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!