Slow Day

Still too sick to do much, so I sat at the computer for a couple of hours and studied some Photoshop techniques.

Most pictures which I make in the darkroom are manipulated in the sky area with dodging and burning, but I notice with Photoshop the dodge and burn tools are not easy to use if I want to gradually make a sky darker or lighter near the top of the picture. I found that the gradient tool is easier to use for this type of subtle burn/dodge, so I was experimenting with it today.

I sold a photograph on ebay last week, but the buyer never contacted me or paid. About a day after the auction ended someone else offered to buy the same photograph. The problem was that it was a unique print because of the brushed-on toner. I waited 4 days before deciding to sell the photograph to the other person. Today I received payment from both buyers for the same print. The ebay buyer had zero feedback, which was one reason I believed I was not going to get paid. He offered no explanation for the lateness of his payment.

Fortunately the other person is a professional photographer who will hopefully understand the circumstances. He emailed me today to say he was interested in buying 2 more photographs, for a total of 4. He also will be passing through Urbana tomorrow on his way to Ohio and so he may stop at my home to pick up the photographs. I told him I was sick, so maybe he will mail a check instead.

I visited his website, Spirit Light Photography , and found some beautiful color work. He is an artist dedicated to the camera, and his love of nature is evident in his work. I noticed we both have wandered some of the same areas - Door County, Baraboo, Wi, and U.P. Michigan.

I feel like I won't be getting better any time soon, am probably 1 week away from recovery. I will just try to take it easy and do some light study and reading over the next few days.