Photo Challenge | Before & After - Texture Thursday

It's been a little while since I've posted, and I sure have missed it!  We've had a lot going on here, not to mention storm after storm that has blown through.  Wednesday was one day I'd not want to repeat any time soon, or ever!  I've been off more than on the computer these days because of the constant warnings.  Lightning and computers do not go together, but thankfully, we've had nothing as serious as other parts of the country.  So much devastation, and loss for so many ... they all continue to be in our thoughts and prayers!

Well, needless to say, I've missed a few of these photo challenges.  I've wanted to get back here to share some before & afters, and some textured images with you, so I thought I'd do both today.  I enjoy browsing through antique malls, and when I came upon a booth full old cameras, I couldn't help but stop to look over a few of them and snap a couple of quick shots for old-time memory's sake!  Here is one of the images I took but as you can see, it's not very appealing when it comes to composition, or lighting.  It was a bit dark and shadowed in the area where these were, so I had before me the challenge of giving this image some much needed character ... oh, but I do love an editing challenge!  First, I straightened and cropped it up a bit then went to work on fading out the color, adjusted contrast, and lighting, then finally added the texture layer to give it an even more 'weathered' look ... reminds me of something you'd find in an attic!  To add your own creations, or to see more 'Before and After' and 'Texture Thursday' images, just click on the links below.  Hope you all enjoy a blessed weekend!

Before ... SOOC

After ... Vintage Cameras Textured

Photo Challenges and finally ... Spring!

It's been a good day ... this Friday.  Busy indoors with housecleaning, laundry, dinner ... but the best part was spending the afternoon out in the sunshine with my dear sweet husband who first of all, blessed me by bringing home one of those yummy mocha coconut frappaccinos from Starbuck's after work!  If you don't know yet, it's what they call "happy hour" from 3:00 to 5:00 every day from now until the 15th ... hallelujah, they're half price!  You only have until Sunday, so you had better get there quick!  Honestly, I've never had one, that is until a friend introduced me this last week.  Thank goodness it was for the happy hour discount ... at the regular price they're as much as a gallon of gasoline these days!  After enjoying every last little drop of what may be my last one for awhile, and looking through some scrumptious gardening magazines, I got that coffee-kick giving me extra energy to plant some lavender with my hubby.  He's good at gardening ... at least someone in the family is!  He's taught me a lot, and ever since, I've enjoyed getting out there and getting my hands dirty ... especially when there's lavender around! :)

 

It was inevitable ...
winter has finally given way to spring's arrival ...
warm sunshine, blue skies, gentle breeze, flowers, birds,
the smell of fresh cut grass, bees 'a buzzin',
backyard barbeques, and yes, dirt ...
it's the promise of growth, and new life ... 

oh, how I love Spring ...

... and did I mention lavender?

... oh, and yes the sunflowers ...
mustn't forget about the sunflowers!

{another little 'gift' from my darlin' husband!}

And finally ... I'm entering a couple of photo challenges with the following images over at 'Before and After', as well as, 'Black and White Wednesday' ... this is my great niece (what you can see of her, that is), and my two, oh-so-cute, great nephews!  They all live out of state, and it's such a joy being with them when they're able to be here!  To see more, black and white, and before-and-after images, or to add your own, click on the buttons below. 

Hope you're able to get out and enjoy the weekend ... we're hoping this one won't be a total wash-out with all the rain we've been getting.  Today was exceptional, and we hope we get more sun tomorrow to completely dry things out around here.  We'd also like to browse some of the early spring garage sales and stop at a couple of farmer's markets.  There's a new one this year with lots of organic produce, honey, homemade soap, and flowers ... lots of flowers! :)

- sooc -

  

 - Canon 30D - Lens 24-70mm f/2.8 -
I warmed it up just a bit ...
hmmm, maybe just a bit too much,
but, you'll have to forgive me, I'm finding my way around Lightroom 3.
It's been a bit confusing since I've only used Photoshop Elements.
If anyone knows of any good tutorials for LR3, do let me know!

I also converted this image to b/w. 
I love how it brightened up the boy's faces here.
Be sure to check out the other entries ...
the link buttons are below.
Enjoy the sunshine, and have a blessed weekend.

Before and After | Purple Pearls and Sunshine

I love photo challenges!! It helps me to improve on my photography, and editing skills.  I recently came across a new one called, Before and After ... a weekly challenge hosted by Monica over on her blog ... Pixel Perfect!  Each Thursday you would enter an SOOC, {aka: 'straight-out-of-the-camera' image}, any theme, along with an edited version of the same photo.  You then share the 'recipe' ... your equipment used and editing program, and if possible, your step-by-step process on the edited version.  Once you've entered and linked up to her site, you can have fun checking out the other entries on the list!

This, being my first entry, and since I haven't been out and about with my camera too much lately ... {one reason being the weather, and more importantly, my son recently got married, :) and our life has been quite full in the past couple of months} ... so, I've chosen to enter one I took on a very sunny, warm day this past fall, just before the 'winter to remember' began!  This photo reminds me of the warmer days to come ... are you as ready as I am?!  This is my great niece, Little Miss Rylie.  She loves her purple 'pearls', and the sunshine.  I really love to capture the innocence of childhood, and you'll probably be seeing a lot of this little girl! 

As you can see the original 'sooc' image was a bit dark, and 'splotchy' ... it wasn't as sharp as I'd like it, either.  I had just gotten a new lens ... 50mm f/1.8, which I was testing out on a Canon 30D, my current camera.  It's been a little while since I edited this, but if my memory serves me correctly, using PSE7, I simply brightened up the image, adjusted the colors and contrast, got rid of the noise {something I still seem to have trouble with, but I'm working on it!}  Once I saw this, I couldn't stop there, and went one step further ... I hope it's okay for this challenge, but, I really liked this image in b/w, so just today, I converted the first edit and added a 'mocha' layer to it, warming it up just a bit, and finally adjusting the contrast. 

So, there you have it ... my first Before and After entry on Pixel Perfect.  I'd so appreciate your thoughts on these.  After a few years of 'practice', I am now working on getting my business off the ground this year.  I'm open to any encouragement along with some kind, constructive criticism! :)  I'm looking forward to meeting some new friends over at Pixel Perfect, and learning lots more about this passion of mine!  

To join in, or to see more Before and After images, just click on the logo below the edits! 
You all have a happy and blessed day!  ~ Deborah

Before and After

I've been loving the flowers this spring, so, I went back through some files from the past couple of years, to see what I could find to play with, in my editing program.  I came across this beauty ... with a little 'friend' attached.  These are all of the same image .. the first one is SOOC ... (straight out of the camera) ... no editing here at all ... sorta dark, and dull.  On the second image, with a few clicks, I let PSE7 do a little 'auto' processing of it's own ... nothing too exciting, but it did bring out the colors.  On the third one, as you can see, I changed the color up a bit, added a fantastic texture, by Jerry, from Shadow House Creations, tweaked the blending mode, and opacity, and just had fun with it ... it's all for practice, and not every time, but sometimes, what we end up with is kind of nice. I'd like an opinion, or two, here, so, let me know your thoughts on the last one below! =) Constructive criticism is always helpful!