time for a new photo

A new hairdo to go with the new car :)  Thought it was time to update my profile photo and the new 'do' seemed a good time to do it......  Does this count as creative?  Ha! :)

(a new signature too as long as I'm updating!)

tutorial tuesday: wallpaper

This week Ashley at Ramblings and Photos challenged us to use layers to create a wallpaper look behind a main image.  This is similar to tasks I do all the time so just did a quickie to make sure I understood the challenge.  I used a photo of me I took a while ago and added a vintage look (which the tutorial suggested) but I'm more of a modern kind of gal so I also converted me to black and white and went with a bolder wallpaper.  I didn't take tons of time with the erasing, so I have a slight glow around me that I wouldn't have if I were going to do something professional with the idea.  Anyway, here's my wallpaper treatment....

it's all about me....

I haven't participated over at GPP Street for awhile - I forgot about the site.  (I seriously need some sort of master challenge list to keep them all straight! :))  Anyway, this month the prompt is to get out from behind the camera and be IN the photos.  So I did.

I'm not overly shy about being photographed, but I definitely have a few issues (no profiles, no non-smiles {I just look too sad/grim}, no shots of the backside!, etc).  So, with those constraints, I got in front of the camera today and took about a gazillion pics to come up with some that would be acceptable to share.  Plus I found a couple from earlier in the month (see I'm no stranger to be IN the shot :)

the original

For the first time I tried some of the PSE actions that I've picked up here and there and never used, never even tried.  The light through the window was odd and created very soft photos, so the actions improved the look I thought (though not the subject, ha).  No, my glasses aren't scratched, just very reflective (think it's my dining chairs).

Here I desaturated the color then added a colorize filter to put a little back in.

I'm a little out of focus here because I was so busy cracking myself up!  I'd been making some silly faces to try to loosen up and made myself laugh.  Used a little action processing here too.

Not all self portraits have to be face shots.  Here I blended a couple of shots to get me all woven together on the sofa.  Another session that took LOTS of shots to get those legs in the right position to blend....

I published this one a couple weeks ago when playing with textures and you can read about the process here.

SOOC (obviously)

Finally, another outtake photo from a few months ago.  Goofy, huh?  (that's a tablecloth for my backdrop and I'm crouched in front of my living room window for natural light)

Okay, that's enough of me; now how about you?  We photo ladies/moms/grandmas often spend all our time behind the lens because we want to capture all the fun and our favorite people enjoying themselves.  However, sometimes it's good to get in FRONT of the camera for a new perspective.  

If you don't want to have a "session" with someone else taking the shots, use a remote shutter release for really easy selfies.  I got mine for about $10 on Amazon and I have to say it's my favorite accessory - I use it for still lifes and anything with a little longer exposure.  If you don't have one, that would be a great gift to request.

So, go for it.  Be proud.  Be adventurous.  Be a camera hog.  Let's see your best/goofy/sad/happy side!  Then link to GPP Street during the month of December.

aedm -day 28 portrait

This digi art effort started out for my 365 day photo (the end is near!), then realized I could use it for the scavenger hunt hosted by Ashley, then if I added a texture I could use it for Texture Tues with Kim.  So, here goes:

The 2 photos I started with are:

I cropped the one of me and cut me away from the background (I didn't get enough tree bokeh). I love the colors in the frosty leaves so placed me over them.  I duplicated the background, changed it to soft light 45% and did a strong blur so it's mostly color, no shapes.

Then the magic of textures takes over.  I used 2 of Kim's:  autumn burst @ soft light 90% and crackerjack @ hard light 50%.  I added a bokeh texture that I think is from Shadowhouse @ soft light 100% to arrive at the final image.
This is linked to AEDM (day 28 already!), Texture Tuesday and on Sunday will be part of my scavenger hunt (portrait) with Ashley.

ED: I just went to link to Texture Tues and realized this week is about gratitude.  While I didn't take or process this photo thinking of gratitude, it could certainly apply - look how happy I look!  That's because I'm grateful for my life - I have the best husband and great kids; we have our health and we all have jobs; I have a circle of supportive and encouraging friends.  So many people don't have home computers (yes, it's true!) and easy access to the internet so I'm grateful I have the tools and time to develop my creativity.  The list goes on and on, but basically I'm grateful I have such a comfortable and loving life.  I wish the same for you.