I enjoyed a presentation by Hazel Meredith last night at our camera club, so I used some of her techniques in Topaz Studio 2 to edit this rural scene shot in Alaska last summer.
Vintage
Blast from the Past
When we were in Bisbee a week ago, we took a little side trip to Lowell- once a mining town, and now part of Bisbee itself. It was fun to look at the old cars and buildings; below is the old police department.
Sundown
It was almost sunset in the desert, but the sun was still fiery hot. This was taken after dinner outside the house where we stayed in Oro Valley, Arizona for my birthday.
Ocean
Here is another ocean image taken at the same time as the one from a few days ago. I’ve been experimenting making colorful textures (a total departure for me) in an attempt to create a different painterly look than usual. I like how they blend with ocean and beach photos.
Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow
It is a very snowy day. Understatement.
Usually I would delight in this beautiful winter day and not care that our hilly street isn’t plowed, because I could take photos or stay inside with my genealogy or a good book- BUT… we have appointments for our Covid vaccinations later today. Currently appointments are delayed for two hours, so we may have to be rescheduled. Trying to keep a positive attitude- like this flicker who is guarding the feeder (behind ) so no one else can get the frozen block of food.
#2021problems
Little Bear
One of my favorite series of books for beginning readers (my children and grandchildren as well as my first grade students) is the Little Bear series by Else Holmelund Minarik. There is something about this photo of one of the three little grizzlies at Bearizona that brings those books to mind. It has been two months since I saw those bears, and I’m sure they are a lot bigger (and scarier) these days!
Once Upon a Time in Bodie
A fun image I created for my photo group this week . . .
This image brings back great memories of our group’s trip to Lone Pine, California. We had to cancel last semester’s trip to southern Arizona a few months ago due to Covid (of course), but I’m looking forward to the day when we can start taking trips together again. As a self-taught photographer, I found this group of talented photographers so intimidating at first- the skill level, the knowledge, the gear, and the creativity. I’m still awed by the the images produced by my fellow members, but have made good friends and consider our meetings (now on Zoom) to be the highlight of my week. AND things are going my way- one assignment this semester is Shallow Depth of Field and another is Photoimpressionism!
Mother’s Day
H A P P Y M O T H E R ‘ S D A Y !
Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and grandmas out there- and to those of you who have had moms and grandmas (that’s all of us!)! I’m grateful for my wonderful mother and for the two grandmas who both lived with us- I was so lucky!
I took this photo in our yard last night and edited it with one of my own textures this morning. I’m looking forward to a barbecued hamburger for dinner tonight! Have a great day everyone!
Keep Your Distance!
Daydreaming about the beach . . .
This was from our last trip to California- February 27- before the lockdown but just as we were becoming aware trouble was headed our way.
Edited with one of my beach textures, created in my at home time.
Be the Light
I’m joining Kim Klassen’s Texture Tuesday again to share a photo I took in January with a new edit using textures she sent out just last night. I am also using Kim’s words as my blog post title.
So everyone, let just be the light!
Nature Heals
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.
~John Muir
Kim Klassen, my very first photography mentor and whose video tutorials taught me Photoshop nine years ago, has brought back her Texture Tuesday linkup! When I saw the announcement last night, I leapt at the opportunity to download her free textures and participate! I have gotten away from still life and have ventured into other areas of photography, but am so, so grateful to come back to Kim’s special world, especially NOW! Thank, you Kim!
https://kimklassen.com/texture-tuesday-2-o-is-here/
Create!
I haven’t been out yet taking photos, except for a few documenting our snowfall, but I have started a new project. I am taking an online class in making textures to use in photography! So far I have created a set of textures painted with acrylic paint (still have to scan most into my computer) and a set of photographs of the textures on my cookie sheets and pizza stone. I used textures from both sets in the image below.
Cool Morning, Hot Air
Another early morning shot in Albuquerque
San Felipe de Neri
The centerpiece of Old Town Plaza in Albuquerque is San Felipe de Neri Church- built in 1793 (replacing an older church built in 1709) during the Spanish colonial period. We didn’t get to go in, but I took lots of photos outside.
In the Morning
We have been having extremely windy days recently! In fact, it was so windy that I couldn’t photograph flowers outside- so I propped this one in the window to get the best light I could. With the addition of three textures, I’m happy with the resulting image.
melinda anderson photography 