Since my husband and son don’t like the pictures taken (and my husband isn’t home right now), one of my precious dogs will have to do, Chessie. This is only one of the things she is doing today – sleeping. Earlier she was playing in the snow. I’m not good enough yet to get some of those pictures. So here’s the easier of the two using a couple textures from Kim Klassen’s Ben Collection.
I’m hoping to get acquainted once again with my camera and to make some real progress. Till tomorrow…
Celebrating Teens: why not my teen, even if he was grumpy because I was going to make him late to pick up his date for the prom and stomped off angrily while I kept shooting (wish I wouldn’t have cut off his feet). Might as well give it a try:
Now I know not to say “cheese” just “stomp away all grumpy like” so I can get a good shot of you! ♥
Hey, I might as well give it a try since I’m learning. This morning there was a fog that created this magical thick frost on everything. It was so beautiful.
My daily routine is to go in my son’s bathroom and turn down the thermostat. Guess he likes a “steam” shower.
I used a Lightroom Preset called General Punch and one of Skeletal Mass’s textures in PSE.
My interpretation of Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
This painting was the first thing that popped into my head when I read Jefra’s assignment, and since the moon was so gorgeous all weekend (and I wanted to learn how to shoot it – still learning), it was a natural tie-in. Mine is more subdued. I did use a texture (from Shadowhouse Creations) to try and give it some movement/painterly effect along with some star brushes for faint twinkles to the photo.
I have always loved his painting since I was in grade school but I’ve never put it in to words before. The vibrant color would be the first thing that comes to mind. Then the motion that he captured with his brush strokes, and his interpretation of the brilliance of the night sky.
Inspiration File:
When I see or think of this painting Don Mclean’s Starry Night song automatically starts playing in my head.
Starry, starry night. Paint your palette blue and grey, Look out on a summer's day, With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills, Sketch the trees and the daffodils, Catch the breeze and the winter chills, In colors on the snowy linen land.
Now I understand what you tried to say to me, How you suffered for your sanity, How you tried to set them free. They would not listen, they did not know how. Perhaps they'll listen now.
Starry, starry night. Flaming flowers that brightly blaze, Swirling clouds in violet haze, Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain, Weathered faces lined in pain, Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.
Now I understand what you tried to say to me, How you suffered for your sanity, How you tried to set them free. They would not listen, they did not know how. Perhaps they'll listen now.
For they could not love you, But still your love was true. And when no hope was left in sight On that starry, starry night, You took your life, as lovers often do. But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one As beautiful as you.
Starry, starry night. Portraits hung in empty halls, Frameless head on nameless walls, With eyes that watch the world and can't forget. Like the strangers that you've met, The ragged men in the ragged clothes,
The silver thorn of bloody rose, Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.
Now I think I know what you tried to say to me, How you suffered for your sanity, How you tried to set them free. They would not listen, they're not listening still. Perhaps they never will...
Another artist that I love is Sue Ellen Ross. I love animals and her realistic depictions of cats and dogs in the watercolor medium that she uses. I’ve read her book that she did about her process and it’s amazing. The lighting that she captures in addition to the personalities of the animals is what attracted me to her paintings.
This is an older photo that I did of my dog Chessie that reminds me a little of her paintings.
I can’t think of just one photographer who inspires me because there are so many and most of them are on blogs. Rhee Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, has always been one of my favorites because of her subject matter. I love the country, horses and animals (I once took care of a farm) and that is what draws me to her photos. The Shutter Sisters, I Heart Faces and on and on.
Music, I cannot pin down to one specific artist as I love just about all genres: classic rock, modern country, rap and classical. I don’t know a lot about classical but depending on my mood it can be very inspiring.
My music teacher in grade school was a wonderful teacher that I didn’t appreciate at the time. But one section in her music class she was having us listen to some classical music (wish I could remember which piece). She turned out all the lights and put the music on and said imagine in your mind the Grand Canyon with a storm with lightning crashing around you. I could picture it clearly due to the music.
Graffiti:
Nature and Color:
Light:
Textures:
Old buildings:
Smell:
lavender
Our flag:
Our flag is very inspiring to me – what it stands for – the colors that I love and beauty of it blowing in the wind.
This caught my eye this morning as the sun beam hit the money setting on the counter. I used 4 Hens’ Patty Cake action
Jefra (a wonderful photographer) and Liz (from Paislee Press) started this wonderful project on the 22nd of January, and I thought I would join in to help me learn my Sony Alpha 200. We were to take at least 75 photos of one subject, narrow down to our favorite and five runner-up photos. Here are mine:
ISO-100, 40mm f5.6 1/2 sec.
LRPS - A Girl In Love's Cyrian Summer
PSE - My 4 Hen's Carbon Paper action
Ugh, can't remember specifics other than I used Retro texture from Shadowhouse Creations.
ISO-100, 45mm f5.6 0.8 sec.
LRPS Matt's Auto Adjust.
LRPS Nathan Patching's Boon Doggle 2
PSE - Toy Camera Action
ISO-100, 35mm f5.6 1/2 sec.
Matt's Auto Adjustment (Everything Else),
LRPS - A Girl in Love's Cyrian Summer
PSE - Duplicate Layer Linear Burn
ISO-100, 60mm f5.6 1/2 sec.
LRPS A Girl in Love - Cyrian Summer
Action Coffee Shop's Hot Coco
Jefra had suggested that I shoot horses, but since I'm not close to any right now. I thought I would shoot what I have left from my horse - his saddle.
This was hard, especially since I took close to 100 shots.
I know it's funky looking but it was my favorite.
ISO-100, 30mm f5.6 1.6 sec.
LRPS- Matt's Auto Adjustment (Everything Else)
LRPS - Nathan Patching's Boon Doggle 2
PSE - Shadowhouse Creations Dirty Thoughts texture at Difference layer
Just realized I need to start changing my aperture. I left it on 5.6 on all my photos - novice!