b r e a k ~ t h r o u g h

b r e a k ~ t h r o u g h, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

"If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death."
— Steven Pressfield (The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles)

More Fix It

It is already Friday?  I need an editing fix....

here it is!

Fix It Friday!

Before:

After:

I edited it in
 Lightroom and CS5.

I added a texture by Skeletal Mess - The Fauxlaroid!

FiX It!

I am always looking for fun ways to improve my photo-editing skills.  My usual routine is to shoot in RAW format and then upload to Lightroom for initial edits.  I then export it over to Adobe Photoshop - I use Elements 6.0.  I have been contemplating moving up to Adobe CS and recently downloaded the trial version of CS5.  CS5 has much more "power"; however, I am finding that it will be a long learning process.

Today, I ran across the website I Heart Faces.  They run weekly contests for editing fixes.  The "fix-it Friday" challenge was to "fix" this photo.

I decided to try, and here is my result:

Here is what I did:

1.  I sent the photo to Lightroom where I applied a sepia toned preset.  I also used the adjustment brush presets to lighten up the eyes and soften the skin.

2.  I cropped it down so that the baby's face aligned up at the far side of the photo.  I use the Rule Of Thirds Grid to make sure I get it right in Lightroom.

3.  I sent the photo to Adobe PSE.  There I worked on the eyes a littler more with the dodge/burn brushes.  I added a pink toned fill layer to give it the pink tint.  And, I added a texture.

It was a fun exercise, and I have entered it into the thread on the website.

rose worship

rose worship, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

"It may be that our role on this planet
is not to worship God--but to create him."
— Arthur C. Clarke

welcome to my world

welcome to my world, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

I used to watermark my photos - then I stopped because I felt it was just another distraction. Being a fairly trusting person, I believed that my images would not be stolen or misused without my permission. Unfortunately, the reality of the world today is that anything posted online has fallen prey to people who are dishonest; people who are thieves; people who lack the artistic creativity to be able to produce their own work; and, worst of all - people who are predators. Recently, some of my photos have ended up in places where I did not intend for them to go. I honestly doubt that watermarking will deter criminals from stealing something that they desire; however, at least if it is there, I am officially making the statement that my photographs are copyrighted by me, and any use of my photos without my permission is in violation of copyright law. I know that many of my contacts are experiencing similar issues. What a shame it is that a few bad apples can victimize so many...

wildflowers with texture....
















I will now get down off my "soap box"... and welcome you to my world - the magic I found this weekend when I took a Walk in the Woods!

Jack in the Pulpit - one of the last blooms of this species left in the woods!

tgiff - saturday edition

tgiff - saturday edition, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

Take a Walk...

Follow a Fence...

The ordinary

Can become

Extraordinary

If you give it a

Chance

horse farm fences

horse farm fences, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

This is a "drive-by" shot taken last week of a farm in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. I actually got out of the car to get this. The grass was so deep It that it make getting good DoF with the flowers in the foreground much easier. However, I was a bit worried about ticks!

b l o o m

 
b l o o m, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

"Let all of life be an unfettered howl. 

                          Like the crowd greeting the gladiator. 

  Don't stop to think, don't interrupt the scream, exhale, release life's rapture. 


                                                                        Everything is blooming. 

Everything is flying.

                     Everything is screaming, choking on its screams. 

                                                                                                     Laughter. 

Running. 


               Let-down hair. 


                                          That is all there is to life. " 

                                                                                     — Vladimir Nabokov

Rainy Days and Mondays

Rainy Day Mondays, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

It is raining and cold again. Last night it actually hailed here. It was so bad that we ran outside to check the cars for damage! It sounded like rocks were being thrown at our windows.  The plants have really taken a beating too from all the rain.  It is so ironic that a few years back we were struggling with drought conditions and now we have had so much snow and rain in the last six months.



This morning I woke up with "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters on my mind. The only problem was that I couldn't remember the tune. Thanks to You Tube, I got the full video version.



Then I thought of Karen Carpenter and what a beautiful voice she had. It was so pure and perfect.

Puddle Ducking

More Puddle Ducking, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

"Jemima Puddle-duck became quite desperate. She determined to make a nest
right away from the farm.

She set off on a fine spring afternoon along the cart-road that leads over
the hill.

She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet.

When she reached the top of the hill, she saw a wood in the distance.

She thought that it looked a safe quiet spot."

Beatrix Potter, "THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK"

We have had a cool spring and everyone, people and animals have been enjoying the beautiful weather. Last week, I spotted these little ducks crossing the road as I headed back in to Still Pond after a long day's work. I pulled over and grabbed for my camera. I wanted to get them crossing the street but I wasn't fast enough.

By the time I had my camera ready the threesome had crossed a big puddle and were heading off into the field toward the forest.  They really looked like they were off on some big adventure.

When I looked at the images I had captured, I was reminded of Beatrix Potter and the wonderful personalities of all of her characters.  Jemima Puddle-duck came to mind.  I was so glad that I took the time to stop so that I could capture these images.  This is why I always have my camera with me - even on my days commuting to and from work.  You never know when the opportunity will present itself and you will have the perfect photo opt in front of you!