I ♥ Faces - Fix-it Friday

What could be more beautiful than this little girl? I am thoroughly enjoying the i♥faces fix-it friday challenges and think I'm learning a lot and getting ever so slightly better at what I'm trying to learn.

The original image today is beautiful but slightly dark. This is what it looked like before I began




The first fix was a really quick fix by adjusting the curves in CS4 and very lightly "painting" over a couple of blemishes using a soft brush in her skin tone.



The next fix tweeked that peaches and cream complexion just a little more.



And a little more.



The next two images I used a texture over the one above. The texture is a soft pink and then used a fabric texture in green floral over that one (#5). Loved working on this gorgeous child. What fun fix-it Fridays are at I♥Faces.

I ♥ Faces Photo Challenge - Balloons

Since I have been so enamored with photoshop lately and since I didn't have a photo with a family face with balloons in it, I decided to work my photoshop magic with one of Diana's photos and create a family balloon photo. I won't enter it into the challenge but it's a fun thing to do anyway. I took this photo of Diana's



Then I found an appropriate photo of Drew that I could "create" him on the big screen. This is what turned out



Is that neat or what? I wish I could send it in to the photo challenge but I won't because I cheated and to be honest a professional could tell. It was so fun to work on though. Loved doing it.

Fix-It Friday Fix

I am beginning to thoroughly enjoy Fix-it Fridays at I♥Faces. This is the most fun website...something new everyday in the photography and/or photoshop world. As I said on facebook, photoshop is fast becoming one of my best friends. As I take more and more photos, I am realizing that you cannot take the perfect digital photo; every photo needs some tweeking in photoshop.

Today's Fix-it Friday photo is of a beautiful little fairy girl. Her eyes just grabbed me from the start. She looks as if she's been flitting about quite awkwardly or having so much fun flitting that she's not paying attention and running into things because she has some boo-boos on her legs. This is the original image from Fix-it Friday.

I pretty much knew what I wanted to do to it. I first repaired the bruises on her leg using a soft brush in skin tone. Then using Gaussian Blur, I blurred the background. After that, I layered a green texture with some lighting flair and set to screen at 75% opacity. I removed some of the texture from her face and clothing with a little extra taken off the eyes to make the pop. Next, I added the flair where there is more light in the upper left corner. Then I slightly rounded the corners giving it an ethereal look overall. I loved working on this fix. What a beautiful child.

On the Road Again...Jus' Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again - POSTPONED

UPDATE: Because of my continuing sinus infection/headachy feeling, etc., we have decided that this trip will be taken a little later in November. I think I will enjoy it much more later.

We're headed out Friday afternoon to a beautiful spot in Flat Rock, NC for a weekend of relaxation and photo taking. This should be a peak weekend for the fall leaves in Flat Rock and we intend to have the photos to prove it.

I'll have my own photos to post next week but wanted to give this preview of photos from the website of the Flat Rock Inn Bed and Breakfast. What a beautiful house we'll be staying in.

This is the exterior of the house

The Balcony from our Room

The Front Porch

The Sunroom Common Area

The Living Room Common Area

Our Room - The Victorian

The Dining Room Where Breakfast is Served

A Quiet Place to Read and Have a Cup of Coffee

I am excited to get to be able to have this quiet weekend away and what a beautiful place to stay.

Photoshop Contemplations

I have Photoshop CS4 at work and have been trying to decide if I want to buy it for home. I downloaded the 30 day free trial and am really enjoying having it at home. I've also been perusing the internet for tutorials, photography blogs and photoshop blogs and think I've learned a little.

A few years ago when Charlie was living in Oklahoma City, we went out to visit him and Carlos. One of the photos I took is at the OKC Memorial and is of Jesus weeping for the lost children. It also depicts through the use of 13 columns, Jesus coming to get the children who were killed that day. Today, I've worked on that photo a little in photoshop and wanted to post what I've done. Let me know what you think.



This is the original SOOC.



This is the first edit with some texture added.



This is the second edit with another layer of texture and some shadowing added.

So, what do you think? Should I buy Photoshop CS4 for use at home?

And oh, by the way, if you've never visited the Oklahoma City Memorial it is worth the trip. It is very awe-inspiring and almost makes you feel like you're in a sanctuary when you're there. You don't want to talk above a whisper.

It's Not Easy Being Queen

This week's contest at I ♥ Faces is a halloween dress-up photo contest. I think Abbie always thinks she's the queen but in this photo, she looks like she's grown weary of the role.

It's Not Easy Being Queen

Autumn is the Crowning Glory of the Year

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter. ~Nova Bair

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. ~Samuel Butler