Bannack Best

Macro Bokeh: Colorful Fungi

Colorful Fungi. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:35pm. ƒ/7.1; 1/2000; -2. Canon Powershot SD500.

I thought the colorful fungi would be an interesting and original object to capture. I had some natural bokeh to the photo but added a little more and I'm not sure if I over did it or if there is a natural blend from the detail to the background bokeh. But I really love the detail in the wood and in the fungi or moss. I did use saturation, vibrance, gaussian blur, and a mask.

Bannister: Sepia

Bannister: Sepia. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:52pm. ƒ/2.8; 1/200; -2. Canon Powershot SD500.

I had so many versions of this shot. One in color, one with just a vignette, and this one in sepia w/ a vignette. It really gives it that old antique feeling. I added a vignette to add more dark contrast to the highlights in the photo on the stairs and bannister. I love the composition of this photo. When you step back and squint, it almost looks like a musical note or maybe I'm just hallucinating. I don't know. haha.

Door Handle

Door Handle. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:50pm. ƒ/2.8; 1/500; -2. Canon Powershot SD500.

Nothing that original but I liked the texture on the door and decided to take a photo of the door handle along with it. Kind of a plain object but I like the contrast of detail in the handle with the bokeh in the background.

Bannack Haunted Hotel

Bannack Haunted Hotel. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:47pm. ƒ/7.1; 1/2000; -2. Canon Powershot SD500.


I added that same texture photo that I used for the doorknob in the Macro Abstract post. That's why you see what seems to be shadows of tree branches on front of the hotel as if there was full moon out. Plus adding the light in the window on the top adds more mysteriousness to the photo and hotel since it is...... haunted! Just joking.

Bannack Hotel Meade

Bannack Hotel Meade. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:47pm. ƒ/7.1; 1/2000; -2. Canon Powershot SD500.


Same photo but in color and used vignette, saturation, vibrance, and levels. I also used spot brushing to lighten parts of the clouds in sky. I really liked this photo. I never imagined it would turn out like this. I like the angle I took of it with the wagon wheel in front. It really gives it that old western look. I also like the stormy sky. It really gives a nice contrast of colors in the photo.

Bannack HDR

One Shot HDR

One Shot HDR. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 1:42pm. ƒ/8.0; 1/2000; -1. Canon Powershot SD500.


I had three shots of different exposures but they didn't line up right. So I was stuck with this one shot HDR taht was -1 exposure. I'm not thrilled with it but I'm satisfied with it. It isn't the best I've done but it does have lots of color partly due to using saturation and other tools using high dynamic range software.  I am really pleased with how the clouds came out. Lots of definition and contrast. It wasn't exactly how I saw it that day but it comes close.

Bannack Macro Abstract

Macro Abstract

Macro Abstract. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 5:55pm. ƒ/2.8; 1/320; 0. Canon Powershot SD500.

Well, the photo isn't really abstract but the doorknob could be interpreted as abstract. I used saturation, levels, masks, opacity changes, and blending changes and the marque tool to sahpe out the texture to match the shape of the doorknob and used masks to keep it form showing anywhere else as it seems unnecessary to do so. All I wanted was for the texture to show up on the doorknob as a old cracked porcelain doorknob. I love how it turned out. I liek the detail and bokeh in the background with all the grungy colors and texture.

Macro Bokeh

This is the original photo. It's ok but not what I visioned it to be.

Macro Texture

Bannack Reverse Shallow Depth

Focus on Depth

Focus on Depth: Desk. Bannack, MT. 5/25/11'. 12:04pm. ƒ/2.8; 1/25; -0.67. Canon Powershot SD500.

I couldn't quite get the focus on the close up on this so I was stuck on the focus in the background instead. I guess my settings were right or I just couldn't figure out how to get foreground focus on my point and shoot. It's an interesting perspective to say the least but I wish I had a matching shot to go with it.

Post: Bannack Portraits

Portrait: Arianne Chambers

With so many people around I couldn't get a good enough distance to get good bokeh with my point and shoot. I used gaussian blur, a vignette, saturation, vibrance, a little air brushing, healing tool and clone stamp tool to remove misplaced hair around neck. I thought this portrait come out quite nice compared to my other portrait photos. I only wish I had a little more selective lighting.

Portrait: Kris Fryer

I used levels to brighten up his face but by doing that, his skin became pixelated a bit so I used luminance in CR to smooth it out a bit along with the healing tool in Photoshop. I also used a vignette and gaussian blur to cause depth and mood for the photo. Not exactly what I wanted or visioned in my mind but I just need more practice.