spring has sprung for this or that thursday 17.5.12

yup...I think spring is finally here in the great white north!

When everyone else was posting lovely photos of lilacs and clematis bursting into bloom 

I was still looking at brown grass and teensy buds and even a few snowflakes...

We had one gorgeous teasing week, that had the flowers and trees all confused

and then it got cold and ugly out there again...

Suddenly, in the past few weeks everything has finally burst out! 

... into brilliant greens and intense colours of spring!

I finally had a chance to get out with my camera and wander the "back forty" over the past few days...

Of course the weeds grow as quickly as the flowers 

but one woman's weeds are another woman's flowers!

The white clematis has grown very tall and is growing along the bridge by the pond. 

I am still waiting for the purple Jack Manji to bloom

...and my bush peonies burst forth in ONE day this week...

and that is what I have been shooting this week

Linking to This or That Thursday, hosted by Deb Duty!

{movement} 52 Photos yr2/wk4

I was so late posting for last week's 52 Photos Project that I am practically
posting on top of it this week!

I am trying to participate in new photo galleries and challenges and 

I keep finding all kinds of exciting ones

while at the same time trying to learn all sorts of new tips and tricks!

I don't want to overwhelming myself...

at the same time, 52 Photos Project is dear to my heart!

It is what brought me into the realm of photography blogging and online photography communities 

and introduced me to many of the wonderful folks I have met!

So I am committed to make it a weekly priority to get my

52 Photos Project done on time from now on!

Bella's prompt this week is 'Movement'

and the weather today co-operated by making just about everything move!

Those brilliant weather forecasters were calling for thunderstorms but, 

despite some very dark skies at times, we didn't even have rain. 

In fact, we had quite a bit of sun!

and a whole lot of wind!

So I went for a photo walk (a concept I learned from Bella)
and snapped and snapped and snapped...

trees

signs
overturned lawn chairs

even garbage and dust...

In the end

it was the last picture that I took,

while walking up to my front door

that I ended up choosing...

I could have stayed home!
My hair and face would have appreciated it...

Now there is a picture of loveliness that you'll never see!

caption:  'dermabrasion' meets 'rats nest'!!


Hoping to achieve a regular flow of posts from here on in...
wish me luck!

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!!

{where we meet} 52 Photos yr2/wk3

I loved the way Bella worded her prompt over at 52 Photos Project last week. 

It was 'where we meet'...

"...where you gather with your family to eat, to celebrate, or to sit inside of the quiet...

where you gather with your kindreds and loved ones. 

It's the date you never cancel."

Getting time to get this together was a challenge

but getting the photos was a snap!

As it happens, Bella's prompt was posted on my Mother's 85th Birthday

and a week later was Mother's Day!

It is hard to get my entire family into one room so several rooms fill and refill 

in a constantly changing flow...

sometimes according to age

sometimes according to what is happening in the moment 

If the weather is good, as it was for both of these events,

we have a tendency to also spill over into the back yard...

Mother's Day was extra special this year.

It was the first meeting of the Mom's!

The Mister and I are getting married this year

and the mothers decided that they had to meet first

(as if we were 20 something, not 50 something! *lol*)

After the crowds have dispersed, and on most summer evenings,

this is where he and I meet

to unwind,

to talk about our day

to plan our future together

and

if we are lucky

to enjoy an extra beautiful ending to the day

Thanks for the great prompt Bella!

scavenger hunt sunday - 13.5.12

Another busy week/weekend, with Mother's Day and all, 

but I am trying to keep up with the photo challenges I have committed to

... so these, my offerings for Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt Sunday are all SOOC 

1. Sidewalk

Actually, you are looking at my ditch and the road in front of my home...

we don't have sidewalks...

YET! 

Apparently these markings on the road mean they are putting in sidewalks this summer.

yay... *sigh*

2. Inspiring

These are the two most inspiring people in my life!

~ My Mister and my Mother ~ 

3. Time

I made this clock.

It hangs in my kitchen and is the only clock in my life.

I had to make it because I could not find a clock that properly represented my perspective of time!

4. Close up (s)

Sorry...it happened again! I went out to take one photo and came back with two and couldn't decide!

I loved the way the rainwater collected in this peony bud 

but was distracted by this little guy sauntering through the sedum beside the peony bush

5. With mirror

This is my herb and lettuce garden on my shed and, by chance, my mister in the mirror

...and this is a picture of a butterfly mirror on my patio door just in case the one above didn't count 

*lol*

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!!

horizon - photo art friday

I am a horizon freak! 

I love sunrises, sunsets, and places where the earth meets the sky or water meets the sky 

- also where water meets land. 

So I guess I generally love places that are 'in between'

Transitional places in nature and all aspects of life have always appealed to me. 

I have always been resilient, adaptable, flexible ...

have always had a "that's the way I am rolling right now" perspective 

Having been through a lot of transition in my life, I guess it is a good thing that I love transitional places!  Or perhaps that is why I love them...

But I digress...

This week's prompt at Bonnie's Photo Art Friday is Horizon and, 

as a horizon freak, 

I have a lot of photos to choose from. 

I have chosen this one of Monument Valley from a trip to Arizona and Utah last fall 

I love the colours.

 The peacefulness of the scene when I took it that morning still resonates in me when I look at it.

I tried a number of textures and adjustments but in the end I decided I love it just as it is SOOC

Posting to Photo Art Friday

Just because I love it I am posting another one here from the same trip.
Also taken at sunrise, but this time from a hot air balloon over Sedona Arizona

Following up Mom's 85th birthday bash with Mother's Day this weekend...

so have been fortunate to have her as our guest all week!

I'll be taking her home to the country on Monday

so will be looking for some photo opps on the way 

and hopefully back to my camera and blog following next week!

Have an awesome weekend everyone!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 6.5.12

Celebrating my Mother's 85th birthday today at my home with 22 guests so quickly posting and Linking to Scavenger Hunt Sunday hosted by Ashley Sisk at Ramblings and Musings.

1. Shadow

We finally got some sun today so shadows were easy to find...

 it was just tough to decide which shot to use

...morning sun in one room or afternoon sun in another...

2. Keys

Have I mentioned that I am indecisive?

3. Smile

I couldn't resist taking this photo when this smiley face showed up on my kitchen counter a few months ago, even though I had no idea what I would ever do with it!

It has been waiting for this day to become my one archive shot...!!

4. Unedited (SOOC)

This is also from my archives but is my all time fav SOOC shot.
It was taken in a slot canyon during my vacation in Arizona last fall!

But in an attempt to follow the rules I have also included a photo taken this week for SHS!

5. Fish

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and has a great week ahead!