Sat/Sun July 23/24

[Don]

Welcome to the weekend.

[Rich]

Happy weekender everyone!

Trying to work up a little rain here but street barley wet and clouds breaking up.

Here is an Indian Motorcycle I thought was quite interesting.

[Quint]

Good morning Don and Rich,
That's quite a bike, Rich. Lately, I've been reading many motorcycle travel books. Right now a fellow from Texas is going solo on a BMW to Alaska then back down the PNW coast. Always fun and interesting reads.
I'm prepping today for my BBQ cook tomorrow. My sole duty is to do a full brisket on the wood burner pit. So it's "early to bed, early to rise".

[Luv2shoot]

Good afternoon boys.
Thanks for the start, Don.

Rich, WOWSERS, that is some bike!  What a custom job on that baby.  I bet all that leather fringe looks great blowing in the wind as the bike travels along the highways.  Thanks for showing various perspectives of the motorcycle and all of its phenomenal details. The airbrush paintings are really nice and I love the skeleton hand holding the side view mirror. I wonder how long those feathers last on the ornament over the headlight. And I am so glad that you showed us a close-up of the plaque explaining the symbolism and significance of the motorbike's  "apparel".

Well, this will be a tough one to follow, but I do have something that you might find interesting. 
For this past week's photo club meeting, three of the photos had to be CREATIVE COLOR images.  I have already shared two of them with you in prior threads and held on to this one until this weekend. 

First is the original image that I took at the Detroit Zoo.  The second is cleaned up, zoomed in a ton,  darkened shadows, etc.  I did NOT present this one at the meeting. 

The third and FINAL photo in this post was created using software called Deep Dream Generator.  For a number of years, I wanted to try this software and finally got up enough courage to do it.  This is just a guess, but I think it might use fractals to combine one's image with another image.  I am only using the TRIAL version now and don't anticipate purchasing a subscription. 
To create such an effect, you upload your own photo and then choose a photo from their collection from about 20 available images.
Hit the Generate button and in about 1-2 minutes you are looking at something that only a dream could produce.  I think the name is very applicable for this software.  

If you don't like the result, you can try a different image to pair yours with or modify it a bit with some tools they provide.  Since I am only using the trial version, I have a limited number of times that I can apply this process to my photos. 

I have shared with you the SUNDAY SLIDERS that I belong to on FLICKR, where the sky is the limit regarding modifying one's image.  I plan on submitting my RHINO tomorrow for that FLICKR group. 

And how do I tie this in with Rich's symbolic leather decorated Indian Motorcycle?
Well, I grabbed this information from the web and thought that you might find these ideas interesting:
Rhinoceros Symbolism & Meaning



Rhinoceros is an enormous animal with similarly colossal spiritual energies including freedom, embracing the unconventional and alacrity. While you might think the Rhino’s size denotes brute force, just the opposite is true. These are gentle creatures who love roaming in open grasses, nibbling on lunch. In the Rhino world, things certainly aren’t always as we first expect.

The Earth and Water Elements both play a key role in Rhinoceros’ lifestyle. They wander the land with their weight pushing downward. Those toenails dig into the Earth Mother, giving the Rhino stability; this walking style protects the Rhinoceros’ sensitive feet.

For Water, we have the Rhinoceros taking luxurious mud baths. All that rolling around looks like great fun, but functions as a vital skin treatment. Mud wards off insects and safeguards the Rhino hide from sunburn. Once in a watery abode, the Rhino can hold their breath for five minutes and even sleep submerged, their head bobbing up for breath as needed. They snooze right through this! Talk about a creature feeling in their comfort zone.

The feature on the Rhinoceros’ body which stands out, besides the obvious immensity, is the horn. Mystics and Shamans alike consider this horn a symbol of spiritual awareness, illumination, prayerful living, and connection to the divine. They say seeing a Rhino in your visions means opening a path through the veils of uncertainty and bewilderment and stepping into the Light of awareness to become an awakened being.


Keratin comprises this horn, the same material as human fingernails and hair. There is more beneath the surface, however. Scans show melanin and calcium deposits also strengthen and protect the horn. Observations indicate if a horn breaks off, the Rhinoceros grows it back, representing regeneration and renewal.

[Dave]

Motorcycles aren't my thing, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the artistry of this amazing machine. Thanks for posting this, Rich.

Hi Quint. A full brisket - WOW! How many total hours for cooking or smoking? Enjoy your feast.

Another WOW to you, Lorell. Your cropped "natural" photo is very good. The Deep Dream Generator version is stunning.

Well, Rich and Lorell set the bar very high, but since nobody is keeping score, I'll post one I took on this morning's walk - yes, another Ketchup & Mustard rose...

   

[Quint]

Dave, they vary but about an 10 hour cook at 250 degrees will put me in the range.

Lorell, that's an amazing animal. Well captured.

[Don]

Rich, that is a beautiful motorcycle! Not my style but it looks great. Nice story to go along with it as well.

Lorell, great photos of the rhino. So sharp! The treatment on the last photo is really different - I like it. I think I have read somewhere that rhinos are pretty short tempered. Wouldn't want to get it their way.

I really like the mustard and ketchup roses Dave. That yellow in the middle just sets off the entire blossom.

I shot another roll of 120 this morning and developed it in the same homemade developer as yesterday. Yep, somehow that roll yesterday was loaded wrong. Today's roll came out much better. Nothing special as I was just walking around in the park just shooting whatever. A few of the images below.

[Rich]

Thanks Steve, Lorell, Dave and Don!
I am thinking this is just a show bike. I doubt they ride it. Probably just from the hauler to the parking spot.

Steve, Kudos for you on the brisket. A lot of baby sitting involved there using a wood burner.
It will be good though!

Lorell....WOW and double WOW!! That is amazing! I am in love with that software and will have to try it! The holes in the posts look like eyeballs!
Wonderful straight shots too! Thanks for all the info on a rhinos life! Very interesting! Is it any wonder they are poached just for the horn!

Dave, ya can't beat a K&M rose! Lovely!

Don, glad the camera and developer are both good! Grain structure looks good too! Nice leaf!

[Dave]

Thanks for the comments on the K-M rose. If you're lucky enough to come across a photogenic subject, sometimes the rest is easy.

Quint, 10 hours of cooking time, and probably an hour or two of prep (trimming, maybe creating a marinade or rub, maybe basting or spraying on a liquid multiple times) - that's a lot of work over a long time.

Don, it's good to see that you have identified and resolved the film & developing issue. Nice quartet of photos.

Taken a few feet away from the K-M rose...

   

[Man From Ironbark]

As Dave said, the bar has been set very high. I'll have to try with a tripod perhaps. These white winged choughs have been hanging around my trees for decades but this is the first time they have nested here. Maybe, being a newly finished nest should have put it in the monthly challenge.