Camping Photos

I spent a few days camping "up North" with my family and church family. We had a great time, but I do enjoy coming home and getting really clean.  No matter how many times I shower when camping, I still feel dirty.  Perhaps it is the constant smell of bug spray on your clothing, or the fact that you wear shower shoes and your feet just never get clean.  Anyway, it was a wonderful few days with friends in a very pretty place.  I took some photos and have had fun playing with them in PSE.

 

Collages

Just put together some collages for my nephew

Senior Pictures

I'm so excited to be taking my nephew's senior pictures.  Here are a few I took yesterday.

We need to get some of his sports and outdoors ones taken.

MOMMY'S LITTLE COWBOYS

I've been at it again in PSE.  I downloaded more templates from HERE.
I took these of my little ones for Father's Day. I made Dan a card from his "little cowboys", so I had to take some photos of them dressed up to put in the card.  This was a last minute decision, and I noticed that Noah's face could have used a good cleaning off - but hey, cowboys get dirty!

I am seriously addicted to this photography thing.

SUNSHINE

I love the PSE action from Pioneer Woman called "Sunshine".  After I define, sharpen, boost and crop my photos, I add this.  It looks great on the photos that are outside on a sunny day.  Gives it a dreamy quality (I think).  When I first started noticing photos that some photographers were putting on their blogs, I wondered how they did this, and quite frankly, I was not sure I liked it.  But the more I saw, the more I liked.  What do you think?

Here are the before and after shots:  my niece:

before and after of Levi.

Fun Website

I found this awesome website/blog that has tutorials and free downloads for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  It is called Coffeeshop.  

I have downloaded many actions from here and also templates and storyboards.  Here is one I just finished.

 

I love how these freebies make me look like I know what I'm doing in PSE.  Thank you, Rita, for a wonderful blog!

SWEET BABY

I had the opportunity to take pictures of my great nephew yesterday.  This is the first time I've taken pictures of a newborn.  He is so sweet.  There were moments when I could feel my internal motherly part yearning for another little boy. . . . . then Noah woke up from his nap and I came to my senses.

Aren't these the cutest little feet?  I could just eat them up!!!

I LOVE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS

Photoshop is way too expensive for me right now - I need to first start earning some money before I could justify a purchase that large.  But Photoshop Elements is affordable, and quite frankly, I can do a lot of stuff with it.  More and more websites offer tutorials and free "actions" for PSE.  With one quick click, I can make my pictures look like I actually know what I'm doing!  (Should I be telling this?).   Here are a few before and after pics:

                    

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Sorry I've not posted in a long time - been so busy visiting with family, running to see my son play baseball, etc.  Busy time of year.

I recently had the opportunity to photography  my nephew, Jesse, and his girlfriend, Alyssa before they went to the prom.  I played around in Photoshop Elements and did some changes with the coloring.  I love black and white and also I love "vintage".  I think the "vintage" shot adds something, especially with Jesse wearing a cowboy hat! Here are some of the shots - what do you think?  Any suggestions???

 

YEEE-HAW

My little cowboy, Levi.  He's 3 1/2, and for the most part is a sweet little boy (he has been known to throw an occasional tantrum).  His dad has recently introduced him to John Wayne westerns - heaven help us all!  He now rides his stick horse around the house yelling "shoot the Indians".  I tried to explain to him why we should not do that - I mean, the "Native Americans" (as I call them), were just defending their homes.  Levi was totally in agreement with me until daddy came home and they watched more John Wayne.  It's a losing battle (no pun intended).

His horse's name is Chester.  Chester likes to eat everything Levi does and he likes to drink milk.  Chester needs lots of attention from all of us and we have to make sure we say 'hello' to him when he "walks" into the room.

I took these photos today and I just love the innocence in his eyes.  I remember the years of make believe and how real it all seems.  It makes me smile.  I think the "sepia" overlay really adds to it!  Oh the wonders of  Photoshop!

Ya'll have a fine day, now, ya hear?

MY NEW YEAR'S ANGEL

My baby, Noah, will be 2 on Saturday.  When I was pregnant, I was really hoping for a New Year's Baby, but, unfortunately, he did not arrive on the 1st, and I had to be induced on January 2.  I won't bore you all with the terrible labor stories, etc., but after 2 hours of contractions and wondering why on earth I was doing this AGAIN, I was rewarded with a 9 lb. 14 oz. bundle of pure sweetness.

I am attempting to take his 2 year picture here at the house, however, it is proving a bit more difficult that I thought.  The lighting is not just right, and I don't have any studio lights or backgrounds yet, so I'm just using what I have here - natural light.  They are a little dark, so I do some magic in Photoshop, but they look "grainy" to me, so I put some in b&w and sepia.  However, I'm still working on getting a great portrait in the natural light with very little post-processing.  Pray for me :-)   Here are a few I took yesterday, but I'm still planning on doing more this week.  Just wanted to share.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:   I am so happy I'm not pregnant!

IT'S SNOW PROBLEM

As you all know, I'm no fan of the white stuff.  It's okay on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - hey, I'll even tolerate it until New Year's Day, but after that, I want green grass and warm sunshine.  Oh well, it's all wishful thinking when you live in Wisconsin - or even Pennsylvania!   

I had the opportunity to take some pictures for my friend, Michelle yesterday.  She asked me to take some of her girls in the snow for the grandparents.  I'm not real experienced photographing yet, and the snow does create some additional problems, but I'm all for a challenge.   I think they turned out pretty cute, and I hope she is happy with them too.  Thought I'd share a couple with you and wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  May 2010 be a wonderful year for everyone.   

This one totally cracks me up - we were trying to get their dog, Trigger in the pic, but he's just a pup and was too excited to play in the snow.  It looks like he's a little wild and crazy here.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Family and friends become more precious with the passing years. 

TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT

I took these of the boys in their toy room (Levi's old bedroom).  It is a small room and has 2 fairly large windows, so during the day, has some nice natural light.  I was just playing around with it - not using the flash.  I just think they turned out pretty cute, but maybe it was the models I was using and not so much the natural light????  (Don't all mothers think their kids are adorable?)

Anyway, I've not messed with these in PS at all - these are SOOC (straight out of camera), so don't judge them too harshly.  I need so much work on my photography and wish I could learn it all RIGHT NOW.  I just love taking photos!

 

Here is the thumb sucking photo after I played in PS.  Much better.

Have a wonderful week!

IT'S A COLORFUL WORLD

I had to share this gorgeous sunset photo.  This is pretty much straight out of the camera - except for a crop, the color is all 100% what was in the sky (no Photoshop magic).

If this world can show this kind of beauty, it kinda makes you wonder what heaven will be like.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:   It's not what you do once in awhile, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.

PHOTOSHOOT

As many of you know, I'm trying to break into the photography business.  I have always loved taking pictures.  My parents bought me a camera when I was 12 (I think).  I remember how  happy I was.  I took pictures of EVERYTHING.  I once remember snapping a picture of my mom as she was bent over my little brother - NOT GOOD!  I could not figure out why she was upset!  Now that I've had a few kids, I can honestly say, I would be upset if my one of my sons took my picture in that pose!   To take your mind off the mental image I just described, I wanted to share so pictures I snapped of Ty and Emily this past week.

I had a great time getting to know Emily.  She spent a lot of time here over the holiday.  She even went shopping with me on Black Friday and helped me get some of those great deals - all at 4:30 a.m.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Count your age with friends, not with years.