Composite Photography

As a fairly newbie at creating composite images, I am amazed as to why I didn't tried this method before. For the first time, I am having a lot of fun digging deep into my portfolio to find some of my old dull images, replacing the boring sky background and adding a more dramatic sky. Combining some of my old images with a new background, its giving these images a new lease of life, so to speak. 

According to the internet, composite photography is the use or combination of two or more different images to create a new one. Composite imagery is photography, computer-generated images, and/or stock photos that are blended together to create hyper-realistic or fantastical results. 

It all started with my recent trip to Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana at the end of October.

Realizing that I am my own worst critic, I was very disappointed with the final version of the New Orleans picture. I'll spare you the details, but I went through a lot of trouble to get that picture of New Orleans skyline from Algiers Point Historic District. After all the hassle, to come home with a boring and dull image and knowing that there is a high probability I would never visit New Orleans again, I finally decided to try to combine two images to create the one I was looking for. I was so impressed with the final result, that I am now doing the same with a few pictures taken years ago. 

The first image was taken from Algiers Point Historic District in New Orleans at the end of October. I wasn't happy with the sky, so I just added the dramatic clouds background. This picture has become very popular on my Flickr account. The second picture, of the Philadelphia skyline, was taken three years ago from the South Street Bridge. I simply added the lightning background for dramatic effect.  The Boston Harbor image was also taken three years ago, but I found the original sky to be too boring. And finally, the One World Trade Center was taken from Jersey City in 2018. As the other images, I thought they were great pictures, with a cloudless sky.

I am very happy with the final results, especially when some of us don't have the time or finances to return to a location several times expecting to capture the perfect photograph under excellent weather conditions. In my opinion, the sky replacement looks great and it gives the photographs a whole new meaning.  

Discuss. 

2021 Biloxi, Mississippi Trip

At the end of last month I was invited to hang out with a group of friends in Biloxi, Mississippi to celebrate Halloween. Hoping to visit New Orleans to take a few night skyline pictures, I agreed. 

I'll spare you the horrible flight I experienced, and will say that had a great time in Biloxi and New Orleans. It is hard to describe in a few words, what a great place Biloxi is. They don't call Biloxi the playground of the South for nothing. 

Enjoy the pictures of New Orleans night skyline taken from Algiers Point Historic District and my Halloween costume. 

Two Wheel Tuesdays

One of life's mysteries, in my opinion, is the lack of spectators support to motorcycle racing.

Before COVID, I rode to Atco Raceway in New Jersey, and attended an event sponsored by Harley Drag Racing Association. It was an amazing motorcycle racing event, nitro Harleys going down the 1/4 mile track in 6 seconds. The grandstand for racing fans were almost empty. 

In my opinion, motorcycle racing in the United States is at an all time low. The sport is in desperate need of an infusion of new blood, a new generation of racing fans to get involved. Most times there are more people competing than those attending the event. 

Due to low spectators turnout, sponsors are withdrawing their financial support. On the other hand, in Europe the racing community is experiencing a different outcome. Racing is experiencing a boom in the racing world, the grandstands are always full of spectators, lots of companies investing and promoting their products. 

For those of us who love the sport, some changes are needed, soon. 

Cada Pueblo Tiene El Gobierno Que Se Merece

Hoy sale en primera plana la noticia del astronomico salario de los altos ejecutivos de LUMA Energy, donde indican que seis de los funcionarios de LUMA Energy cobran $3.5 millones en sueldos combinados.

Quien recuerda cuantos millones se robo la Secretaria de Educacion Julia Keleher? Keleher fue acusada por 32 cargos relacionados a un esquema de fraude electrónico, conspiración para cometer fraude electrónico, lavado de dinero y conspiración para el lavado de dinero por poco más de 15 millones de dólares.

Como si esto fuera poco, otra noticia en el mismo periodico local en Puerto Rico reporta un estudio que ilustra que seis de cada 10 menores viven en condiciones de pobreza y como se ha agudizado la desercion escolar en Puerto Rico. 

Lamentablemente, por mas que hablemos de el problema de la desercion escolar y como vamos a erradicar este problema para combatir la criminalidad en Puerto Rico, este estudio no investiga si estos menores vienen de padres que no terminaron sus estudios. 

Como se pretende combatir la criminalidad en nuestra querida isla con tanta desercion escolar? Un estudio de la Universidad de Puerto Rico llego a la conclusion que 33,3704 estudiantes abandonaron sus clases en a escuelas publicas entre 2015 al 2021. Una cantidad suficiente de estudiantes para llenar 95 escuelas. La juventud que no va a la escuela, no sabe leer ni escribir, y jamas tendran las herramientas para un mejor futuro. 

Nunca podre entender como el pueblo no acaba de abrir los ojos y darse cuenta que el partido PNP Y PPD son la misma basura. La culpa que estos corruptos continuen sirviendose con la cuchara grande la tiene el pueblo. Eso es lo que el pueblo se merece por seguir votando por los mismos partidos corruptos. 

La proxima vez que usted se mire en un espejo, recuerde que dandole el voto a los mismos corruptos de su partido, usted es parte del problema. Cada pueblo tiene el gobierno que se merece. 

Knee-Deep Seawater

Not sure how I ended up watching a video from Foreign Minister Simon Kofe of the small island of Tuvalu in the Pacific this morning , where he video record himself giving a press conference in knee-deep seawater. Rising sea levels are threatening , the island is sinking he said. According to the news report, the video went viral immediately.

As disturbing as the image was, it was disheartening to read people blaming CNN, Democrats, Biden, and calling the video propaganda. Tuvalu is not even in the United States, but that didn't stop the trolls from insulting the Foreign Minister, blaming the libs, and making fun of this tiny nation plight. One person had the gall to ask if this video was filmed at Obama's beach house. Another was preaching the Gospel, asking people to repent, "the end is near", he said.

It appears that climate-deniers, evolution-deniers, Covid-deniers, and elections-deniers are the majority and the most outspoken in our society nowadays. We are doomed.

Top image courtesy of the Associated Press.

Discuss.