In my About Me page I mentioned that I used to take pictures for a living or make ends meet by doing so and that it’s been a while since I’ve used a digital SLR. I think I make it sound like it’s been ages but in fact I think it’s only been about six years.
The thing is I was using a pretty old camera though. I was using a Nikon D100. The technology on my camera was cutting edge in 2002. The advance of technology in 11 or 12 years has been exponential. And it is unbelievably more so than when I was in the military and had my first experience with a digital SLR. My base received a new Kodak DCS 420 in 1994 and if I remember right it was a Nikon N8008 body with a big, bulky Kodak digital back slapped onto its back. I think it’s max resolution was 1.2 megapixels. Crazy, huh.
So although the basics of photography are still there, the technology AND THE BUTTONS on new DSLR cameras has changed a lot.
Here’s my new camera.
Yes… it’s red. It was given to me for Valentine’s Day (and my birthday a month before and anniversary a month after. Plus a Christmas gift or two just for good measure.) I guess what I’m trying to say is it was kinda pricey and I probably won’t be getting any gifts for those holidays for a while. Oh well, I got a new camera out of the deal right? : )
My familia and I went to Brenham, Tx on a little day trip recently and I took said new camera with me. Below are a few of the pics I got as I continue to practice using it. On a technical note, in case you’re wondering, the way I made the red stand out in each image was done by using the ‘lasso tool’ of Photoshop to draw around each part. I did an inverse selection and brought the saturation level down so what it does is make the red stand out. Easy enough right.
a boy named Sue 
Great shots, good eye, nice editing! The A/c unit took a second to find. (The Ant Street Inn? Not sure if I would stay there. I assume it’s on Ant street? Either way, the mental picture of little “red” ants comes to mind. On to the Motel 6.)
You know, i forgot to mention that there is not a street anywhere near it called Ant St. so just now i thought I’d do a little research turns out there is actually a reason why it is called the Ant Street Inn. From their website:
Why the Ant Street Inn
An intriguing question…
Years ago, I can’t tell you exactly when, many of the streets in and around downtown Brenham held different names! What is now Commerce Street, the street on which the Ant Street Inn can be found, was called Quitman. The street just to the east of the building which is now called Park Street was called North Street.
Ant Street was what is now Baylor, one block to the east of the Ant Street Inn. The story I’ve been told is that all the laborers lived south of the railroad tracks (the tracks that run just south of the inn). When the employers in town blew their whistles and rang their bells to call the people to work, everyone walked out of their homes and up one street to get to their jobs. It was said to look like a bunch of ants coming down the street, so they named it Ant Street.
When the southern section of downtown Brenham was just beginning to be revitalized in the 1980s, the area was named the Ant Street Historic District. When Tommy and Pam Traylor were deciding upon a name for their new inn, they came upon the name the Ant Street Inn to coincide with the name of the area. And sitting first in the phone book didn’t hurt either!
Cool huh.
Very cool, lots of interesting stories out there. It’s amazing how one picture can help bring those out.
Yep cool. Glad you looked it up. I like the side of the ant st motel, reminding us of another time. Great idea using the red theme.
p.s. Did you happen to notice in the third window from the right, the little boy looking out?
There was a wedding that evening and he was in the room where the bride and bridesmaids were getting ready. I didn’t notice until I blew up the image.
I noticed his shirt, I didn’t notice him. I thought it was some kind of artwork or sign. (Maybe we can find his blog. “My view from the Ant Street Inn.” lol)
Very nice photographs. That’s a cool story about the Inn.
I love your processing. Do you use Lightroom at all, or just photoshop? I’m a bit photoshop phobic but am slowly trying to learn it. There’s so much you can so in it and I find it overwhelming.
Hi Christin! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
No i don’t have Lightroom and I’m afraid my 10yr old Macbook doesn’t have the strength she once did to run a new program like that.
I use an old version of Photoshop. (CS) and i don’t do anything crazy with it just contrast adjustment, cropping, and if I’m feeling adventurous circling around things with the lasso tool. : )
p.s. What were you doing up so early? My blog isn’t worth staying up till 2:30! : )