A Digital Sketchbook

Our kickstarter project ...

2011-07-30T12:52:00.001-04:00

Please share!!!

Frosted

2011-07-29T11:59:00.001-04:00

weathered

2011-07-28T16:48:00.002-04:00

This one is was shot from within the building where I work. The building is in an area called Butchertown.

"Built in the early 1880’s, the Butchertown Market Building was originally home to a leather tanning operation."

I have taken a few other shots of the exterior of the building. Two of them will be featured in our upcoming show, 'Streets of Louisville,' at the Monkey Wrench, opening September 9th:

Another Brick in the Wall

Butchertown

Nom

2011-07-22T09:56:00.002-04:00

A little critter that I captured unexpectedly on a potted plant outside a restaurant. I was just amusing myself with my camera while we waited, shot a few frames of the flowers and then noticed this little one.

Inch worm!

Impulse

2011-07-20T16:18:00.002-04:00

Playing, as I am wont to do, with a sky shot. :-)

Troubled Waters

2011-07-19T18:18:00.001-04:00

I cannot get enough of processing sky shots. It never fails to amaze me what story the light creates.

Previous sky shots: Clouds Got in My Way.

Bonsai

2011-07-18T06:41:00.002-04:00

Sandie and I made a stop on East Main St., at dusk, to take a few 'street' shots. When I saw these stubbornly beautiful weeds, I knew instantly what I wanted to name the image.

Andromeda

2011-07-09T21:31:00.003-04:00

It's funny that I just recently changed the color scheme of this blog to a more serene pastel palette, to complement our other websites and to go with most of the nature shots we post.

And here, my last two images have been red & black. :-)

This shot is a sprinkler in the park, at dusk, which is causing steam to come up off the flood light.

I dig it!

Roxanne

2011-07-08T10:37:00.000-04:00

Tail light. :)

Cherokee Park | Big Rock

2011-07-03T11:03:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite places in Louisville. Gus sure does love to run and play there.

Hosta, abstracted

2011-06-25T14:19:00.001-04:00

Beautiful at twilight, in the softest of soft focus.

Three Amigos

2011-06-21T15:07:00.001-04:00

Along the banks of the Ohio, in Madison, Indiana. One of my 'thin' places. Even fairly early in the morning, the light was a bit harsh. Evening light is much better too shoot in, come late spring and summer.

True Colors

2011-06-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

2011 Louisville Pride Parade

A New Gallery

2011-06-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

Lucent Dreams in Black and White: A whole variety of images in monochrome.

Iterative Art

2011-06-15T19:24:00.000-04:00

image ---> mixed media on canvas ---> image

This image was originally an 'Amperdoodle', where I use poetry magnets and photography them in interesting places and with interesting backdrops. I do a little photoshopping and voila, an image.

Recently we have been printing the amperdoodles and using them in mixed media pieces with paint and canvas. We are really enjoying the process of re-creating with these images.

To take it one step further, a few days ago, I snapped some pics of the paintings and pimped them out a bit. I LOVE the result.

This one is a combination of mine and Sandie's work. I love when we co-create.

Guarded -- at dusk and at dawn.

2011-06-12T13:52:00.002-04:00

These were taken at the Cherokee Park Golf Course. Sandie and I went out one evening, late, to shoot there. It was dusk and the light was not sufficient for my macro lens -- wide open at f/2.8. Sandie, however, got some great shots with her 50 mm at f/1.4.

Fascinated with all the thistles and frustrated at not getting the shots, I got up early the next morning and went back by myself -- f/2.8 was perfect then. :)

Kaleidescope

2011-06-10T05:41:00.002-04:00

This is from our recent camping trip at Clifty Falls, in Indiana. It's right near Madison, one of our favorite places.

Normally, I shoot with my 100 mm macro lens, but we were hiking and had Gus with us so I thought the smaller 50 mm lens would be a better choice.

It's been a while since I shot with the fifty for an extensive shoot. It was fun to challenge myself to compose in a new way and break the routine of my usual approach. Besides that, the fifty can get even better bokeh than the macro!

And we all know that I'm a complete ~~whore~~, um, sell-out when it comes to bokeh.

-- Kim

Manifesto

2011-06-01T19:22:00.002-04:00

This is on the door of a studio near ours. I love the passion that oozes through every word.

(I googled and found that it's a Conan the Barbarian quote from Queen of the Black Coast by Robert E. Howard.)

Family Portrait

2011-05-31T21:57:00.002-04:00

I've been shooting these little flowers for a while now. I've gotten a couple of interesting shots but nothing that I really loved.

I love this one! The soft light and focus and spotlight effect of the bokeh all work together to tell a story.

Patriot

2011-05-30T11:46:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day. I'm thankful for my father and grandfather who served five tours of duty at war between them.

Boo-duh

2011-05-26T10:31:00.000-04:00

I got this 'abundance' Buddha for Sandie for our anniversary. He sits atop our stereo in our room shouting happiness and joy. I find his presence very grounding.

Local Wildlife

2011-05-25T12:50:00.003-04:00

I was feeling kinda moody last night. Best medicine? Grabbed my camera and went to the nearest park.

I read this, about the park:

Arthur K. Draut Park being 24.4 acres, was developed in 1994 to be utilized for water retention during heavy rains. However, it was the intentions of the city government that during dry periods the park could be available for walking, jogging or communing with nature.

It must be getting heavy utilization this spring!

It's a great park, with metal walkways that go right over and through nature. You really get the sense of being right in the middle of wildlife. These two lovebirds seemed particularly undisturbed by my presence.

Stormy Twilight

2011-05-24T09:09:00.000-04:00

We've had record rainfall here in the Ohio Valley -- as have other areas of the country. I normally like the calm, introspective feeling that rain induces. But days and days and days of rain is becoming more depressing and limiting. What a strange spring.

This image is immediate the view from our front door. Somewhere under there is our front step.

Lost in the Weeds

2011-05-13T13:59:00.002-04:00

I shot for over an hour at dusk last night in a vacant lot across from my sister-in-law's house. It was quite restorative to lose myself like that

As you know, weeds fascinate me. They grow where they want to, often in quite inhospitable environments. Their structure, their offbeat beauty, and their determination inspire me. They have no idea that they are not wanted. They are merely living out their best destiny, without any qualms whatsoever.

This shot was my last click of the shutter for the evening. After an hour, my arms were tired and shaky. But when I saw the sun setting behind the dandelions, I had to go for it. I was hopeful that I got the shot.

I did. What a beauty. Nature never fails to inspire me.

Crimson Tide

2011-04-30T11:18:00.000-04:00

Before leaving for vacation, our publisher sent us a link to some work he liked and asked us to pay attention to the 'shell' images. The artist had some great images and a cool story -- doctor turned photographer with artwork up in hospitals. However, he was using a lightbox and we are strictly natural light photographers.

Nonetheless, we set out to get some shell shots while we were on vacation. There were not many shells on the beaches that we went to, except for a little park with and inlet in Titusville. (That was a great adventure day, which I'll post about soon!)

This one, shot on New Smyrna Beach at sunset, is my favorite.

Splash

2011-04-27T17:27:00.001-04:00

I love to use throwaway images to play and see what I can create. By using the filters in photoshop, I am able to make a completely different image than the one that I started with. Often, I really like the abstract art that results from the process. I have a small, but growing, gallery of these images called "An Eclectic Media."

I'm going to call this category of shot, 'Salvage Art'. :)

Here's how I got 'Splash', originally a macro shot of a tulip petal:

Original Image - out of focus, overexposed, ill-composed ... ok, you get it. But great raw material for creative play.

Equalized

Inverted (this is a common trick in my repertiore ... nothing fancy)

Adjust the hue to get colors that speak to me ... starting to see a story in this one.

Colored Pencil Filter. I like this and the way the line trails diagonally across the image to the bottom left corner. I don't like the top of the image as much.

So I overlay the colored pencil on the previous layer at 20%. This preserves what I like of the previous image but emphasizes the lines a little more.

Cascade

2011-03-26T09:44:00.001-04:00

I took this back in the fall on one of our adventure days. I just recently got around to getting it off the memory card and it was like getting a lost roll of film developed. I love how this one turned out ... I can just feel the sunshine.

This is an example of my new found love of the 'equalize' button. I love what it does to the light. This is also and example of a 'hybrid' where I layered the image with a more graphical version of the image.

Verde

2011-03-14T09:50:00.004-04:00

This is the sidewalk behind our apartment. I just love that shock of green moss. It looks like a little universe all of its own.

Nailed

2011-03-14T09:49:00.003-04:00

As we were walking Gus and taking pictures around our apartment, Sandie pointed this shot out to me. I had the 100 mm lens which was better to capture the selective focus on the nail, so I snapped it. I really like all the lines and the light. This is in BW because we gave up color photography for lent and I think the BW really works here.

Fizz

2011-03-05T11:19:00.004-05:00

We bought a soda stream machine, so now I can make my own carbonated crack all day every day. I can also take macro shots of bubbles and pimp them out in photoshop.

ducks in a row

2011-02-03T11:40:00.001-05:00

This is from a little spot on the Ohio that we love to go to in Madison, Indiana. The original image was not great -- bad light because we were there in the middle of the day -- so I processed it to look more like a silhouette.

2011-01-10T18:28:00.000-05:00

I will get back to posting my images here soon, but I have been posting on another blog AmpersandPrime 365, for my 2011 photo a day project.

Bejeweled

2010-12-30T08:57:00.001-05:00

Cracks in sidewalks speak to me. I'm not sure why.

vestiges

2010-12-27T19:51:00.002-05:00

Nothing like a backlit leaf and this beauty was right in our front yard. When I equalized it, it lit up even more. I also used the patchwork filter to give it that screen look. For me, that emphasizes the texture of the leaf and makes the grass less distracting.

I gotta admit, I'm getting addicted to seeing what the equalize button will do.

River of dreams

2010-12-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

Taken right around the corner from our apartment, my obsession with sidewalks continues.

2010-11-25T07:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

curious

2010-11-18T12:53:00.004-05:00

Selective focus. My tried and true way to shoot. It was the first thing I wanted to master when I got my DSLR 3 years ago -- even moreso when I got my macro lens (100 mm). I enjoy highlighting one tiny detail in a composition, or even better -- as in this image -- having one detail and lots of negative space where the light can just do its magic. I call this approach 'painting with light.'

Plus, this little guy looks like E.T.

small beginnings

2010-11-16T09:51:00.003-05:00

From a camping trip at Taylorsville Lake. We took an impromptu trip for one night and, after setting up camp, we spent the afternoon painting. I posed this little acorn on Sandie's painting.

qb

2010-11-11T16:56:00.003-05:00

I've tried to figure out what the letters and numbers mean on these bolts on park picnic tables. It remains a mystery to me and I plan to photograph them where ever I go! I'll have a whole gallery of them. :)

2010-11-10T20:59:00.004-05:00

homeskewl (or parkskewl, or even notskewl)

(My two favorite girls.)

horizon

2010-11-09T15:41:00.001-05:00

No two sky shots are ever alike. The patterns and colors always amaze me. Our gallery of sky shots is called, 'Clouds Got in My Way'.

autumn in Cherokee Park

2010-10-28T08:50:00.004-04:00

Sandie and I were working at a picnic table near the Witch's Hat. The color was spectacular. Not a great shot, but I did want to capture the memory.

One of our favorite things to do is to have our work meetings at the park!

amplify

2010-10-27T20:53:00.001-04:00

What are these plants? I am working like heck to get a shot that does justice to their structure and geometry.

2010-10-21T08:38:00.000-04:00

molten

2010-10-20T21:09:00.002-04:00

2010-10-19T18:33:00.002-04:00

intricate

2010-10-18T15:02:00.000-04:00

autumn sun

2010-10-15T18:17:00.001-04:00

More Bernie - tattered

2010-10-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

Bernie, the Bernheim Forest butterfly

2010-10-12T07:47:00.000-04:00

fall

2011 Calendars

2010-10-09T16:35:00.000-04:00

Lucent Dreams Photography has four calendars this year; three new releases and a reprise of last year's "A Likeness of Beauty" calendar.

If we do say so ourselves, they are fabulous ... but do have a look for yourself!

When you get to the link, click on the calendar cover to see all the images.

You can order online, from QOOP (the links above) or contact us directly to get your calendars.

Kim & Sandie
lucent-dreams-photography@gmail.com

2010-10-07T06:58:00.000-04:00

I can

A digital image (an amperdoodle) became a painting which, in turn became a digital image again.

2010-09-23T09:54:00.000-04:00

year of the dragon

2010-09-22T19:29:00.002-04:00

fingerpaint

2010-09-15T19:51:00.000-04:00

don't look back

2010-09-04T19:43:00.000-04:00

sky blue sky

2010-08-31T08:10:00.001-04:00

carry me

2010-08-30T18:31:00.000-04:00

listen

2010-08-28T18:24:00.000-04:00

exit

2010-08-22T15:55:00.002-04:00

backdrop

2010-08-19T17:18:00.002-04:00

when blue falls

2010-08-18T17:30:00.002-04:00

she loves me ... she loves me not

2010-08-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

witness

2010-08-14T20:30:00.001-04:00

kept

2010-08-05T11:28:00.004-04:00

not straight (or, the gay cousin -- you know every family has one)

2010-08-03T13:59:00.000-04:00

gravity

2010-08-02T23:19:00.000-04:00

I revisited this amperdoodle, taken a couple of years ago. I like this version much better than the original.

2010-08-02T14:07:00.001-04:00

express yourself

Cherokee Park, Louisville

2010-07-29T12:37:00.001-04:00

Hey, my tried and true blog followers! Lucent Dreams Photography is making an offer for a free 5x7 or 6x9 print.

All you have to do is tell us your favorite image (and why you like it) from our online gallery and store.

Comment here and we will get in touch with you to get your print to you.

2010-07-29T09:37:00.002-04:00

Riley

50 mm
f/2.8
1/5 sec

Riley was an unexpected arrival in our lives. He has been such a blessing, to me in particular, during my recovery from my knee injury.

2010-07-28T14:21:00.003-04:00

2010-07-27T11:27:00.000-04:00

community

50 mm
f/1.4
1/400 sec

2010-07-26T10:28:00.000-04:00

exhale

2010-07-25T08:10:00.000-04:00

companions

2010-07-23T19:38:00.002-04:00

captive

2010-07-22T08:17:00.000-04:00

2010-07-20T17:19:00.003-04:00

seafoam

100 mm
f/32
1/200 sec

2010-07-19T12:40:00.000-04:00

ultraviolet

100 mm
f/32
1/800 sec

2010-07-17T16:27:00.001-04:00

passage

I was gathering and editing some images of woods for a friend, and I overlayed the infrared bw layer on the color layer, quite by accident, and LOVE the result. I am so getting a print of this for our apartment. Even better, the place where this was shot means so much to me -- it was truly a passage from an old life to a new one.

Into the woods

2010-07-17T16:16:00.003-04:00

ingress

passage

careless whisper

obscurity

daybreak

bollywood

2010-07-14T10:51:00.000-04:00

echo

2010-07-13T15:20:00.002-04:00

both sides now

2010-07-12T05:48:00.000-04:00

she is love

100 mm
f/2.8
1/125 sec

2010-07-11T10:37:00.000-04:00

cradle

100 mm
f/2.8
1/10 sec

2010-07-08T14:21:00.003-04:00

curvaceous

damn. that exercise ball is sexy. too sexy to exercise with it, much better as a photographic subject.

2010-07-06T13:16:00.000-04:00

artifact

Grand Opening: Lucent Dreams Photography Gallery & Online Store

2010-07-05T19:35:00.002-04:00

Greetings friends!

We are excited to announce the Grand Opening of the Lucent Dreams Photography Gallery and Online Store.

Our newest website will give you the opportunity to browse and purchase from amongst our favorite images. We have taken thousands of photos over the last three years and the few we have selected for the gallery and store are the ones that speak to us the most.

You can be one of the first people to own a Lucent Dreams Photography image. The images are visually stunning and they each have a compelling story to tell. We have a distinctive style and point of view. We attempt to capture interiority; the inner character and qualities of what we shoot. We shoot in a way that lets light tell the story -- softening, highlighting, and often illuminating the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

Supporting local artists is good for the community, the economy, and our culture at large. Local artwork usually goes up in value, so each purchase is also an investment. When you hang it on your walls or give it as gifts you will be sharing beauty and lasting value.

When you invest in one or more of our images, not only will you be supporting our artistic endeavors, but also supporting the search for cancer treatments and cures. We will give a significant portion of our earnings to The Gateway, where 99 cents of every dollar donated goes to cancer research. They are giving millions of cancer patients a reason to believe in a future.

Lucent Dreams Photography makes it easy and affordable for everyone to own artwork. By making our work a part of your daily life, you will be encouraged to see the “interiority” of your world, to stop and be present, and to pay attention to the often-unnoticed beauty around you.

By purchasing our work, you help us fulfill our mission of changing the way you see yourself and the world around you.

xoxo,

Kim & Sandie

Lucent Dreams Photography

p.s. Please help us get the word out by forwarding this note and link to anyone you think would appreciate our work.

2010-07-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

2010-07-03T19:32:00.000-04:00

soften

Just playing around with layers and the gaussian blur. Here's the original, edited and posted a few months ago.

2010-06-30T15:30:00.000-04:00

anemone

100 mm
f/3.2
1/100 sec

Clematis, climbing the railing on our patio.

2010-06-28T11:09:00.001-04:00

van gogh excerpt

Needless to say, I'm not getting out much these days. I am reduced to shooting what is within -- and in this case on -- the walls of our apartment. If I am feeling adventurous, I can venture out to the patio and get some much needed vitamin D via the sunlight.

2010-06-26T15:03:00.000-04:00

swept away

2010-06-25T20:11:00.001-04:00

initiate

100 mm
f/2.8
1/50 sec

2010-06-24T10:13:00.000-04:00

revelry redux

Just for fun: it's never too late to have a happy childhood."

2010-06-21T10:04:00.004-04:00

revelry

100 mm
f/2.8
1/500 sec

2010-06-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

fathom

100 mm
f/3.2
1/125 sec

2010-06-19T10:24:00.000-04:00

solo

100 mm
f/2.8
1/600 sec

There's been an abundance of pollen in my pictures lately! I just love the pattern of pollen on this flower, most has been collected, but there is still some waiting to be harvested.

2010-06-18T17:52:00.000-04:00

sated

100 mm
f/2.8
1/640 sec

2010-06-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

quartet

100 mm
f/2.8
1/1000 sec

2010-06-16T10:08:00.000-04:00

pretty in pink

100 mm
f/2.8
1/800 sec