As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been trying some different photoshop techniques. Here is a very different take on my chamomile macro from the other day!
Chamomile Macro
Here’s a closer view of some of the chamomile I’ve used in my still life shots in the last week.
A hat, some flowers, and the chair
You may remember my series of chair photos from last year- some including this hat. Well, the bunch of chamomile I picked up at Trader Joe’s put me in the mood again- so here’s another in the series, this time in black and white.
Greeting Card
“It would make a good greeting card.”
The above comment is code for corny, schmaltzy, trite- however you interpret it- in my photo group. I, however, like making images that look like greeting cards; one of my childhood ambitions was to work for Hallmark. I envisioned a room of artists painting pretty cards or drawing cartoons.
So, with no apologies, here is one of my flower photos that, in my opinion, would make a good greeting card. 🙂
2 Boys, 1 Grandma, and 1 Desert Poppy
When the grandboys were here, I decided I wanted to pick some wild desert poppies I had noticed blooming down the street in a vacant lot. Caitlin, Miles, and I braved the heat wave and walked to the bottom of the hill where we could see a few in bloom. As we walked through the weeds, zillions of burrs attached to our clothes and shoes, so I ended up with just one poppy. When we got home, I brought out the lightbox and spent a few minutes taking photos with the camera on the tripod. The boys were intrigued, so I had each take photos with the iPhone.
Miles was interested in editing his photo, so that evening, I introduced him to Snapseed! He especially liked the “glamorous glow” (glamour glow) adjustment, after trying all sorts of filters. He didn’t like the tiny rips in the petals, so he made me promise to fix them in Photoshop on my computer, which I did.
Here is his photo, edited by Miles with Snapseed (with rips fixed by Gramma):
Good focus, wouldn’t you say? And I like that glamour glow!
Henry wanted a turn as well and managed to take about 10 photos with one long click- all with perfect focus! I took the liberty of editing this one in Photoshop with On 1 and Impression software.
And here’s the one taken by Gramma- a side view with texture added:
The Dark Side
I’ve been experimenting with some new (to me) Photoshop techniques which are a departure from my usual style- if I indeed have a style. No textures, more obvious textures, frames, and now this:
What? A black background? Drama? Not my usual thing, but I like the effect on this photo.
And now this:
Holy Cow! If you use Photoshop, you probably recognize the Topaz Glow filter (a new purchase), which I used almost full strength on this photo. A little over the top- but FUN!
Golden Morning
I guess it does pay to get up early, even though you’re retired. It’s a rare day that I don’t wake up before the sun comes up; however actually getting dressed and out of the house is more challenging. The golden light backlighting the flowers after sunrise caused me to dash outside with the camera- it seems like Spring is here at last!
Funky Flower Fun
This is the flower from the Apache Plume plant that we have by our street- in color and with 3 black and white edits.
The Yellow Rose of Prescott
It has just a hint of “gesture”, wouldn’t you say?
Yellow Again
Just yellow this time. . .
Yellow- or Not
Yellow!
Or not!
Lily Loveliness
I deconstructed my Mother’s Day bouquet from my daughter and had a great time photographing the flowers individually and small groups- my idea of fun!
Mellow Yellow
Some Lensbaby fun. . .
Out of Town!
On Saturday, Lonnie and I got OUT OF TOWN! After a couple weeks of illness- and then a water leak which will eventually lead to our floors being replaced- we were more than ready for an outing. We didn’t go far- just southeast to the town of Superior to visit the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, where we walked and walked and walked admiring all the different cacti and wildflowers. It is a beautiful spot! I took dozens and dozens of photos; it felt so good to get out and use my camera again.
These rocks form the backdrop of the state park, which is right by the highway. Octotillo was in bloom everywhere!
I brought my Lensbaby Edge 80 along too, which I used on these flowers (along with a bit of enhancement from Topaz Impression).
Remembering Palm Springs
As I looked out my office window yesterday at gray skies and snow flurries (!), I was remembering the lovely grounds of the vintage hotel where we stayed in Palm Springs, Here are a couple detail shots:
melinda anderson photography 