Technically the image turned out almost like I wanted but artistically something is missing. But I don’t know what. Please leave a comment on here to give me some ideas. I’m trying to get some actual traffic on this web site besides spam trying to sell Viagra or Canadian drugs.
Across the Lake
I’m working at learning to use Painter 12 to modify photographs to a more painterly result. I found the book “Painter 12 For Photographers”. Even though I’m going to eventually modify images created in Vue and Poser this is a good starting point for learning how to use Painter 12 to modify images.
Here is an early attempt at doing this.
It doesn’t seem to be very true that I can sell my photographs. Even though I had an imaged used on the cover of a local magazine that hasn’t seemed to increase my sales or even visits to my web site. I’ve sold a few but very few. Except for a couple of my friends that live close to where I do no one but spammers even visits my web site. Even then I have to send them a personal email before they will leave a comment on an image I’ve posted. Frankly it’s very depressing and there are times I wonder if I should even keep trying.
Also in over the last few months I’ve gotten so driving over twenty-five miles tires me out. But the creative urge is still there. Since it is so tiring to go place to take photographic images I’ve decided to create images using my knowledge of the Vue, Photoshop, and Poser software packages to produce images. Then use the software Corel Painter to add to those images to produce signed and numbered digital art prints.
Early Evening Business
This is one of my first efforts along that line. I don’t have the web site completely set up yet but please leave me a comment about the image on the web site. So what do you think?
Yesterday I tried to set up two of my accounts to have my statements emailed to me. In this time of increasing scarcity of natural resources we all have to do our part. I got two very different responses.
When I contacted Windstream, my provider of land phone service and DSL internet service. They were very helpful in setting things up so I would receive an email of my bill. In particular Hanna the customer service representative I talked to helped me set things up. Bravo Windstream!
But when I tried to get ADT Security service things went very differently. The customer service representative said this couldn’t be done. I couldn’t believe the backwardness of the company. Since I worked professionally with computers for over two decades I know what would be involved especially since they already prepare paper bills.
All they would need to do is add two fields to their customer database which they have to have. One for email address and another just a simple yes no field indicating whether or not to email bills to the customer. Then since they already preparing paper billing statements check whether the customer wants email billing and if so send a PDF file of the billing statement to the email address of the customer and not prepare and snail mail paper billing statement.
I was so surprised that the customer service representative said it couldn’t be done that I ask to speak to her supervisor figuring she was out of the loop of what could be done. When I finally was connected with a supervisor she repeated the same story that it couldn’t be done. What they could do is set up and automatic payment option but they would still prepare and mail a paper statement. This sounded very fishy to me.
Frankly I could not believe the wastefulness of ADT’s billing system particularly in this day and time. What I am doing is investigating other security services and will cancel my ADT account as soon as possible.
So the bottom line is Windstream is a good corporate citizen while ADT is a wasteful corporate citizen who does NOT deserve my business.
The scene was created in the Vue software then modified in Painter and Photoshop Lightroom software. 
Recently I saw Woody Allan’s Movie “Midnight in Paris”. It is the first Woody Allen movie I have enjoyed in years. Instead of rushing out and getting a ticket on Air France I though the only way really to get the romantic vision presented in the movie was to move the setting off earth. So I created a scene in Vue. While it had a transplanted Eiffel Tower it also shows a Jupiter like planet also in the night sky.
I hope you like it. Please leave comments both about the idea and the image.
Midnight in New Paris
I have been experimenting with the Vue heightfield and procedural terrains. I don’t see much difference maybe you do. In this image the terrain on the right is a heightfield terrain while both the terrains on the left and behind the monster head are procedural terrains. Do out see difference? Please leave comments to this post.
Left and back procedural terrain right heightfield terrain See difference please comment
When I heard of President Obama support of that boondoggle the Keystone Pipeline project my increasing disappointment with his administration reached a critical point. Now I believe I need to make a few comments on his environmental policies and leadership.
As background I supported Obama well before the 2008 Democratic Convention both by financial contributions and by voting for President Obama in the 2008 election. His administration’s performance during his term in office shows he is not up to the task of being President of the United States. So I won’t be making that same mistake in 2012. I will also be encouraging my friends and colleagues to not waste their votes either.
As to be expected there are some things I have liked about President Obama’s actions in office ant others I’m not happy with but are acceptable. So I would support him again if it wasn’t for his tragic and disastrous environmental actions.
The United States is in a rapidly closing position where it could have been a world leader in the move away from non-renewable fuels. Instead the Obama administration has again squandered that opportunity in a typical politician’s search for quick votes! While someone with true global leadership skills would have used his powerful bully pulpit position to show leadership in a move toward finding a workable solution the world’s environmental crisis.
The single most critical addressable problem is the WORLD’S dependence on oil and natural gas. Not just the US’s dependence on foreign oil which is really a red herring so the Politicians have something to push their own reelection chances.
For a limited time the US was actually in a position to demonstrate a strong move away from dependence on oil. But it has not done it. There is no indication that the Obama administration will even try. Instead President Obama proudly trumpets his administration’s expansion of the oil and natural gas infrastructure. In effect telling the world, “Hay look at us we are setting things up so we can even use more oil and natural gas faster so the world can run out of it even sooner.”
Is there and acceptable alternative to President Obama in 2012. For example one of the members from the Republican White Clown car might seem even worse. But I don’t feel it will make any real difference. I have had enough getting my hopes up in 2008 and then watching them be trampled. While I will go to the polls in November I just won’t vote for president.
My new front porch and emergency way out of the house is done.
Finished Porch
I feel a lot better now that I have a good way out of the front of the house in case of fire or other emergency. It also looks good and fits with the house. After the raw wood has a chance to season I’ll have it treated and sealed with a clear wood preservative.
It is also a wonderful place to sit in the mornings and have coffee.
Daniel’s Home Services ( http://www.danielshomesvcs.com/ ) began working on my new front porch yesterday. I am excited! In combination with the door they put in in December now I will have a reliable way to get out for the house in case of emergency. The view in the early morning is not bad either.
I’ll post more pictures when the porch is finished but even now I am very relieved since now I have a good way out of the house in the event of a fire!
