Before & After

So I'm admitting now that this isn't exactly my best work.  I actually picked this photo because I thought it would be a could before & after challenge for me and it ended up being a complete fail.  What I had in my mind didn't not end up being what I saw with my eyes.  So I ended up scrapping my original edit and going with something way different.  Something much simpler. 

This picture was taken during our spontaneous trip to Hot Springs, AR.  Unfortunately, we got there just in time to eat dinner before it got dark so all of our walking around that evening didn't make for great pictures.  

Here is my SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot taken with my Canon Rebel T1i, 18-55 mm lens (not a great lens for low light shots):

And here is my edited version of the shot:

What I originally had in mind was to add a little grunge texture to mostly the sides but it took away from the building.  I also wanted to keep the original color but I didn't like that yellow light and I couldn't get the lighting just right.  So I gave up and tinted it sepia, cropped the pic, rounded the corners and VIOLA!  This is what I got.  I do like the bit of spookiness the picture gives off but I'm not terribly happy with the edit.  I gotta do better next week.  I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my edit.

To see more before and after pics or to link up one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect by clicking the logo above.

Before & After

I am hopping into Pixel Perfect's before & after blog hop again. I've come to really anticipate seeing all the other photos and their edits.  I decided I need a little more practice with the brushes so I chose a picture that would give me an opportunity to do just that.  Here is my SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot:

This was taken on our vacation at the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC.  I wanted to grunge up the picture a little and make it look more vintage, like the statue itself; however, I didn't want the texture on the statue.

Here is my edited pic taken with my Canon Rebel T1i, 18-55mm lens:

I am pretty pleased with the finished product, but would gladly accept constructive criticism.  There are a couple of blemishes - I haven't used the brush tool much at all.  Practice makes perfect!  I also added a small vignette around the edges to darken it up a bit and my favorite, the rounded corners.  I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my edits.

To see more before and after photos or to link up one of your own, head over to Monica's blog, Pixel Perfect by clicking the logo above.  Have a great one!

I'm a Big Girl Now!

My husband is the best. I mean it. He's truly one of a kind.  He's watched my obsession love for photography grow rapidly over the last couple of years and is supporting it with all his might.  He could secretly be hoping I make us some money one day.  But for now, he has surprised me with an early Mother's Day present - my big girl camera!  I have been saving a little at a time hoping I'd be able to purchase it sometime around Christmas this year but Mike has boosted it up and all right before our vacation that's coming up in less than two weeks.  You can only imagine my excitement!  This is my new baby:

A Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D.  And I have no idea how to use it.  Actually, it is somewhat familiar because I have been using a Canon PowerShot for the last year and it's been great.  I'll continue to carry it with me for daily use.  But sticking with Canon, I'm not completely in the dark.  I'm reading the manual and doing a little experimenting.  So I hope to have a few tricks worked out before we leave for vacation and bring back some incredible pics.

This camera came with the EFS 18-55 mm lens.  I haven't done much research on lenses yet so I'd love to hear what those of you that have DSLR cameras think I should purchase next.  I also welcome any and all suggestions, tips and tricks with this camera.  Those of you that blog about photography tutorials, I'm stalking you.  I'm just sayin'.  

I'm so very blessed to have a husband that loves me unconditionally through all of my crazy obsessions hobbies and even feeds them.  How loved am I???