Friday's Fab Photographer: Adam Allegro

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Each Friday you'll find a "Fab Photographer" here on my blog! - Rick Sammon

Thanks Rick!  It is an honor to be featured on your site!

About me: I am a 28 year old Naval Officer who is living a dream right now serving in Naples Italy. I was a 2005 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where I played Division 1 basketball and received my Bachelors of Science in International Relations. I have served in Norfolk, Virginia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on two separate US Destroyers. 
             
Two years ago I bought my first DSLR and have not put it down since. Instead of focusing on one genre of photography, I have tried to expose myself to everything; Macro, Landscapes, Night, Portraits, Motion… I love it all!

All my life I have been drawn to colorful things. I try and take this approach with photography as well, focusing my attention on lively, vivid subjects. I think there is so much beauty in the world and it is best displayed in vibrant, dynamic images.

One of my favorite places to visit in Southern Italy is the beautifully preserved ruins at Ercolanu (Herculaneum). This ancient city was also covered during the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD (the other city being the famous Pompeii). After waiting and waiting, I finally had a clear hallway to take the opening shot for this post. Using my Gorrilapod, I bracketed 3 photos and got exactly what I wanted.


Above: This picture was shot at night in Barcelona, Spain at the fantastic Fontana Magica (Magic Fountain). Using a 30 second exposure, I wanted to capture the soft lines of the fountain and silhouettes of tourists looking on. It came out just as I pictured. This is still one of
my favorite images.


Above: To me, this picture captures the essence of Naples, Italy. When you look beyond all the bad press this unique city generates, you can discover a place full of cuisine, culture, and history. The colorful apartment balconies were perfectly lit this day, ideal for a colorful snapshot.

If you would like to see my new shots everyday, you can follow my daily blog at http://catchthejiffy.com.

You can also take a look at my Smugmug portfolio here http://adamallegro.smugmug.com/MyPortfolio/My-Portfolio/

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter – Catchthejiffy

Thanks for the opportunity to share my work on your blog, Rick!

Terrific Black and White Effects from Topaz Labs

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Cool news! Topaz labs just introduced B&W Effects - the latest addition to their family of creative plug-ins. I'm playing around with the new plug-in, and will be doing a free webinar on September 27th.


To sign up for the webinar click here.


For now, I just wanted to share the news - and a few images that I created with B&W Effects.


Quick Tips:
• Play with the pre-sets (on the left of the interface) and then create once-of-a-kind effects by adjusting the sliders (on the right of the interface).
• Fine-tune individual areas of your image with total brush control.


• The photograph often suggests the best effect. For example, if you want a rich, black sky, boost the Reds and Blacks.

To order Topaz B&W Effects, click here. Hey, save a bundle when you order a Topaz bundle. 

You may want to download the plug-ing before my webinar so you are familiar with the interface.

I hope you can make my free webinar on September 27th.

Explore the light,
Rick