Sunday, January 29, 2017

Out of Focus : Week 5 Let's Do 52


From my archive -- I tend to delete out-of-focus pics, so this is one from a past trip to France, cropped and edited with Topaz Impression to give it a Monet-ish,  out-of-focus look.



Here's the original photo of a willow tree, from along The Gorge-du-Tarn.


I am participating in Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

Monday, January 23, 2017

Welcome Sophie


Sophie Pet Portrait - Worked up in PhotoShop Elements and Topaz Impression with a new 2LO texture background.


Here's the original photo, taken in our kitchen which is her territory while we're house training her.

 
She's about 10-11 weeks old here.   
It's a real challenge to take decent pictures of black dogs.  Oftentimes, the pics come out looking like dark shadows, puddles or silhouettes where you can't make out any features.
I'm learning the secret is to make sure there's enough Light in the scene to start with.


Gotcha Day : When we drove to Indiana to pick Sophie up Dec 28, 2016 :


Yuo, I think this is gonna work out just fine!

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Sunset : Week 4 Let's Do 52



From the Archive.  Both these pics were taken just a few blocks from my house.  It was a beautiful May evening.  I was working on framing my pics in the camera. 

I am participating in Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Equipment Makes the Difference : Ski Shuttle Glides


In December, I purchased a Glimarka ski shuttle.  It works so nicely to carry the yarn through the shed.  I was having trouble with my stick shuttles catching on the warp strings.  The ski shuttle has ends that taper up and down, and avoid catching on the warp strings.    And it holds a lot more yarn than a boat shuttle does.

Just look at this lovely cloth I was able to weave hassle-free with the ski shuttle.   Beautiful and soft Alpaca yarn that Nancy S. gave me.


This is Janet's favorite Twill from the Floor Loom Weaving class at Craftsy. 
I expect the warp strings to disappear once I take it off the loom, and things tighten up.

Monday, January 16, 2017

Something that Makes Me Smile : 2 Newfs : Week 3 of 2LO Photo Prompts

My sweet 2nd-hand Newfie, Maggie always made me smile.
She died in December 2016, and this photo is one that I actually printed and framed simply because it made me smile.  With her goofy Newfie cowlicks.
We had a special bond.  Sigh!



 Here's the new puppy, Sophie Blue -- because I can't live without a big, black dog in my life.
This is one of the most common puppy stances she takes, looking up at us with all her attention. Sweet puppy.

I am participating in Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Shadows : Week 2 of 2 Lil Owls Photo Prompts

Shadows on the Red Stairs

I was riding by on my bike last summer, and had to stop to take a picture of this unusual scene--red steps with light and shadows.  Striking!

I am participating in Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Something from Every Day : Week 1 2 Lil Owls Photo Prompts


I thought I would use Denise Love's 2017 "Let's Do 52 : 52 Weeks of Photo Prompts" to kick start the lull in my photography.   If you'd like to join us, find out more at the link above.  The more the merrier!

There are a number of reasons I've let that interest wain -- some of it involves :
     1) not liking my current camera as much as my old one, even though it's the same company (Canon)
     2) the demise of Picassa as a photo management system and catalog
     3) my abject fear of losing pictures in LightRoom (despite a 60-hour class designed to show me all the ins and outs.) 
     4) frustrations with PSE14.

Time to bite the bullet and get back to it, and master some of these challenges!

Here's the original still life I started with : 
a simple bowl of apples with some nice light.

The photo at the top of this post uses the Topaz Impression filter for Georgia O'Keefe.  
One of my favorite treatments!