Photo Art Friday

This week our challenge is "negative" space...or of course any piece of photo art you'd like to share this week.

This is a photo I took back in the later part of winter.  Since here in Las Vegas, our winters are pretty short (some would say we don't really have a winter).  I was really surprised of how early the Yochino Cherry trees were already blooming.  There was a whole row of them.

I used Bonnie's free texture "Mother Love" on blending mode Overlay at approximately 87% erasing some of the texture off the flowers and a little bit off the leaves.  Then I did a little bit of a Cross Processing on it.

If you'd like more information on you can participate in Photo Art Friday, click here.

Wishing all a fabulous weekend and a "Happy Father's Day".

Capture Life!

Black and White

Photo Art Friday

Turned photo in to black and white then added Bonnie's "OAS Notes to Myself" texture.

For more information click on the box below.

Photo Art Friday - Bokeh

Our challenge this week is as usual any piece of photo art of your choosing or a piece with "bokeh" (a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image).

I've decided to submit two photos this time.  The first one was taken several years ago during out trip to San Diego Wild Animal Park.  

There were only the usual editing done on this photo.

I took this next photo a couple of days ago in my backyard, after reading "8 Things You Didn't Know Your DSLR Could Do"...I did learn a few extra things and some my camera will not do (which is a bummer).  What I did learn was doing "custom settings" on my camera.  So I did a little adjustment and went outside to try it out...

The changes I made in my custom settings were to balance for a truer color, sharpness, basically to have to do less post processing.  But as you can see in this photo I did some fun editing as well.  I edited it in PicMonkey using "focal zoom" then I added Bonnie's new FREE texture "soft light overlay" and "light blue painterly" (another freebie).  Then I added a slight vignette around the whole photo.  The "soft light overlay" added the "bokeh" in this photo, it is very light.

If you want to join in on the fun click on the button below...or if you'd just like to check out what other photographers/artists have come up with.

Capture Life!

Lines, Angles or Graphic Elements...

Photo Art Friday

This week our challenge is lines, angles or graphic elements and of course any piece of photo art you'd like to do.

I chose a photo using lines and angles.  I added a texture by PixelDustPhotoArt, Yesteryear, using blending mode Overlay at about 80% and also one called Sheet music fairy, using the blending mode Multiply approximately 70%.

Please check out the other talented people over at PixelDustPhotoArt or for more information on Photo Art Friday.

Capture Life!

Horizon

Photo Art Friday

Las Vegas Strip

1.  Cropped photo

2.  Did a little "auto" adjustment

3.  Added Bonnie's texture "Heavenly" 100% blending mode Subtract

4. Added Bonnie's texture "Golden Orb" 100% blending mode Difference

I actually took this photo during day, but using these two textures and blending modes made it look like I shot this when the sun was going down.  I really like the way this turned out.

Our challenge this week was either to link any piece of photo art we choose or photo art that features a "horizon".

If you're interested in Photo Art Friday, click here...or just head over and see what everyone is hanging in the virtual gallery, there are so many talented artists.

Capture Life!

Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday - Free Edition

This is my first post of the new year!  I just know that this is going to be a great year for us all.

So to start the Texture Tuesday off, Kim has made it simple for us...I don't know about you, but I'm pooped from all the holiday festivities and all the food and sweets I've devoured...sigh.

I got a brand new Nikon lens (Nikkor 35mm) for my birthday and this is just one of the photos I shot with it.  I do love this lens and looking forward to sharing more photos from it.

I used Kim's fabulous "free" textures More Magic, blending mode Difference at 100% (erasing off of face) and  Annabelle, 100% blending mode Multiply (erasing from face).

The Santa is from Barbora Sutton, she hand sculpts some fabulous Santa's, witches, fairies and more.

For more information on Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday click here

Thanks so much for stopping by wishing you all a wonderful new year!

The magic of textures....

It's been a long time since I've posted anything new.  My business received a huge order, so we were working steady for over a month to make sure it was out by the deadline...whew!  It did get out and the customer was very pleased...yeah!

Due to my work load I was not able to participate in any of my challenges, but still would sneak off to see what was going on and everyone's amazing photography and editing work.

Anyway...here is a photo I took of this most beautiful tree that I'd pass everyday taking my son to school.  I finally remembered to bring my camera so I'd could stop and photograph it.  So glad I did because a few days later it was really windy here and all the leaves were blown off.

Roll mouse over to see original

I used Bonnie from Pixel Dust Photo Art's amazing "free" texture "Wicked" using blending mode Difference at 100%.  I just loved her examples of what this texture can do, that I couldn't wait to try it out.  The blues and purples it makes is beautiful.  If you haven't been to Bonnie's blogs be sure to check it out.  She has some truly amazing photography and textures available.

Here are a few more shots of the tree...

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Ciao!

Gratitude eDition - Texture Tuesday

Our challenge this week is "gratitude" and to use two of Kim Klassen's textures.  I'm grateful for so many things in my life, but one thing I've been needing is "solitude", a little alone time to center myself.  I think as mothers, wives, sisters and even friends, we lose ourselves (or I know I do).  I'm grateful for my alone time...my me time.  So this photo of a lone horse reminded me of "Solitude".

I used Kim's Portrait, blending mode Multiply 100% and Canvas Back blending mode Multiply 100%, erased some of the texture from the horse.  I really didn't have a clear idea or image in my head, but I like the way it came out.

To learn more about Texture Tuesdays click here.  Also check out the other fabulous photography while you're there.

Sunrise....Goooood Morning!

I was so greatly pleased to have woken up to such a gorgeous sunrise.  It's really unusual here in Las Vegas, NV to have clouds in the sky, so I rushed grabbed my camera and carefully balanced myself on our huge round lounger and clicked.  One of the great things about having to get up early.

I hope your mornings are beautiful too.  

Blessings.

Linked up with....

Week 19 - Edit Me

This weeks photo was given by Deb Duty, who is also going to be the judge.  I really enjoyed participating last week (which was my very first time) and looking at everyone's editing work...so inspiring.  Anyway, here is Deb's photo we had to work with;

Gorgeous Fall leaf gracing us with it's sunset of colors, teasing us with what's to come.  I love how she got down in the grass and shot this photo.  The contrast of the green grass and the red/yellow leaf is perfect, you almost didn't want to edit it...lol.  But I did and I hope Deb and you will enjoy my process.  Here's my version:

I slightly cropped the photo added Brenda Starr's Red Dawn texture, blending mode Hard Light 83% and erased a bit of the texture from the leaf. If you've never seen Brenda's work and her textures be sure to check her out, she offers her textures for free.

If you're interested in participating or just want to learn more about it, just click on the button below.

The Do eDition

How time flies...it's already Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen.  I was so unprepared for this weeks challenge.  Our challenge is "Do" and/or using Kim's fabulous free (yes, I said free) texture "Autumn Burst".  I had to look in my archives for a photo to use.

Several years ago, we went to San Diego's Wild Animal Park on vacation.  I had just gotten my Nikon DSLR camera a few months before our vacation.  So needless to say, I was still learning the ins and outs of it.  As we were approaching to turn in to the parking lot (sitting in traffic) I leaned out of the car and snapped this photo.  It's a hot air balloon that's in the park, that you can ride up in to see the whole area.  Unfortunately, during our time there it got really windy and that ride was shut down.  Anyway here's my entry for this weeks challenge.

Run mouse over image to see the before photo

This image spoke to me (for this challenge) "Do reach for the sky".  I also loved this quote and thought it was fitting for the image and for our challenge.

I used Kim Klassen's Autumn Burst blending mode Hardlight at 83%.

Photo Art Friday

This is the first of many Fridays that Bonnie at Pixel Dust Photo Art is holding a weekly challenge called, "Photo Art Friday".  If you've never been to her blog be sure to check it out, she has some truly amazing photography and her own personal artistic flare.  She also has another blog, Original Art Studio, on this blog she has a very special technique that she uses to turn your photo into an exquisite piece of art....really it is very cool.

I decided I'd enter this challenge, more so I can get in and play with my photo editing tools and just try to be creative.  Here is my entry...be sure to run your mouse over the photo to see the before photo.

 For more information click on the box below and while you're there check out the other "art photography".

Ciao!