Strive - Run

H.B. gone back in time.

Usage: Photoshop, layers of tinting, and text.

Happy March 1st. I continue.... left, right, left, right.....

Costa Rica

We have had several friends ask us about our trip to Costa Rica. Looks like this year is the year many will be traveling there! Wish we were going back too. It was really beautiful, however, my darling husband loves to get as much in as possible so our day drives were fast and furious. My photos don't reflect just how beautiful it is as I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to photograph the area. Here are just two from where we were in the rain forest. Check out the wild Toucan! I'm feeling hungry for cereal.

Black & White & Pink & Yellow

Tonight I was working on a project and took one of my flower photos and painted it in photoshop. I think I recall most of what I did, but I tweaked it so many ways that I'm not sure. Anyhow, I like how it turned out.

What do you think?

Wetlands Watery Wednesday

We walked into the wetlands for a brief time on Monday. We didn't have much time and the sun was going down quickly. I hate to admit, I have never walked all the way in and around for any great length of time.

Love the green moss!

Visit Watery Wednesday for more water photos

@ http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Valentine's Day

Bloomin' Flowers, It's Valentine's Day!

I made a card for all of you. Hope you had a sweet day.

Valentine Flowers

Yesterday the hub took the kids (girls) to the flower mart in LA. He came home with bunches of beautiful flowers. Here are photos of the Gerber daisies. Aren't they wonderful?

And this years color ~ Pink!

What Makes one a Professional?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a professional is one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally, participating for gain or livelihood; receiving financial return, permanent career, etc.

Kind of leaves it open in my book. Pay someone and they can be considered a professional. I used to always correct my kids when they would refer to me as a professional. I never wanted to over state myself (or is it that I am just over critical of myself!) with the fear of letting someone down. I guess my theory is that people will be pleasantly surprised instead of seriously disappointed. I want to please people not disappoint them. And I will scrutinize my work to the point of spending so much time that it is never.. uh, what was that, "gain or livelihood"? Now don't get me wrong, I never mind fixing or working a photo. However, if I got it right the first time I wouldn't have to, right? lol

So this first photo is one that a 'real' professional took. I looked at it and saw things that I wanted different. (or things I think should have been corrected prior to printing and charging a large sum for) Now this is where the blessing of having photoshop really comes in. Yes, sometimes things don't look out of whack when one shoots and it only is apparent when you look at the print in large scale. But this photographer did one thing that really set one person out in the photo. The girl in the front with the shorter length dress shouldn't be there. The dress was actually to the floor and should have had the girl adjust it. However, while I was in photoshop, I made sure I corrected everything else too. This will be a game for you on how many changes there are between the two photos. Similar to the magazine game in either Us or People, can't remember which. One of my main challenges with this photo was the paper it was printed on, so you will see some lumps and clumps - that is from the original paper.

Oh, and was I supposed to reprint the photo? No. Can I scan it? I don't know. But I do know that I didn't like that the photographers flash made the center girls look whiter, the one in the center stuck out like a sore... foot, the podium on the right, the girl next to it was too far to the right and one of the girls in the back was dwarfed too much. OK, so I'm helping you on the game. And yes, there are still things that could be changed to make a photo perfect.

One of the things I do is give the client ALL the photos on a disk. I don't want to be the one holding onto them for reprints. I do however fix and print some of my favorites or change things for them as they request. Again, I want them to be happy. Not just me.

Heart of the Ocean

This photo is from my shoot on Sunday. I took it and in layers, made a black and white overlay, added a vintage soft layer, and place in a layer of texture. Just played for a while.

My soul is full of longing

For the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean

Sends a thrilling pulse through me.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Angels

I was helping my sister catalog her wedding decor and she pulled out these angel bookends. They are so beautiful! I really think they are spectacular and if it wasn't for other people living in this house, I would use them as door stops!

I also did a photo shoot yesterday down at the pier. Senior photos for a young lady that we've known for most of her life. She is very beautiful but not comfortable in front of the camera. Mag came with me and shot some photos at the same time. The first two are mine and the last three are Mag's. I think Maggie has a great knack for photography. She loves to take photos and she has a nice whimsical way about it. I love it when she comes with me because she can get shots from a different perspective.

I think this is my favorite....