russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

My camera goes with me from room to room in my house, but each room has preferred camera settings because of windows, lights, etc.

Sometimes I get an absolutely horrible picture, such as the first one below.

However, my wise old grandmother, while she was cutting pictures into appropriate shapes for her scrapbooks and photo albums, always told me that what comes out of the camera is just the basics to start with.

Thus, I took that absolutely horrible picture into Photoshop CC, and with five mouse clicks, turned it into something which I think is pretty nice, i.e., the second picture below.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

The background of the original picture was so horrible that even Photoshop CC didn't like it and summarily deleted it. This didn't require any layers, no masks, etc. Just clicked on Filter ► Filter Gallery ► Graphic Pen, accepted Photoshop's defaults, clicked on OK, and there ya go.

lnightng7 Loc: Norfolk, NE

Pointelism really worked on your cat! Fun to "play" in the different programs and various filters. Good job!

tbell7D Loc: Houston

Quite honestly, I can't say so much for the pic, but could not help noticing your avatar. If I'm not mistaken, that is the UP #844. So just curious, did you take that picture, and if you don't mind, are you a rail fan? I have been for a long time, so I notice anything rail-related. Thanks in advance. :-)

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Yes, the pic is horrible. I took it and even I didn't care for it. The cat "drawing" is a totally different story, which is why one should never throw pics away.

Yes, it's UP 844. I took that picture in November 2011 when she came roaring through Southern California. I go train chasing quite often, and San Diego's a great place to do it since locally we have BNSF, San Diego & Arizona Eastern, San Diego Trolley, Coaster, Metrolink, Sprinter, and, of course, Amtrak. If I get tired here, I can zip on up to Los Angeles and/or Palm Springs for great UP action, and even to Bakersfield for action at the Cajon Pass.

Granddad and dad worked for Missouri Pacific, both as Road Foremen of Engines. We were in Kingsville, Tayler, and Palestine when dad got promoted to MOP Vice-President. At the same time he found out that mom was cheating on him and killed himself. I didn't find out about the method of death until I was 55 and doing genealogy research on the Internet. I found the death certificate stating cause of death as "self-inflicted gunshot." He had gone down to the rail yard in Palestine, Texas, and shot himself there.

Trains, trains, trains.

If you visit my blog, I have a special train section and am always posting pictures and videos of my Southern California train exploits. See http://russelrayphotos2.com

I lived in Houston from May 1977 to May 1983 when I moved back to College Station where I had graduated from Texas A&M in December 1978.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I applaud your initiative. You did actually create something fro nothing.

tbell7D Loc: Houston

For a dyed-in-the-wool rail fan, it sounds like you could not be in a much better place to see a wide variety of action. My dad was a section foreman for the Milwaukee Road in WA state for about 20 years. However, he never liked working for somebody else, and when he had saved up enough $$, he quit the RR and moved us to a small farm in Missouri. I was 11 at the time, but I guess I already been bitten by the "train bug". In my part of Houston, I am not close to any rail action, but am always on the lookout for trains whenever we go somewhere. I will definitely check out your blog. Thanks for all the info. :-)