Black and White Monday #3

I had been doing my best to try and post a picture everyday.  I promised myself I would keep it simple. Well sometimes life just gets in the way.  And as much as I try I found myself getting behind in my posts.  It's a lot harder than one thinks to come up with a post everyday.
Well here is my black and white photo for this week. I took this out at Oxley Nature Center using the hipstamatic camera.

(click on photo for larger image)

Black and White Monday #2

Running late on my post. Last week on my trip to Oxley Nature Center I did manage to get a few decent Black & White shots. I do prefer my shots when out hiking to be in color. These kinda give that creepy feel to them. When I'm out hiking I'm very alert to the sounds around me. Anyone watching me would probably laugh at how jumpy I am when hiking.
Today's photo was taken with Hipstamatic using the chunky lens and black key B&W Film.

Saturday's Signs

Today's Sign was taken at Oxley Nature Center.  I didn't go very far on the trails this time.  Just walked a couple of the really easy trails.  Looks like there is a couple new trails I need to check out sometime this fall.  

Taken with my Canon.  

Butterfly

While out at Oxley Nature Center a couple days ago I was able to snap some really good shots of butterflies.  They were so big.
Photograph taking with Canon Powershot SX 50.

(Click for larger view of image)

Oxley Nature Center

One of my favorite places to go hiking is Oxley Nature Center.  I didn't go far on the trails today, mainly sticking to the Meadowlark Prairie Trail. Very pretty trail that borders a small pond.
The following photo was taken with Hipstamatic.

(click on image for larger view)

Writer's e-Handbook (book review)

Writers' e-Handbook : The How, Why, and Where Journal for Emerging Writers…

by Jotham Burrello

The Writers’ E-Handbook is a reference work for both experienced and emerging writers of fiction and non-fiction that consists of three parts: “Learning the Craft,” “The Writing Life,” and
“Publish Your Work.” Each section of this unique e-book has individual chapters containing text, hyperlinks, brief author videos, and sometimes interviews with well-known professionals. There are abundant resources listed at the end of each chapter, which also contain links. This writers’ manual is “wired” in a way no print book could ever be. (Needless to say, an e-reader with internet capability is required to use the special features.)

“Learning the Craft” begins with the question, “Why Do You Write?” and insists that the reader should have a definite answer in mind before beginning a writing career. Chapters in this section deal with choosing the right kind of instruction—workshops, seminars, generative, or specialty classes—and weighs the option of online verses traditional courses. Costs and value are compared realistically, and writing conferences and MFA programs are evaluated.

“The Writing Life” opens with a discussion of how the internet has affected today’s writers
and offers advice on how to use social media and blogging as effective promotional tools. The section concludes with the chapter “On Making a Living As a Writer,” which objectively assesses this prospect in light of the current literary marketplace.

The last section, “Publish Your Work,” deals with prose markets in general; various genres from young adult to fantasy, SF, and horror; short fiction publishers and book publishers; “Going It Alone,” the pros and cons of self-publishing; “Licensed Properties”; and “Agents, Briefly.” Once again, there are detailed lists of resources, publishers, and links, links, links. There is even a large appendix that includes virtually everything not featured in the main body of the text.

There is a lot here in 239 pages. It would be a time-consuming task to read the book straight through and follow even half the links or watch all the videos, but as a valuable and user-friendly reference guide for serious writers to consult as needed, this one is top-notch. 

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Except for re-sizing of the following photo there was no editing done.

HDR Art

Whenever I go to Oxley Nature Center I am usually there at least 2-3 hours, or until the battery on my camera dies. It's one of those places that makes me forget all my troubles for awhile. I'm really not sure if my photos do this place justice.
HDR Art is an photo editing app that is very easy to use. The setting I used on the following photography's is "smooth HDR". What I liked about this particular setting is it takes away some of the harsh edges you get sometimes when using HDR settings.

This app is available from the App Store.