Making this year Christmas Message

It’s been some time since my last blog, but I have been fighting an illness, and now I am back. I thought I would end 2023 with how I made this year's Christmas message from my wife Lisa and me.

Iphone picture at Bronner’s in Frankenmuth,MI

It all starts with an idea. As I wandered the store, I liked this ornament of the two snow people. This may be this year's message. Out came my iPhone, and I took a few pictures. Next, I went into Photoshop to start the magic. First, I needed to cut it out; next was to pick a background that would work for this image. This is again done in Photoshop. Once I had the two, I had time to make a composite. After making the composite, I made some minor cleanups and color changes. Finally, I added the text. After all, it was a ready product, or at least I thought. :)

I started looking at it, and I thought, why not an animation? Once again, Adobe is to the rescue. I went into After Effect and thought I would add some animation of snow. I don’t know about you, but I think it makes it much more alive.

Now you know how I did it and what my mind thinks. Just think, it all started with an idea and a picture from the iPhone. Here is a quick look at the steps I did.

Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a great New Year. Stay tuned for 2024, for Paul J Zeinert Photography will be changing. It will be a different business model for 2024. (Stay tuned)

Avenue of Angels

For us that live in the Valley, we know what this means. Downtown Appleton, WI. I have such memories of the downtown. I remember when I was young, taking the bus from Neenah, WI, to Appleton, WI, when it used to be known for shopping. Me, I hanged at the music stores. Then we had a family tradition on Christmas Eve, and we would go and see all of the decorations, including Appleton. So, where did the avenue of angels come from? Back in the day, with all of the shopping, College Avenue had angels on every poll and every intersection. It was so beautiful. Today they do a modification of this. Nothing is more pretty than seeing the angels in the snow. Enjoy this weekend, enjoy family and friends, and don’t forget to consider an angel or maybe two. Merry Christmas.

TSO in Toledo,Oh

I was keeping up with the theme of Adobe and Christmas. This one was done in Premiere. The pictures and video are from an iPhone 12. I was not sure what I would do with the videos until I put this together today. We love Trans Siberian Orchestra, and this was no different this day at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Oh. Great show. Here is a quick overview that I came up with. Enjoy.

Merry Christmas to the Greatest Generation

They call this one the Greatest Generation, and I understand why. I was so fortunate to talk with some of these heroes from the ’40s and ask questions about the war. The older I got, the more I wanted to understand. The big lesson they did not feel that they were owed. Responsibility, Work Ethics, Faith and Humility They love America and what it stands for. Freedom. Merry Christmas to the Greatest Generation.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

It's been two years since Lisa and I have been able to go to this German-like city in Michigan. Frankenmuth, Michigan, which is about 2 hours north of Toledo. You feel the Christmas spirit almost immediately when you get into the city. The looks and sound of Christmas. Our day started by going to the Frankenmuth Brewery for lunch. Next was time to go shopping. No, not me. I have a camera and looking for pictures to take and visit with some of the people. Speaking of people, it's lovely to talk to so many friendly people. After walking all day. Time to get ready for dinner. We went to The Station 100. A European-style menu. It was so lovely to feel that I was in Europe again for a short time. The owner was so friendly, and it was so relaxing.

Downtown Frankenmuth, Michigan

After dinner, it was time for another walk, and how could you walk by the Frankenmuth Fudge Factory and purchase any. Yep, you guessed it. Had to. I never saw so many choices when it came to fudge. Like Sugar cookie. (By the way, it was good)

The Frankenmuth Fudge Factory.

With our continued evening walk, it was time to have a nightcap, and with that, it was time to talk with others again, and we spoke with a young couple from the Toledo area. What a great day. The next day was what I had been waiting for. It's been 2 years, but it never disappoints me, and that is Zehnders. I love the looks of the indoor of this restaurant. It looks like something from Hallmark.

Zehnders in Frankenmuth,Michigan.

The food is family-style and likes the Thanksgiving feast, but it's chicken. The hardest part is after eating, and all good things must end and time to leave. But before leaving, we need to make one more stop. Yep, time for Bonner's, the largest Christmas wonderland. You want something for Christmas; this place has it. For us, it's been a tradition for us to get Christmas balls for our Grand Daughters.

The Christmas spirit is in us what a small little city can do to people. For me, this is what I remember when I was young. Friendly people and we once again could talk again. Food out of this world and what the Holidays are all about.