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This past week I have been starting this up, again.....
I have been reviewing some of my earlier work
and have reworked some of the ones I thought needed the most improvement.
These images are some of the first ones I posted on FAA dating back to 2009.
I am always trying to improve my image workflow and techniques, and thought
that these were prime images in need. I hope I have improved and made these images
better. As I rework them, I am getting ideas for new images like this one:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/shadow-warrior-randy-steele.html

As I review my early images, it looks like I will be busy all winter!

Corolla Schoolhouse at the Outer Banks. This area is one of my family's favorite vacation spots.

This winter I tried something I read about on the internet, but do not
remember where. It was on taking a print and using Modge Podge to adhere
it to a piece of tile. I tried it to all three, a piece of slate, tile and
rock. I like the piece of slate the best. (see my photo). For the slate image,
I used a lighter to burn the edges of the print. The rock image may have been better with a less busy image. Has anyone else ever tried this?

I just wanted to say here a big "Thank You" to the buyers of my prints in the
past month. I would like to send each a personal thank you, but cannot, as I
do not have your email address. But anyway, "thank you" and I hope you enjoy
your print.

Thank You to the buyer from Bloomington, IN for buying a
print of "Coming Storm".

Coming Storm

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/coming-storm-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Whitehorse, YT for buying a total of 11 prints!
including:
Tin Cup of Cool Water

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/tin-cup-of-cool-water-randy-steele.html

Eyes of the Army

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/eyes-of-the-army-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from North Tazewell, VA for buying a
print of "Sunset at Gettysburg".

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/sunset-at-gettysburg-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Bradenton, FL for buying the
print of "British Soldiers in Camp".

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/british-soldiers-in-camp-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Golden Valley, MN for buying these
prints!

Battle for Empire French and Indian War

http://randy-steele.artistwebsites.com/featured/battle-for-empire-french-and-indian-war-randy-steele.html

Print Collection French and Indian War

http://randy-steele.artistwebsites.com/featured/print-collection-french-and-indian-war-randy-steele.html

Forest Fight

http://randy-steele.artistwebsites.com/featured/forest-fight-randy-steele.html

Tracking an Elusive Enemy

http://randy-steele.artistwebsites.com/featured/tracking-an-elusive-enemy-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Raleigh, NC for buying the print of The Hunter

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-hunter-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Wayne, Mi for buying the
print of "Blackpowder Woodsman Version Two".

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blackpowder-woodsman-version-two-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Lake Milton, Oh for buying the
print and Greeting cards of "Field of Honor American Revolution".

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/field-of-honor-american-revolution-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Wayne, Mi & Custar, OH for buying the
prints of Pennsylvania Hunter

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pennsylvania-hunter-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Wayne, Mi for buying the
print of The Hunter

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-hunter-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Greensburg, PA for buying the
print of The Old Frontiersman

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-old-frontiersman--randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Greensburg, PA for buying the
print of First Line of Defense The Frontiersman

http://randy-steele.artistwebsites.com/featured/first-line-of-defense-the-frontiersman-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from PLAINFIELD, NJ for buying the
print of Royal American Soldier French and Indian War

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/royal-american-soldier-french-and-indian-war-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from NEW WINDSOR, MD for buying the
print of American Colonial Militia Rifleman

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/american-colonial-militia-rifleman-randy-steele.html

Thank You to the buyer from Sheffield Lake, OH for buying the

print "Young Lions French and Indian War ". Thank you!!





Waiting for the Enemy
Forest Fight
Charge of the 60th Royal Americans Regiment at Bushy Run
Warpath Shawnee Indian
The Two Frontiersmen (3 of this print)

Thanks again!!

Here is an photo of some of my images that have been used
as cover art for different publications. The publishers all found
these images on FAA. I just wanted to post this to encourage
everyone and to say that your art could be found also. One of the
things I require (beside payment) is a copy of the published work.
The one is in German, so it may be awhile before I read it.

Good Luck and take care!

Update Feb 7th: My image "Coming Storm" will be on the cover of Muzzleloader magazine in March.

Update: Just sold another image for a cover of a book to be published
in March of 2012.

One of my newest images. Two images were used to make this image. One of the milita taken at the Bushy Run reenactment in 2011, and the other from a area of Roaring Run near Apollo PA. If there is any intrest, I may show the process in this blog.

Another favorite subject of mine is the American Civil War. I do not get a chance to attend these as
much as I would like. Last week I did manage to attend a small one at Twin Lakes near Greensburg Pa.
This image is of one of the shots I took.

A milita frontiersman checks the powder in his rifle before continuing, for a "flash in the pan" could mean the difference between life and death. This is another image from the Cook Forest Pa. 2011 encampmant in June. Tried something a little different here on this image.

Another image from the French and Indian War Encampment at Cook Forest Pennsylvania in June 2011.
This one is of the French soldiers charging the breastworks of the British forces.
This image is actually 3 separate shots merged together resulting in a large panoromic image.
It did not turn out as well as I had hoped, but was a learning experience for me in the blending of
the three images.

Up until a few years ago, I was like most people, always
in a rush to get somewhere. There was too much to do and not
enough time to do it, and this was before children.
In the process I missed a lot without even knowing it.

This changed when I bought my first digital camera. I totally
imersed myself in this fantastic new hobby. I could now keep only the
best photos and imeadiatly see the results. I carried my camera eveywhere
and it became my main hobby (and expense). I read all the books I
could find on photography and found the best sites on the internet
relating to my new found love. I also found out that there is a lot
more to photography that just pressing a button. Many new words were
added to my vocabulary: exposure, appature, shutter speed and the
big one: composition. This is the word that caused me to slow down
and enjoy the beauty of the world that is out there.

So, slow down and enjoy more of this world that God created.
Take care.

Colonel Henry Bouquet and a force of approximately 400 British soldiers left Carlisle
in July to relieve the besieged Fort Pitt and end a series of unchecked attacks against frontier outposts.
The opening of western Pennsylvania to settlement was the result of a decisive victory over the Native Americans at
the Battle of Bushy Run, August 5th and 6th, 1763.

This pivotal battle fought between British and Native Americans during the conflict known as Pontiac's War (1763-64) was
key in maintaining British control of North America. The British victory at Bushy Run was the critical turning point in
Pontiac's War. It also prevented the capture of Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) and restored lines of communication between
the frontier and eastern settlements. The British victory helped to keep the "gateway to western expansion" open.

Pontiac, an Ottawa chief in the Detroit areas, retaliated against British policies and control following the collapse of
New France at the close of the French and Indian War. Because of Pontiac's successful advances against the British,
Indian revolts quickly spread eastward. His plans were covert until 1763 when attacks on British outposts began.
By the end of July, nine British forts were captured, a tenth fort abandoned, and the great strongholds of Pitt and
Detroit under seige.

Because the Indians so throroughly controlled the frontier, information about the war filtered slowly east to the
British high command. Once the scope of the situation was realized in late June, an expedition was organized to
march west to Fort Pitt and then to proceed north and west to re-estabish fallen forts. Colonel Henry Bouquet,
a Swiss born professional soldier, commanded the expedition as it left Carlisle, Pennsylvania on July 18th.
Indian scouts observed Bouquet's army marching west along Forbes Road and reported this to the large force
of Indians surrounding Fort Pitt. The Indians decided to temporarily end their siege and attack the British
expedition in the open. The attack took place one mile east of Bushy Run Station on August 5th and 6th, 1763.
The engagement resulted in a victory for the British.

Another one of my "Hunter" series. This was also taken at the French and Indian war encampment in Cook Forest in June of 2011.

This image is another taken in Cook Forest Pennsylvania during the French and Indian war encampment in June 2011. Once I looked at this image I felt that it was better suited for not a war image, but a hunting one. I hope you agree that it fits that theme better. Have a great day.

Another image taken at Cook's Forest French and Indian War encampment on June 11th. This time period in american history is my favorite. I think maybe because it happened close to where I live, from Braddock's defeat to Bushy Run.

Taken at Cook's Forest French and Indian War encampment this past weekend. Nice event in Western Pennsylvania. A hard event to shoot with all the trees and darkness of the forest, but ended up with a couple good shots. I will try again to go next year. More to follow.....

I will attempt here to tell a little about the latest images I put up on this site.

Ducks at Rest: After getting a new (to me) Canon 50d, I had to go test it. This is a big step up from my 20d. As my daughter and I went to a small lake near our house, we came upon these 2 ducks at the far end of the pond. I ended up taking about 5 shots and ended up with 2 I liked. Shot with a 70-200mm zoom lens. Using raw helped a lot with this shot, as I was able to get more detail in the highlights.

Created from an image taken at the Battle of Bushy Run reenactment in August of 2008 I think. Removed the cluttered background and added one I made myself. This reenactment is one of the best around, and is held every year the first weekend in August. It is usually hot, but worth it. The reenactors are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.