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 have been using Monica's Before & After blog hop to experiment a little with my photo editing but admit that I fell back into the familiar this week. I'm not terribly original, but I did enjoy changing up the photo of my baby girl a bit. And you guys are lucky - this is one of my precious vacation photos that has yet to be posted on my family blog. So you're getting a sneak peek!

Here is my SOOC (straight out of camera) shot:

I took this in NC while we were on the beach with my Canon PowerShot SX110 IS.  LOVE the floppy hat on my little princess.

Here is my edited photo:

I applied a colored filter (can't remember which one) and changed the opacity.  Then I messed with the lighting a little, added a soft focus layer and added the vignette.  Of course, the rounded corners which I'm addicted to.  I like the simple, vintage feel of the photo which I think goes nicely with the floppy hat. I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my editing.

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

Before & After Blog Hop

Another round of before and after today from Monica at Pixel Perfect. If you can't tell, I have come to really enjoy Thursdays and learning some new photo editing tricks.  I also love seeing everyone else's edits.  I've learned so much just in the short time I've been linking up!

This photo was taken in Knoxville, TN on our way home from our family vacation.  Knoxville had some really great old buildings that just screamed character and I couldn't help but to snap pics of a few of them.  I took this with my Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D DSLR - love that camera.  So here it is, my SOOC (straight out of the camera shot):

And here is my edited shot using Photoshop Elements 8:

I first added a texture layer to grunge it up a bit.  I changed the opacity and blending mode and added the vignette.  Finally, I rounded the corners.  I'm getting a little more comfortable with the textures.   But I still have lots to learn and am having a blast trying out new things.  

Now, to see more before and after shots or to add one of your own, hop over to Monica's blog by clicking the button above.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Before & After Blog Hop

It's Thursday!  WHOOT!  Time for another Pixel Perfect Before & After blog hop.  Now, I'll be completely honest and tell you that I don't remember the details of this edit.  I did it several days ago and I can't remember what I had for breakfast much less what edits I did to a photo almost a week ago.  Sorry.  Anyhow, here is my SOOC (straight out of camera) shot:

And here is my edit:

I rounded the corners, obviously, but also lightened the kiddos' faces a bit.  I really don't think I did much to the photo at all.  But it's one of my favorites.  :)  Had to share.

I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my edits.

To see more before & after photos or to enter one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect by clicking the logo and link up!

Before & After Blog Hop

Time for Pixel Perfect's before & after blog hop!  Love it!  I tried something a little new this week - learning some new tools in PSE 8.  Hang with me as I experiment.  I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time.  But I'm having a blast learning.  Here's my SOOC (straight out of camera) shot:

And here is my edited pic:

Let's start with the obvious.  I rounded the corners and then tinted a duplicate layer sepia and adjusted the opacity.  Then I added a texture layer, adjusted the opacity and used the brush tool to remove the texture from her sweet face. I need to work on blending the texture around her face.  This is my first try with the brush tool.  Some of you are gasping right about now.  But yes, first timer.  I'm expanding my horizons.  

I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my edits.  

To see more before & after pics or to add one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect by clicking the logo.  Thanks for stopping by!

Before & After Blog Hop

It's Before and After blog hop day with Pixel Perfect! Loving all the tricks I'm learning thanks to Monica and all the ladies linking up for this blog hop. What fun it is! 

So here is my SOOC (straight out of camera) shot:

And here is my edited pic:

I bumped the color a little making a duplicate layer and then used a soft focus layer as well as a tinted layer.  I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my editing.

To see more before and after pictures or to link up one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect blog.  Thanks for stopping by!!!

Before & After Blog Hop

It's Thursday again which means it's time to blog hop with Pixel Perfect.  I am really starting to look forward to Thursdays because this blog hop has really encouraged me to play around more with my photos and learn some new tricks.  So here is my SOOC (straight out of camera) shot:

This was taken in macro which I've only experimented with a few times.  It's an interesting mode - one that I don't think I've quite figured out just yet.  Here is my edited pic:

I did some very subtle editing in Photoshop Elements 8.  I was afraid to do too much because I didn't want to lose the detail of the flower.  But I did boost up the color a tad by using some blending techniques and soften the edges a bit.  

To see more before & after pictures or to submit one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect by clicking the logo in the beginning of this post.  Have fun hoppin'!

Before & After Blog Hop

It's Thursday which means it's another before and after kinda day.  I had fun with this one because I had just learned a new trick with blending in PSE 8 and was anxious to try it out.  So here's my SOOC (straight out of camera shot):

And here is my edited photo after using new tricks with blending.  

The blue background pops much better and the dandelion itself seems a bit more lively as well.  The picture as a whole is much more bright and appealing.  Love playing with blending mode in PSE.  If you haven't tried it, you definitely should!

To see more before & after pics or add one of your own, head on over to Pixel Perfect by clicking the button below!

Before & After Blog Hop

I loved being a part of Pixel Perfect's blog hop last week that I decided to hop in and do it again.  So here is my SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot.  I looked over from my desk to find this and was SO thankful to have my camera handy.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to mess with the settings to get a perfect shot but at least I got it.  I figured just the image of my daughter and her pup were perfect enough.  I'll sacrifice the view of the dead grass.  

And here is my edited shot.  I actually used iPhoto to edit this one.  I adjusted the sharpness just a tiny bit, pulled the contrast all the way back and slightly adjusted the exposure, the saturation, and the temperature.

To see more before and after pics or to post your own, click on the blog hop button at the top of this post and link up with Monica at Pixel Perfect.  

Before & After Blog Hop

This is my first go at a blog hop and I'm pretty excited to jump - err, hop in. So the idea is to show a straight out of the camera (SOOC) shot:

And then show my edited shot. I edited this picture in Photoshop Elements 8. I tinted it with sepia and adjusted the opacity so there was still a bit of color present. I also minimally adjusted the sharpness.

To see more Before & After photos, or to jump - err, hop into the blog hop yourself go to Pixel Perfect by clicking the blog hop button at the top of the post. Have fun!