I Learned a New Trick!

Sometimes I do random Google searches for things like, "how to create modern looking photos with photoshop elements". Last night I searched for exactly that, and came up with a site that showed me, step-by-step, "how to make a modern photo look vintage". It showed a before and after photo, and I thought it looked kinda cool! So I gave it a shot and here's what I got. (Note: the before photos have already been edited to enhance the color and clarity.)

Before:

After:

Pretty neat, huh? I bookmarked that site for future use. This process involved a lot of steps, so there's no way I'll remember how to do this again next time.

I liked this effect so much that I tried it on another photo. I don't like the second one as much as the first, but it's still pretty cool.

Before:

After:

The Afternoon In Pictures

I took Isaac outside today to play with his nifty little water table that he got from his aunt for his birthday.

I went to get it from the garage, which is where we store it while it's not in use. This is what greeted me.

There were two of them in the web, but I couldn't get a picture. And this picture doesn't do it justice. Their bodies were about the size of my thumb nail. I almost turned back around and said "To hell with it!" But it was such a nice day outside, I really wanted to sit outside while Isaac played. So I very carefully maneuvered around the spiders and managed to get the table out without any permanent emotional scarring.

I do not have a green thumb.  I have two pots of flowers that hang from shepherd's hooks in our yard. I water them daily. This is the extent of my gardening skillz. So, I decided to water them while Isaac played.

So I'm watering my flowers, minding my own business...

And the entire time, I have Gizmo at my feet begging and pleading for me to spray him.

So I did.

Most dogs don't like being sprayed with water. My dog is a freak. He loves it. He could chase the hose all. day. long.

And when he's done, he looks like a drowned rat.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaac thought it was hilarious though!
 

 

What a Difference a Little Color Makes!

As you may know, I've been dipping my pinkey toe into the photography pool lately. Last week, I borrowed my mom's Photoshop Elements and have been tinkering with it ever since. I just wanted to share a few photos that I edited. The main thing that I've done with all of these is mess with the color saturation, and WOW! It really makes a difference. The 'before' photos look so dull and gray, even the ones I thought looked great before! See for yourself...

I took this photo with my trusty ol' point-and-shoot this weekend (because I forgot my DSLR, oops). If you look at the second one for a while, then look back at the first one you'll think "How did I even think this one looked good before? It's so drab!" At least, that's what I thought. I also softened their faces a little with a gaussian blur, but you can't really tell because their faces are so soft to begin with.

I liked this photo to begin with, but then I played with the color saturation and now I LOVE this photo.

I wanted to share this one because I over-did it a little. I pushed the saturation and hue past what I normally would set it at, and I like it. It gives it a little bit of an artsy feel. Well, I think so anyway.

With this photo, the difference is a little more subtle, but I still like it.


I think I've created a monster... I can't stop!

Outside with Isaac

Funny story - I was talking to our next-door neighbor the other day and he was telling me about this one time last week when I was laying on the ground taking pictures of Isaac. He went outside, saw me, and thought I was laying on the ground all funny because I was hurt. Then when he looked closer, he saw that I was just taking photos of Isaac.

Apparently I look like I am in pain when I'm taking pictures. Who knew?

The said photo shoot when ok, but I did have one nemesis - the sun. Let me just say that I really don't know what the heck I'm doing. I know about a few camera settings, and I have a decent camera, but other than that, I'm sort of flying by the seat of my pants. :) I guess this blog is aptly named. Also, the photos that you have seen on this blog thus far are totally unedited. I'm currently trying to find a deal on Photoshop Elements (you know me, I won't pay full price) so I won't have to find time to go to my parents' house and use my mom's copy.

Ok, so the sun was not my friend this day. When we sat in the shade of the tree, I got shadows. When we sat in the sun, facing away from it - I got shadows. When we sat in the sun, facing toward it - guess what? Shadows you say? Wrong. No shadows, but Isaac was making funny faces because the sun was in his eyes. I just couldn't win.

Anywho, here are a few of the shots I got.

See what I mean about the shadows? This is when we were sitting under the shade of the tree.

This picture is the reason we decided to give Isaac a haircut. No child of mine will have anything resembling a mullet.

This is one of my faves. I just love aperture. Can you tell?

Not really sure what's going on here. Push-ups maybe?

This is when we sat in the sun, facing away from it. It's a little washed out in some places, and much darker in others. I maybe could have adjusted the ISO, but I'm not really sure if that would work in this situation. Isaac was getting restless so I didn't have time to monkey with it.

Obviously, this is when we were sitting facing the sun. That's Mickey in the background. We were doggysiting while my parents were on vacation.

"Mom, can't we be done yet?"

Free HotBook from HotPrints!

Ok you guys, this deal is awesome! You can get a free HotBook every month from HotPrints! I've only gotten one so far because I just discovered it this month, but it's really cool! It's sort of like a magazine full of just pictures, but the pages aren't as flimsy as a magazine. You can choose a theme, different layouts, colors, captions, etc. and then put whatever photos you want in it. Mine is full of Isaac photos from 0-9 months.

And it really is free! Free book, free shipping, totally free. And you get to make one per calendar month.

http://www.hotprints.com/

Isaac's 9 Month Photo Shoot - Take 1

This is my sad attempt at taking Isaac's 9 month pictures. If you look past the cuteness of the subject, the pictures really aren't that great. In order to avoid the orangy color that some of these photos have, I had to use the flash and then I got lots of shadows. I am planning to go to my mom's house sometime soon to use her Photoshop Elements program to take some of the shadows out. My next attempt will be outside with (hopefully) better lighting. Please keep in mind that I am no professional!

"Ok Mom, that's enough pictures!"

"I said, I'm done!"

Ok, fine. We're done.

Farm Photos

Last weekend we went to visit James' family in South Dakota. His parents live on a farm, and they raise sheep. While Isaac was napping on Sunday, I decided to wander around the farm and take some pictures.

The barn

Some sheep wondering what the heck I'm doing

The barn. I think I had the aperture too low..

The barn again. This is one of my faves.

Hay bales in front of the barn

I think this picture is really cool. If you weren't home when the gas guy came to fill your fuel tanks, they'd put your receipt here.

One of the gas pumps

Both gas pumps

Another one of my faves - just a tree

The corn field across the road

The hedge row - this is another one of my favorites

Barn window