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 .

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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!

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 #1

 #2

 #3

#4
(Kinda dreamy)