SOOC Saturday

I took this picture at Birdsong Marina on the TN River last weekend. We docked our boat and hopped out to see the only freshwater pearls in North America. It was less than we hoped for. We didn't go on the tour or anything so that might have been interesting but outside the gift shop/museum there was an old boat with these hanging off of them...

Now, don't ask me what they are actually used for because I have no idea.  Obviously, something to do with harvesting mussels but that's as much as I can tell you.  The pearls themselves were magnificent.  Wish I could have snagged a pic of a few of those.  Anyhow, I thought this made for an interesting SOOC shot today.  

To see more SOOC shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Melody's blog, Slurping Life now by clicking the following logo:

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Macro Friday

Hello Friday! Another weekend is upon us and I couldn't be happier.  Not sure what the weekend has in store for the family and me but can't wait to find out.  So I tried to NOT post a picture of a flower or a plant.  This is one of my vintage cameras.  Thought it made for a cool shot.  Different than what I've been posting, if nothing else.  

To see more macro shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Laura's blog, Blogging from Bolivia now by clicking the logo above.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Before & After

Before & after photos with Pixel Perfect today!  So, I tried to be original this week and try something I've never done before where my editing abilities are concerned and it was a big fat FAIL.  So I fell back on old faithful - layers.  I love layers and blending and they hardly ever steer me wrong.  Gonna have to do some practicing in PSE to be original next time.

Here is my SOOC shot, using my Canon Rebel T1i, 18-55mm lens:

I just love seeing the layers of the rose petals, but the color is a little bright and heavy on the eyes.  So I wanted to do something about that.

My edited shot:

So I really didn't do too much - added a black/white layer, added a another layer and played with the blending mode (can't remember which I used just now) and then a heavy vignette and rounded corners.  Subtle, but I think it softened the shot and makes it a little dreamier.  I used Photoshop Elements 8 for my edits.  

To see more before & after pics or to link up one of your own, head over to Pixel Perfect now by clicking the following logo:

Black & White Wednesday

As most of you might know, I usually reserve pics of my kiddos for my family blog, but I just shot these and they warmed my heart so much I had to share.  I was sitting at my desk and happened to look over & see this...

They are so sweet with one another - most of the time.  The love the feel is apparent to anyone that's ever been around them.  My cup runneth over.  

To see more black & white photos or to link up one of your own, head over to The Long Road to China now by clicking the logo above.  

Shutter Love Tuesday - Faces

This week for Shutter Love Tuesday the theme is 'faces'. I recently posted this pic for Black & White Wednesday but it was too perfect not to post again. So I thought I'd just edit this one a bit differently so maybe you wouldn't think you're seeing the same picture over and over.  And if you still think that, well... Sorry.  Girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

To see more photos with the 'Faces' theme or to link up one of your own, head over to Trendy Treehouse now by clicking the logo above.  

I'm also linking up this week with my3boybarians for Sweet Shot Tuesdays.  This is my first time linking up to this challenge and I'm really excited to participate.  This is a pretty sweet shot, in my opinion.  To see more sweet shots or to link up one of your own, head over to my3boybarians now by clicking the logo below.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

SOOC Saturday

My addiction to water droplets may be moving more toward... obsession.  

To see more SOOC (straight out of the camera) shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Slurping Life now by clicking the logo above.

Have a GREAT day!

Macro Friday

  

First of all, TGIF!  I feel like I blinked and this week is over.  Hope everyone has big, exciting plans for the weekend.  I think we're heading back out on the boat for at least one day.  Can't get enough of being on the water.  Hope the weather holds out.  

For macro friday, I've been submitting a lot of shots of flowers & plants.  I just can't help myself.  There are so many beautiful flowers to capture this time of year.  Still, I'm trying to do something a little different this week, though it still includes a favorite - water droplets.  Maybe I'll get brave and do something completely different next week.  But until then, here is my entry for today...

To see more macro friday shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Blogging from Bolivia now by clicking the logo above.  

Before & After

I've been posting lots of flower pics. I love taking pictures of flowers and editing them are quite fun also. I tried to mix it up this week a bit. I need more practice with the brush tools in PSE so I tried to pick something that allowed me to use them.  As I was editing this pic, I realized I've done one quite similar to this as well.  I digress.  At least I got some practice.  Here is my SOOC shot:

Presley and Keegan played in the huge puddles after a monstrous rain storm here in TN - right before the Nashville flood happened actually.  I had just gotten my big girl Canon Rebel T1i and made my husband all kinds of nervous snapping pictures of the kids in the water with that camera.

Here is my edited version:

I changed everything to black & white and then because I needed some practice brushing, I brushed the color back on the boots only using the brush tool.  There's also a vignette and would you believe I forgot my rounded corners???  That's what happens when you're playing in Photoshop Elements 8 late at night, people.  I was just too tired to open it all back up and add them.  So square will have to do this week.

To see more before & after pics or to link up one of your own, head over to Monica's blog, Pixel Perfect now by clicking the following logo:

Black & White Wednesday

I mentioned in Monday's post that we'd spent our weekend on the boat in the TN River.  While I don't post a lot of personal family pics on this blog (I save those for my family blog) I thought a couple of my favorites from the weekend were perfect to share for Black & White Wednesday.  

You can see all our boat pics by heading over to my family blog, though I admit to being a little behind there as well.  

To see more black & white photos or to link up a few of your own, head over to The Long Road to China now by clicking the logo above.  

Shutter Love Tuesday - By the Pool

I admit to having been somewhat challenged with this photo challenge today. Trendy Treehouse chose the theme "by the pool" and I wasn't sure if that meant only BY the pool or if you could be in it. So I decided by the pool meant just that and this is really the only photo I had to enter. If my kids or myself are near a pool at all, we're actually IN the pool.  So this is my friend, De Anna and her dog, Scout.

To see more pics themed "by the pool" or to link up one of your own, head over to Trendy Treehouse now by clicking the logo below.  

SOOC Saturday

I have replaced my Saturday morning comedy with a great photo challenge. It wasn't getting too much response (being Saturday and all) so I figured no one would miss it. If you are dying for a little comedy, let me know and I'll bring it back. Otherwise, I'm going to continue to just post for SOOC Saturday.  

I've had this shot for a little while and have been trying to decide when & how to use it.  But it's amazing all by itself so I decided it would best be used for SOOC Saturday.  To quote a bloggy friend, "God got out his magic markers again."

Amazing TN sunset.  

To see more SOOC shots or link up one of your own, visit Slurping Life blog by clicking the logo above. 

Macro Friday

Gotta love that it's Friday once again.  I won last week's Macro Friday photo challenge and was thrilled!  I got to pick this week's winner so head over to Laura's blog and see who I chose.  The shot is worth taking the time to have a looksy.  Here is my entry for this week:

There are just too many lovely flowers to take pictures of this time of year.  Not quite sure what I'll do in the winter.  

To see more macro shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Blogging from Bolivia now by clicking the logo above.  

TGIF, y'all!

Before & After

It's Thursday - if you can believe that. I'm desperately trying to figure out where this week/month/year is going. Time is passing me by so quickly.  Anyhow, Thursdays bring before and after pics and if you're into photography or photo editing, it can be a real treat.  It's fun to see how someone can take a picture and create a totally different work of art with editing software.  

Here is my SOOC shot taken with my Canon Rebel T1i:

I love the bright colors but the sun is just a tad too harsh and you lose a little detail in the flower.  So I tried to clean that up a bit.  

Here is my edited version:

First thing I did was to darken the pic up a bit.  You still see the bright  yellow but now you see much more of the detail in the flower.  Then I cropped it down and added a vintage layer but pulled the opacity back a bit.  Next, I added a gaussian blur, the vignette and my rounded corners.  VIOLA!  Now you can see the detail of the flower, the leaves and our little friend that stopped by for a visit and your eyes aren't burning from all the harsh sunlight.  I used Photoshop Elements 8 for all my editing.  

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

Toodles!

Black & White Wednesday

We had such a great 4th of July weekend.  A day on the TN River did our whole family some good.  I think we're all itching to get back on the boat very soon.  We've certainly enjoyed the heck out of it in the short amount of time we've had it.  The sun was beautiful and I couldn't help but snap a picture of it high in the sky.

Wondering what this weekend will hold.  Another day on the water maybe?

To see more black & white photos or link up one of your own, head over to The Long Road to China by clicking the logo above. 

SOOC - Facing Myself

I admit to being completely nervous about taking part in Jessica's Facing Myself photo challenge because it requires me to step in front of the camera and I've gotten very comfortable with being behind it.  It's become somewhat of a security blanket for me, I think.  I have a camera of some sort with me no matter where I go.  But it's sort of a catch 22 because I also find myself complaining that I'm never in the picture on family vacations or any other events for that matter.  I'm frivolous about catching every moment of my kids' lives in pictures, but have very limited documentation of my own.  So I took the plunge and have decided I'm going to participate in this challenge.  I need to participate in this challenge.  However, I'm finding it just that - a challenge.  I've tried several "creative" ways to capture a photo of myself and most have been fails.  I've got some brainstorming to do.  

So I resorted to setting the timer on my camera and taking these.  They aren't the best because I couldn't be behind the camera to adjust everything and check the lighting, etc.  But I have a couple of pics of my favorite boy and me.  And these are SOOC so I'm linking up with Slurping Life today as well for SOOC Saturday.  

To see more SOOC shots or more self-portraits - or to link up some of your own - click on the following links:

The Old Nichols Farm

Black & White Wednesday, The Dreaded Self-Portrait & A Big Thanks

It's Wednesday & there is lots going on here today.  First, I want to say thank you to Ashley at Ramblings and Photos for bestowing upon me the Outstanding Blogger Award.  

Very cool.  If you haven't been to Ashley's blog to check out her amazing talent, click over there right now.  Don't waste another minute!  Seriously, I'm learning so much from Ashley so again, THANK YOU!

I have done very poorly passing out awards so this week, I'm going to take the time to pass this one to a few of my favorite peeps who are extremely supportive in everything I do lately & frequent commenters and I can honestly say they are friends.  If awards aren't your thing, don't worry.  I'm not offended if you don't display it.  Or thank me in a special post on your blog.  Or comment on this post at least giving thanks on my own blog.  No worries whatsoever.  The award goes to:

1.  Tyler @ Just Another Day in OUR Paradise

2.  Mandy @ 2 sweet things

3.  Courtney @ Make Me A Blessing  (and because she has the coolest name EVER & is an AGD sis)

Love y'all to pieces and it makes my heart happy to be able to give you a little something.  ENJOY!

Next up on the agenda is my very first self-portrait.  I ran across yet another fabulous blog packed full of great photography and yes, you guessed it, another photo challenge - the dreaded self-portrait.  I tried so hard to get creative but creative shots didn't turn out and the oh so familiar "self-portrait in my side view mirror" shots did.  Go figure.  

The last one, I was actually standing in front of a glass door and going for something completely different.  {sigh}  I'm going to brainstorm before my next self-portrait.  It's gonna be awesome!  (i hope)

To see more black and white shots, head over to The Long Road to China - another blog with outstanding photography.  

To see more self-portraits, head over to The Old Nichols Farm.  

SOOC Saturday

Hi, everyone! Hope you are all having a FAB weekend so far.I'm linking up again this week for SOOC Saturday (straight out of camera).  I'm sticking with this week's theme which has been my great-grandmother's garden.  I took so many fabulous pictures while I was there and I know my time with her is limited so I'm enjoying every detail about her I can.  

To see more SOOC shots or to link up one of your own, head over to Slurping Life by clicking the logo:

Macro Friday

Ah, it's Friday!  Can I get a WOOT!  WOOT!  Hope you are all enjoying your summer so far.  We certainly have.  Though, it's terribly hot and I'm not sure how much hotter it could possibly get before I melt away to pure nothingness.  On another note, this week I've been sharing with you lots of the pics I took while we were in Kentucky last weekend.  Here is another taken from my great-grandmother's array of foliage...

I have no idea what kind of plant this is that I stumbled  up on sitting on her front porch, but it made a PERFECT macro shot.  I did ZERO editing with the exception of the rounded corners and the watermark.  I am pretty proud of this shot.  Can ya tell?  {grin}  I actually did try to spruce up the color a bit but when I did I'd lose certain elements of the shot I liked so I am going with SOOC today.  And I'm okay with that.  

To see more macro shots or link up one of your own, head over Laura's blog, Blogging from Bolivia by clicking the logo above.

Hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!  

Before & After

It's time for another edition of Before & After! I love Thursdays. It means I get to see some great pics and the weekend is just around the corner. Off we go!

I shot this picture in Kentucky over the weekend with my Canon Rebel T1i. My great-grandmother has a major green thumb and I always love to see what beautiful things she has growing every time I go home to visit. She is something else.

SOOC (straight out of camera):

Edited version:

The flower is the poetry of reproduction.  It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.  ~Jean Giraudoux

I bumped up the color a little by adding a soft light layer and then added the texture layer.  I then added my two obsessions - rounded corners & vignette.  I did all my edits in Photoshop Elements 8.  

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

Hope y'all have a great day!