September 30, 2010

Before and After



I'm a little behind today. First my computer froze, then shut down on it's own and would not reboot up. Then a huge and lovely thunderstorm hit our area. I love thunderstorms. The louder the better. My puppers...not so much! We lost power for about 3 hours. In my boredom I went outside between downpours to find neat picture opportunities in our yard. I got lots of really cool pics. I can't wait to edit them. But first I had to wait for hubs to come home from work and fix my computer. I picked 1 to quickly edit and still join this meme. It's only 8:00 PM on the West coast!


I took over 200 pictures today in my yard(some of that was practicing different settings) and at least 1/3 of them turned out like this picture. My camera is fairly new(got it last xmas) and it has NEVER done this before. I didn't even know it was happening till I uploaded to the computer. So now I'm skerd I have a broken camera. I was able to save a few of these choppy pics by cropping like I did with this one. I'm still bummed though.
(SOOC)
(EDITED)
I use a Canon Rebel xsi and CS5!
I cropped the picture,
used PW action Fresh and Colorful,
adjusted the levels,
flatten,
Used PW action Define and Sharpen,
flatten and save!

September 28, 2010

Random pieces of my life...

You know, I just got over being sick a few weeks ago. It wasn't a bug but more something physical. Still, sick is sick...right? Well, Last Monday I started feeling a cold come on. By Tuesday I was toast. One of the worst colds I've had in a very long time. In fact, I am still coughing and still have a lot of congestion. That's 9 days!!!! It's all good. I'm slowly getting back on my feet. I'm hoping not to get hit with a third wave...you know, 3's a charm and all that.

Anyhoodles...

I've done next to nothing for 9 days! The past few posts I already had those pics edited(except the Friday fix-it. That's not my picture. It only took me a couple minutes to edit.) I wanted to share a few more pictures I took of my nieces and nephew. I took them the weekend before I got sick using my brand new 50mm 1.8 lens. Not only do I love these kids to tears but they are also very willing to be my practice models. Especially as I have lost my live-in model. Speaking of my niece Rose, today she turned 15!!! I feel like she was just here. We miss her. Okay, moving on...

I bought these lovely flowers at Costco last weekend. I've been enjoying them on my bar all week. I had to use my nice pitcher to hold them. They had super thick stems. I do not have a vase that would hold that thick of a bouquet. They were also top heavy so I needed something with height so they did not topple over. I really just wanted something with Autumn colors. I have Autumn envy!
I noticed the petals started falling off so I started playing with them. Before I knew it I had all the petals off all the flowers. The colors were gorgeous. I had to photograph them. My creative juices were not flowing(they were dulled by the cold meds, lol). I cut a few flowers super short cause they were pretty too...even without the petals. In the end I liked the flowers better then the petals in the pics. These are just 2 of the pics I took. The blue underneath is one of Rose's bed sheets. I thought it would make a good contrast.

On Friday I found out it was going to be a full moon...sorta. The full moon was the night before. On this night it was considered a 99% moon. I convinced hubs to drive me to the mountains to our favorite view point overlooking the desert below(and I happily wore my pajama pants as I never got dressed last week!). We got there a few minutes before moonrise. It was perfect. I took my little mini tripod only to realize that I removed the connector off my camera a couple months ago. Whoops! I would be free handing this shoot. I used my 55-250mm telezooming lens. It was super windy. What finally ended up working is we parked the car facing North. I sat in my seat and faced East, rolled the window down part way and used the top of the window edge to help stabilize the camera. When the moon first came up it was a bright orange. Over the course of a half hour it changed to it's normal whitish glow.

This is from the view point as well. We saw a gorgeous sunset. This picture is perfect proof that water sunsets are not the only glorious sunsets out there.
I was wishing I had a lens that could do this alone. But, this is a VERY cropped picture. Still, it's amazing! I didn't even edit these. I didn't want to change the original colors.

Okay, so anyrambling...

I decided it was time to learn how to texturize a photo. I could have done something super artsy but I decided instead to change the background on a rather boring dull pic. Nothing major here. I just put the 2 pics together then used my eraser tool to erase the texture from her body. It was tedious! Not bad for my first time, eh!
Oh yeah...here's the original. Great girl...boring background! (This pic is not sooc. It was edited first to even her skin tone and give an over all boost.)
Wow, are you still here? I thought I lost you a few rambles ago! Sorry about that.

I found a new great book. It is The Phantom of Pemberley. It is written as a continuation to Pride and Prejudice. I am so in love with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth that it pains me to see the story end. I always wondered what their life might be like after they married. It is written as a romantic mystery. There is a lot of mysterious action plus you get a follow up on your favorite characters...and even a few you love to hate. The sickly Anne may find her way out of her mama's grasp and into love...but with who? And will mama approve? Georgiana grows up and falls in love. But does her man live through the trials at Pemberley? You must read it to find out. This book was written by Regina Jeffers. I think she stayed true to the era and to the original story while bringing a current feel to the book. It is NOT a christian book! There are a few risque scenes between Darcy and Elizabeth...but they are married after all. The scenes are more suggestive then gross and dirty. I was not offended at all by them.

Of course, I found this book while looking for another Pride and Prejudice book. My friend Erin mentioned on her facebook status that she was reading it. Well, HELLO? It's me! The wannabe Mrs. Darcy!!! The day I saw that status I convinced hubs to take me to the bookstore. The book is called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I also found it had a prequel called P & P & Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls. The first book follows the original story line but has Zombies written in. It's quite something else. The prequel is a complete new book. It shows how the Bennett sisters became Zombie fighters. Anywho, make of it what you will. I bought them all and read them while I was sick.

As a P & P lover I would recommend The Phantom of Pemberely for sure. If you are a die hard like me get the Zombie books as well. Whatevs...I'm really long winded tonight!

Leave me some love!!!!!! and don't unfriend me just cause I ramble...please!

September 27, 2010

RAW(e): GIRLY

I am joining in at Sailor & Company for a meme called Raw(e). This weeks theme is "girly". I immediately thought of this pic of my puppers Kassie. As I don't have a little girl of my own...or a tutu...my doggy had to do. The bow is one my mom made and put on my bday package. We all took turns wearing it as a headband for a pic. Even my hubby...he's a good sport. Kassie also wears a pink collar otherwise people think she is a he! That just won't do!!! Kassie is all girl.

(The pic had to be SOOC and so it is)
Feel free to leave Kassie some love!

September 24, 2010

Friday Fix-it #72

 
Just for fun, I am joining in with iheartfaces for a Friday Fix-it. I can't pass up this awesome opportunity to practice my mad skillz.

(Original Photo)

 (My mad skillz)

What I did:
I lightened it a smidge;
flatten;
used Coffeeshop Golden Vintage action;
on vintage layer I painted over the people
with a 50% opacity to darken them back up;
flatten;
 I used the Glamour shot action so I could clean up dads face;
on the skin mask I used a 25% opacity on dads face;
flatten;
I cropped the picture;
then for fun I rounded the corners;
DONE!

p.s. I think this is hilarious...whenever I use a different character like # in my title it always turns it into a smiley face. It must be the font, I s'pose!

5 Question Friday

1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)? Probably British or maybe Australian! They both sound yummy!

2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck) Uuuuhhh....NO! I need my bed.

3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet? Yes...when ya gotta go ya gotta go!

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with? Mmmmmm...Colin Firth. But only if he would stare at me the way he stares at Elizabeth Bennet! I love you Mr. Darcy!!!

5. Where did you and your significant other go on your 1st date? Our first date was to his company's Christmas party. Then we drove out to our local mountains to a scenic view point and talked for hours. I didn't even get a hug or anything for that date. He wouldn't even declare himself for another 2 weeks after our first date. It was frustrating to say the least!!!

September 23, 2010

Before and After


I am linking up with Pixel Perfect again to share a before and after photo. This photo was taken this past weekend while hanging out with friends for the day. I grabbed my niece, who I rarely see, and took her outside for some random shots. I have edited several versions of this photo. I chose this one because it was far different from any of the edits I have done before. I used the Coffeeshop action Vintage Blush. It was a learning experience  to finally figure out how to paint out parts of layers you had put on. The "blush" washes out the whole picture in a pink tone. I had to erase the blush from Alyson's body. I think I did it at a 50 or 60% opacity as I liked some of the pink tone.

Anyhoodles...

I am far from being an expert, but rather, a beginner in the art of photoshopping! Comments, advise or simply lavishing mad love on me is more than welcome!!!

I shoot with a Canon Rebel xsi and photoshop with cs5.

September 16, 2010

Before and After

I came across a blog hop that had my name written all over it. It's called before and after hosted by Pixel Perfect. You show 2 pictures. 1 straight out of camera(SOOC) and 1 that has been edited. Here's my go at it.

My friend and I, with her kids in tow, went out to the mountains a few weeks ago to explore a camping area we both knew growing up. This campground has a little creek that runs through it. We let the kids play in the water for a bit. It was tentative at first as they were unsure of getting into a pool they could not see through. Although, I'm not sure why...they go to the beach all the time. I grew up swimming in water holes like this. Actually, THIS water hole!!!

Before(SOOC)
After
I use a Canon Rebel xsi and Photoshop cs5. (I love the actions from Pioneer Woman...and they are free!)

September 15, 2010

Has anyone seen Pez?

I can't find him!


(Forget Pez...where's the candy from this bouquet? I'm hungry!)

Ah, this explains where Pez may have gone. Dang you Pepper. I liked Pez!
Pez, if you're out there, please come home. We miss you!!!

(Pez was a joke gift given to my mom. We always give her 1 cow gift for every xmas. It became a game to hide Pez for each other. I mean hide it so well it would take weeks to find. Pez just sorta disappeared one day.)

September 12, 2010

Falling off the face of the earth...

Wow! It's been a while since I've been on here. The only excuse I have is that I was sicker than a dog. I somehow hurt my tailbone. Don't know how as I never fell on it. I never fell at all. Obviously I don't think I bruised my tailbone. I think I somehow cramped a muscle. It's the only explanation I can come up with.

Anyhurtslikeamother....

It hurt like nobody's business. I couldn't sit on my bum or lay directly on it. Bending to sit down or the process of standing from a sitting position was horrible.

We had some percocet in the house...so I took 2 when I got out of bed and 2 more around 4 PM(this was on Thursday). The problem is that I don't do well with codeine. By 5 PM  I was sicker then sick. Fun, let me tell ya!

Also, I was way under calories for the day. I am already consuming the lowest amount of calories a person can get away with. Friday I continued to purge the codeine out of my body(that reads: I slept all day). It was also the second day to be way under calories. I was getting worried about my nutrition(my water intake was insanely low as well). I broke my diet to eat something.

Yup, I broke my diet. With what? A Cobb salad with grilled chicken. How does that break my diet? Because I'm fasting!!! Needless to say, the food helped me improve very quickly. Saturday I felt much better(my bum still hurt though) and I got right back into fasting.

Today, I feel so much better. My tailbone is doing a bit better too! This is the first time for me to sit at my computer since Wednesday night. I have been using my iphone to do anything online which leaves me limited. My iphone can do a lot but it is frustrating with how small the screen is and how slow it is to type.

Anyhoodles...

It's good to be back!

September 5, 2010

gettin' to know me!

Getting to know YOU

1. Do you like seafood? Heck to the NOOOOO!!!!
2. Are mermaids hot? Uhhhh...sure.
3. Have you swam in the ocean? Yes. You cannot grow up near the beach unless you have swum in the ocean. It's just not right!
4. If you got stung by a jellyfish, would you let a stranger pee on you? Heck to the NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
5. Have you ever pee'd in the ocean? Ummmmm...I plead the 5th!
6. Can you make a cute fish face? (Show a pic..if you want) Probably. I bet everyone can.
7. When you see the lobster tank at the grocery store do you just have this overwhelming urge to set them free or cook them up? Neither. I want nothing to do with any fish tank. Ever!
8. Are you afraid of sharks? In a healthy respectful way, sure. I'm still not afraid to swim in the ocean though.

Leave me lots of love...it's my birthday!

September 1, 2010

Hubs 15 seconds of fame...

Hubs thought it would be funny to chronicle him shaving off his goatee. Seriously! His idea...NOT MINE!

Anysharprazors...

Let's remember what he looked like with a full goatee.
The sides...GONE! Half of the mustache...GONE!
The whole mustache...GONE!
A lovely racing stripe!
Half of the chin goatee...GONE!
Tada!!! (of course, this after shot was taken before he fine tuned it with a hand razor so he still looks stubbly)
See how far I will go for my husband? All he has to do is ask and I will be happy to give him 15 seconds of fame on my blog.