Photoshop is fun!

I know, I haven't posted Christmas stuff. There's lots of it for you to enjoy. Instead, I've been discovering my Photoshop Elements program. A friend told me about some "action sets" I can download to tweak photos. I'm having fun, and I still have so much to learn!

Here's before and afters side by side:

Original ~~~ No noise

Original ~~~~ Oh the Drama

Original ~~~ Color boost

Original ~~~ Sharpening

A budding photgrapher

Beth has the Fisher Price tough digital camera. She loves taking pictures. I recently downloaded them. I guess I should download more often- there are some oldies but goodies on here. Oh, the perspective of a kid!

And the winner is.....

These are some pics Christie took for me on a visit "home" a year ago. Too bad the ones from a couple months ago are right-click protected on her site (and I haven't ordered them yet)

So, our winner:

True Random Number Generator Result: 5

Courtney! I'm so excited that you will have a chance to have pictures taken with your biological family. Now, I guess you need to get that trip scheduled! I'll give you the certificate when I see you next. Congrats!

For the other 4 who entered, sorry you didn't win. I hope you will give Christie a chance next time you need photography. Don't forget to tell her I sent you! www.christiemcgrathphotography.com

Surprise- a give away!

If you live in the Houston area or would willingly make a trip to the Houston area, have I got a deal for you! I got a great gift certificate in the mail that I thought I could pass on. It's a free session and free 8x10 photo with a fantastic photographer, Christie. This gift is valued at $85! To see Christie's work, go to http://www.christiemcgrathphotography.com/ She has so many great ideas, tons of great props and even fancy tutus!

Why am I not using it you ask? Well, I've been using Christie as a photographer since she started about 5 years ago. See that picture above, that was a playdate day, run upstairs (when her studio was still at home), take a picture of Beth playing with a bowl of water, photoshop the fish. Isn't that stinking cool?! So, I don't mind passing this on to someone new. Even if you don't win, I encourage you to try her out (tell her I sent you). You'll be so thrilled you did!

How can you win? Leave a seperate comment for each entry.

1. Leave a comment with your name

Ex) Jane Doe

2. Go to Christie's website, find your favorite picture then leave a comment telling me about it.

Ex) Jane Doe- the baby that looks like it's hanging in the net

3. Leave a comment telling me what/who you would have photograhed if you win.

Ex) Jane Doe- I want to have sexy pics taken as a gift to my hubby (seriously, she can do this)

4. Use your blog or facebook status to tell other people about this contest! Then, come back to let me know you did.

Ex) Jane Doe- I blogged it on itsmyblog.com

I will randomly pick a winner on Friday, May 1. If you win, I'll contact you for mailing info and get the certificate in the mail on Saturday.

Good luck!

I'm a-learnin'

After taking the first class for my camera, I got outside to play with what I've learned. I thought I would share some of the fun, mostly for memory sake (I learn by "writing" it down) but also that maybe you're interested in this info to be a better photographer yourself. Maybe, just maybe, some of the photographers I've admired can lend a little more learning for me :)

While I learned lots of things about lenses and focusing (oh, how cameras can be used to play tricks on the eyes!), I played with photo composition this time. All of these were shot at dusk, flash off, SOC (straight out of the camera, no photoshopping)

Composition- How will the print look?

Curves- The curve of the landscape can affect the beauty of the photo. Think about the beach. Just staring out at the vast ocean or looking at the waves breaking on the shore- what's more appealing to the eye? This is a wall in the backyard, same wall, taken from each end (ignore the toys I didn't feel like moving).

Another wall in the yard- it gives depth to the picture

Leading Lines- where will they lead your eye in the photo? Standing just an inch over or moving the camera just a bit over can make all the difference. This wall is between my yard and the neighbor's house. Same zoom, same distance away from the wall (well, the best I could), just moving more to the left.

Sometimes you have to get down on the ground

Framing- use the surroundings to convince the viewer of a sense of depth or to focus in

Fill the frame- something I learned from my mom, actually. Do you want to see that the yard needs weeding or that there was a great wild bunny out there? Granted, sometimes, that picture you want needs to include scenery for the affect of the picture-the air around a volleyball player taking a diving shot

Also in that first picture- leave more space on the side of an object in motion, or even one that is perceived in motion (this bunny was happily eating weeds, not going anywere, until I got about 2 feet from it trying to pet it)

Light/Dark- The eye is naturally drawn to the darkest (or lightest) part of the picture. If I'd had a just-tall-enough subject, this would have made great framing too.

Turn the camera- holding the camera a different way may lend to a better, more inviting photo. (Move around, too) What do you think? Which one makes you want to sit on the porch to enjoy a sunset or a quiet morning? Hmm, I think I need to do that more often! Wanna come sit with me?

I have to do some manual reading (gasp!) to work on tricks with focusing and such. The next class I want to take is about getting off the auto mode. Then, one about using indoor/outdoor lighting to their full potential with photograhy.

My new toy

Yes, even I got something fabulous for Christmas- a new snazzy camera. I researched and debated then finally settled on a Nikon D60. I have so much to learn, but I am REALLY enjoying playing with it. The zoom lens (55-200) is amazing! I love the quick shutter speed too, to capture those busy kiddos. Here's some recent camera fun







One of my goals/resolutions for this year is to take photography classes so I can become a better photograher.