Sometimes it's challenging to pick up pictures from your past and rework them with a bit of artistic

creativity. There are so many new softwares out now that simulate oil painting, pencil sketches and various other art mediums. You can't use the effects on all of your work but with the proper subject it can most definitely enhance the image. I have found that macro photography is great for this manipulation and portraiture is probably the toughest, due to the distortion. Landscape photography is somewhere in the middle but even here you have to be careful to not overdo the desired effect. In the prints that I have on this page I have used varied simulations on their own and in some cases I have combined filters to achieve the end result I was after. It is wise to remember that you never work and save directly on your original image. Copy the original and work in layers to produce your vision. I often end up with, as many as, a dozen copies before I finally have the print that I want. I use the filters contained within Photoshop but I am also a strong advocate for a company called Akvis that has various forms of art software at reasonable prices. The company was endorsed, several years ago, by Photoshop magazine and that is how they caught my attention. They offer a ten day trial on all of their products so check it out. Once again; please leave a comment, pro or con, at the bottom of the page or contact me directly at studio90@wowway.com. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

The Royal Palace of Sintra in Portugal. In this picture the sky was enhanced and the lamp was lit with filters



In this image the sky was deepened and a modest oil painting effect was added

In this shot of Lake Superior the original image was darkened, the moon and foreground fog was added with a paint simulation to finalize the vision 

This image of trams in Lisbon, Portugal has only been given a slight oil paint effect.

This shot of Grand Bend Harbor was taken earlier in the day than it appears. The entire image was darkened, the sunset was blended in and the harbor lights were illuminated with saturation.

Basically a record shot of a northern Michigan forest the scene was enhanced with sky color and an oil paint effect.

This picture has considerable manipulation. The entire print was deepened, the outside lights on  the building and one light in the trawler were illuminated. The smoke from the boat's stack was added and the light in the window on the second floor of the building was created.

This picture was shot in 1971 and was originally in a square format. The sky was added and the outside lamps were lit for effect. The print was burned and dodged, then a texture filter was used.

This image is one of my favorites. I shot it using a mirrorless camera and spot-metering to obtain good resolution and exposure. I combined several art filters and experimented with density to come up with finished picture.