Life is a Journey. Take a Camera. And use it!
Hunting a Grey Heron at the Lake
© 2013 hairy1travels.com
That grey heron at Brackley’s St James Lake! He eluded me for a long time. Indeed I still have few photos of him, though I have to admit that I spend much less time at the lake these days.
All of my efforts to take a photo had, so far, proved reasonably fruitless. The excellent weather on this particular morning seemed like a good opportunity to take the camera for a walk and track down this elusive bird.
Well, this morning’s visit proved to be a bit more productive. First off, I grabbed a shot or two of the heron, until he flew away. At which point I realised that there were in fact two of them!
The (second) grey heron parked himself on a temporary fence, put in place to protect some vegetation. He and and I sat and stared at each other for a while. He clearly was aware of me.
Eventually his need for breakfast caused him to reach into the water and grab a fish, providing me with a great shot of the bird and a reflection (at the top of the page).
Of course the time waiting for the grey heron to move was not wasted. Although I missed the landing of a flock of Canada geese, a white goose just happened to fly by.
Footnote
This is a refresh of a post originally posted on 6 August 2013. I still like the photo, but the post was looking a bit dated!
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Producing Butterfly Images
Some time ago I discovered the photography from Letitia Freling on Instagram. The simple, minimalist compositions with really sharp elements against a blurred background really caught my eye.
This got me thinking about how the perfectly sharp elements of the image, against the blurred background were achieved. Any time I had tried this the results were less than perfect. Typically I use post processing tools to tweak the image, maybe remove an unwanted element. In other words, just the basics. Okay I had learned a fair bit about layers, layer masks, etc. So I needed to learn some new skills. Pretty normal in the photographic world.
I was quickly aware that the key here was to be able to separate part of an image with very accurate edges. While I haven’t tried to replicate Laetitia Freling’s art it did lead me to start working with butterflies and the like for my Redbubble Store.The result, at this stage, includes the following.
So how is it done? With my newfound video skills (a whole other story for another post), I will probably make a video in due course. Just a quick note here – I use GIMP for this type of photo processing, being a big fan of FOSS (Free Open Source Software). I also found much of the relevant information in YouTube videos. I am assuming you have a reasonable understanding of your photo processing tool, which has the layers tools.
How to Separate Image Elements in the Image
The Paths Tool
The paths tool allows you to draw a path around part of the image, fitting perfectly around the edges of the area you want to deal with. Once the path is complete you can use it to select a portion of the image. The real beauty of this is a sharp edged outline of the selected area. In practice a much sharper edge than you will create with other selection methods. One real advantage is that Gimp retains the path. The path can be edited, copied, or even used in another image.
Paths and Selections
Once you have mastered the paths tool, you start to recognise that you can easily create a selection from the path, or create a path from a selection. Play with a bit of black and white conversion and it becomes very easy to create accurate layer masks, cutting out sections of am image for other use.
A Tip – Getting clever with Colours and Black and White
If you have used the likes of Photoshop and Gimp you will know something about layers and layer masks. They rely on simple black and white areas to define what will or won’t be included in the image layer being masked.
So a good starting point for the cutting process is to convert the image to black and white and shift the gamma setting to eliminate either dark or light ares and clearly define the element you want to retain. This is not perfect, and does not work well if the element you want does not contrast strongly with the background. And creating a path can be both tedious and inaccurate in very detailed images.
The solution which I discovered was to start with the colour image. Tweak colours and contrast to make the element you want stand out. Then use the Selection by Colour tool to select specific colours in the element to cut. change these to black. As far as possible change other parts of the image to white, by whatever method you choose.
Now convert the image to Black and white. Play with contrast and gamma to isolate the element you want.
Next use the colour selection tool to select the black portion. In reality some detail will not be fully defined. Roughly draw a path around the inside of the black area, making sure to keep the path accurately outlining the missing detail.
Convert the path to a selection and, using the Paint Bucket tool, paint the selection black. Invert the selection and paint the rest of the image white. Now invert the black and white image and it is an accurate layer mask, which you can use to extract the element you want.
Conclusion
This is just a start to try and achieve a lot more with these fundamental techniques. Many will point out that there are built in tools in all of the major photo processing applications which will achiev this. I have tried them and they are very good, withing limits. I normally end up doing a lot of work tweaking the resulting selections, often with results which are not perfect. AI is also starting to provide solutions. I haven’t tried that yet. This method is, so far, the best I have found.
Please comment if you are interested and want to see more. I am very much a novice in this area and would be very happy to take others on the journey of discovering what is possible.
Captivating Morning Hues: The Enchanting Colors of Boats in Tenby Harbor
Introduction:
Tenby, a picturesque coastal town nestled on the rugged Welsh coastline, boasts a vibrant and bustling harbor that comes alive each morning with a breathtaking display of colors. As the sun begins to rise, casting its gentle glow over the tranquil waters, the boats in Tenby Harbor emerge like vibrant brushstrokes on a canvas, painting the scene with an array of mesmerizing colors. This delightful sight never fails to captivate locals and visitors alike, leaving a lasting impression of the town’s timeless charm and beauty.
A Palette of Vibrancy:
As the first rays of sunlight kiss the harbor, the boats appear as if from a dream, each one adorned in its unique combination of colors. From vibrant reds and blues to soft pastels and striking yellows, the kaleidoscope of hues creates a truly mesmerizing spectacle. It is as if an artist has meticulously hand-painted each vessel, ensuring that no two boats are alike. Against the backdrop of the deep blue sea, the contrasting colors form a stunning contrast, evoking a sense of joy and wonder.
Harmony with Nature: The harmonious blend of boat colors is not only visually appealing but also in perfect harmony with the surrounding natural beauty. The azure sky mirrors the tranquil sea, while the distant cliffs and verdant hills provide a picturesque backdrop. The boats, with their cheerful hues, seem to enhance this natural palette, adding an extra layer of charm to the coastal scenery. The scene becomes a symphony of color and serenity, where man-made artistry and nature seamlessly coexist.
A Glimpse into Tenby’s Heritage: Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the colorful boats in Tenby Harbor bear testament to the town’s rich maritime heritage. They are not merely vessels for leisure and recreation but a reflection of the town’s seafaring past. The boats, with their distinct liveries and patterns, are a nod to the fishing and trading traditions that have shaped Tenby’s identity throughout the ages. They stand as reminders of the town’s resilience, evolving from a bustling port to a vibrant tourist destination while still cherishing its roots.
Conclusion:
The morning colors of the boats in Tenby Harbor offer a glimpse into the enchanting tapestry of this coastal town. As the sun illuminates the sky, the vibrant hues of these vessels transform the harbor into a living work of art. The visual symphony of colors, in harmony with the surrounding natural beauty, creates a scene that is both captivating and unforgettable. This beautiful display not only delights the senses but also pays homage to Tenby’s maritime heritage, encapsulating the town’s timeless charm. A visit to Tenby Harbor in the early morning hours is an experience that lingers in the heart, leaving a lasting impression of the town’s magical allure.
This is one of my favourite images, and a big favourite in my photography stores.
Do have a look:
On Photo4Me for Canvas wall art and other prints: Tenby Harbour Colours.
On Redbubble for over 60 products printed with Tenby Harbour Morning Colours.
On Pixels.com (Fine Art America) for prints and printed merchandise – Tenby Harbour Morning Colours.
Can you Make Money with Print on Demand
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links and links to my products on third party sites. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Simple answer: yes. Is it easy? No.
Many people make some level of useful income on print on demand (POD). I have been playing with it for a while. Haven’t made much, but I am learning. I have ended up taking time to see why others sell well, and I don’t. So, follow my journey.
What is Print on Demand
Depending on context there are a couple of definitions. What I am focussed on and what I am doing, is posting artwork, in my case photography, to an online platform. Buyers can then browse the artwork and purchase it in printed form from the platform, which then pays me the profit, being the difference between the selling price and the cost of producing the product. Printed form can be any kind of print, including printing of the artwork on merchandise like t-shirts, phone cobvers and the like.
I use three platforms:
- Redbubble.com can print the image in up to 96 products for each image (they do change them occasionally).
- Pixels.com, which is part of Fine Art America (FAA) and prints the image on a range of different products.
- Photo4me.com. A UK based operation which specialises in high quality wall art such as canvas giclée prints.
Now I am not going to go into the mechanics of uploading and using the sites. Do a search and there are many articles and videos on the subject. I am more interested in the aspects of actually making money or not.
Your Approach to POD
You simply have two choices:
- Produce that fantastic artwork, upload it and see what happens;
- Make it a business.
There is no reason at all why you MUST choose option 2. Your artwork might earn some money, or it might not. If you DO want to make money, then you are running a business. So run the business properly.
From here on, I will use Redbubble as my example, mainly because my efforts centre there.
Sales and Marketing
From comments I have seen online, many artists just assume that they will upload artwork and it will magically sell. Nothing could be further from the truth, except when it does happen like that! I have seen artists complain about their shops with just a few images uploaded and no sales.
So Redbubble recorded a worldwide gross profit of AUS $ 183 million in 2022, paying $91 million to artists. Clearly, they were selling artists’ work! If your work did not sell, it is not the site’s fault!
Redbubble is a business. The company will spend a lot of money, time and effort monitoring the online market, and identifying what people are looking to buy. It will then advertise products to that market, using the online marketing techniques which are normal these days.
So, if your artwork matches the current trends, Redbubble will advertise it at their expense. I have had a number of sales like that. That’s fantastic, but generally, we have to make some effort to market our own work.
You do need to develop an idea of what is trending and what is likely to sell.
What is selling in POD?
It can be hard to tell what is selling at a particular time. But you can find some ideas, without getting into heavily technical areas of market research.
Most of the POD platforms have some form of best-selling page. Just search for it and you will get some idea of the bestselling products at the moment. Follow that through to the best-selling artists to get a better idea. ( Check the Redbubble best sellers page.)
Search for your keywords and see what comes up in the auto-fill in Google. That will give some indication of what people are searching and will also give you some indication of useful keywords.
Remember that people will often buy on an emotional connection – a place they have visited and enjoyed, a movie they have enjoyed with someone special, a gift for a special occasion and so forth. So do think about how you appeal to the emotions. This was a big lesson for me. I was seeing others selling regularly, but I was only seeing a few sales. Then I realised that all of their images were iconic UK based holiday places. And they had many different well known places. My best sellers were of a similar place. But I generally avoid the iconic spots, so many images were a lot more “off the beaten track”, so fewer people with an emotional
If you are selling merchandise don’t ignore the small stuff. For example, stickers on Redbubble are not going to give you more than a few cents profit, but they can persuade buyers to look at the bigger products in your range of merchandise.
Which Products to Sell
Put simply, sell every product on which your image looks good. Redbubble and FAA will aim to place your work on every product on which they will fit by default. In fact most of my Redbubble images are sized and designed to fit all 96 products as far as possible.
You will never predict which product the buyer will actually like. It costs nothing to put the image on all items.
That said, I am working on derivative images designed specifically for certain products. These do fit other products so they will be available on those.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
SEO is a specialist game. You can spend a lot of money having it done for you. A lot more than you will make. That’s not necessary if you use some thought.
Think about the platform you are posting on. Generally, each product available for your artwork forms a web page. The search engines (think Google and Bing) will see these pages. They are looking for new and lasting, evergreen, content which they can deliver to someone searching.
The text content they see on these pages is the title, caption (description) and, to some extent, keywords that you post, along with whatever keywords the platform is adding to describe the product.
TIP #1: Pay a lot of attention to the title and caption. Make sure they accurately describe the artwork!
Tip #2: Think about using AI (ChatGPT) to generate the captions, keywords and titles. But DO edit them to suit.
Remember that there is nothing to stop you from changing titles and captions later, or, in some cases, uploading a slightly different image with a different set of text content.
Promotion
Promote your artwork as far and wide as you can. But be aware that some channels simply don’t bring much from efforts.
A Facebook business page has brought me the most success. Make sure that each and every sale is celebrated on the page. That has also brought me sales. If you are using Facebook the most effective tool is the Meta Business Suite. That makes it easy to post to some Facebook groups and Instagram all at the same time, which is very useful.
Pinterest is the next most useful channel I have found. Pinterest is social, but it is also a search engine, so any well-written posts remain there.
Bringing it All Together
Making a decent income in POD means you are running a business. Like any business, you do need to understand your market and your audience. In other words, you need to understand what the market wants. Your art may be fantastic but that does not mean that other people want to pay for it.
There are ways to ensure that you promote your product effectively and ensure that potential buyers can find it. You do need to make the effort.
Most of all – keep on creating and uploading.
Further information
There are a number of books about earning from Print On Demand on Amazon.
I have been using this book: How To Make Sales on Redbubble: Print-On-Demand.
Yesterday a Rosebud
Introducing “Yesterday a Rosebud,” a photo that captures the fleeting beauty of nature in all its glory. This stunning photo features a beautiful pink rose in full bloom, flanked by two delicate rosebuds. The photo is a testament to the beauty of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
The rose in the centre of the photo is a magnificent specimen, its petals soft and supple, and its colour vibrant and alive. The two rosebuds on either side hint at the promise of more beauty to come, reminding us that life is full of possibilities and new beginnings.
The contrast between the soft, delicate petals of the rose and the sharp, thorny stems is striking. It reminds us that beauty can sometimes come with a price, but it is always worth it. It is a reminder that we should never take the beauty around us for granted.
Looking at “Yesterday a Rosebud,” we are reminded that beauty is everywhere, and we should always take the time to stop and appreciate it. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but sometimes, it is the small things that can make the biggest impact.
Whether you hang “Yesterday a Rosebud” in your home or office, it is sure to bring a touch of natural beauty into your life. It will inspire you to find joy every day and appreciate life’s simple things. Let it remind you that life is short, but beauty is eternal.
Find prints and merchandise featuring Yesterday a Rosebud at: Redbubble and Fine Art America. For high quality gicle and paper prints have a look at Photo4Me.
Some examples:
The Bookshelf
Love roses? Check out the book “A Rose by Any Other Name” on Amazon. Linked here for the Kindle version.
Abstract Sunrise on Ocean Waves
Watching the sunrise over the ocean is a moment of pure magic. As dawn breaks and the first rays of light spread across the horizon, the world seems to come alive with a warm glow. The ocean, with its breaking waves and gentle currents, reflects this light in an abstract and ever-changing way.
Standing on the beach, watching the sunrise is a humbling experience. As the sky slowly lightens and the colors of the horizon shift and change, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the natural world. The ocean seems to come alive as well, with the gentle lapping of the waves on the shoreline and the rustle of the sea breeze.
As the sun rises higher, the light rays become more intense and the ocean takes on a deeper, richer hue. The reflections of the breaking waves create an ever-shifting abstract pattern on the surface of the water, a mesmerizing sight that can be both calming and exhilarating.
At the shoreline, the reflection of the sunrise creates a magical atmosphere. The sand and water are bathed in a warm golden glow, and the sound of the waves provides a soothing background soundtrack. It’s hard not to feel a sense of peace and tranquility when surrounded by such natural beauty.
Watching the sunrise over the ocean is a reminder of the simple pleasures in life. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of the world around us. As the day begins, the memory of the sunrise lingers, reminding us that every day holds the promise of new beginnings and endless possibilities.
Check out my images on various photo collections where they are available to purchase in a range of prints and merchandise. Some examples below:
From Redbubble
Boats in a Line in Tenby Harbour
Tenby Harbour is a picturesque location that’s well-known for its colourful boats lined up against the backdrop of the town. The image of the colourful boats in a line with the soft hues of the town in the background is simply stunning, and it’s no wonder that it’s a favourite subject for photographers.
As you look at this photo, you can’t help but be mesmerised by the beautiful contrast of the colourful boats against the soft colours of the town. The bright, bold colours of the boats stand out against the muted shades of the town, creating a beautiful balance of colours that’s pleasing to the eye. The boats themselves are fascinating, each one painted in its own unique shade, with bright yellows, blues, greens, and reds all vying for attention.
The blue sky with streaks of light morning cloud adds another element of interest to the photo. It creates a beautiful background that complements the colours of the boats and town perfectly. The sky gives the photo a sense of depth and helps to create a feeling of calm and tranquillity, making it the perfect photo to look at when you want to unwind.
Tenby is an historic town tracing it’s beginnings to the 10th century. During the 12th and 13th centuries a castle was built and the town walled. Some of these walls still stand. The Victorians made the town popular as a seaside resort, which it remains today.
See it in the galleries:
Redbubble:https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/118510274?asc=u
Photo4Me:https://shop.photo4me.com/860091/canvas?o=1&e=1&s=46&u=mm&share=true
Fine Art America:https://jeremy-hayden.pixels.com/featured/boats-in-a-line-jeremy-hayden.html
Linktree:https://linktr.ee/jhaydenphotography
Splash! A Wave and Driftwood
Wave Splash
I can watch the waves break on the shore all day, and listen to the sound of the surf.
An Indian Ocean wave breaks against a chunk of driftwood on the beach, with a big splash. An almost abstract image of the glassy water around the wood.
Taken on Magaruque Island .
Magaruque Island is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique.
Check out all my images on Linktree
Sunrise on Sandown Beach Isle of Wight
Sunrise on the beach at Sandown on the Isle of Wight. I took an early morning walk to the beach to catch the sunrise, with some interesting clouds in the sky.
The sun is just appearing over the horizon and reflecting off the beach.
Sandown Bay is well protected and is often used by ships waiting to sail into the Solent to Southampton or Portsmouth. This ship made a great silhouette sitting on the horizon.
#sandown #isleofwight #isleofwightbeaches #sunrise #sunrises #sunrisephotography #sunrisebeach #silhouette #ship
This photo is my galleries: have a look
Prints, giclée canvas prints, t-shirts and other merchandise:
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Hairy 1 Travels 