Harrisville Pond

[manumuskin]

Checked out some islands today,The first one was out of this area and chewed me up so bad I didn't even pull the camera out though it was a very nice island.Some very very nice islands around harrisvill Pond and it was Sophies first trip to the woods in five weeks after nearly cutting her foot off.

The last pic is of the purplest pitcher plant I have ever seen.I may go back and get a close up but was not up to laying in the water to get a good pic.It was royal purple
heading back to check out more islands next week.
and here is the track
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/index...118530273&z=13&type=nj2007&gpx=NJPB1281790965

 

[Teegate]

It looks like a nice outing. Glad to see she is doing well. I really like the fourth photo.

Guy

 

[manumuskin]

That is HDR.I'm liking HDR the more I fool with it.Eventually I'm going to buy Photomatix and get rid of the logo.I clone them out sometimes but these two pics look like it's going to be a time consuming process not to ruin them in the process.You don't think the HDR is too freaky?

 

[GermanG]

I really love the way the green of the sphagnum moss pops out at you in the fourth pic. That one's worthy of being printed as a poster. And what's with all the labs on this site? Is owning one a requirement? If so, I'm covered, having a black and a yellow. I'd love to round out the group with a chocolate but the wife would banish the four of us to a life in the kennel.

 

[manumuskin]

My wife wanted a chocolate as well but we have been informed that while being better hunters chocolates do not behave as well as blacks.Sophie is the best behaved dog I have ever seen.She has never chewed anything up that wasn't hers.She will take treats so gentle you can give them to her with your mouth.Her sister a yellow lab would knock your teeth out and chew your face off if you tried that.Sophie occasionally makes me look for her when were in the woods and this does get on my nerves because if i lose her there will be hell to pay when I get home.Momma loves her like her child so this adds stress.She is not leash trained and thats our fault but a dog on a leash in the woods is like going to a so called "Gentlemans Club".Whats the point? I want a dog that runs free.I think her problem is the floppy ears.I have called her and seen her in open woods fifty yards away looking nack and forth when I call as if she can't locate me.I honestly think when I can't see her she is running back and forth thinking "Where the hell is he?"Then again I have called her on occasion when I could see her and if she has something of interest she is sniffing she will totally ignore me.This usually warrants me snatching her up by the collar and issuing low,vicious death threats in her face and she is much better behaved the rest of the trip.If Mommy was there she would laugh in my face but she takes me much more seriously without that protection.Needless to say this is my first Lab and forever more it will always be a Lab.Other dogs have their good points as well but I have never seen a better woods dog,she's even tougher then me but i would never tell her that

 

[Gibby]

Very nice set Manu! The 'sweg is always a great area to hike. You should revisit the area during the next few months because there may be some beautiful flowers in bloom in the riverside bogs you photographed. I can see Sophie is no different than any other lab, in that they are always head down sniffing or in the water.

 

[Boyd]

Nice report Al! I also cast my vote for that picture of the moss and the cedars - just beautiful. I love places like that.

 

[manumuskin]

Thats why I am liking HDR.It is so hard to get a pic to turn out right in sunlight when your under trees because the shadows are usually black holes or the sunlight becomes white patches.Taking several different exposures gets the whole area exposed.One problem is if you zoom in on the pic there are areas called "ghosts" where you have floating light patches around objects.You can "deghost" an area but I have not learned how to do that yet.Just don't zoom in and they look great

 

[pineywoman]

I think HDR is a bit freaky sometimes, but these came out good Muskin!

 

[manumuskin]

I try not to over do it.There are some setting on Photomatix that can really destroy a great photo.The grunge settings do just that.The fusion setting blend everything together and make the photo look slightly out of focus then there are settings that look just like what you took like it didn't do anything.I used painterly here and then there are the low,med an surreal and extra surreal settings..I always wished I could paint(absolutely no artistic talent here whatsoever) and now I can

 

[pineywoman]

It isn't bad Muskin! Keep up the good work. I respect your work and your adventures. This Piney site inspired me to get out there and get out there I have!