Barnyard Noir

by | Mar 15, 2013 | Cool Apps, Photography, Ponies in the Morning | 4 comments

I like this photo. There’s an edginess to the composition. It’s…arty. 

Almost staged. Like there’s a story behind this…but what?

the daily pony

Like, why is the mare looking so bored frightened? What evil intentions lurk in the donkey’s mind? And WHERE is the gelding in all this???

The word noir pops into mind. Bleak, sleezy 1950’s hardboiled detective novelesque noir. Maybe the glimpse of flesh in the lower right corner is a clue. Maybe it’s the hand of EEEEEEEEEE! SCREAM……..

 

Or maybe it’s just my own hand holding up the iPhone.

BINGO!

Okay, now that we’ve established that I have an overactive imagination and am easily distracted, let’s get to the meat of this post. Let’s get to showing you more photos of this same photo arted up.

Question: Why do you art up your photos, Susan?

Me: Because I’m not a photographer, I’m a photographer’s nightmare…a painter with a camera in my hand.

You: Ohhhhhhh….

ponies in the morning

Here it is with an HDR filter. HDR standing for high dynamic range o’light. Or o’something. There are MANY to choose from, this just happens to be the one I chose today.

ponies in the morning

And this one is a combination of effects all piled on top of one another in Photoshop.

ponies in the morning

This is an oil paint filter. A bit softer than the others.

ponies in the morning

And another oil filter, this one reminds me of the Crazy String stuff the kids used to play with. As bizarre as it is, this one is growing on me, especially when you see it larger.

ponies in the morning

Watercolor. You see me use this one often. Or some flavor if it.

ponies in the morning

And last one for today…Vintage. One of my personal favorites. Definitely adds mystery….

There are many many many MANY variations and layers to all of these filters. I’ll be exploring them, one at a time, in future posts. Look for them under Cool Apps in the Photography Menu.

Meanwhile, I’d love to hear which of these is your favorite. Let me know in the comments below.

And a challenge for my writer friends (or anyone else). Come up with a plot for Barnyard Noir. Sort and sweet, like a haiku. Oh yes, please do. We could have a lot of fun with this. As always, in the comments below. 

And here’s another look at Perry, in case you need more inspiration.

4 Comments

  1. Lenora on March 15, 2013 at 1:50 PM

    Interesting. My first impression is that the (first) oil paint filter might be my favorite. But often after I stare at these kinds of comparisons for a bit–or when I come back to them later–my impressions change.

    • Susan on March 15, 2013 at 5:53 PM

      I get a different take on them every time I look at them, Leonora. Right now I’m thinking the vintage has an air of mystery that fits. But then again….

  2. Bonnie Perry on March 15, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    I love seeing all the different moods you muster up with these images. I think I like the watercolor effect one for this little Perry Mason-esque display.
    My take at beginning the intrigue challenge:

    ~They were warned this ain’t no place for horsin’ around.
    At Miss Nelly’s barn………..
    no sense of humor can be found.~

  3. Susan on March 15, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    You win the prize for the FIRST Submission, Bonnie! YAY!!! Thanks for jumping right in 🙂