The pictures in this slide show are not paintings, they are photographs! These photographs are processed with a Photoshop plugin called Simplify 2 by Topaz Labs. This is a sample of what you can do with this program. It will remove detail from photographs and make them look like a painting or a cartoon and even a line drawing representation of a photograph.

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Topaz Labs Simplify

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Creede Colorado is a small, old mining town in the San Juan Mountains. Its part of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway on Colorado State Hwy 149 along with Lake City to the north. The fascinating Underground Fire Station is located at the end of town and is open to the public. The Last Chance Mine along with other old mines are on the self guided Bachelor Loop road. The Last Chance Mine is open to the Public on weekends. Jack Morris the owner will greet you and tel you the history and stories of the old mine. The photographs in this gallery were shot at the old mines on  Bachelor Loop road, The Underground Fire Station, Downtown Creede and the North Clear Creek Falls, just north of Creede on Colorado State Hwy 149.  So, do your research and visit Creede. There’s lots to see and do.

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Map of Creede Colorado

The photos in this gallery were shot in and around Leadville Colorado. Leadville is an old mining town set at an elevation over 10000 feet above sea level. Visiting the old buildings around the town bring up thoughts of  ghosts from the 1880’s. Each photo  in this Gallery starts off as 3 separate photographs at 3 different exposures  and combined with a process called HDR or High Dynamic-Range. This allows one to see the detail in the shadows and highlights. It also has the ability to create some pretty cool special effects.

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For more information on HDR or High Dynamic-Range photography and the program I use, Photomatix Pro 3.1, click on the links below!. Photomatix Pro 3.1 is a standalone program and also has Plugins for Adobe Photoshop  and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.

Map of Leadville Colorado