutmegs come to about 1/4 cup ground.
10. Be careful how much nutmeg you use; it's toxic in large doses.

I like this spice.

Baharat Saudi Mixed Spices Recipe

These dry spices are a must for all food in all the gulf countries?they add them to rice dishes mostly.
Prep: 15m Cook: 2m, Servings: 2

Ingredients

* 1/3 cup black pepper
* 1/4 cup coriander powder
* 1/4 scant cup cinnamon
* 1/4 scant cup clove -- ground
* 1/3 cup cumin
* 2 teaspoons cardamom -- ground
* 1/4 cup nutmeg -- ground
* 1/2 cup paprika -- ground
* 1/3 cup curry powder
* 1/4 scant cup dried limes ? ground
* Directions: Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl, then store in a sealed jar.
* I suggest adding a small amount of allspice and ginger, also use garam masala instead of curry powder.

*********************************************************************
Rice Stuffing with 'Baharat'
Ingredients
1 small onion,finely chopped
2 tbsp ghee or olive oil
30g pine nuts (2 Tbs)
50g walnuts, chopped (3-1/3 Tbs)
50g raisins/sultanas (3-1/3 Tbs)
50g basmati rice (3-1/3 Tbs)
1 heaped tsp of Baharat Spice (see blog recipe for 'Egyptian Baharat Spice Mix)
250ml water
Salt to season

Method
1. Over a low heat, fry onions in ghee/oil till opaque.
2. Add the pine nuts, walnuts and raisins/sultanas and fry for about another 2 mins.
3. Add the Baharat spice mix and a little salt then continue frying gently for a minute or so.
4. Add the rice to the pan, then add 250ml of water to the rice mix, cover and cook over a low heat for 10mins, making sure all of the water has evaporated.
5. Allow to cool before using as a stuffing for a whole roast chicken, which has been rubbed with Baharat Spice Mix before baking.


http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/

http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/spice-blend.php

This site is unreal. The best site for any recipe in the world.
You will like this site.

***********************************************************************
Turkish Baharat Spice Mix
Ingredients:

* 3 tablespoons allspice berries
* 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
* 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
* 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
* 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
* 1-inch piece of cinnamon stick
* 1 teaspoon cloves

Directions:
Combine the spices in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder and grind to a powder. Store in an air-tight container.

I also found out that the cinnamon from Vietnam is the most flavorful in the world.
So use that in these recipies. It is hard to find for most of us.
spicebarn.com carries it from Ohio. Great source by the way in the US.

Jump, you will love all the Baharat recipes.
Try the Turkish spice in hamburg. WOW!! Good Eats!

-Kevin

Quite a recipe.. Thanks for sharing Kevin.. I put on too much weight since I came back from Jordan. Time to get rid of excess fat.haha. It's some pain after gain so much weight after all. In fact, 2 boxes of Turkish Delight are still in my refrigerators.

So far, my new Nikon D3S really kept me happy. 9 FPS really helped. From now on, I don't have any more trouble with moving subject. Landscape is something I felt in love with Nikon. 12 MP is more than enough. But, I still keep Canon DSLR handy, just for portrait shooting.

I'll travel to the US, next year. I'll definitely let you know. The schedule will probably, eiher spring or fall of 2011. So many relatives I need to visit and travel for photography.

This coming April, I'll take a vacation in Spain for 9 days. I'll post the pictures afte the trip as usual. Nice to see you around.

hjfok,
Nice stuff. Really interesting rock formations as well.
Good job!

-Kevin

hjfok, I forgot to ask where the photo location was. I also saw living quarters cut into a rock formation with one of your photos.
Can you imagine climbing that high up in order to live there at that time?

I also viewed native Indian caves in Colorado and in Sedona, AZ.
Unbelievable photo opportunities there as well as in CAPPADOCIEA, Turkey, where the Turks made a home cut into sandstone.

Jump photographed the CAPPADOCIEA landscape during the wintertime and showed his photos here before.
Really outstanding photos.

-Kevin

hjfok, I forgot to ask where the photo location was. I also saw living quarters cut into a rock formation on one of your photos.
Can you imagine climbing that high up in order to live there at that time?

I also viewed the Indian caves in Colorado and in Sedona, AZ.

Unbelievable photo opportunities there as well as in Cappadoccia, Turkey.

Jump photographed Cappadoccia

-Kevin

The photos were taken at the Joshua Tree National Park, close to Palm Springs California.

The older photos of the ancient cliff dwellers of Arizona are interesting, makes me really thankful for the invention of elevators.

hjfok,
Outstanding Joshua Tree National Park photos!!
How the heck would we be able to climb up those ancient Indian cliffs now!??
Can you imagine that!? I visited an ancient Indian site in Dry River Creek, Sedona, AZ.
Absolutly amazing to view. Never brought my camera with me. Shame on me.

-Kevin