Follow Your Heart

10 Truths about Me

2012-02-29T20:06:00.002-08:00

The Beyond Layers Challenge: 10 Truths about Yourself

Why I struggle with writing things like this I'll never know. I feel like I'm back in school...ahhhh

10 truths about me (actually I squeezed many more into a list of 10 but don't tell)

1. I love to be home

2. I've finally found what I love to do - photography but not quite sure where I'm going with it.

3. Deciding to do 365 project was one of the best things that I have ever done for myself.

4. I cry easily...even commercials and parades. (very embarrassing)... but I LOVE to laugh!

5. I love french fries, ice cream, Reece's Peanutbutter Cups, Hostess Cup Cakes and dare I admit chocolate canned frosting on a spoon. (Frozen it's like fudge - oh that is soooo bad)

6. If I had to choose someone I wished to be more like it would be my Father

7. I enjoy reading, music, the country, the ocean, spending time alone and spending time with friends.

8. I would love to take piano lessons again. I would love to learn to play the flute.

9. I treasure my family and friends.

10. I dream of creating a kids game, marketing something or publishing a cookbook with my images someday. ( I need more hours in the day!)

Image: Off camera flash with umbrella in the back left of the image. White board front right to reflect light onto the front of the image

F 2.2

1/250

ISO 200

50 mm 1.4

Texture: Kim Klassen's Happy Heart

Turn the Page

2012-02-21T18:18:00.002-08:00

Turn the page...

There are so many times we look at what we should have done, should be doing or how we would have done things differently. These thoughts do nothing to move us forward. I've recently been reading a great book "100 ways to Motivate Yourself" by Steve Chandler. In one chapter he talks of replacing worry with action. If there is something that you think about often that you'd like change - stop thinking and take action! Even the smallest action will start the ball rolling and motivate you to keep moving forward.

Taking the Beyond Layers Class with Kim Klassen is one of my small actions - I continually think about improving my photography and where I want to go with it. So now that I'm actively doing something about it. I can rest my mind and concentrate more on what I'm learning!!

To all Beyond Layers artists - Congratulate yourself on taking action!

This weeks assignment was the painterly effect. Kim showed us some great photoshop techniques to play with. It always amazes me that with Photoshop, there is always something more to learn. I used to have my standard routine and now I've learn that there is so much to play with blend modes, opacity and textures!! So much fun!

50mm
F1.6
250th
Off Camera flash with unbrella
Texture: Kim Klassen's Graydaystone

Valentines Day Love

2012-02-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Over the years Valentine's Day has become much more that just a day for our romantic love.

Today we celebrate all people we love...family...friends and don't forget our endearing pets! Do a little something today for the people who are special in your life... bake some cookies... write a love note...or just leave little store bought surprise ( you can never go wrong with chocolate surprise in my book!)

... and don't forget to do a little something for yourself - go to lunch with a friend...a movie... or just take some time to be creative. What ever you choose - Enjoy your day!

I baked these cookies for my hubby. A friend at work gave me the recipe for these Linzer Cookies and are they scrumptious! I made them over the weekend and I believe they're all gone!!!

Below are 2 different versions. I can't say one is better that the other...just different. I like the both for different reason. The 1st would be great for a cookbook and the second..well just a nice print to hang on your kitchen wall.

1st version: Minor touchups - darken top left corner with the paint brush (selecting a color near by)

Darkened to of Powdered sugar shaker, sharpened and added a little contrast.

2nd Version: Applied some actions, texture by Kim Klassen, a patterned overlay and smoothed out the background with the paint tool. Applied a slight burn using selection and multiply mode.

Love, Love, Love

2012-02-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

I guess I have love and Valentines Day on my mind..lol. While I was sleeping last night I kept coming up with "love" image ideas. I guess I didn't sleep much - ha.
In this weeks Beyond Layers class we worked on photographing in our home "studio" with natural light. One thing that Kim Klassen talked about was evaluating your image...walking away and coming back to see it with fresh eyes. It's amazing how much this helps. Take todays image. I reworked this 3 times to get the image you see above.

The 1st image: After walking away and looking at this image again the back heart seemed to be too bold. Sometimes you're so intent on working on the image that we don't see the most obvious.

2nd Image: softened/desaturated the back heart
Better, but it still bothered me. I felt my eye was still drawn to that heart and it certainly was not where I want the attention of the viewer to be.

3rd Image: (Same as 1st image) I decided to remove the back heart. I used a large soft cloning brush to do this and then used the eyedropper to select a darker beige color and used my brush with a low opacity to paint and soften the background making it a bit more even.

What do you think? Do you see the difference?

Great advice Kim!

Camera Setting:
Lens: 50 mm 1.4
ISO: 200
Aperture: 1.8
Shutter: 1250th
Texture: Kim Klassen - Magic Scratches and Plastersquared

The little things you love

2012-02-06T17:29:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about the little things in life that make you smile? ....the things that tell a bit about who you are? For me, there are so many things that I would love to take home with me when I find them...just because they make me feel good when I look at them. They may serve no other purpose other than to make me smile or stir up inspiration. Vintage books, old bottles, tea cups, flowers, wooden spools of thread and oh....buttons have all found their way into my heart and home at one time or another. ...and there something magical about old photos and handwritten vintage postcards! It's so much fun to search for these little treasures, take them home with you and create an image or two. Three times the joy! Surround yourself with the little things you love..just for you!

Treasure the Memories

2012-01-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

To me it's such a treasure to look through old family photos! Over the years I think people have come to realize how important it is to capture life's moments and preserve the memories of our lives. Take time to care for your family photos old and new - scan them or create scrapbooks to keep them safe so your families future generations will be able enjoy them for years to come. Don't forget to record who's in the photo and if possible the date taken. A project well worth the time - Treasure the memories!!

This image was created for my 2nd assignment: Vision and Blurr for Beyond Layers inspirational e-course by Kim Klassen. The 1st part of our assignment was a 6 word Memoir inspired by Smith Magazine. Kim asked us to create our own 6 word memoir. Try it - once you start....you can't stop. Here's mine for today.

Capture the Moment,

Treasure the Memories

Would love to hear yours!

So this is my story...

2012-01-22T10:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a year now since I've finished my 365 project on Flickr - a photo a day for an entire year!! And yes, I did it!! I didn't miss a day and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences - the doors of inspiration opened. I was exposed to many talented photographers all over the world. I already had a passion for photography but found myself falling deeper in love with creating art from my images.

So here I am a year later, back to work in an office (yawn) and finding little time or energy to shoot. A sad time for me. I had put so much time and energy into my photography the past few years and it's all come to a halt. so this is my story....

So here I am a year later back to work in an office (yawn) and finding little time or energy to shoot. A sad time for me. I had put so much time and energy into my photography the past few years and it's all come to a halt.

Well... now it's time to make a change!! 2012 a new year and I need to make time in my life for creating. Are you with me??? Last night I stumble across the e-course being taught by the talented Kim Klassen "Beyond Layers". It's all about inspiration, encouragement, motivation, creativity.. .everything I'm looking for! It's a 52 week course with 2 assignments per week. So I'm jumping in with both feet. I'm soooooo excited!!

My artistic journey has not been the success story that I see so many photographers write about. I've struggled to find my place but haven't given up hope yet. I dream that someday it will all come together. Deep within I'm being pulled to create more. I feel the need to expose more of my creativity. There's lots more just itching to get out!! I know many of you can relate. I'm hoping this course will help me to overcome the things that hold me back from achieving my dreams and finding a clear vision of where I belong.

Join me as I create and explore. Stop by, say hi, leave a comment and tell me about your artistic journey.

#1 Assignment: Simplicity

Time ...never enough

2011-12-20T18:26:00.000-08:00

Where does the time go? Last I remember we had lost electricity and internet for 5 days in the October snow and now we're are 5 days away from Christmas! Every week I say I'm going to take the time to shoot and post some photos but before I know it I'm starting a new day. I happened to click on a photo that I had saved to my desktop a while back. It made me feel warm - thinking of the day I took the photo in the woods..the softness and texture the fall leaves. Thought I share it with you today. Don't wait to capture the perfect shot - set it up yourself and make it happen. Think outside the box. Try to capture a feeling through color, texture and the subject you choose. I'd love to see your creations.
Go create!

Autumn Apples

2011-10-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh my favorite time of year is here! The leaves are all turning and the air is starting to get brisk - A few weeks back we went apple picking. It's always a fun thing to do and even better is the week following- apple pie and apple dumplings - yum, yum yum.
What's your favorite apple dish?

"Autumn Apples"

Inspirational Walk

2011-10-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog! I've been so excited to create a blog to encourage creativity and inspiration for myself and others. While doing my 365 project last year-yes that was a photo a day for a year, I came to realize that beautiful images are all around us. Everyday object can take on a new life through the lens. While on a photo walk in the town of Kent, CT I came across this jar of buttons - I knew that it would make a beautiful image. It was a little more challenging taking it through a window, but I manage to capture an image that I was happy with. Hope you enjoy it and it brings new ideas to you -
K