Here's my second go at Editing....

Remember this picture??

How my face was soooo red? And I just made it black and white to get rid of it??

I like the black and white. It's different...
But here's something Beth showed me how to do to get rid of the red and still have color!!

What do you think? Do you like the color edits or the black and white?

Then the other day, I read about backlight vs. front light on Pioneer Woman.
So I took my camera out and tried it. But with that lovely backlight the front of the picture is dark! UGH! Now I need to learn to take the picture differently if I am going to like it....

But Beth says not really!! She is sooo good!! Here is the edited version....

I really like it!!Do you?



Here's my example of front light. It is a lot brighter...not so soft...But also much warmer....I like it too. This picture has no editing done and I still like it. How about you?

I am going to have to get organized though and compile my notes so I can find them again when I need to. Also, if I keep this up like I am supposed to, it might actually stick and I won't have to go looking for notes :)!

Thanks Beth!! Check out some of her own Photography and edits at http://www.playinwiththepaulsens.blogspot.com

A New Year's Resolution

For New Year's this year I thought I'd try a Resolution. I'm not very good at keeping them, but I thought I'd try something I've wanted to do and make it very doable. Hopefully. Anyway, I wanted to learn something new. At first, I thought of an instrument, but at this point in my life I think that is beyond me. So, I thought, I have a new camera and I always complain I don't know much Photoshop, so there you go. That's what I need to learn more of...My friend Beth volunteered to help me every Friday with editing a photo since I thought I'd do one a week. She talked to me about a couple of things in Photoshop on Friday and then said I should put up a before and after ala Beth and Stacey!

Basically, I've adjusted levels, sharpness, and some color correction along with cropping. This eagle was outside my parents big windows on Christmas Eve. Carter is totally happy opening a present on Christmas Eve. The Kitty in the barn door was at a nearby farm that my dad was caring for the animals. So, tell me what you think...Too much of something? Too little? Maybe it's not a great crop?? Please give any suggestions so that I can improve!

The real question I have is...Why do you edit? Do you edit because you are going to hang the picture on your wall? Do you edit because you are making a book? Do you edit just for fun? What do you intend with the pictures?
I'm not a very good printer of pictures and I am wondering if I should be printing all of these I'm trying to edit...Also, I am wondering how to know what size to crop to when I don't know what I am doing with the picture in the end?
Just questions and ideas I have....

Photography

I worked last Saturday and when I got home I noticed how cool the moon was lighting the river so I went home and talked Emily into going and taking pictures with me. We grabbed one of Al's neon shirts and hats and gloves. I parked off of the bridge and put my flashers on....a nice policeman stopped and talked to me. And then we went out to the bridge which incidentally is on a highway and took some pics. Emily used my old camera and I used my new one!! Hers needed some settings adjusted, but she was cold and worried about being on the bridge and cold so we headed home, but I did get a couple of interesting shots...

This reminds me of some artwork hanging in my sister and brother in law's house. It looks like not much of anything until you get up close to it and can pick out the objects in the landscape. I lightened it just a little. I don't edit much so I'm not sure, perhaps it needs something a bit more?? What do you think? Beth???

On another not, I'm still not done Christmas shopping and sending cards, etc. but as of today closer than I was yesterday which is always a big plus!!!

Art?

I got a postcard in the mail the other day from the Iowa State Fair. They said they were currently accepting submissions. I love contests and the Iowa State Fair is near and dear to me since I got third place last year and was only hoping to get in.

But I haven't been very diligent at taking pictures every day like I should. Sure I take all the important events and a few others here and there. But I hadn't been seeking "art." I don't know if I was being lazy or tired or busy or or or...I am making excuses I know, but whatever, on Emily's birthday I noticed the sun shining through one of my few tulips and had to stop a moment and take a pic.

These are really big because blogger has new features and I wanted to try them out. Cool huh?

Do you like any of these? Are they artsy? Which one is your favorite or what suggestions might you have? Give me a comment and let me know what you think.

Thanks!!!

Winter Wonderland

I told Casey we would go out and make a snowman, but I guess I missed the perfect snowman weather yet again! I actually haven't seen any yet this winter, but I've been told there were a couple of days...Oh well, we stacked ice chunks and Casey was happy.
Emily playing with an icicle...
Carter taking a break from working in their "Ice Chunk Fort". He has worked really hard, creating paths, rooms, and unearthing ice chunks...
He're are some attempts of photography with all of this fog and hoar frost. I need to probably edit a bit, but here's SOC.





Wouldn't this have been perfect with a cow??? I played with the White Balance to make it look all golden... What do you think?

I took some more today....a friend suggested that I try and overexpose a little bit to make the white whiter, etc. I'll upload those and you can see what you think!!

Tomorrow - freezing rain!

Happy Winter!!

I see the Moon

My sister in law got a new Canon Rebel Xsi for her birthday and she has really enjoyed it. My brother in law is also having a ball with it. They seem to be taking different types of pictures, so there haven't been any major battles yet, but we'll see. *smile* Anyway, back to my point. Oh, I hadn't mentioned a point yet. Oh well, I'm getting to it.

My brother in law likes still photos, flowers, animals, the moon...He has been taking some awesome moon shots and has encouraged me to try. It has taken a long time and a lot of playing with settings and being brave, etc. But, I finally got some moon pictures that I am proud of.



I see the moon...
The moon sees me....
God Bless the moon...
And God bless Me!!!

Funny thing about all of these pictures is that it is the same moon on the same night within a few minutes of each other! I was intrigued playing with my white balance setting and seeing how it changed the appearance of the moon. Emily of course likes the pink moon! What a strange world it would be if the moon were pink...That could be a fairy tale in the making...

Art???

Is it art??? I keep reading that one way to take great pictures is to study pictures that you like and try to emulate them. So, the other day, I took the kids outside and we walked around and I took pictures trying to take some artistic shots. Then I came home and tried some new things in Photoshop Elements 5.0. I keep wondering if I have an artistic eye or not or if I like my pictures just because they are of those I love...




I really want to take a picture where the subject is in clear focus and the background is fuzzy, because this is what I have been noticing that really appeals to me in pictures. But, I don't seem to be able to do this. If you have any pointers, please let me know. I have an Olympus point and shoot 6.1 megapixel cameral and I don't think I can do this. I have been camera shopping a bit and this makes me want to try a bigger camera, but I am afraid that I will end up not liking it, thinking it is too heavy, or not using the features that make it cost so much enough. I am torn. What kinds of cameras are you using and what do you like about them?


Also, what do you love about pictures?? What constitues a great picture for you??

Write in and let me know!! I'm interested to hear from you!!