At play in the fields of free apps

I was raised in the hardshell Baptist school of photography by a guy named Don Woolley, among others. 

And I don't mean that Woolley promoted absistence from strong drink, tobacco, dance and random sex as necessary pavers in the highway to heaven; only that he imposed a stringent photo orthodoxy.

You can read a little about Don here in a brief remembrance published not long after his death during 2005. He was a memorable guy.

We all were issued bulky twin-lens reflex cameras and light meters, then expected to learn how to use them. No autofocus allowed, or for that matter readily available. The basic colors were black and white.

The art of photography began in those long-ago days with framing, augmented by appropriate adjustments of the camera's manual settings (aided by that pesky light meter). Film was rather expensive; waste was not encouraged. You were expected to get it more or less right the first, or second, or third time.

Once in the darkroom, the goal was to polish the image captured on film --- not alter it. 

Then digital imaging and Adobe Photoshop came along, sending all but purists sprawling down the slippery slope to imaging hell. I love it here.

And I loved Adobe Photoshop, too --- but it's so blamed expensive. Which is why I've used lesser "camera suites" in recent years and have been at play lately in the fields of free apps.

I'm loving Pixlr Editor for the basics and and Pixlr Express for more elaborate --- and unorthodox --- effects. Even used Cheapstamatic to turn Bill Baer brown and embed him in an oval mortice.

Neither image here represents thought or effort --- about a minute of time invested this morning --- Canvas overlay applied to a faded view of the Harper House, then Bill browned and framed.

I'm a little worried about where all of this may lead. But it still all begins with the framing.