greetings

If I've interpreted the prompt correctly, today's is "greetings" and it's sponsored by Kat (I know I've mentioned her before - her site is worth a visit) over at Mortal Muses.

I started this blog in April this year though I've had my 365 photo blog going since January and my professional site for almost three years, so I'm no novice to blogging.  I am, however, a novice in the artist realm.  I've always been creative and loved trying new crafty/artsy things but I'd never considered producing art...as in something I'd want to give or hang on my walls.  This year has been a mind-boggling eye opener of a year for me as I explore mediums and techniques with a more artistic focus.

My greetings go out to all my newly found and much appreciated creative blogging friends.  I had no idea of the sheer volume of artistic bloggers and certainly had no idea how warmly everyone is welcomed.  Even beginners like me.  The encouragement and the tips and suggestions that have been so freely given are such a pleasure in my life!  I hope I return that in more than equal measure.

This photo is a santa from my collection with a little vignetting added; I just love his face!  I wish you all a very Happy Holidays and I can't wait to see where 2012 takes us.

I'm linking to Mortal Muses (and a chance to win a spot in Kat's January class!).

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.

exploring with the camera: holiday lights

The most recent prompt and tutorial from Kat is "holiday lights".  This one has so many possibilities it got my little head a spinnin'.  I have a few to share here but after seeing all the great bokeh and light pictures in the Sunday Scavenger Hunt and in Kat's flickr pool, I think I'll try refining my technique a little this week.

Kat has one of my favorite photo blogs, so when you have a few minutes, be sure to stop in and see what she's got going on....

One of my fave Santas with some texture added (used for PAF).

 Lights reflected - I've seen other versions of this shot and I'm not quite sure how to improve this though it definitely seems to be lacking ..... something.

A couple of shots of my deck lights - again....okay, but not what I hoped for.

Here I was doing a little "light writing" with my tree lights.  I love doing this and seeing what happens - the second one looks like some kind of computer code or something...  

If you want some tips on how to shoot holiday lights and create that bokeh (blurry background) effect, visit Kat's site for one of her excellent tutorials.

scavenger hunt sunday #4

It's Sunday, so it must be time to gather my photos for Ashley's scavenger hunt.  This week was filled with great themes again - except nativity.  I don't have any and didn't find any at neighborhood churches yet, so I had to get a bit creative.....

LESS IS MORE

This was tough - for me at Christmas, there's no such thing as "less is more"!  So I played with crumpling the sparkly fabric I put under my santa chollection...

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Outside lights on the deck

Tree lights reflected in the window...

I've done some experimenting with this prompt and also because Kat over at KatEyeView (if you haven't discovered her blog yet, it's definitely worth your time!) has this prompt for the next couple weeks.  While none are turning out as well as I the pic in my head, I feel like I'm making progress with intentional captures.

ORNAMENTS

I took many shots for this prompt and these two are my favorite - probably because they're of special ornaments - the pink bird I've had as "my" special ornament for probably 50 years. It had lost most of it's feathers so last year I did a little tail feather repair.  The other is one of the few left from my mom.

CUP OF CHEER

I feel like this was a successful shot and I even liked the selective color version with the touch of texture (by Kim Klassen).

NATIVITY

I used photos from violscaper and walwyn (Tewkesbury Abbey) on flickr as the starting point for this photo art then added textures by Shadowhouse and a little brush work.

Be sure to visit Scavenger Hunt Sunday for an entertaining photographic journey of these prompts.

inspiration ave: christmas balls

As you know I've been working away experimenting with different ideas for making my holiday cards.  Each experiment will end up being sent out, so I'm really enjoying creating so many different styles and using different media to come up with my cards.  Eclectic, kinda like me.

For the prompt this week from Inspiration Avenue, I found this template of ornaments on Line Weaving so thought I'd try it out.....  Here's my first attempt....

Also, I used a collection of ornaments and a garland to fill my jar - not terribly original, I know, but it's so pretty.  Guess that's why it's such a popular decorating trick.  I love the gold and bronze together.

Happy Holidays - and be sure to stop by Inspiration Avenue.

PAF: holiday season

Photo Art Friday (PAF) is here again with a very broad theme of showing the holiday hustle and bustle, the preparations or activities so I have a couple to share.

I used Bonnie's Christmas Music and Intensify textures and added posterize filter to this holiday table.

This shot of one of my Santa collection has Old Ornate Linen texture at vivid light 50% and then erased around his face.

Added a little crackle texture, soft light at 55% to this old ornament - one of the few left from my childhood.

And finally, played around with my mantel (both the decor and the processing!).  I used Bonnie's great Christmas Music texture again.....

Happy Holidays to you all and I look forward to starting up again in January.  For now, be sure to visit as many of the participants as you can.  There are a lot of them and I certainly can't visit everyone, but I do my best....

butterfly effect: book pages

For the first time I'm joining in yet another prompt - I recently discovered The Butterfly Effect at whisper-to-whirlwind.blogspot.com and it looks like it has some unusual prompts.  Be sure to check it out if you like having a little external inspiration.

This week's prompt is 'book pages' - I love working with book pages and since I'm still working on holiday cards, thought I'd use this chance to experiment a bit further.  The wreath design is cut from a book about quilting that I picked up at Good Will and then added a ribbon flourish.

I was pleased to find a quilt pattern with stars that almost fit in my circle punch.  Couldn't decide whether or not to add words to the front, so left it plain for now.

The next card I used music from a book of Neil Diamond songs.

These were fun to do and super easy......be sure to visit Butterfly Effect this week to see other book paper creations.

woyww #2

My second week of sharing my work table mess - though this time I had a little time to restore order.  If you remember, last week it was a total disaster, a dumping site.  Now, it's still mess, but ..... a controlled mess! :)

Stamps & cards out, ready to start making.....

I've cleaned it up so I can start on my Christmas cards - don't think EVERYone will get a hand made one, but I'm going to see how many I can manage.  My subconscious has been stewing and mulling for a couple weeks so I guess I better start making a decision and moving forward - maybe they could be Valentine's cards? (ha)

I'm so lucky to have an understanding, tolerant man that allows me the space to make a mess wherever I happen to be.  I've discovered my "worktable" can be just about any surface in the house - here I've taken over the ottoman where I spread out my Zentangle stuff, sketching card ideas while I watch TV.  He's relegated to the other end of the sofa, pulling pens from between the cushions!

Visit more work tables and works in progress at Stamping Ground.  You know, this is the 131st edition of WOYWW though only my second participation!  That's a long running prompt - wanna play?

zentangle: fife

This week's challenge posed by Laura at I am the Diva is to use the new tangle Fife. I found this to be an easy and satisfying tangle - I tried it big and small and shaded and with different fills - it's full of possibility.

Since I'm still toying with the idea of making my own cards this year (doesn't Zentangle just scream out to be used in a card??), I tried Fife to fill in a stocking (traced the size of my card so I'd get an idea of how big things should be) and then in a more traditional tile format.

Top tangles:  SOCC, Fife, Mooka, Hibred, Diamond Panes & Nightsbridge; Bottom tangles: Paradox, Jonqual, Fife and SOOC

Tangles: Fife, Purk, some version of Coaster in the heel & Nightsbridge

I haven't taken the time recently to just sit down and practice my tangles (which shows a little bit here with uneven sizes) but doing these sure reminded me how much I enjoy it!  There are certainly a few goober mistakes in each, but they were so relaxing and satisfying in spite of that - one of the joys of tangling I think.

I'm also linking to Erin at the Bright Owl for a drawing she's holding for some Derwent pencils.  Be sure to visit her & try out her SOCC tangle (similar to Puf) and maybe you'll be a winner.

texture tuesday: celebrate

Kim Klassen is once again hosting her Texture Tuesday with the theme of celebrate.....I started the holiday season off with a traditional-to-us games night for friends and family (we played bunco for hours).  I made a couple of flower arrangements to add to the decor so my celebrate photo is a macro of part of the arrangement.

Just a simple processing was all this shot needed I thought - first I duplicated the image and used soft light at 80% to up the contrast.  Then I used Kim's Music Lovin' texture at color burn 50% to pump up the color and add those grungy edges.  Those ornaments are pretty reflective and caught my tripod, my kitchen lights & cupboards, etc.  I'll really have to work on positioning them better next time :)

Be sure to visit some of the other links to see what creative photographers are up to.

Then I participated in Nancy's Texture Tuesday with a different prompt - she added some new freebie textures (visit her on flickr) in a garage series and wanted to see what could be done with those.  I used 2 of her garage textures and arrived at this:

starting:

Addition of 2 of Nancy's textures:

One of her textures used at saturation, really reduced the saturation and the other one brought in all the grungy spots.  I erased (at 40%) much of the spots on the white wall and side of the boat - it was a bit strong on this particular image.  Visit Nancy at All Pulped Out on Tuesday to see how others used her garage series.