End Of Year

Well, the end of another year is upon us. What an excellent year 2013 has been for us. I want to thank everyone who has contributed in any way to the success of my blog and further advancement in my photography. We're always learning. I'm grateful for each and everyone who has read, shared, commented, guided and critiqued along the way.

This blog has been both an experiment and experience. I'm going to step away from blogging for a few months and write a book, which has nothing to do with Photography or blogging. But it'll need my full devote attention in which I fully intend to do so. Thank you for being in my circle and before you decide to remove me. I'll be back, and when I am it'll be bigger and better than ever. Keep me around and always remember, Happy shooting!

Great American Classic: Turkey Bowl '13

9TH Annual Turkey Bowl Leaves Us Hungry For More

Commodores score on fourth and goal to hold off Renegade Comeback; Win 28-21

Link to view Photos Here

  Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the Turkey Bowl, a newer Thanksgiving Day tradition that is finding it's way into the places of the Classic American Holiday for those in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Metro Area. A flag football game that starts earlier in the day at just after 9 o'clock A.M. has the makings of something special and popular with the whole family. Dad and kids are getting out of the house to leave Mom and the ladies a chance to stay home and soak up the early morning holiday conversation, watch the parades and get things started in the kitchen without interruptions from the family. Of course, Dad says that's his excuse to play in the game and this year's game is sure to be looked upon for years to come as one of the greats as the Renegade took on the Commodores, a match which ended in a shootout with 35 points scored in the final minutes of the contest.

The Commodores never trailed, but had to sweat a little as their opponent managed to keep it close down to the last seconds when the Renegade Offense failed get the ball snapped on a fourth down play as time expired, giving the victory and bragging rights that come with a win.Each side played with heart and grit and it showed as bloody faces and beards ruled the day.

 Here are a look at team photos, not all players are present.

The game started with a Renegade possession that saw more yards loss than gain and a turnover on downs on their own side of the field. 

On the second play from scrimmage, after a loss on the fist, the Commodore's Gunner, Ken Koske scrambled from the pocket and found himself in the end zone after a brilliant run from midfield for the first points in the game. Score Commodores 7, Renegade 0.

The second possession for the Renegade started inside it's own 10 yard line after a bumbled ball on the kick return. The Commodore Defensive line was working hard to establish the line of scrimmage, first and second down for the Renegade both ended in negative yardage plays. Even causing some controversy over a potential safety on second down, the original call on the field was overruled but the Renegade however found the ball placement about an inch from it's own goal line. It was three plays into the drive before any positive yardage was gained by the Renegade offence. Despite the positive yardage on this drive the offense still failed to convert a first down. 

After two miserable drive attempts by the Renegade now it would be the Commodores who failed to move the ball and once the Renegade got the ball back they decided it was time to make a quarterback change. Thomas Osterkamp replaced Garrett Olson and it seemed to be the right choice as the Renegade was able to convert a first down with three running plays from Osterkamp. 

Still unable to stop the pass rush by the quicker and smaller Defense, the Renegade decided it was time to use a little trickery. Someone forgot to tell the offense trick plays aren't suppose to be so obvious to the opposing teams Defense. This was the case as a reverse screen pass by Osterkamp to Olson was broken up by Ryan Koske. On the pitch back from Olson, Koske leaped to snap the ball from mid-air, returning the interception for an uncontested touchdown, a play that would end up resulting in his receiving the player of the game and the Gobbler Award. Score Commodores 14 - Renegade 0.  

Things went back and forth for awhile and neither team could seem to find the ability to move the ball beyond a couple of first downs. Both Defenses had found groves and the fast paced start had slowed to a bloody back and forth contest. The game began to look more like a Rugby match then a flag football game. Pride was in play for everyone.  

Time was running out and just 30 minuets remained in the contest, which operates from  a running clock. Renegade had the ball and begun to put together a convincing drive that included a penalty resulting in a first and goal, two running plays later the offense registered it's first touchdown of the game as the Offensive line took control of the line of scrimmage for the first time all day, easily handling the smaller Commodores defensive front. Score Renegade 7- Commodores 14.

This would prove to be the spark that both teams needed as the game began to quickly change. The ensuing kickoff was returned to midfield where the Commodores took over on Offence. After the successful drive by the Renegade it would be the Commodores turn to place together a drive that would get them to first and goal. 

This teams Offence wouldn't be able to produce the same success running the ball at the goal line that it had in the open field. Quickness gave way to strength and brawn.

Commodore Running back Ryan Koske was provided with great edge blocking all day, but couldn't produce the same success up the middle when it counted. 

After unsuccessfully being able to run the ball at the goal line, the Commodores' passing game needed to come up big and it did on a broken play a tipped pass by the Defense found itself in the hands of Eric Olson for a touchdown, in very dramatic fashion with a 14 point lead again and time running out. 

Score Commodores 21- Renegade 7.

The next two drives by each team saw scores including a forth and goal conversion by the Commodores to again go up by 14. A pass from Ken Koske to Eric Olson. Score Commodores 28 - Renegade 14. 

With just 10 minutes to go in the game a 30 second play clock was instituted and the Renegade once again began to drive getting into Commodore territory, then seeing the drive end because of a failed fourth down conversion. 

A stop on defense however could get the Renegade back in the ball game, they needed a big play, something that hadn't happened all day for them; and they got one, an interception by Keith Baker for the Defense was returned for a touchdown. Score Renegade 21 - Commodores 28.

An onside kick was inevitable and everyone knew it but the Commodores couldn't seem to get organized on Special Teams. The kick hadn't traveled ten yards yet when Eric Olsen for the Commodores jumped ahead of the play and touched the ball, after a scramble for the lose ball a Renegade player picked up the ball giving his team a chance to get another score to try and tie up the game.

With three minuets left in the game on a running clock, the Renegade struggled to get a first down, then on fourth down they got a play from Osterkamp their QB and a first down. After another penalty and an automatic first down the ball was advanced down to the five yard line. With inside a minuet left one the clock  three incomplete passes resulted in a fourth down for the Renegade who now had just one final chance to reach a tie. It would be the last play of regulation in the ballgame either way but some confusion and the inability to get the ball snapped just before zero's on the clock showed. The game ended giving the Commadores a victory and bragging rights till next year. A perfect start to a perfect day and the beginning of a new American Tradition. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!! 

K.D. Queen

Link to view Game Highlights On Google+

Tablet Tip: Improve Your Workflow

   

Happy Thanksgiving! We're all very busy right now with the holidays upon us, and then add work and keeping up with clients, something has to be sacrificed and in the end it'll be time. So today I thought I would share a quick tip that Will help improve your work flow. 

If you own a Wacom Tablet such as the Intuos 5 like I do then you already know how much of a life saver it is. But did you know to speed up your work flow even more tilt the tablet on about a 45 degree angle. Artist do this all the time because it's the natural way to draw and write.

I use a photo album and place the Intuos 5 right on the edge so it is balanced as seen in the image below. Whether using Manga Studio 5 or PS/LR5 this setup works well in all situations. And I know it'll help you too.   

Don't worry if this setup feels unnatural at first it will take no time to get use to the change, just make sure your comfortable. 

If you like this tip and look forward to more like it please subscribe. 

Logo's Too

Digital Drawing Made Easy With Mango Studio 5.0

Pair of Wolf Eyes for a High School Mascot

I was able to draw this image using Manga Studio 5 and my Wacom Tablet, not Photoshop. Why? Manga Studio was designed with the digital artist in mind, and is the premier tool used by comic book artists around the globe. The work flow is smooth, the interface is user friendly. The ability to design and draw in either raster or vector layers with lightning speed is absolutely top notch. I give it two thumbs up. 

Use Zoom to Tell the Story

This image was taken toward the end of the game during a foul shot attempt. Notice each player and coach scooted to the edge of thier seats, the game was close and just seconds remained. This allowed me to capture the image I needed. 

About halfway through the game I noticed the colorful choice of footwear, so I knew I wanted this particular shot but I had to have the right moment to capture the image. Patience along with thinking ahead helped me to capture the moment. I had positioned myself at the end of the team bench, and just before the free throw was attempted I edged out on the court and pressed the shutter button. 

Notice the footwear choices by the opposing team in the distance of the image, even that simple comparison adds to the power of presence. Increases the interest and adds an element of depth to the story in this image.

A telephoto zoom lens was used to capture the shoes, compressing the detail over a distance of fifty feet or so, this same story and information could have never been gathered or told with a wide angle lens. 

After Shot Pro product Review

Shorter than I thought...

The first thing that I have to say about this After Shot Pro review that I promised, that it'll be a very short review. Much shorter than I had anticipated from the start. You'll understand why...

Initially I was drawn to AfterShot Pro because of the noticeably low price cut of $29.99 u.s. Since this offer is only good till 13 November I decided to jump on the free download and try it out before I decided to buy. 

I had been interested in a camera RAW editing software that would allow me to have full control over my image when I shot in RAW. Canon users already know about the free program that comes with any Canon purchase, Digital Photo Professional as it's called. I currently use that tool but wanted to see about an upgrade for my RAW workspace rather that having to toat around PS or any other large program. So when I noticed the drop in price, my curiosity was peaked.

While AfterShot Pro is a stand alone product engineered by Corel the makers of many other design software programs it does also offer its own plugins, it is designed to be a first step in the photo editing process. At the full price of $100 u.s. I would find it hard to justify the purchase especially when the complete version of LR5 can be paid in full for $50 u.s. more. But with the 70% temporary markdown it's worth taking a look inside.

First Impressions...

The non-destructive editing really opened my aperture and I like this idea, why everyone doesn't do this I don't know as it seems really a no brainer. Right away the speed at which the program imports and exports images is amazing, not just single images but multiple images and whole files of images. First impressions are looking good.

I'll add at this point that the program has a steep learning curve but I'll talk more about this later on. If you are looking for an easy way out then this won't be the program for you so you can save your eyes and stop reading now.

However, for the rest of us who are interested in the capability's of this program and it's features, I'm right here to tell you that it's pack with a bunch of em'. Okay so that ain't good English but I'm excited, cain't hardly keep my finger off of the shutter button! You have full control over exposure levels and tint all the buttons you've come to expect and where the detail really comes out is in some of the finesse ability's of the sliders. Take the chromatic aberrations bar it allows you to adjust between four different colors, Red/Cyan & Blue/Yellow, most of the tools available have multiple adjustment options like these.

Where ASPro really shows its strength over the competition happens to be the layout of the menus, options and tool. There are tabs and menu's on all four sides of the workspace and all of the tool tabs much like LR have there own collapsible and pinable bars such as the Histogram and Basic Adjustments to the Curves tool and Lens Correction tools. All of these tools are very easy to work with and the work flow at this point is very fast paced and I found that it didn't take anytime at all to feel very comfortable, for awhile I almost thought I knew what I was doing.

Before I start tearing this program apart, which I wanted to do more than once, I thought to mention that there is a nice double click feature to reset my sliders just like LR and also I liked the fact that the Lens Correction Menu was as extensive as I've seen in any program thus far. I found some of my lenes that are many years old and go back to the film days. The list just keeps going on and on. Kudos points there.

As I mentioned I really found myself beginning to get frustrated with the program only when I wanted to work with a few tools, such as the curves tool, any adjustment made with ASPro however minor a move you think you are making will have huge effects within the image. So if you're use to certain setting with most of the other software programs, you have to scrap those go-to-numbers and settings that you may be already use too.

Another problem mouse users will face is the sudden and constant change in you image and for no apparent reason. I was having this issue then when I would go through my sliders I noticed that some of the setting where changing. No the program doesn't have ghosts and ghouls, even though I swore that it did at one point. Upon further investigation I found that the movement of my mouse wheel was causing my sliders to change even when I was not directly over them. This quickly became annoying, but with my Wacom tablet I had no problems, its just for those mouse users that this will be an extra workaround, one that shouldn't be found in today's computer programs. It just reminded me of trying to use a computer in the 90's, sometimes.

There where a couple of other issues that I became frustrated with during the import and export phase, while the speed was blistering and amazingly fast getting the settings I wanted proved to be troublesome. This no doubt relates to the steep learning curve I was referring to earlier and will come with time.

Pros

Non-destructive editing software is a HUGE plus for me

Like the $30 discount price tag

Lots of tools in easy to reach places
Fast Import and Export Speeds
Quality fine tuning availability within the tools
Can work in layers, much different that PS layers, but still layers
Plugins
Presets available to use and create
Lens Correction options
Easy to navigate, may be due to my LR5 experience
Solid fundamental program built on a quality foundation which has been around for years and it shows
Steep learning curve

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be frustrating at times during the import and exporting process, this is in no doubt due to the steep learning curve and will come with time but I feel that these area's should be the easiest and most guided, it's what we all will use no matter what

Healing & Cloning tools aren't very good at all

Tone Curves are too sensitive

Quality of export seemed to be reduced in final image, this increased the frustration

Using a mouse takes a little more care and precision, reduces the work flow pace

Lasting Impressions...

I knew coming into this that I'd have a steep learning curve, the program is designed that way and in all fairness I knew I wouldn't be able to grasp fully what was really going on until later, and I must say it will be much later. But this really did provide for a true crash course experience and a great way to write a blind critique.

There are lots of good features and even some great ones, I found myself frustrated at times when I knew I shouldn't be. There are just some things that do not make sense and would have been far better off leaving out of the program all together, like the healing and cloning tools.

I'm amazed at how many features are in this program for $30 and that sounds like a bargain. I'm always looking for a good deal. Still yet I just don't know if I'd rather put that money toward something a little more in price, instead of dealing with some of the quirks. Still it's only $30 and that's better than nothing, I'll definitely have more control over my image, but I can't say the same about my temper...

Keep in mind that my final score takes into account this is only a Camera RAW software tool.

Final Score 7.5 out of 10 

There scores:

PC Mag.com - 2.5 out of 5, Fair product

Softpedia - 4/5 with 4,292 downloads

Telecharger - 9 out of 10

Digital Camera Review -  4.5 out of 5 

Corel (in house review) - 4 out of 5

AfterShot Pro Link

corel AfterShot Pro BIG HUGE Discount

Get It for $29.99 U.S. dollars

AfterShot is a camera Raw photo software tool and I'm letting everyone know that this discount will last till Nov 13th. Which is 70% off of the full price.

You can also download a free trial and try it first. I will have a review out through the end of this weekend. 

AfterShot Pro Link

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