Edit trials

I haven't taken any photos today as of yet. 
But I will.
I have been spending time on a new editing tool that I stumbled upon.
It is interesting, though I don't know if it is good enough for professionally printed images.
It may just be my post on the internet editor. 
Hmmm we shall see, I suppose I need to order some prints before I judge it totally! 

So, my time investment for photography today has been in the editing area, it is pretty important too!!

Here is what I was messing around with.
I am having serious facebook profile picture indecision.  I don't want my image to be the same as the one I use here, and I haven't had much luck doing self portraiture as of late!  Ugghhh! 

I took this image and threw it into the editor today to see if I could push it just a bit, without over doing it.
 






























Mainly doing some adjusting to rid myself of imperfections in my skin clarity!  ( I am 41 already, when does this all end??) hee hee 
I think I am pretty happy with the result...what are your thoughts on that???
I truly, truly want to keep my pictures looking as real and natural as possible while enhancing in smidgens to benefit the viewer.  I mean, come on...I have eye crinkles I sure don't want to smooth over those, it is where I am in my life.  (besides the fact that I did do that in this program last night just for kicks and found myself seeing my past life...back when I was 20 ha haha ha heeehahahahaha!!!  It was a little much.)  OH wait, I should show you that too.  Hold on I will be right back!!

Yeah, that is a little too heavy handed on the old edit stick for me!! 
Well this is all fun to play with, and neat to learn.
Have a great weekend!!

Woe is me!

I went to Hubble and Hudson again today....specifically to shoot some pictures of pumpkins.

Of course you know I got distracted by so many other things while there. 

 Delightful things in many colors and varieties.

 Wonderful smelling things, crying out for attention.

 Did you know the workers at this fine establishment frown upon such efforts! 
They are quite suspicious of camera carrying young ladies.  I suppose maybe I should not have been wearing a nice skirted ensemble, but some slouchy clothes.  Then I would have been perceived as just an artist possibly?  and not some idea thief or brand stealer or concept creeper!!! 
Hey, you wanna take pictures of root vegetables in a grocery store???  Well then by golly, you had better get permission first.
I do understand the theory behind the request...I just know my absolute innocence in the matter!!!

Oh, and that dreadful "fall" picture from Monday that never should have been posted but was anyway out of desperation and I just wish I hadn't....it is relegated to Polaroid status!!!


Don't get me wrong, there have been some good Polaroids, but not many!

Please go look at the real work on edits that has happened this week, there are so many worth seeing over at Ramblings and Photos.
And as for me....I am gonna go hide under a rock!!!  ;)

Cats on the prowl

This pink cat back rubber do hickey thing has been catching my attention for days now. I think my daughter picked it out. It doesn't really have a home, but has been standing stoically at the ready here for some weeks now.
It really catches the light and called out to me today in my desperation to find something to quickly photograph.

Then I noticed her fellow cat... that is really supposed to be on this window ledge and had to laugh at the strong contrast they hold.

Off running to do kiddo delivery and pick up! 
Make it a good day!!

For F's for fun!

Today's blog post will be brought to you by the letter F!! 

I hauled my camera around today to be intentional in using it.
I had big plans and even bigger expectations.

My first stop...to see the progress our little fishes have made.
1. Fish
























You can access the previous fishy pictures here and here. 
I probably should have taken a few more shots today, but this was the best of the lot.

2. Fix Flats
 Ahhhhhhh hah aha haha!!! 

3. Fire Damage from the fires earlier in the month in the town just a few miles from mine.

 It was interesting to me that the fire was on both sides of this line of wires but not up the middle of it, I suppose not much to burn in the center, huh?
There was road work today on my route, so I ended up with more time on the road driving that planned and very very few minutes of picture taking.  About 5 I would hazard to guess.
Traffic and the impending bus arrival had me racing home despite the lack of photo opps acquired. bummer.



This is one of the many fences melted from the heat and flames.

Just across the street from here was a whole trailer park that was a heap of ashes and blackened trash.
These fellows were a sad witness to it all.

 And our final F for the day...
4.Flamingos.
A whole flock of 'em in the yard down the street.

 


I guess that is it friends!  An eventful, yet uneventful day.

Week 38 sooc

 Hey there friends!!!  I have spent all day today accomplishing what was left of the laundry that I started yesterday. 
Yes, I am pleased as peaches to report that not only is it washed, dried and folded...but also put away!!! 
Well, I have put mine away. 
The children still have their piles of laundry love on the stairs to haul up and consign to drawers!

I was sitting on the floor contemplating what to photograph; just to clarify I hadn't fallen, I was just sitting there. Something caught my eye and I got down low to get a better view of it.
Uhhhh, it wasn't this.

But I do like the simplicity of that picture.  Not every day can be stellar, some are just ordinary wash the laundry days.
That is a good thing I think.

I haven't taken part in my camera challenges much lately and figured I would have a go at it today.
All the regular ladies are gonna think I have lost it with my picture, but hopefully it will give them a little chuckle.

The SOOC challenge for today is Fall.
The intention I am sure is for lovely foliage or pumpkins galore.
It is tough to think along those lines when it is still 100+ degrees here and the only fall colors we have are the dead or dying trees due to the drought.
So, as I was sitting there on the floor, not haven fallen, swinging my camera about I came upon this.

































I haven't ever tumbled all the way down this set of stairs but I have fallen down a few.  It was a really bad day, I don't want to talk about it.

Maybe you should head over to the Week 38 sign in page and see what the real deal is from others this week.
And maybe I will seek to try to find something truly "fall-ish" to photograph! 
But for now, homework and snack time calls...and not in that order mind you! 

Gimping along still

So, apparently the tea party picture from yesterday was a hit.  It isn't really my "cup of tea" if you will.  All that fluff and stuff is just not where it is at for me, but I can appreciate it for what it is.

This image is one that I really like, but as you can see the exposure is too dark on her face.

I TRIED to work in my gimp program today to only lighten her face...which I did, but it didn't hide where my lines were for working.  Ahhh progress is slow on that front, but it is progress. I do like how the overall effect of the edit looks despite the user error issues.



After about an hour and a half and much groaning and frustration, I quit and just gave it a whirl on my go to edit program.  


Maybe you can't even see a difference, but I can and that is what matters.

 I will keep working and learning..when I have time that is.
Rushing off again!!!

Party all day!

 Whoa what a crazy fun day!!!
First on the agenda was our snocone party, which went wonderfully.

I couldn't help but take a shot of half of the menu board! 

 
I asked about the stuffed Snow Ball....uhhhhh YUM!! 
They put a scoop of vanilla icecream inside the snocone and it makes it creamy and dreamy! 
I had peaches and cream, Delish!!!

Next up for my daughter and I was a tea room party. Dad got to do soccer with one boy and "ground fighting" at the taekwondo school with the other.  It was a divide and conquer day.


The girls got sooooo fancy; it was fun! 
Well, I must cut this short and go and attempt to load my dishwasher...I must! 
Trust me, I would rather sit here and toodle through pictures but duty calls.

GA-bleeehhhh!  That is me throwing that at you quickly...gotta go should be driving a munchkin in 2 minutes.

Will work for treats

Hey Shelby, wanna take some pictures with me today??? 






Please!! 
I am behind on my blog and need and easy gig! 
Come on, give us a good cute and feisty look!
You aren't making this easy for me! 
How about one where I do black and white? 

No? Hmmmmm,! Ohhhhh, I know.... I bet you don't care for posing without a (whispering)treat!

Yeah, you heard me right, Treat.

 

Okay, well that one was really good but you have to stay super still...I have that hard to work with lens on.

Good girl...here ya go!




Treats were given as promised, and enjoyed greatly!

I didn't forget...

This is yesterdays picture!

I really love how sharp my new lens can work, however I am learning that without image stabilization, if my subject isn't stark still my pictures are just not gonna be as sharp as I want them to be. My issue yesterday was a slight breeze, and whatever natural shake I tend to have.
I better start hauling around that tripod!

Sorry I missed ya last night...my husband was on the computer late and try as I might to post from my cell phone, it just wouldn't connect to the internet.
It wasn't meant to be.

I don't want you thinking I am being a slacker though...
I used up all my "extra" time yesterday working on a project for my daughters birthday.

Through a series of fun and strange events our party plans are now revolving around snocones!
I decided to make a little charm for each of the girls as a keepsake.

These little treats will get a real photo session soon, but here is one I snapped quickly with my cell phone last night before dozing off.
I am not sure why I choose projects that take hours and hours to produce, but I do!
Ahhhh well the accolades from my kids so far have proven that the time has been well worth the effort!

Well, I will see ya tomorrow!
Well, I will wont' I? I suppose to keep it on the up and up, I better get back today as well.
We shall see.

I did the dishes instead of taking pictures.
I talked to a friend in need instead of folding the laundry.
I scrubbed the pots instead taking pictures.
I checked facebook and found 3 more people to encourage.

I didn't get to this today...oh well.
Gotta get, it is time for night-night prayers!! 
Then I am gonna fold the laundry, and try not to think about not taking pictures and then go to bed early...maybe....


PS. I took this picture yesterday and I love it!

Monday, and I need to do more laundry

 No time to tell you this tale, but here is a photo for
today!!


















I just adore how color affects things it is near.  His top eye pulls toward blue and his bottom eye to green. 
Not  that that is something you would have noticed!!!
That is why I am here, to point you toward such things.

I am off!

Love this kid swinging like a monkey on the soccer goals not in use.

Gotta hit the grocery store!  Over and out.

 Beautiful location...

Simple charming decorations...
























Stunning bride....























Lovely evening!!

Another piece of my heart

Well, I apologize for seeming to flake out on you yesterday, that wasn't my intention at all.
I do have to admit though that I did not even touch my camera yesterday, so I am behind by a day. 
I imagine between the wedding I am going to tonight and the soccer game tomorrow, I will more than make up for that! 
Both of those things are social events and I have not a single responsibility to anyone for them.  I will just be a guest at one and a Mom at the other.
I always wonder what the photographers line is for such things.  Funny, I never wondered about it with my point and shoot camera!
Oh well, I tend to be extra sensitive about things, and I know this about myself.

I am going to try to quickly tell you today about my experience at the Engagement shoot that I did a few weekends ago.
Some of you may be thinking that you don't care a lick about that, but maybe too someone will learn something from the experience.
If you are a regular reader here, then you know I was heading to that day with fear, uncertainty, caution, dread, euphoria, happiness, artistic creativity flowing...and all kinds of other stuff and emotions.

I spend so much time taking pictures of just whatever happens by and was therefore thrilled at the chance to have 2 adult people who would listen to what I had to say and respond to it, in order to create something wonderful for them.

I studied and studied blogs and websites that I love of photographers who amaze me and went armed with an arsenal of images and ideas in my mind.
Other peoples images and ideas in my mind.
Rock hard solid images from established photographers who make thousands of dollars a month, if not a week.
I couldn't have set myself up for a bigger let down that doing that.

You see, like so many of us I didn't have confidence in MY ideas.  In trusting myself and my gut to what is beautiful and lovely. 
When in comes down to it...I am ashamed to say that I went armed with thinking I could copy images like those I had seen.
Yes, I did think I could copy certain poses and images and make them my own.
I was so wrong and I failed at that.
Now don't think too badly of me.  I think there is a certain amount of learning curve that comes with beginning any new art form.  I know in so many of my college art classes we copied all sorts of art work....for the purpose of learning!  And learn I did.
I began to feel and see very quickly that the ideas I had come with, remember ideas not my own were not playing out.  I struggled and pushed and wrestled and came up with bad image after bad image.
At some point in the shoot when my couple was doing a clothing change, I had a little sit down with myself and told myself to trust, to see what I see and believe in that.  To watch and study and capture and have fun doing it.
So, I did.
We ended up running out of daylight that day, but in a way I was glad. 
I went home quite dejected and disappointed in myself, while also giddy with the opportunity to have been creative.
I asked my couple if we could head out for another half hour the next afternoon,so that I could get a few more shots. 
I simply had to. 
I had to take the opportunity to go with only myself, head empty of any expectation; feeble trust in myself displayed for all to see on my sleeve.
I had to prove to myself that I had it in me.

I hope you aren't reading this thinking I am crazy!!!
This was an insane pivotal point in my photographers life.  If I crashed and burned hard, then I wasn't sure that I had the guts to stick with it. 
You know how you get to thinking you are all that, just to find out that maybe you aren't???  I couldn't bear that! 

There is a flip side to this as well.
I want SO MUCH for my artistic gifts to be used in some way to bless others.
I want to be able to give and love and love in the giving.
I want my photography to be an extension of the skill set that I have that can be used to make a mark for the kingdom of God.  If I failed, then the chance of doing that was headed right out the window too.

Is anyone still here???  Somehow I think that most of what I typed above will just sound like crazy talk to 99% of the 23 people who happen to stop by here.  But I am forcing myself to keep typing for that 1% who may understand this struggle.

God gives us gifts, and I think the Devil spends his time trying to figure out how he can make us doubt those abilities. If he can get us to cave, then that is one less thing we can use for good and the devil wins.
He uses our perceived weaknesses, our inexperience, our pride, our doubts and our human stinkin nature to get at us...and he pushes hard.
That said, I don't want to be someone else, take pictures like someone else, draw like someone else, even see like someone else.
I know I have said that before...and I am saying it again to listen again.  I want to take pictures in a way that I see, because you know what....God has blessed me with a gift!!! I AM an artist!  I see differently and care about light and color and beauty in a way that is completely different from almost every other person I know.  It is a gift.  From God.  I want to use it for His glory.  

Ahhhh I am going to keep typing!  Can you feel my struggle here???  I hope so.

Why is taking someone's engagement pictures glory to God?  Well, I don't know. 
But I do know that God will supply opportunity for me to use this gift in appropriate ways, and taking gorgeous pictures day after day can only speed that along and build my gift for His use.

BIG SIGH!!!
How about some pictures now and some positive things. 

I am good at reading emotion and anticipating action.

I found out that I LOVE to watch people and how they specifically move.  I love to catch them when they are so totally being themselves that they don't even know it. 

I am best at waiting, and watching and sneaking in shots in between moments that are delightful captures of people.

I am making it a specific goal to hone each of those strengths to once and for all find my style,which people will recognize.
Thanks for taking the time to listen to this loooooong rant. 
I have been dreading typing it out, but knew it had to be done!
I feel like I am back on track and heading in an awesome direction...and I have my focus firmly fixed on the Father!!!
 No time to edit, now that I took so much time gushing!  ha ha forgive my mistakes again.
 Hey....I have got to get!!!  I still have to get ready to go to this wedding tonight! 

It's just not gonna happen today!! 
I have too too much to do. 
Big post tomorrow though, I promise!!
I mean I will try to post a big one tomorrow.

Babies are growing up

  Ohhhh, remember the teensy tiny baby Angel Fish? 
Thank you for pretending to care and that you could actually see anything!!! 
I just looked at that picture and realized how ridiculous it was to try to even get you to see those fish that day. 
Oh well.
I know though that you can see these guys today!
Okay, so to start with here is the momma again so you can remember, and will you just look at how her babies have grown??!!??
There were two with a yellow tint to them, maybe tending to be albino???
We shall see.
The other 13, (no I didn't count, I just took my friends word for it) have the tell tale stripes of their parental lineage.

Can I just tell you that I am completely grossed out by being able to see through them. 
Blech!

 But intrigued as well.

Gotta tell you, chasing around these fish on completely manual focus is not for the faint of heart or impatient.
My lens chooses to only focus on the glass, so trying to spin it about and follow these darting beauties was some feat!!  I know these are no awarding winning shots, but they sure tickled my friend...so that makes em good enough for today.