I Heart Faces | Fix it Friday #81

A busy weekend with friends and family = late getting this week's Fix-It finished, and entered! What a gorgeous couple, aka: Arden Prucha (Photography), and her husband! This one was captured by Michelle Johnson during the recent Dream Big Photography Workshop, and I love it, so I just had to get it edited and entered, even though it's late on Sunday ... or should I say, in the wee hours of Monday morning!

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this image, so, for a quick rundown on the procedures ... using PSE7, for the first edit, I cropped it to bring them in closer, flipped it horizontally, adjusted levels, contrast, brightened his eyes, and sharpened it up a bit, working a little more with color curves, hue, and saturation, then added a diffuse glow, to soften it up.  On the second edit, I used the first one, and added a texture, masking it off of their faces, and her hand. I also toned down that zipper on his jacket, as well.  On the third edit, I again, used the first one, converted it to b/w, added a gradient fill, and a tint black layer playing with opacity till I was satisfied, then toned down that zipper again ... I thought this one had an air of mystery about it.  Let me know your thoughts on these, or if you have a favorite!  Now, I'm headed out to see some of the others, as well, and if you, too, would like to see more edits of this gorgeous couple, just click on the I Heart Faces logo, below!

 Original SOOC By Michelle Johnson

 First Edit

 Second Edit

Third Edit

I Heart Photo Contest | Pet Faces

It's 'Pet's Week' over on I Heart Faces, and this one was a bit hard to decide on!  Having two cats of my own, and my sister having two, as well, I decided to have a pet photo session with all four of them, to see what I might come up with.  I was able to catch a couple that we all liked ... one of my male cat, and one of her female cat.  I finally decided between the two, and my sister will be quite happy to know that her cat, affectionately named, Miss November, was chosen for this week's challenge!  I just couldn't resist her little face in this image!  She was adopted from a local Pet Smart, as was mine, and has been with my sister's family for quite a few years now.  She's sweet, quiet, and shy, running to hide when we visit, so, I was very happy that she sat still long enough for me to snap this particular pose ... can't you just see her tapping her paw in agitation at the camera! Lol!  And my boy, well, I may post the one of him, soon ... just so he doesn't feel so left out! :)

If you'd like to see more adorable pet faces, or, if you'd like to join in on the fun and share one of your own, click on the logo below, and enjoy! 

I Heart Faces | Fix it Friday #80

I absolutely adored this image when I first saw it on the page describing the Dream Big Photography Workshop!  Oh, how I wish I could have been there!  I'm hoping, someday, they'll bring one a bit closer to home!  This particular image, taken by the extremely talented Jessica Paige, spoke to me of family togetherness, and love of sisters!  I loved everything about this image, so it was difficult to decide how to make any changes to it.  I worked on my usual four ... so here is what I came up with for this week's 'fix' from I Heart Faces!

On the first edit I started with brightening the eyes, adjusting color, contrast, and sharpness.  I then converted it to b/w, then to enhance it even more, I added a b/w gradient layer at 100% opacity ... adjusting sharpness and levels again.  I added a diffused glow, and finally an amazing texture layer from Shadow House Creations, setting that layer to multiply, and masking it off their faces, only a little. I love the result ... for some reason it reminded me of a picture someone, far from home, possibly in the military, would have had folded in his pocket, to pull out and look at when he was homesick!  

On the second edit, I used the first one keeping the color, adjusting to bring out more warmth.  Added the textured sky background, (another one by Shadow House Creations) masking it from the ground, faces, and frame.  Adjusted color levels, adding even more warmth, sharpening it up a bit, and finishing it off with a slight vignette.   

On the third edit I adjusted brightness, cropped it to bring those sweet faces in closer, adjusted color, and levels. I then wanted to brighten the sunlight even more behind them to see what that would look like, so I duplicated the image, added a 105mm prime lens flair, and lowered opacity to 68%.  Flattened, adjusted levels, adding a warm filter, then softened it with a diffused glow layer.  Not quite satisfied, I tried a monotone sepia layer, with opacity set at 60%.  Adjusted contrast a bit more, and this is my final result. Not full of the original color, but I liked the more muted tones to this one.

On the fourth, and final, edit ... same as the third, only converted it to black and white, adjusting brightness, contrast, and levels.  These are the results done using PSE7.

 SOOC
Image by Jessica Paige

 #1 - B/W with added texture
by Shadow House Creations

 #2 - Warm and full of color featuring
another texture from Shadow House Creations

 #3 - Toned down, and close up

#4 b/w

Would love your thoughts and comments on any of these edits!  It's great being able to practice like this, and if you'd like to see more of these adorable girls, or, try your hand at it, just click on the link below!  Have a blessed, and warm weekend, y'all!  Any of you getting snow right now?!  We have a cold rain ... and, snow is on the way!  Time to snuggle in, and head for for some hot cocoa, and popcorn! :)

I Heart Faces Photo Contest . 'Scenic' Black and White

Country, cornfields, and a camera!  Last minute I know ... and unfortunately, I missed the deadline by about 15 minutes, but still, I wanted to share something for this week!  I simply adore black and white images, and this is the one I had chosen for the contest.   Here we have Tim ... the one I spoke about last week ... the 'newlywed'!  (And thank you again, Angie, and Amy for picking my image as one of your favorites!)  Back to this week ... Tim is hard at work here, at a very special, outdoor, country event ... it was a beautiful warm day.  I know the scenery isn't quite in focus on this one, but trust me, it was beautiful!  To check out all the other amazing black and white scenic images, click here on I Heart Faces, or, their logo below!  I'm on my way there now! 

I Heart Faces Photo Contest . PAPER

It's been a little while since I've participated in I Heart Faces Photo Contest ... thought this one sounded interesting, and the possibilities .... endless!  I'm curious to see what others will enter!  My entry may be a bit unusual for the theme of 'paper', but I thought it would be fun to share.  My son's best friend, Tim, got married to a very sweet, and adorable, young lady named, Evy.  They're both amazing people, awesome photographers, and perfect for one another.  With both of them having lots of photog friends, they had oodles of pictures taken during their courtship, their proposal, and their wedding. 

During their post wedding shower, for those who couldn't make their wedding, they hung multiple (paper) photos, around the windows using old clothespins, and twine.  I absolutely loved that idea, so I captured a few of those adorable images.  This one was taken the day Tim purposed ... although it's not real clear, Evy's sweet face is there in the background, and *the ring you see on his finger is actually part of the coffee cup .... hers is real!  Their favorite Starbucks spot was in on the whole thing!  {*If you'd like to read more about this unique proposal, check it out over on Evangeline Renee!}  And, to see more 'paper images' from this week's challenge, all you have to do is click on the link above, or the I Heart Faces logo, below!  Hope you all have a wonderful, and blessed Thanksgiving week!

I am so excited to have my photo chosen as one of Amy & Angie's favorites for this week!
So honored, and encouraged, to be among these amazing entries!

Thank you both, and congratulations to all of the winners! 

You can see them all over on I HEART FACES!

Fix It Friday #78

This was the most colorful image that I've edited from I Heart Faces, to date ... I absolutely adored this little guy's eyelashes, too!  Thank you, Susan Keller for allowing us to edit such a sweet image!  I remember these tie-dyed t-shirts from a few years ago, and believe it, or not, I still have one of them around here ... somewhere! I've been battling the flu for two weeks now, and this photo did much to brighten up my day ... I tell you, it's been a long two weeks!  I use PSE7, and I did my best at getting all of the steps I went through written down this time, but still, I know I need to work at being more thorough at it!  I may have an excuse, though ... if I missed something ... you have my permission to blame the cold medicine! Lol!

For the first edit, I duplicated the image, lightened it using a screen blending mode layer - opacity at 100%, intensified these amazing colors, then adjusted the brightness/contrast a bit more. 

On the second edit, I took the first edit, added a lens flair - 105mm prime which was set at 138%, and adjusted the brightness/contrast. 

On the third edit, I began with the first edit again, cooled down the colors, giving it a creamy yellow color fill layer, then flattened the image.  I then gave more reddish tones to his hair, a lens flair - same settings as above, and finally adding a textured layer, masking it from of his face. 

On the fourth and final edit that I did, I converted the first edit to black and white, duplicated it, added a black and white gradient layer, leaving it at 100% opacity, adjusted the brightness/contrast, sharpened the image, and finally added a slight vignette. 

I would love to know your thoughts on these, and if you might have a favorite! I'll be heading over to see what the other Fix-It-Friday fans did with theirs, and if you'd like to do the same, just click on the link above to IHF's page, or their logo at the bottom of this post.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and a most blessed Thanksgiving week! :)

 . original image .

 . edit 1 .

 . edit 2 .

 . edit 3 .

. edit 4 .

Fix-it-Friday #77

Well, it's Friday again, already, and another opportunity from I Heart Faces to practice with our editing! I loved working with this image ... a little girl lost in thought ... how often I find myself there! This one courtesy of Michelle Johnson.  I had some extra time today, so, I did more than one edit.  It had a vintage sort of feel to it, so I went for that look.  Would love to know your thoughts, and if you might have a favorite among the ones here. :)

Using PSE7, I started out on the first edit by fixing the little flaw on her cheek, and removing a few stray hairs ... adjusted levels, contrast ... sharpened to bring out more of those beautiful eyelashes.  Adjusted color for skin tone, working with both hue and saturation to fade out the color of her shirt, giving it a more vintage feel. I then added a mocha layer, dialing the opacity back to 40%.  For the second edit, I used the first one converting it to b/w, with a bit more sharpening, then added a taupe layer - opacity 70%, then finished with a vignette.  For edits 3 and 4, I used the first edit, added two different textures, the last one giving it a 'dreamy' look, then, I masked those off her face, adjusted the contrast and colors just a bit, and these are what I came up with for this week!  To see more edits on this image, click on the logo below and scout the links at the bottom of the page. Thanks so much, for stopping by! Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

 . original .

 #1

 #2

 #3

#4
(Kinda dreamy)

Fix it Friday #76

I'm a few days late on this fix-er'-upper!  Ah, little boys and seashores, ya gotta love that combination! I loved this picture. Reminded me of my son when he was younger, minus the curly hair, that is!  I did a couple of edits on this one ... on the first edit, and using PSE7, I cropped out the shadow, got rid of the tag in his shirt, toned down the warmth and changed up the color, lightened and contrasted it a bit, and added a vignette.  On the second edit, I used the first edit, but stripped the color, lightened it up a bit more with contrast, and added two color layers to get this toned effect.  On the last two, I just added a texture to each of the edits I had originally done, with the exception of the one with color .. I added a yellow photo filter, and desaturated the color just a bit.

To see more "fix-it's" on this image, click on the logo below the images and head on over to I Heart Faces! Hope you all have a great week!

Original Image Fix-it-Friday #76

. First Edit .

. Second Edit .

. Texture on First Edit .

. Texture on Second Edit .

Photo Challenge Week 42 | In The Orchard .... and then there was that apple!

*The sun was so warm
Shining down on the ground,
As we sat in the garden
And looked all around.
I said to my Adam,
“Just look at us two!
Already, we’ve run out
of fun things to do.
We’ve eaten our fill
And we’ve climbed all the trees;
For didn’t God tell us
To do as we please?”

And then ... she saw that apple! 

I loved this week's photo challenge, and all the fruitful images it's produced!  You'll enjoy them, too ... I certainly have!  *The above poem is an excerpt from 'The Snake in the Grass', by Kathleen Long Bostrom.  I thought it was quite fitting for this particular photo, which I've entered over at I Heart Faces in this week's 'In The Orchard Photo Challenge'!  Little 'Eve' (Mercy) discovered that sweet, juicy, red apple, and notice Little 'Adam' (Levi) there in the background looking just a bit concerned ... maybe, because it appears she's going to eat it all before he gets a bite?!    

There are more wonderful photos to see ... just click on their logo below and scroll to the bottom of the page ... it's the perfect time of the year to take a trip to an orchard and enjoy a sweet, juicy, red, or green, apple!

Photo Challenge Week 41 - I Heart Beef

The word over at I Heart Faces this week, is BEEF!!  One of my favorite things to cook, and, in so many ways!  It's hard for some people to pass up a nice juicy steak, though, especially, my husband!  When I think of this challenge, I'm also reminded of the little lady they used in the Wendy's commercials ... remember her?  She'd shout out, "Where's the beef?" :)  Well, for my entry, you'll not see steaks, or burgers, meat loaf, or shish-ka-bob, instead, we have our local 'beef' hot dog connoisseur ... absolutely no pork here, and you should see all the fixin's he uses once that dog reaches the well-done stage!  

Recently, we were with some good friends, on a cool fall evening, around a glowing campfire, roasting those dogs ... and yes, there were s'mores for dessert, too, made with those extra-extra large marshmallows!  Now, I realize there is no face in this image, there aren't in many of the entries, but it's all about the beef ... at least, for this challenge, right?!  You can head on over to see more hearty entries by clicking on the link below this photo!  

Beef ... in any form ... it's what's for dinner!!

Love Your Shot ... Favorite Faces

This week, over on Love That Shot, is a new contest with the theme of 'Your Favorite Faces'. There are some pretty amazing entries over there, all good enough to win this week's prize of a $100 gift card to Florabella's Actions and Textures! I certainly wouldn't want to be Angie or, Amy, the guest judges from I Heart Faces, trying to pick the winner of this one!!  Florabella is definitely one of my favorites when it comes to enhancing any image!

Here is my 'favorite face' photo for this theme ... my adorable niece, Rylie.  She's such a joy to be around, always brings a smile to my face, and so fun to capture with all her expressive moods. She also has the prettiest blond curls, and I love catching them in the natural sunlight. I extracted all color in this image, added a taupe layer, tweaked the brightness, and contrast, along with adding a slight diffused glow, to give her somewhat of a halo ... all serves to give it a soft and dreamy feel.  Currently my editing program is PSE7, but, I am hoping to upgrade soon.  You just have to head on over to Love That Shot, scroll down to the bottom of the page and check out all the fantastic faces ... just click on their button below!

Fix it Friday #73

It's Fix-it-Friday, again ... and, I'm one day late! 

Check out more edits by clicking on this button:

Once there, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page,
and click on any one, or more, of the links,
and if so inclined, join in with us ... it's great practice!

~~~~

This week's image comes from Keli Hoskins.
This adorable little girl had such a cute expression on her face,

and the prettiest eyes!

I enjoyed playing around with this, and, making a few changes to the original.
I used PSE7, which, I might add, I am still learning about.

. original .

On the first, edit, below, I adjusted the levels, contrast, and colors, changing those up a bit ...
layered it with a hint of green using the photo filter ...
notice the flip-flops are now green.
Then I brightened up her eyes to make them pop, and added a light vignette.

Fix #1

On the second edit below, I stripped it of color, overlayed it with a solid taupe color, 

adjusting the opacity, brightness, and contrast, darkening the upper left hand corner, 

finally, adding a little lens flair in the upper right hand corner, dialing the opacity back about half way.

Fix #2

On the third, and final, edit ... I did basically the same as what I did to #2, 

only adding a texture, then masking it off of her. 

I then adjusted the brightness, and contrast a bit more before adding a light vignette.  

Not too sure about this one. Would love your thoughts on these! 

I need to improve on explaining all of my steps! =\

Until next week ... Happy October!
Ciao'

Fix #3

Fix-It-Friday #71 - Too Much Time with a Truck and Textures!

Yep, another edition of Fix-It-Friday is happening now, over on I Heart Faces, and this weeks photo is brought to you by our very own Angie Arthur ... this image being from a senior session. I have to say that Angie did an excellent job on this one ... the composition is fabulous!  Other than bringing color back into the sky, there wasn't much to do on improving it, so I just had fun trying out some different textures, which I got from Shadow House Creations.  (You can go absolutely crazy over there, downloading ones you like ... not to mention all the time you can spend just playing around with them!)

Now, back to these edits ... as you'll see, I didn't have much to do tonight, so needless to say, I probably spent a bit too much time working up all 7 of these! I had to stop myself, or I would have had who knows how many!  Can anyone relate?! Lol!!  Anyway, it was a relaxed evening, and I had fun!  The first step to the original was to adjust color and contrast ... next step was to layer on one of those delicious textures, masking it off of some of the areas, and again working with the colors, contrast, and levels.  This is where I spent most of my time on each one.  I also added a vignette, finally converting one into a black and white image.

You could do so much with an edit.  The possibilities are endless!  I realize these instructions are not quite as detailed as most are, but, I'm still learning how to use all the features of PSE7, and I seriously got a bit lost working on all of these tonight!  I would love your opinions though, and if you have a favorite, do let me know! :)  Scroll down below, click the button to see other creative Fix-it-Friday edits!  I'm headed over that way, myself! I'm anxious to see what others have done with this! 

Hope you all have a blessed weekend ... the weather here is absolutely beautiful!
Blessings - Deborah

^ Original ^

Image By: Angie Arthur Photography

 Fix #1

 Fix #2

 Fix #3

 Fix #4

 Fix #5

 Fix #6

Fix #7

Click the link below to I Heart Faces, and, see more Fix-It-Friday edits of this image. :)