Summer Vacation 2014

This year we went to visit family in Morro Bay, CA.

If you're not familiar with Morro Bay, it's kind of famous for the big "rock" which is at the entrance of Morro Bay Harbor.  I captured the fog rolling in so you can't really see how tall it is.

I miss the ocean, growing up not to far from Galveston, TX.  I love just sitting on the beach watching the waves crash up on the sand, seagulls running around and kids building sand castles.

I like to play in the sand too...lol.  Personally, the water is a bit chilly for me, but I did eventually put my feet in it.

Ok, maybe just my toes.

There were these really weird, but kind of cool looking jelly fish that washed up on the beach.  Here's Charlie writing a message out of them to his cousin (that's who we're visiting).  They don't sting, so no worries there.  Here's a better photo of what they look like (top and bottom)

We had a great time just relaxing and hanging out with family.

I love the beach!

Capture Life!

Wee Little Bird

Lately here in Las Vegas we've had some spectacular clouds (which is very unusual) so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap this shot not only of the clouds but of the "wee little bird" perched upon a tiny limb.

I shot this with the camera on my cell phone and edited it in Snapfeed and also PicMonkey.

I do enjoy my early morning walks with my dog at the park.  Everything looks so fresh and new.

Where and when do you find some of your photography inspirations?

Capture Life!

Into the Mist

I pass this tree daily while out walking my dog.  Today, I decided to stop and take a picture of it.  Actually for some reason it just jumped out and caught my eye and I thought, "Why haven't I notice how fabulous this tree is before?"  I took the photo with my phone (unfortunately didn't have my DSLR on me) then I edited it in "Snapfeed".  

I'm planning on taking a picture of this tree with each season.  I have another photo of a tree that I'm going to do the same with.

I don't know why, but I'm really drawn to trees and have decided I should start photographing them, maybe it's what I'm suppose to do...lol.

What type of things are you just drawn to that you feel the need to photograph?

Capture Life!

Portrait

Photo Art Friday!

Our theme this week is "Portrait"...

This is a photo of my son.  We were on vacation in Lake Tahoe and walking around the town.  We were at a cross walk waiting for the light to change and I took advantage of the opportunity to take the "shot".

I took the saturation down added a soft brown filter and added Skeletal Mess grunge texture.

If you're interested in Photo Art Friday...click on the picture below.

Creating...

I didn't get my post made in time for Photo Art Friday, but I still wanted to post my picture I worked on anyway.  We were to use one of her textures and make a collage or any photo art we choose.

I took 4 photos of my own along with one of Bonnie's texture (which now I can't remember exactly which one...sorry).

  I then went into Pixlr Express and chose "white ripped" to add the rip paper look.

Today, I was looking through some photos of mine that I haven't edited yet and played around with curves, filters and different modes....

Here is the original...

I just love playing around in photo editing programs, it's amazing all the things you can do...especially if you're just being creative.

I hope to see everyone at the next Photo Art Friday!

Capture Life.

White eDition - Texture Tuesday

I can't believe a week has already gone by...wow.  This week's challenge is to use one of Kim's fabulous textures and center your photo around the word "white".  Since last week I used my white flowers, I didn't have much time to be overly creative with this weeks challenge.

Over the weekend I took a few photos of the blooming Bird of Paradise (which is way early for them to be blooming) in our yard.  I sat down in the grass and my dog decided my lap was a great place to sit.  I have a Great Dane mix which is a wee bit over 100 lbs.  Yes, I know, he so needs to lose weight, but he's very muscular (in my defense).  I still had my camera in my hand and took this shot using my 35mm lens.

I first desaturated the picture a bit, then used Kim's textures, "and Then Some" blending mode Multiply at 100%, "Shades of November" first I flipped the image and then mirrored it using blending mode Overlay at 95% and then "Scratched Magic July" at 95% Screen mode.

I wanted to use the "mouse over", but I didn't save the original...heh.

If you're interested in Texture Tuesday and would like to get on Kim's Texture Lovin List click here.

Capture Life!

Project 52 - Week 2

I think I'm actually going to make the linky up this time...wooo...hooo.

I walk my dog every day in the park and a couple of days ago I found these leaves (a pile of them) and grabbed a few to photograph.  I didn't have my camera on me at the time...I know what kind of photographer doesn't have their camera on them at all times...ME.  Anyway, I brought them back home to take the picture, even though this picture isn't exactly how I wanted them laid out, but with a little editing and a fabulous texture by Brenda Starr...here it is.  Be sure to check out Brenda's amazing photos and her textures.

I'm hoping to actually head out and about in the town next week to take some pictures...but no promises.  I've been a bit busy with work.

If you're interested in Project 52, click on the box below.

Happy Clicking!

Edit Me 2012 - Week 2

I'm so excited that the "Edit Me" challenge has started back up...even if I missed the first week.

This weeks adorable photo is from Tara of "Wild Ginger Photography".   She's also this weeks judge.  Here is the photo she submitted...

Adorable right...so many different ideas came to mind, but I decided to keep it pretty simple.

I cropped in just a little bit, I liked the window in the background, so I wanted to keep it in just a little bit.  I then desaturated the photo and brought in just a bit of color on the baby and bear, still keeping a bit of sepia tone.  I softened the photo and added a vignette.

I hope you like it.

If you're interested in the "Edit Me Challenge", then click on the little box below.

Photo Art Friday ~ Week 3

My entry for this week is my attempt at imitating "Andy Warhol" art.

    Yep, that's my son making one of his many goofy faces.  Actually I had my zoom lens on at the time, so he didn't even know I took this.  He was making a face at a buddy of his.  Boys...don't you just love them....LOL!  Now he's a teenager and he'd probably kill me if he knew I used this photo on the internet :).

All I did was open the original picture in Photoshop.com and sharpened the image a bit.  Clicked on "Hue" and chose the color I wanted and tweaked it a bit and added "Sketch". 

Be sure to check out all the other entries for Photo Art Friday...you'll be very inspired.  Click on the button below.

Creating in GIMP

Here is a piece I created using only Gimp brushes that I downloaded for free from deviantart.com

GIMP - Split Toning

Trying out Split Toning in GIMP...not sure if this was the best photo choice to use.  I do like how it turned out overall.  I've been playing with different techniques all weekend, just trying to get down the basics at this point.

It's another.....

Texture Tuesday

Our assignment this week is to take a photo with people or person and use one of Kim Klassen's texture.  

This photo was taken on Father's Day of my son with his father, our dog Leggs and a dear friend of the family.  We had our friends over and barbequed.  The day started out a little bit windy, but ended up beautifully.

I first duplicated my photo, added Gaussen Blur at 7% radius and erased the blur from the subjects.  I merged my two photos added Kim Klassen's Portrait texture at 100% Burn merged down again and added the same texture again using blend mode Soft Light at 100% and slightly went around the subjects with the eraser tool.

Here is the original.

 

If your interested in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday click here.

Happy Editing!

I've been working on my editing skills and applying textures to some of my photos.  I'll first show you the original and then my edited version.

This was taken during my trip back home to Texas.  We were driving along and I just had to stop and grab this shot.  So my next photo will show my editing and textures.  I was going for an old time photo look with a little grunge to it.

First I added a New Adjustment Layer - using the Hue/Saturation Levels and lowered it to -65.  Then a New Raster layer added         Kim Klassen's textures Just Cause (using Color at 65%) and February Magic (using Dodge at 88%).  I then used my burn tool to darken up some areas and to bring the horse and lone tree out a little more.  As always I copied the original picture to make all my changes.

So what do you think?

Happy Editing!

Textured Tuesday

This week we're to use Kim Klassen's textured "Yester Year".

Here's the before....

and the after....

The way I applied the texture was 100% Multiply then I added a new raster layer using Earth Tone gradient at Soft Light 100%.

If you're interested in Textured Tuesday click HERE for more information or look for the button on my sidebar.

Happy Editing everyone!

Playing....editing...playing...re-editing...having fun

I just wanted to share a some of photos I've been editing using Kim Klassen's textures. 

Magnolia (before)

Magnolia (after)

Red Tip bush (before)

after

Iris (before)

Iris (after)

I hope you enjoy these.  I have so much to learn still,

but playing and editing is a fab way

to learn.