Before and After

Ok I took the weekend off so I could spend some time with my family. But I am really glad to be back. A while ago I was looking through two peas and found a tutorial on putting a picture inside a picture and wanted to try it. So I played with a valentines card with that Idea in mind. Finished project it the picture at the end. Under each picture is a description of what I did as I combined these three pictures to get the final product.

SOOC ss 1/200 f/5.6 ISO 400.
First I changed the background to layer and used the magic wand tool to empty the picture frame. Then I changed the bright/contrast settings to 50(b)/40(c) create a duplicate layer change to threshold then gaussian blur at 20. Change blend to screen and lower opacity to 20%.

SOOC ss 1/200 f/5.6 ISO 400.
I followed the same instructions above starting with Bright/Contrast.

SOOC ss 1/1250 f/5.0 ISO 400
Changed the background to a layer then used the magic wand tool to remove the white background. Increased the saturation.
For final picture I copied dd into the picture with the frame and resized. Copied the flower over 3 times and resized. The brush is from obsidian dawn. Gave it a boarder and added the title.
CC always welcome. Thanks for looking.

On Theme

So the first photo is a story board I have been working on. I was really struggling with it getting the white back ground but getting orange skin. But I finally got it. (I think). I'm going to give this to grandma for Valentine's Day. So one of my focus is get a better understanding of how to use photoshop. Most pictures I do I can't recreate exactly what I did cause just do stuff and don't pay attention. But in this case I know exactly what I did.

My next focus I have totally fallen flat. I set a goal to go to the gym 4-5 times a week and I haven't been once this week being that both my vehicles ended up in the shop and then we had a mager storm (didn't want to drive) and then DH has a class tonight and since our other car is in the shop I am carless. So next week I will recommit to making it the gym and working out. At least shoveling snow and climbing the hills when sledding has been giving me a bit of a work out.

ss 1/160 f/3.5 ISO 200 Flash SOOC... I was also working on apeture.

On theme

So I know these pictures aren't good but they were fun. I won't even put the settings cause I know they aren't good. We got about a foot of snow today and it took an hour to dig our car out. We just went outside as a family and shoveled and played in the snow. One of things I want to focus on this year is playing more with my dd and spending quality time as a family. Today was a great day. We had lots of fun jumping in the snow. My dd just kept saying "more, more, more". I love the snow and love when it snows like it did or is (still snowing) today. It really makes me happy. Thanks for the CC I didn't know how to respond to some of your questions from yesturday So I just posted below. Thanks for all your help you guys are all awesome.

My dd really had a hard time walking in the snow. It was pretty funny but she was determined to get to her daddy.

In Response to Last post

Retouches based on your CC thanks for all your comments.

I just adjusted the levels as it was a pretty overcast day.



Some of you asked some questions about my last post and I didn't know who to respond to those questions so I thought I would just post here. On the colored pictures the reason they have a glow is because I do a guassian blur and then change the blending to overlay. It really gives it a nice color burst (only way I know how to do it) then you lower the opacity to taste. I like to do this on my photos that the focus isn't very good. It gives them a soft look. Thanks for the suggestions on lightening up the picture with my dd in the pink coat. On my other conversions I create an adjustment layer Hue/Saturation and change the blending to color. I don't adjust anything on that layer yet. Then I create a second adjustment layer, hue/saturation and lower the saturation to a black and white photo. Then I go back to my previous layer and adjust the hue until I get what I like. Then I create a fill color layer change it to soft light. Then I just play with the colors til I find something I like. I'm not sure if there is a better way to do it but that's how I do my black n whites, sepia etc. The self portrait was soooc. Thanks for looking and all your cc. I work on a lap top so I'm not always sure of the colors.

Playing in the snow

I have finally come to the decsion that I don't get the whole lighting thing and that I need to just stick with outside and natural light. I took a dozen pictures in the house with dd and the lighting is just horrible I can't figure it out for nothing. I was by a window, even opened the door to let more light in (brrrr cold). Brought out a lap everything turned out dark and grey looking. I just don't get indoor lighting. So after deleting like 50 images I took dd down to the park way to play in the snow. Here are a few that I have edited and would like some cc. I just signed up for a photography class at the ATC that starts in 2 weeks. So we will see if I can improve. Any CC on my conversions would be great. Thanks for looking and for all your CC.

SS 1/1000 f/10.0 ISO 400

SS 1/1600 F7.1 ISO 400

Same as first photo just diff conversion

SS 1/1600 F 9.0 ISO 400

1/100 F 5.6 ISO 100 Flash
I really wanted to do a self portrait and I am pretty proud how it turned out. I really like it. I should mention that the ones of my dd were taken in action mode so as to actually catch a decent picture. She moves to fast.

Photography 101

Ok so today is the first day of Photography 101 and we are doing aperture here are my pictures. I bought this flower to use as a prop for my dd's birthday picture (which I will be taking soon). I
thought it would look really pretty in the new snow we got yesturday.

ss 1/2500 f4.0 iso 400

ss 1/1000 f6.3 iso 400

ss 1/100 f 2.0 iso 400

This picture is for POTD "Focus". My dd is looking through my DH's photography book from his class he took a couple years ago. I have been studying the book. I really need to work on my '"focus" and my "focus" this year ly in taking care of my dd and also improving my photography skills. Thanks for all your comments I really look forward to getting them and following your suggestions.
ss 1/100 f4.0 iso 100

I really had to fight to get these pictures. My dd is really just done. I think that I will need to take a break with her for a little bit. I really wanted to get a sharp picture with her. I had to have her dad help so she would slow down. She didn't stop but she did slow done a bit. I would love some cc on my conversions. Thanks for all the comments I really look forward to them.

I did get her to sit still long enough to get a somewhat good picture with her dad. I'm just not so sure about the conversion.

Settings ss 1/200
f/5.6
ISO 100
Flash
White Balance set for shade. (forget to reset that)