photoshop fun

i've been so busy this past week

i finally got a chance to get some homework done

for week one of my on-line class with marie

it always amazes me how much you can learn by watching someone else

i learned several shortcuts, tips and tricks plus tools i never noticed

( for some reason i never ever saw the straightening tool??)

i hope i have time to get to the other 3 projects before week 2 starts!!!

u.s. grunge

while i was visiting woodstock, ny

i manage to take just as many "grunge and texture" photos

i love the cracks in this sign

below, i converted it to b/w, used threshold and stamp filters

and inverted it, i will use it as a layer mask

this friday i will start marie otero's online class

i'm sure i will create some cool stuff!!!

peace and tranquility

i really enjoyed my stay at the

woodstock inn on the millstream

i love being near the water, it sooths my soul

my first afternoon was spent soaking my feet

and taking photos

every morning and evening i would take in the view

before and after classes

-----

above, the inn sign and a view of the millstream

a close up of the falls

dogwood and a statue from town

rain on the water and

my reflection in a local store

------

visit my flickr page for more from woodstock

scenes from woodstock

all waxed out!!

it's been a great 4 days taking classes,meeting new friends, and

spending time with my friend marie

-----

above, top, peacock feathers with a shellac burn

middle, layers of paper. leaves lace and metal (no canvas)

and bottom, heavy cardboard with lots of layers of paper and wax

with a little wire and nail

-----------

it's been a long day and i need to get to bed

to rest up for the long 8 hour drive home

immersed in wax

getting into a relaxed mode here in woodstock ny

above, top the darkroom where we made cyanotypes

middle, my hot plate in class

and bottom, my cyanotype over an old map, wax and

r & f brass oil stick on top
lots of fun today

more tomorrow

road trip

all my bags are packed and ready to head down to

woodstock and kingston, ny

i'm taking a 4 day workshop

at the center of photography and r & f paints

see you soon!!

photo magic

just a "heads up"

marie otero had a new on-line class

starting june 24

Week 1 - Photo Editing
We will cover a number of techniques for making your photos jump off the page and start with making sure they are straight, using some creative cropping, discussing rule of thirds, and how to "eyeball" a good look.

We will work with adjustment layers and some simple layer masking.


Week 2 - Fab Faces and Glamour Glow
Learn how to make your faces rock with the use of the Healing Brush and other techniques to make your up close and personal pictures look like the professionals do them.
We will work with layers, blending modes and filters in this weeks projects.


Week 3 - Creative Effects
Let's start messing around with your less than perfect images by adding layers of texture, blur, bokeh and other fun techniques so that you can learn how to make the best of even the less successful image and make it look fabulous. We will be working with layers, selection tools and oh yes, blending modes again !

Week 4 - Blog It, Share It, Show It....
This week we will focus on how to share your images online. How to create a FAB header for your blog using your own photos or images. Create a neat sidebar thumbnail or avatar. Place images into a custom made template that you can use over and over. And let's talk about text. How and when to use it, how to customize it and Embellish it!
We will also look at watermarking and custom signatures for your images.

i have taken several classes with marie and

have learned so much

she is an excellent teacher

country time, part 2

sidney the aussie sheppard


family reunion


proud parents and sidney's sister and brother




and there where kittens, lots and lots of kittens
just 4 of 10 born just a few weeks ago

country time

a weekend in the country

first a shampoo , shave and braid

for the horses

some didn't like being cleaned so the next day

they rolled in the dirt

good thing i had my rubber boots
it was a bit mucky in the corral



the next farm over had a great old barn and wonderful rusted tractor

blooming now

while i was away last weekend , someone must of got in and

injected my plants with steroids!!!

some things have grown 2 feet in less than a week

one of my favorite blooms right now

lily of the valley
i took a little time to smell the lilacs too

and play a bit in ps

------

above , a photo from my garden, some grunge layers

from shadowhouse and a dictionary page