Festival Photos in Surreal Edge Enhanced Style

Topaz Labs makes fine plug-ins for Photoshop and other photo editing software.The software used with easy discretion will help produce very nice photography which is realistic, pleasing to the eye and a joy to view. Of course, you must begin with a good photo in the first place.

Going into the more extreme end of the adjustment sliders are results like these, all readily controlled in several aspects of detail, color, clarity, etc. in global or local adjustments.  These images are playthings, surreal views. Considered overdone for normal photo editing, such digital manipulation takes images into a different realm.  As is, the photos enter a form of art and are not expected to be photos as such, more so posters and exaggerated detail, fun for the eye. 

Larger view is much better with these. Click image.

This was a a festival celebrating herbs, emphasis on lavender and everything made from and with it from lavender ice cream to more common but refreshing lavender soaps and lotions, oils and decorative craft work. The amount of foods cooked with lavender is surprising and most certainly taste is dependent on the strength of the herb in the mix...otherwise, it is like eating perfume and that is strange to my taste.   Aromas abounded at the festival in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the crowd was very good for a small city event. 

 Barbeque truck..no lavender in that.

Titmouse, small but active winter bird in Tennessee

This is a titmouse. A group of these are, yes, titmice.  These birds do not migrate from where we live and are here all winter. That pretty much explains the sunflower seed.  They eat what winter affords and we add to that with seed.  Several varieties of birds who winter here are attracted to the seed, even an occasional Red Bellied woodpecker.  The woodpeckers prefer what insects they find on and in tree bark but will take sunflower seed.  A companion with titmice is the Carolina Chickadee. These tiny birds hang with titmice and are always together when feeding here. They do not hog the seed but grab one and go immediately to a tree and open and eat the seed there. Just as quickly, they return for another seed.

Real Estate and Commercial Photography..We Do It For You

We now offer photography for real estate and property. Thomas Haynes Photography is centered in Anderson County, Tennessee and our work area extends within reasonable driving distances into Knox, Roane and surrounding counties.  Cities of Knoxville, Clinton, Oliver Springs, Kingston and others are easily served. 

                              Our photo featured in Homes and Land of the Smokies magazine

Certainly real estate agencies and individuals wanting to sell property often do their own snapshots. If you do a wonderful job, more power to you! However, many seller generated photos leave something to be desired from a marketing perspective.  If the first image does not catch the eye of the shopper, odds are they will look no further and will not revisit your listing!  We believe the comparatively low investment in quality photography is well worth it and this is not a place to be penny wise and pound foolish. No matter how easy it is to use a  point and shoot camera, easy might cost the sale.  Actually, it is not easy to get really good photos to market your property.  We  are invested in high level equipment, take time needed at the property to capture the best views and spend twice that time in editing. 

Marketing is what it is all about, getting the potential buyer to look, like what is seen and take the time to go through the listing. Studies by real estate giant Redfin provide up to date statistics that pro-level photos not only increase selling opportunity but often result in a higher sales price when all is said and done. Think of  homes in the $300,000 plus price range. That is the price level where the advantages of a DSLR camera and experienced photographer/editor kicks in  We don't expect to shoot all your properties and your lower priced listings.  Higher end property? That certainly justifies higher end marketing photography.
 

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As a way to market Thomas Haynes Photography and introduce you to our services, we offer a no cost to you  photo shoot.              

                                            

FREE SAMPLE PHOTO SESSION*    You get an exterior view and 4 interior rooms put on our website to view. You look at the photos and see if we are on the same page with your marketing.
 *Free samples sessions are limited to reasonable driving distance from our central location. We must make that determination.

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  Samples, a very short selection...

                                 

                              Window to great room in a mountain home

 

A rural stables commercial property

 

This fine "barn style" home is no longer available. We shot and edited

photographs for the agency and they selected the 

images to best market the home.

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Contact us through the e-mail link on the upper right of this page. We will let you know if you are in the physical driving range for a free sample shoot and will certainly mail you our information and other particulars at your request. Agencies and owners wishing photography may contact us.

See Website Photos HERE

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Pets, job site or light commercial and personal photos: Contact us and talk about it. If within our areas of experience we will work with you.  If what you need is best handled by another photographer, we will tell you straight up and if possible recommend a contact.  More information and photos to view are on our Website

                                                                                 

What is happening with Alpha House, transitional home for women in Tennessee?

Unfortunately, Alpha House is currently closed due to lack of funding. Efforts are being made to reopen. A new board of directors is in place. We will report as good news emerges. August 26, 2016

Like fledglings from the nest, transition to a straight life is not easy.Wings must become strong and directions clear. Alpha House does its part for women coming out of incarceration.

 Each resident tells her personal story to all on the day she 

graduates and returns to living on her own.

Support from volunteers, friends, family and others with loving hearts

 is apparent at each graduation event.

A post in the blog dated 9/8/2013 contained this line:  Alpha House is now closed and the current residents will be the last.  Without increased and regular funding, this will be the last year.  That statement was totally true and for a while work to secure funding mixed with faith and prayers for effective efforts was in itself a work of faith with no assurances of the future.  The home was given up to its owner and the search for a new home was in earnest.

A new nest was needed and was found. 

 Families are reunited with a new hope for the future

 Love flows in abundance

As of January 2013 there is an new residence for Alpha House. A smaller house was located, freshened  and fixed up to suit the needs of a group home.  At this time, the chain of assistance to ladies in transition from incarceration has not been broken during the trying transition from one home to finding and occupying the new one.  Women in the program graduated as fledglings from the nest into their own lives again.  One lady would not complete the program until January 12, 2013 and special living and learning arrangements were provided for her.  I attended her send-off, graduation, celebration of accomplishment at the new residence and also met the first lady to begin the program at the new home.  One fledgling has left the nest and a resident is now moved in, learning the social, everyday life business and work skills needed to adapt to a new straight life. When she flies the nest, we pray she will make it.  Currently there is room for 3 more residents and those spots will likely be filled soon.  

DONATIONS
Alpha house is looking for regular and committed monthly donations from individuals.  They truly need commitment from business and organizations in larger amounts.  Support of this faith based transitional home is an ongoing effort and a base of dependable support is needed to avoid the crash experienced last fall.  The idea is not just to exist but to grow in service to ladies coming from the jails and prisons in transitional time.  I cannot speak for the board of Alpha House or for those running the operation daily. However, I do believe they are willing to speak with anyone who holds a key to improved funding.

Contact and Words from Graduates   Read what a few women who have completed the program have to say, straight from their hearts.

Alpha House Website 

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I speak my own words and experiences and in no way am an official spokesperson for Alpha House, the faith based transitionalhome in Tennessee.  This blog post is written to educate, inform and hopefully bring financial and prayerful support to the program.  

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Feeding a Red-tailed Hawk Mice from a Glove

This young lady is a volunteer at the Clinch River Raptor Center, a rehab and educational center for birds of prey.  I am fortunate to be part of the center because there I have access to the birds and have made good friends of those who operate the center.  I am able to be part of educational programs presented to school children, special groups and the public.  This young lady is still able to do what I do not but have tired: She feeds the large hawk from her gloved hand.   When I tried, the hawk would have nothing to do with me and would not come close or go to the glove to get the mice. This photograph is on Facebook, page Clinch River Raptor Center.

Do you see the tail of the mouse in the beak of the hawk? The mice are presented head first and the head is the first part eaten.  Several mice are given this hawk for its meal.  The volunteer must hold the mouse tightly or the hawk will take the entire body in one large gulp! (These mice are dead and come from a lab mouse supplier.)

For more images from the raptor rehabilitation center, please visit my website. There you will see photos from my works in artistic, entertaining and educational directions.  There is a section on real estate property photography because I am developing that as a business...a difficult task in times of an economy not favorable to a new business formation and growth. Client galleries are private and require a password to view. Other galleries are open for your viewing and enjoyment.  One gallery contains  various photos from this blog and a small group of galleries is devoted to the Clinch River Raptor Center.  You might find  joy in what you see at the website and I put the link here:Thomas Haynes Photography

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I have a special and dear friend who lives in Russia. I hope you see this blog post, my friend Sergey. : )

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Anyone visiting this blog is welcome to tell others about it and send a link so they may visit this blog or my photography website. 

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A NOTE ABOUT USING MATERIAL FROM THIS BLOG

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Remember, all text and photos are ©, meaning copyrights apply and using writings or photos is not  legal unless I license that use to you. Schools and educational organizations may contact me about using photos or information from this blog or the website.

Purchasing Photos:  Most photos on the blog are available for your purchase in a large file size.  You will get the large high resolution file and then may print as you wish.  You may not sell any image you purchase unless a license is provided (at a charge) for that purpose.

Coopers Hawk Profile and Barrred Owl

COOPERS HAWK

 This injured Coopers Hawk is a recent addition to the Clinch River Raptor Center.  I am not certain of the extent of injuries to its wing. You may "like" these photos on the Raptor Center page of Facebook, here: Clinch River Raptor Center, Facebook

The Barred Owl below is an educational bird held by Kris, one of the founding sisters of the raptor center. With an owl and flash..red eye is almost expected!  The event is an OWL PROWL at early evening in the University of Tennessee Arboretum.  Birds are shown and hikes go into the woods to listen for owls.  When I arrived the director of the arboretum told me I was number 207 in attendance.  That was a well received event on a pleasingly cool October evening.  The arboretum itself is a marvelous place to visit during normal daylight hours and walk among the many trees and across small fields. The day prior was my first time to recognize a Bur Oak and see the huge acorns the oak produces. Photos of those will be posted fairly soon.

BARRED OWL