Special offer
Home > Blogs > Mike Jones > Arizona Home Loan Info
bookmark_border

Painterly Photos For Localism? A Western Landscape or Two

By
Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

Nightfall in Tucson Estates II, on the western flank of the Tucson MountainsDoreen McPherson commented on one of my posts, saying that the twilight photo looked "painterly."  That's the photo above.  I call it "Nightfall in Tucson Estates II." 

I'm not an artist, but my family has a few who are.  My dad, my sister, my cousin, two neices and my late grandfather all are (were) artists, and Doreen's comment struck a chord.

Yesterday I drove down to Sierra Vista with a client from Minnesota to look at some manufactured homes I have on a liquidation list.  On the way back to Tucson, I took a photo of this granite escarpment on the west side of State Highway 90.  I love the formation, and the late afternoon sun painted it with a sense of old west drama.  Can't you imagine Apaches looking down from the high cliffs?

The word "painterly" came to mind again when I downloaded it to my computer this evening.

Granite bluffs from Highway 90, north of Sierra Vista, AZ

This is the photo rendered with the drybrush filter in Photoshop, (brush size: 8, brush detail: 3, texture: 2)

I think it looks painterly.  :)

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert.

Call me if I can help you with a mortgage to buy your next house: 
(520) 349-9090

photos copyright Mike in Tucson
all rights reserved

Comments (17)
Subscribe to CommentsComment

Submit
Show All Comments
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

Yes, there would be one right after the other all the way up and down that ridge... 

Looks cool.  Is that what you did with the sunset?

Jan 18, 2009 03:27 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Mike,

You call it "painterly", I call them both exquisite! Appreciate your sharing such beauty! You must be so pleased with these photos.

Jan 18, 2009 03:30 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Margaret,

Thanks for the compliment!  I really enjoy photography, and I'm pleased with both of these.

Doreen,

"Nightfall" was taken after twilight without a flash.  The saguaro was already a silhouette.  I just bumped up the contrast a little, and that's what I got.  There's no filter on the photo.

Mike in Tucson

Jan 18, 2009 03:30 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

That looks great!  Did you take any classes for this technique?

How about our Cardinals!  Aren't they a hoot?

Jan 18, 2009 03:47 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Mike. Photoshop can certainly add a lot of pizzaz to a rather mundane picture can't it? Now that you explained it, I thought that the first picture was a picture that had been blown up...

~~ Your friend in Brentwood, TN -- Michael

Jan 18, 2009 07:39 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Mike I am so glad you took the shots and decided to share them.  Simple awesome; there so much natural beauty.

Jan 18, 2009 10:01 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Jennifer,

Thanks!

Michael,

The main benefit of Photoshop, IHMO, is to punch up the contrast a little.  Of course, you can do that with a score of other cheaper programs.

Leolinda,

GO CARDINALS!  (I didn't take any classes.)

Mike in Tucson
Jan 18, 2009 10:19 PM
Shawn Davis
Home Crossings, P.C. - Davison, MI
Homes For Sale, Genesee County, Michigan

Painterly yes, Mike!  Now if you could add an Indian on a horse it would look like a shot from an old western movie.  Awesome Job!

Shawn Davis

Jan 18, 2009 10:58 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Mike all I can say is that they are pretty darn cool looking shots!

Jan 18, 2009 11:58 PM
Cheryl Johnson
Highland Park, CA

Mike:  Those are lovely!  Beautiful!! 

You know what else is fun?  Apply multiple artisic filters to an image.  For instance, first dry brush, then paint daubs, then posterize.

Jan 19, 2009 12:24 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Cheryl,

I'll have some fun with that!  Thanks!

Bill,

Thanks!

Shawn,

Where's John Wayne when you need him?!

Mike in Tucson

Jan 19, 2009 12:42 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Mike - I love the word "painterly" and it really does describe your photos. These photographs you took are fantastic, and thank you for sharing them.

Jan 19, 2009 01:00 AM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

The only thing missing is 5 feet of snow covering everything. Thanks for sharing your views if my cameradoesn't freeze up I'll try to send a few out later this week.

Jan 19, 2009 09:15 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Mike - Great looking pictures.  The top one reminds me of a few years back, when I made a trip down to Needles, California a few days before Christmas.  I was traveling across the Mohave Desert late at night, on winter solstice.  I had never seen so many stars - and the night was completely moonless!

 

 

Jan 19, 2009 02:03 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

That's pretty neat stuff!  I guess I'll have to fork out the price for Photoshop one of these days.

Jan 19, 2009 02:27 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Kent,

It's good to see you.  I have an old version of PS-2.  I bought it at Comp USA, and they're out of business now.  Never upgraded.

Myrl,

Your description paints a picture in my mind.  Thanks for commenting.

Terry,

Brrrr!!  We'll be on the lookout for your photos.

Sharon,

You're welcome!  I appreciate your comment.

Mike in Tucson

Jan 19, 2009 08:49 PM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Mike,

I've never used Photoshop, but you got some real interesting results. :)

Steve

Jan 20, 2009 11:53 AM
Back to Top
Rainmaker
755,630

Mike Jones

Mike Jones NMLS 223495
Profile
Blog
Contact The Author

Service Areas

  • Tucson, AZ
  • Surprise, AZ
  • Saddlebrooke, AZ
  • Tacna, AZ
  • Oro Valley, AZ
  • Red Rock, AZ
  • Sahuarita, AZ
  • Pinetop Lakeside, AZ

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

View more Recent Posts   arrow_forwards

Additional Information

var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6448457-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

kvoa.com

sc_project=3256774; sc_invisible=0; sc_partition=35; sc_security="0f26bdb9";
free web stats

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?