Nik Collection Plugin Review(s)

Since my computer has gotten back to running order after the crash, I found that I have a new plugin for Lightroom.  Analog Efex Pro 2 is the new kid in town. It tries to replicate the look of old film stock.  Works out pretty well to my eye.

Here is the original shot I tried first.

Here is the new shot

So what do you think?  It seems to make a pretty big difference and it does seem to look like film.  At least what I think film looks like.  I have actual only shot Tri-Ex 400 B&W film, so I really don't have the hands on experience to say, but I like the results.

Check this bit of software out if you are looking check out Nik Software.  I like it.

~ Andy 

Snowed in...apparently, and I can't feel my foot

As I write this, my dog is currently sitting on me.  His name is Mo and he is 97 lbs of Labrador sitting next to me. Well, not so much sitting next to me, as mostly just on me.  I cannot really feel my right foot, as I am inconvenienced his sleeping position, even though it is my bed, and his bed is currently 2 feet from me.

So, to the title.  Apparently according to all the weather people and my mother, tomorrow and Wednesday, will be the end of time.  At least they seem to feel that way.  UP TO 10 INCHES!  They seem to say it with quite a bit of enthusiasm, as if the end of the world has come.  You would think people in the northern US would be used to snow, I mean it does come every year and sometimes even in high quantities.  Good lord people, time to buy some real winter tyres (British spelling...no reason for it, just bored a bit).

However, it is nothing a bit of ground clearance and all wheel drive can't fix.  I can't help but feel the need to do donuts in the parking lot or pretend to be a rally driver every time it starts to snow.  Whats the point of having an Quattro without being able to test it out a bit.  Still, better than my old Pontiac. Thank god someone smashed it up, what a piece of crap.  I can at least accelerate without starting up the ABS and traction control every time the ground is damp.

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I thought I would add a line for visual breakup of this blog.  Its supposed to be a about photography and "creative" things, so bam, there it is. I did it.

However, tomorrow will be another day of studying, since I have nothing else to do, unless I win the power ball for like $240 million on Wednesday.  Then, I shall have plans and no more studying to do, and possibly, if budget allows, a plane.  The plane is for travel, of which I shall be doing a lot of, if I had a plane, which I don't.  Speaking of planes, apparently you can get a National Geographic trip with a private plane around the world for 24 days for a small fee. Of like $75K, which is insane.  Thats nearly the cost of 3 years of college for me (thank you scholarships),

I hope to at least do some photography stuff in my time after studying and before applying for jobs.  Local camera store may be open, but not sure.  If I mean to be a lawyer, better be a good salesman.  So, yea, bye..

- Andy

The Birds

Hello again.  In my time getting away from studying, I have tried to get up close and personal with the backyard birds.  We have all types of little finches and cardinals.

But, we have a problem.  Starlings.  They attack all the other birds and try to steal all the food.  Makes the other songbirds really skittish and hard to photograph.

But luckily there is a solution.  In the form of a red-tailed hawk.  This hawk has taken it upon himself/herself, to do battle with the starlings and since, the songbirds have returned.  Score 1 for me.

Anyway here is a picture.

- Andy

New Years and NYC

Okay, here we go, first post.  This will be short, so don't expect a book and to be honest I'm only doing this post because I am bored with studying.  And if you are reading this, yes this post refers to stuff that happened weeks ago (at the time of this posting).  Anyway, met up with some good friends of mine who live around the city.

Shenanigans were involved. Cards Against Humanity was played.  Don't play it if you easily get offended or with sensitive family members.  

It was a high of 12º.  With wind chill factor it was 0 or -2º.  I have once again come to the conclusion that I am a walking space heater or I'm an eskimo.  Either is plausible at this point.

The blog post is over

Bye

- Andy

PS. Come Again

PSS Only if you want, its not like I'm forcing you.