Texture Tuesday, Volume 15

update:  well...wow...I posted this Monday night wondering why Kim never posted a Texture Tuesday post.  I was worried that something had happened in her camp!  Here's the official link -


I'm getting this in late, but...better late than never, right?!

Joining Kim today for Texture Tuesday...even though there isn't a link for today...I hope everything is okay. 

I used kk_ruemarion, kk_way and kk_cora to edit this...and added a sepia filter, increased contrast and decreased saturation.  If you mouseover the image you will see the SOOC shot.

I looks vintage...I like it.

Have a nice week :)

Spring!

I love to shoot flowers...did you know?

Even though I have been using some expensive, and supposedly better, camera equipment lately, I am still very pleased with the quality of pictures produced by my 6 MP camera :)

I used a 4+ macro filter on my 18-55mm lens for some of these...

Getting ready

I am going to be teaching a couple of camera classes at work and so I have borrowed some full frame cameras to get used to shooting with them and using their menus. 

It's been great! 

I have used the 50mm f/1.4 lens each time and I love it.  Its capabilities in low light are amazing.  I really don't like using flash if I don't have to. 

We took it to the park with us to try it out...

Spring Break 2014

We are lucky to live about an hour and a half from Chicago because that is our go-to place for any kind of vacation.  It can easily be a one day trip.  

We bought a membership last year for the Shedd Aquarium (only $10 more for our family to buy a membership vs. a one-time visit!).  We went to our favorite exhibits and then went to the Museum of Science and Industry.  Now we have a membership there for the next year!  

As part of the membership, we got to tour the U505 which was amazing.  The kids really enjoyed it too and we talked a lot about it on the way home.  

Texture Tuesday, Volume 14

Linking up with Kim again...this week's theme for Texture Tuesday is...SIMPLE.

Life is a bit overwhelming right now so SIMPLE is good...

These are the only posts I've been able to do lately, but I really enjoy doing it :)

Can't get much more simple than this.  Edited with kk_justatouch in two layers; one in multiply blend mode and one in soft light.

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

Texture Tuesday, Volume 13

Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday.  

The theme today is... perfectly imperfect.  

I spent quite a bit of time on this and when I put them next to each other, I think I like the unedited version better - I guess that makes the edited version perfectly imperfect :)

I used kk_3003 and kk_0411 with a purple to orange gradient, increased saturation, and added a vignette.  

I enjoy seeing what everyone accomplishes every week...I'm always inspired!

Texture Tuesday, Volume 12

Joining Kim again today for Texture Tuesday -  

Today's theme is 'For the love of...' and I chose sisters.  

These two are about 19 months apart and are joined at the hip most of the time.  They have very different personalities and that's what makes their relationship so endearing.  I hope they never lose this closeness...

Edited with kk_justatouch in Multiply mode

Have a great spring week!

Old time flash

Someone I work with mentioned that I could get an old Sunpak 344D (also called an auto-thyristor) flash for my D40 and that it would work fine...if I learned how to use it!  Ha!  Once I saw that I could get one for about $8 on eBay, I did my research to learn how to use it so that by the time it came in the mail, I had it pretty well figured out.  

I love it!  It gives great light that's not harsh and I've been snapping everything indoors the past couple of days.

I have to sneak pictures of this one or I don't see his face in photos!

This one (left) taken with the new flash...

This one (bottom) taken with on-camera flash...subtle but noticeable difference...

Texture Tuesday, Volume 11

Linking up with Kim Klassen today - for Texture Tuesday -

I wish I could follow her more than I do.  Life does not allow for too much extra time spent on hobbies right now, but I know that all too soon I will have that extra time...so until then...

I used a watercolor filter in PSE first and then added a couple of textures and played around with opacity.

Happy Tuesday!