trying something new...

Nancy, over at A Rural Journal, posted about a Photo Challenge blog called Edit Me

where a photo is provided weekly for participants to try their hand at editing...

I recently scratched the surface of PSE

and found layers upon layers of possibilities

so many that I have been almost paralyzed in my attempts

to figure them out!

I experimented a bit with textures a while back, after watching a PSE and an online tutorial

and I took a short online (skinny mini) Photoshop class with Kim Klassen...

I realized that there is so much to learn about Photoshop to even know what you can do!

So...I generally don't post the photos I have 'played' with on my blog...

Today seemed to be the day to stick my neck out and give it a shot with this challenge.

*deep breath*

This is the photo, provided by Nancy, who is also the judge this week!

I used PSE to (hopefully) give the background a painted effect 

and to move the cat more into the foreground.

...and the quotaholic in me had to add a quote!

I did this by:

(please forgive my lack of proper photo editing nomenclature *lol*)

duplicating the photo in soft light at 60%

applying the 'pencil sketch' effect in soft light at 100%

and adjusting levels and brightness

I added a layer mask between each and soft brushed the cat only

I added the text, taking the colour from the flowers in the background.

Rudimentary, I am sure, but I enjoyed the exercise 

and had fun comparing the final product to the original photo...

and I have to admit to a certain amount of exhilaration

at putting 'out there', a photo to which I have done more 

than add a quote or texture and my initials!

I am thinking that I need to participate regularly in this Edit Me Challenge 

to push myself to grow in the area of photo editing!

My next task is to figure out HOW to make these photo icons LINK to blogs!!

(in the mean time I have linked to the text above!)

Always something new to learn!

Update: I think I've got it!!