Texture FX Fun

I love editing with textures, and the new Topaz program, Texture Effects, is giving me a whole new way of approaching the process.  You can start from scratch, making basic adjustments and then adding dust or scratches, lens leaks, vignettes, borders, and/or textures OR you can start with a filter preset and then adjust everything from there. There is a masking feature, which works well, except that you can’t use the bracket keys to control brush size (I usually choose to mask in Photoshop, because it’s easier for me).  You can upload your own textures into the program, as well as create your own presets, which you can choose to share with a community of other users of the program.  To be clear- it’s not just about textures- it’s other effects as well.  You might decide to not use a texture, but just other effects- or add your own textures in Photoshop afterward.  It’s a very flexible program! With that said, I will add that many members of the FB group devoted to this program have had technical issues with installing it and getting it to save their edits.  I have had no issues, thankfully.

So here’s an edit of a macro photo I snapped last weekend in our front yard (I think I used a filter and added 3 textures in Texture FX and then masked in Photoshop).

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Two MORE Little Girls

I’m slowly making progress with my project of digitally restoring old family photos.  I love these old photos of my grandmother sitting in the chair and my great-aunt Margaret (at age 8) all dressed up in her fancy outfit.  Both photos would have been taken in the 1890’s in the Chicago area.

Before:

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After:

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Before:

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After:

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Melinda4 Comments

Two Little Girls

Somehow, it happened that our Southern California god-daughter’s husband’s parents bought ranch property 45 minutes away from us in Arizona to use as a get-away for the family.  This weekend everyone came out- and our little god-family stayed with us! They got together at the ranch with their cousins on Saturday, but mornings and evenings they were with us. It was wonderful to get to know these adorable little girls- Alice, age five and Leah, age two. I hope these Arizona visits will become a tradition for them.

As with most modern families, iPads play an important role in entertainment and education.

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But of course, sweet Alice loves crafts too!

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Bathtime was fun- who could resist this little face?

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The weekend zipped by, and then, alas, they were back to their busy life in L.A.

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A Weedy Walk

My husband and I took a short walk at Willow Lake last week.  We were hoping to view some migrating birds, but they seemed to be avoiding us. Of course there were weeds to photograph- one of my standard subjects for photos.  This weedy image was edited using the new Topaz Texture Effects, which I downloaded on a 30 Day trial.  It reminds me of some of my iPhone apps- what a fun new filter! I have only just begun to explore what it has to offer.

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Bejeweled

Yesterday’s snow had disappeared before lunchtime- so I’m glad I made it outside with my macro lens before it all melted away.  Our shrubs and trees looked like they were decorated with little jewels as the melting bits of snow glistened in the sunlight.

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White Stuff

We had an early snow yesterday! After a blustery day of snow and rain, with nothing sticking, we finally got pretty white flakes for a few hours late yesterday afternoon and evening.

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Knowing that we were due for a day of sunshine, I bundled up and went out this morning so I could capture a few shots of the early morning sun hitting the inch or so of snow we got yesterday- and melting it away.

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Leaf Happy

Last week’s walk down Mt. Vernon Street yielded some fall photos as well as all the photos of Halloween decorations.  I think I should post them sooner rather than later, because this week’s big storms may have blown many of the leaves off the trees.

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Abstract Grasses

The morning light shining through the ornamental grasses out my office window took me away from my computer and out the front door with my camera and lensbaby.  I took about a dozen shots as I knelt on the rocks outside (ouch!) before my knees gave out from the effort.  I liked the resulting photos, which I edited with textures to emphasize the abstract qualities of the images.

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Melinda3 Comments

Winter is coming . . .

The hush comes with the deepening of Autumn; but it comes gradually. Our ears are attuned to it, day by quieter day.
But even now, if one awakens in the deep darkness of the small hours, one can hear it, a foretaste of Winter silence.

~Hal Borland

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For as long as I can remember, Fall has been my favorite season.  I think I like autumn leaves on the ground almost as much as the leaves on the trees. And to my eye, they are melancholy and mysterious in black and white- I love their fragile, crispy crunchiness and ragged, tired edges- reminding us that Winter is coming (a Game of Thrones reference, with my apologies). Snow is in the forecast in the high country, but I don’t think we’ll see any here.  In the meantime, I’m enjoying every minute of Fall!

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It’s not Halloween- it’s a Tsunami!

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Last Saturday, we went to what I would call a Happening- Tsunami at the Square. I’m not sure all the events that took place, because we were only there for an hour  (it went on until 10:00 that night).  The people watching was fantastic, but the dappled lighting made it hard for me to find a good angle.  There were several photographers there with pro cameras who were shooting the action on stage (musicians, clowns etc.), but I had more fun photographing the audience.  There were many people dressed in hippie attire, but this couple was my favorite.

Edited with Photoshop and Topaz Impression.

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