Beauty

Not only will it restore your soul, it will restore the souls of those around you.

I saw this peacock just walking down a neighboring street.  I had to pull over and take a picture of him.  His feathers were so beautiful.  I sat in my car just watching him walk with such elegance.  It was if he owned the road, not something you see everyday.

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Today is...

Photo Art Friday!

Here is my submission...

The theme this week is "Vintage" and we're to use fabulous Bonnie's free texture "Antique Me".

Unfortunately, I didn't write down exactly what I did with this photo except that I lowered the saturation, went into curves and warmed the photo up a bit and added a vintage filter and the texture.

These are just three of the tea pots that we make in a series called "Treacherous Tea Pots".

Click on the image below to find out more about Photo Art Friday and to visit others work.

Lines - Photo Art Friday

This weeks challenge is "lines" and of course any photo art of your choice.  I didn't have enough time to take a new shot for this challenge (as much as I wish I could have), so I had to look at some of my photos I've already taken.  

The photo I chose, I took while I was visiting my sister in Texas. 

I first added a soft blend script to the photo then went into my instant effects and added the "tone map high".  I used one of Bonnie's fabulous free textures, "Other Worlds" Overlay mode, blend at 100% and lastly I added a little vignette.

After all the processing, not sure if you can see or even notice the seagull flying by the Ferris Wheel.

If you're interested in Photo Art Friday click here.   Please be sure to stop by Bonnie's blog, Pixel Dust Photo Art, to see not only her work, but today's photos of this challenge.

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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".

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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.

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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.

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Photo A Day

Finally, I've gotten a few more pics and edited...heh!

Here is day 5 - Bird

Day 10 - Favorite word

Day 11 - Kitchen

I know....I'm still a couple of days behind.  Today's photo is "mom", but my mother doesn't live close to me and well since today is Mother's Day,  I pretty much have done nothing...I did call my mom.  I'll come up with something, until then....

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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.

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Texture Tuesdays with...

Kim Klassen

This week our challenge is to use two of Kim's texture on our photos...pretty easy, well sort of.  It's always a challenge to find the right texture, blending mode and opacity for the photo you want to use.  I find that sometimes I go through many photos and/or textures before hitting it just right (or at least I think so).

This is a photo I took last month at our First Friday event that's held every month in the Art's District (Las Vegas).  Our team, "Handmade in Vegas" sets up our tents and sell our arts and crafts at "The Lot".  Last month, we had a drum circle, Music for Life, out there and they were fantastic and so much fun to listen to and to watch.  

I used Kim's textures, "More magic scratched and Rejoice 2".

To learn more about Texture Tuesday, click on Kim's name up above and if you're in the Las Vegas area and want to know more about our group or the drum circle be sure to click on the above links.

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Day 6

Photo A Day May

"YOU"

It's a bit hard to tell what I'm holding, but it's my camera.  The picture is my reflection.

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Texture Tuesday - Free and Easy eDition

This week we get to use any of Kim's fabulous textures.  I chose one she so graciously offers for free (for more information on receiving her weekly textures click on her name above).

My son has just turned 15 and I decided it was about time to re-do his bathroom decor.  He's really into playing his guitar.  So, I decided to take some shots of his guitar and do his bathroom up in that type of decor.

I used Kim's "Be Still" texture at Multiply at 100%, then a brown filter at 75%, erased some of the texture off of the guitar.

This image I added a 1960's film filter on to it.

Be sure to check out all of the other entries for more inspiration and tips on Kim Klassen's blog.

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Photo Art Friday

It's been a while since I've participated in Bonnie's "Photo Art Friday" challenge.  This weeks challenge we have a choice of either making our own photo art using at least one of her textures or a piece of photo art that has elements 'hidden in plain sight'.

I decided to give myself a bit of a challenge, mainly because I just loved the examples she used to show us, and I needed a good challenge.  Let me tell you it was a challenge for me, I was really having a hard time trying to come up with some type of theme or what to put in as "hidden elements".

This is what I came up with...

Here are the two main photos I used for this challenge:

I also used Bonnie's fabulous free texture "Dreams of Spring".

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

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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.

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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!

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!

Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen

Ciaran

•  Duplicated photo
•  Turned duplicated copy to greyscale
•  Copy the b/w photo
•  Paste the b/w on to original (color photo)
•  Erased over the eyes to bring their color back
• Added Kim's textures Ugg Love and Scripted Edges (sorry can't remember what blend modes I used)
• Then I added a "romance" filter to soften it all up.

Head on over to Texture Tuesday and see all the other fabulous entries or for more information.

It's that time again...

Photo Art Friday

at

Pixel Dust Photo Art 

I used Bonnie's free texture she offered Medival Magic twice; once blending mode Overlay 100% and second time Soft Light at about 86%.  

Be sure to check out the other fabulous photo art at Pixel Dust Photo Art...you'll be glad you did.  Also if you're interested in joining in on the fun, you'll be able to find all the information there as well.

Ciao!  

Hooking up with Texture Tuesday - Love eDition

This weeks theme is "Love" and to use any of Kim's fabulous textures at least once.  I had the perfect photo I wanted to use, but didn't ask the parents permission in time (since it's of their little boys).  I don't like putting anyone's kids on the internet without their permission...that's just me.

The photo I chose shows "love" to me.  I'll fill you in on it a bit.  This picture is of me and a very, very dear friend of mine.  We met back in Junior High and immediately were friends.  She has the most contagious smile then and still...we were inseparable.  Ok, making a long story short...she got married very young and had children.  Me, I went on living the "typical" single life (no children) and working towards a career.  Sadly, our separate lives took us in different directions along with other things beyond our control.  BUT, she was never ever far from my heart.  Years went by about 20 and I was back home (Texas) visiting and we found each other.  Unfortunately, we didn't stay in touch (not sure why)...anyway with the great internet and Facebook, yes, we found one another again. 

 

Nancy came out to Las Vegas for a wedding (not hers...lol) and we met up.  It was like we've never really been a part.  We hugged one another so tightly, I didn't want to let her go...not again.  We had a fabulous day hanging out and catching up.  We've kept in touch ever since and have made a promise to never lose contact.  You see, she's one of the best people I know and one of the strongest ladies I know.  I'm so bless to have her in my life, but even more blessed to call her my friend.  I love you Nancy!  Best Friends Forever.

Kim's texture I used was Misty Love Letter blending mode Normal 100% erased over us, I wanted to keep as much of that texture as possible.  I added another layer blending mode Burn not sure what opacity.  Then I used Shadow House Creations Black Box Mask - 8 blending mode Overlay.

For more information on Texture Tuesday click here. To see more of Shadow House Creations textures and work click here.