Sharing some of my amateur photography...

[MarkPBG]

This is a link to a portfolio I put together for professional critique. The reviewers questioned why I wasn't doing this for a living. My only answer was, when it's a hobby, I can enjoy it, as 100% of the time I spend doing it is for me. When it's a business, 85-90 percent of the time involved is running the business, making images is reduced to 10-15 percent of my time. I would be doing what I love a lot less if I did it for a living. I know many photographers, and they've all agreed. Only on weekends and trips do they get to fully appreciate their craft. So, here's my artistic stuff, hope you like it, and I hope I get to the next classic bike show so i can finally add some motorcycles to my portfolio!

http://markdavisphotography.smugmug.com/Photography/For-Critique/19273467_rB6L4H


Here's a link to just the automobile pics….

http://markdavisphotography.smugmug.com/Photography/Automobiles/21067179_Gk4RJp

[Piute]

   Those are some quality shots,
  The classic cars are what I see lots of in Paint / Auto mags and yours are right up with them. 
They did some great painting also.

[mikefootusa]

Nice work Mark....friggin' awesome!

[shinyribs]

Niiiice Mark! I love that one shot of the Chevy truck grille.I would love to have that one framed and on my living room wall. What was that one pic turned negative of the twin turbo'd engine?Was that side drafts on that? Looks good man,i dig it.Keep up the good work.Please.    Bookmarked and awaiting future installments

[MarkPBG]

All of my work is for sale. Prints or framed. I am currently rebuilding, or rather, bartering to have my website rebuilt, so it's down right now. Let me know what size you're interested in for a print, or how well you want it framed, and I'll give you a quote. (framing an 8x10 for example, can run anywhere from $25 if you find a nice black frame and mat on sale at a place like michael's or any other craft shop, up to several hundred dollars for an acid free mat, signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, and the quality of glass  in the frame (plexi = cheapest, glass = next higher price, UV inhibiting glass can add another $70 to an 11x14 frame (typical size for a matted 8x10) and then there's museum glass…UV inhibiting, and so crystal clear….standard glass transmits about 90%- 92% of light passing through it, while museum glass can transmit up to 99 % of the light, but adds over $150 to that size frame.) The glass also comes standard and low gloss (low reflectivity) .
Many people don't realize there's that many choices in framing, or that they may spend three to five times the cost of a photographic print for an excellent frame. (unless the photographer is so good, his work commands a price no framing job can touch) That's why I always recommend buying prints. Then you can frame to suit your taste, and your space.

The pic of the engine was not a negative, it's a photo of a highly customized, chromed, twin turbo Lamborghini engine that was in a car at the Barret Jackson Auto Auction in Palm Beach three years ago. I used photoshop to find edges, then applied the neon filter, and refined the look with a few more adjustments like saturation, vibrancy, contrast, and curves. It took about twenty steps to get a look that kept a lot of detail, and even some of the shading, while still making it into something that showed a lot more energy than the original shot.

Thanks for all the kind comments! :)

[shinyribs]

no no no. An 8x 11 just won't do. I was thinking more like 2 feet. It would have to be BIG!

[Piute]

  Frames worked in a frame shop the guy that took these pictures for me got me in ,crazy money is what ya gotta have for some of that stuff,
  Most All my paintings I give to family ,well I say give me tubes of paint for each color I used so i can make another and usually get a few canvases  too But tell them DON"T frame it ,Let it set as is and people will notice more in the painting,and it works,In art we no how much frames are and take a good look at it also,see what i mean.learned this from working in this shop .Prints are different to the eye then an oil painting,texture 3-d affect,So a picture has to be balanced just right ,lighting,Those shots into / toward the light are great good camera...

[Re-run]

Sure looks good to me. As good as any professional pics as far as I am concerned.

[MarkPBG]

That's the advantage to paintings vs photography. Paintings just look RIGHT without a frame. Photos, not so much.

[MarkPBG]

Available up to 24" x 36" uncropped. 30" x  40" with a bit of cropping. It could be ordered through other websites larger, but I haven't dealt with them yet, so it would require more looking into. :)

[MarkPBG]

Thanks.  :)

[shinyribs]

I am a little low on funds,like the rest of us.But I would be interested in that 24x36.If its not a lot of trouble can you shoot me a price on that? I have a local lady that does or trophies for the race class.I would definitely use her any framing needs,you understand.

[MarkPBG]

I would just need your zip to figure shipping. Or figure it yourself shipped from 33410. Flat pack is much more expensive than a picture tube. Tube shipping won't harm print, but it will take a day or two laying flat to settle again.

Of course, I will trade for parts! Spare frames, engines, cafe parts, gauges. lol

[shinyribs]

I would gladly trade for parts.I'm trading a keltec holster for the parts i need to rebuild my front brakesBut i doubt i have anything you need.Of course,we ALL need cashThe tube is fine with me and my zip is 24122.Don't hurt me too bad

[MarkPBG]

Ooh, too bad I already have several holsters for my p32, p38, Glock G21, G30, G17, G30SF, G21C, Ruger P85, Ruger Vaquero (pair). Don't need holsters for the mini 14, AR-10, AR-15, Mossberg 590 A1, and hopefully soon the Kel Tec KSG, Henry AR 7, and Barret model 95. Wouldn't mind having an octagonal barrel big bore lever action and a Thompson .45 with 50 and 100 round drums either. I'd love to pick up a Valkyrie Armament belt feed system for the AR 15. http://www.ammoland.com/2010/10/29/valkyrie-armament-belt-fed-ar-15-rifle/ 
Maybe even one of these someday….http://www.gizmag.com/aa-12-combat-shotgun-frag-12-automatic/11393/picture/74140/

Woot!

Where my zombies at? lol

Prints are $49 for Lustre and Glossy, and $59 for metallic print. Shipping would be $9.50.
That's pretty much cost for the guys on this board. I sell these prints at shows in that size for $150, or $225 in metallic print. (I figure with all the free info I'm getting, it's all I've got to offer in return, that and a bunch of funny links)

Just also let me know the name of the print you're looking at so I get the right one! lol

[shinyribs]

Don't mess with Mark!!!

Well,since my alternator died on my truck tonight I am gonna have to save my coin for that.$170 for an alternator?!?!I hate having a late model vehicle.If the alt. died on the Pimpala I can rebuild it for $20.Grrr. I definitely want to get that one print from you.The close up of the early(1946?) chevy truck grille.Give me a few weeks

Gun question.I have a nice little red dot I want to mount on my SKS.I found the correct piece to replace on the receiver(??? im not good on gun lingo) to mount the scope.That part i got.But you have to use a deflector on there to keep the shells from hitting the scope as it kicks them out.That part I cant find,but it can be made easily enough.My hang up is the new receiver w/scope mount wont fit my any of my 3 SKS's.I have been all over it with a mic and can see NO differences in any of them.Ever done anything like this before?The guys at the guns shops around here are useless.If its not a 9mm or a 12 ga. they are not interested...dang hood rats.

[MarkPBG]

Can't say that I've ever fooled with an SKS, but there's about two dozen rednecks around here that have them. I'll inquire. lol

p.s. You can get parts for those "newer" alternators now too. They're common enough. Brushes, Regulator, Rectifier should all be available. Not to mention the salvage yards, you can put them on a bench at an auto parts store to test output, and most salvage yards will return them if they test bad. Some yards have the tester on premises. I got one for a friends 2004 Chevy Astro for $40 at a yard. Worked for about 5 years until he sold the truck.


p.s. THIS one? It's not actually a truck, it's a 5 window coupe. There's another next to it which you can see reflected on the side of the hood to the right. The other was a white 3 window.

[shinyribs]

Oops! Another case of mistaken identity! Ooooh yes.that is the one.mmmmm. That will be mine soon enough.
Rednecks and their SKS's....im gonna try and not take offense to that one

[MarkPBG]

Hey, they recognize what others don't….the SKS is affordable, tough, accurate, and highly customizable. There are also tons of parts and magazines of all sizes available for it. That's practicality.

The picture, I named it Engine No 9 because it kind of reminded me of the big front end of a locomotive.

[TOOLS1]

I love my SKS. It sleeps right under my bed.
TOOLS