Showing posts with label Pennsylvania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pennsylvania. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Winter it up

I had said I was going to try to winter up the Christmas tree pictures, and I have.

I'm on the fence about this method. Maybe it's me, because I know they aren't originally winter scenes. But this is also my first attempt at it and I'm sure there are a few things I could do to make it a touch better. I'll have to play with them in the future, but this is the first try.

I've provided the original photo below the winter version so you can see what I started with.

Scroll to the end as I've listed how I created the winter feel to the photos.














So how did I make wintery? 
1) Open the original image in Photoshop.

2) Click the Hue/Saturation button on the Adjustments tab above Layers.
 -- Click the pointing finger and select the color I want to turn white from the image.
 -- You'll see the selection bar between the bottom two color scales. Make sure to include the colors you want. If there's green and yellows, like in my first image, I moved the center scales to include those colors. 
 -- Then, slide the Lightness marker to the level of "white" to appear.

3) If you need to bring skin colors back: click to make a new mask (while in this layer) which is the box icon with circle in it. Make sure your foreground/background colors are black/white. Then Using brush in size to your face(s) go over the people to bring them back out.

**If you have colors that still bleed through that you want whiter, create a new Adjustment for Hue/Saturation as needed.

Add Snow: (I downloaded different brushes so I have them in my brushes.)
1) Add new layer (the icon that looks like a piece of paper with bottom left corner folded up).

2) Click Brush and selected brush type and size. Then clicked on image. (Don't worry if cover people, you can remove that!)

3) To touch up faces and where snow is falling -- Click 'Add Vector Mask' then click brush and use regular brush. Brush over where snow not to be.



I downloaded brushes from different sites. The site with many links I found is Creative Bloq. This snow brush is from Brusheezy.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Oh Christmas Tree...We Found You!

I know Christmas is over and we are well into the new year. Readying for Valentine's day actually. But I didn't get to share my Christmas photos with being tied up with all the holiday racing around and preparing. So, I'm going to start with our tree.

We go to a local tree farm cut our tree down each year. It's become a tradition for us. And something fun for us to do together. It's about an hour drive to get there, so we make a day out of it. We pick on each other as we drive and laugh. Even on the way home, we talk about how big the tree is this year compared to previous ones and how it won't fit in the house. Even the fun of cutting or carrying it.

This year the tree was quick and easy to cut down.

These photos were taken with my new camera, I'm still getting use to it. Nikon D7200.

This is my son under the tree with my husband instructing. lol. My son brought along the girl he was seeing at the time. Yep, we share our goofy with everyone. But they have fun with us.
ISO 200 21mm f/8.0 1/40sec
This is one of my favorite images! The view under the tree as my son saws away. (Yes, I've always said it's more natural to saw than to use a chain saw. It makes it more personal! You have to work for that tree.)
ISO 500 18mm f/8.0 1/40sec
ISO 200 18mm f/8.0 1/40sec
I try to get a shot of the rings of the tree each year. When my son was younger we counted them to see how old the tree was. How many rings do you count?
ISO 125 40mm f/8.0 1/40sec
This was the view from the field we were at. It is so open and the air is fresh. I feel as though I could breath better here.
ISO 100 55mm f/8.0 1/40sec

How many does it take to carry the tree? It's heavier than it looks! LOL!
ISO 100 34mm f/8.0 1/40sec
I couldn't pass up this shot. They were having so much fun.
ISO 100 34mm f/8.0 1/40sec

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and took all the photos you could along the way.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Twin Lakes (2)

I wanted to get the remainder of the Twin Lakes Heritage Festival pictures up, so here they are.

There was a tent with many exotic birds. In talking with the gentleman I learned these birds were all rescues. People who bought the birds and didn't know or understand the care that goes with them (not judging!), birds that out lived their owners (which they do have long lives), or birds that really were in a bad home. They were all stunning! All the colors! And they sat on their perches waiting for show time.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few pictures. I DID turn my flash off for the birds. I didn't want to spook or shock them with the bright light.





This lovely young lady was an amazing talent to see. Or, I should say, hear. She played her violin for hours this day. Every time we walked by, she was playing a different song. They had a speaker plugged in to her violin so all could hear as you were walking near.

Wow.

She is a student that has participated with other young musicians to create the band that put out CD's of many songs. The songs on the CD's range from classical to Christmas to popular music. There are no words, but with the orchestra that's playing this music, you don't need them. I did pick up all four CD's. I couldn't pass it up. Listening to this young lady play sold me.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

I'm new to and loving Adobe Lightroom

My photography has taken a step forward recently. I'm starting to take portraits and more. So I started fiddling with a photo program on my laptop. It's not the worlds greatest of programs but it gave me a feel for playing with contrast, lighting, and colors. I liked what I was seeing but wanted more. The next step was making the dive to Photoshop for $10 a month (estimated). 

And I'm thrilled I made the leap!

Since football season has started, I'm going to use one of my son as an example.

This photo is the original, straight from the camera. I like it, but it has a bit of a dull look to it. The reds aren't as vibrant as they should be and the grass looks flat as well. The sun was so bright that day that even with the filter lens everything still looked washed out.
The photo could be better. At least in my mind. I love the action in it and want it to be eye catching as well.

So I opened it in Adobe Lightroom, which I'm still learning. I brightened. I clarified. I sharpened. I cropped. I had a blast learning how to touch up different colors (look at that grass!). And this is what I ended up with.
I was pleased with the results. I'm not one to over do everything. I want to keep the original essence of the image, the heart that I caught in the lens. But I want the colors to look true. And this is what I get to see now.

So I grabbed the next photo that I fell in love with:
Yes, it's touched up already. Something drew me to capture this when the guys were running. I'm so glad I listened to that voice in my head. I love the lines and the view of all the boys (I say boys, they are young men as it's a college team) in sync. The candid shot that is so true to a football feel.

So, I'm still learning Adobe Lightroom. I'm making my way with learning the different elements of a picture and what I can touch up and how. It's just an experiment for me at this time. I keep trying different degrees. Which I'll continue to do.

Do you have any suggestions?

Monday, September 4, 2017

Kaelber

Every generation has that group of talented kids in it. Talented with words, music, instruments, video, and more. Or so I feel. I remember who those amazing people where when I went to high school. Last week I believe I saw one of the next generations talents live when at another great TGIS at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg with my son. I always enjoy myself at these concerts, and they are free. (Heck yeah!)

This one was different for me. First I went with my son and we enjoyed the music. The music was amazing! First, it was MY kind of music, which kids still listen to and play! Crazy right!?! lol. My son loved the music as well. But it was also memorable for him because he went to school with these kids.

Like I mentioned in the first sentence. I do feel each generation has that amazingly talented group of kids we all remember. We all hope they go on to great things. Well, I think Kaelber is one of those groups. Wow! They are so young and so dang talented! It's amazing to watch and listen to them.

They have a rock and metal blend to their sound, something that is sweet to my ears. Want to check them out? They have a website with videos! They also have CD singles out too!













 












They had a lead singer from another local band join them for one song, Mary Jane's Last Dance. Then Kaelber's lead guitarist/singer went into an amazing guitar solo at the end! WOW!




 Pogo sticking...with guitar in hand! Killer skills!








This is one group I would love to go see again. Pictures can't share how great the music was, and it was great. They have their own music along with playing the hits I enjoy. Great blend!