One Week Later

It would seem as if Life has put Creating on the back burner.  Since my mojo was tired after two long days of work, I decided to  play around with some photos I took on Sunday after a rare accumulation of snow at our house.  Remember my First Signs of Spring?  Here is Spring one week later.

This was taken when it was still cloudy and spitting snow

Then the sun came out and made the snow just glisten on the flowering buds

I actually got brave and played around with the brush tool in Photoshop Elements 9 on these photos. 

Baby steps.  That's all I've got is baby steps on this photo editing.

I actually took quite a few pictures of the youngest kiddo playing in the snow.  I think he would have stayed outside until it melted (unlike his older brother who rolled out of bed late in the morning and then did a lot of groaning and moaning when I finally told him I was kicking him outside for a while!). I really need to go through those photos and see if I got any worth posting.  But that will have to wait until another day.  It would seem that the cries of "MOM! I don't have any uniform pants for school tomorrow!" are going to demand that I face that dreaded task of laundry once again.  

'Till then...................remember to take a moment or two just for yourself!





First Signs of Spring

My good intentions of practicing my photography skills have already been pushed aside.  Not for the lack of desire.  But for the lack of time to figure out the photo editing portion. 

But yesterday, I noticed the first signs of spring are starting to bloom. And it was just too perfect of a day not to take advantage of the gorgeous weather, the bright blue sky and the blooming plum trees in our yard.

This little guy kept turning his butt to the camera every time I pushed the shutter.  Maybe he was trying to tell me something?!

I would really like to figure out how to add layered textures to my pictures. I think it would help cover the lack of skill I have with my point and shoot photography. 

Maybe I should just focus on getting the actual editing down to a reasonable time, without my cheat sheets first!  

'Till then...............I hope you have a wonderful, bloomin' day!

Effects

I still haven't gotten up the energy to mess up my neat desk.  Instead, I went out on a limb and messed around with some effects in PSE9 (photoshop elements 9).

I have NO idea what I'm doing!  But I had fun!! 

I think I'll use this for my 3rd picture for my Focus 52 challenge. 

Actually, this gives me an idea.  I just might have to start messing up that desk after all. 

Till then................go out on a limb and try something new....you never know what ideas it will inspire!!

Two of 52.........and a sneak peek!!

These last couple of days, the MoJo has been flowing out of me like crazy!!  Maybe it's the bright 70ish degree sunshine reflecting off the snow capped mountains (that are at least an hour away!!).  Maybe, it's the fact that I'm walking closer to leaping off the cliff.  Who knows?!  I'm just enjoying the adrenaline rush!!

Thought I'd give you another peek of the project that I've been working on.  The Toad mentioned that I should be taking pictures of some of the steps as it seems you all like that.  While I was taking this picture, I rather liked the angle that I just happened to shoot it. 

One b/w conversion later (and a quicker photoshop element edit this week), here is picture 2 of Focus 52



Curious?  Mark your calendars for January 18.  The E-Team is gearing up to celebrate eclecticPaperie's 4th anniversary!!  Trust me.......this hop is part of the reason the MoJo is in over drive.  You DO NOT want to miss it! 

Just sayin'.

Till then.....................

Focus 52

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!   If you are looking for the E-Team's Let's Get CRAAAAKIN' hop, you can find it here.  You have through Sunday to leave a comment and be eligible to win the goodies from the eP blog, which will be announced on Monday, January 10.

*****



  One of my aspirations for the New Year included exploring some other creative worlds besides paper crafting.  One of my  past adventures included a introduction to photography while I was still an art major in college.  I was given a great Cannon camera from my folks at that time that gave me the option to have the camera do the work automatically or I could manually choose the settings.  Great beginner camera.  I still have it, stored on the top shelf of my craft area closet. 

Only one problem with it.

 It uses film.

Does anyone even make film anymore? 

So, until I can prove that I am worthy of a digital SLR (wait.....I'm WORTHY of the digital SLR!! I just need to be able to justify the COST of it!!) I am still taking pictures with my kiddo's point and shoot cameras. 

Because my kids have all the digital fun toys and I am still stuck in the "camera with film" age.

I got the inspiration to go back and explore photography while looking at all the photos taken by  The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummonand) and her readers. Oh my!!  There are some incredibly talented photographers out there!!  And some very cool photo editing!

It so happens that one of those readers and photo contributors would be Gail of Louisiana Belle.  Last year she challenged herself to Project 365. Yep, a photo a day.  She did it too!!  Way to go Gail!!  Somewhere along the line, I commented on one of Gail's photos and we have since began, what I hope is, a good cyber/blog friendship. 

This year Gail has decided that Project 365 was a bit much. Who can blame her?  Instead, she is going for a Focus on 52 photo project.  I asked if I could join her in this new challenge and graciously, she said yes.  I figured it would take me all week just to figure out how to edit my photos at this point, but give me the push I need to stick with the slow learning curve I seem to have when it comes to computer stuff.

 The Toad, being the Prince in disguise that he is, bought me Photoshop Elements 9 recently for my birthday.  So, one of the cliffs I'm taking strides to LEAPING off is learning PSE 9 while improving my photography skills. 

This would be a HUGE cliff.

Today I thought I'd share the my first photo in Focus 52.  Nothing fancy in the editing here, folks!! I consider myself pretty lucky that I still have the original photo intact!! LOL!

First up:  Photo of the only willing subject in my house at this time:  Rusty, our lovable, annoying, sassy, but loyal, Australian Cattle Dog.  This dog SERIOUSLY needs to live on The Pioneer Woman's family ranch.  Of course, being the city dog he was forced to become, he'd probably get the bejeebies kicked out of him by an angry cow. Or by Charlie, the Basset hound, wannabe cow dog.

ANYHOOS!! Here is the photo straight out of the camera

And here is the edited version

The basic editing (that took me all morning, I might add) allowed me to bring back the color and detail from my over exposed shot.  The Toad thinks I added a bit too much color, as Rusty's collar is no longer that vivid shade of turquoise.  I say "pfffffllllltttt" and that it's not bad for my first "real" attempt at editing!

Baby steps.  That's all I've got for now.  Baby steps.  But each little baby step will bring me a bit closer to the edge of that cliff. 

I'm off now to help one kid add detail and color to his mission report that is due on Monday.  And to listen to the other kid whine that his Algebra homework isn't due until Tuesday "so why do I have to get it done now". 

Then maybe I'll have to give myself a pat on the back for those little baby steps and reward myself by  working on another project that is on my desk. 

Or realistically, I'll tackle the laundry that is growing by leaps and mounds in the baskets. 

Glad you stopped by again today!  Remember.....the first step in trying something new is the biggest one.  Baby steps will still get you closer to LEAPING. 

Till then........................explore some creativity