Another flower- this time an orchid.
Edited with Topaz Impression- with added texture.
Orange Impressions 2
Happy Tuesday! Just a couple more flower abstracts. . .
Orange Impressions
I never get tired of flower abstracts!
Iris Play
I had some fun with the edit on this iris photo. I took it into Topaz Impression twice (two different layers in Photoshop) and added a texture as well. This is therapy for me!
Tulip Impressions
What can I say?- I am in the mood for BLUR!
These photos were shot with the Lensbaby Velvet 56; the resulting softness was further emphasized by editing with Topaz Impression.
Tulip with Attitude
My little AAUW photo group was discussing gesture in photography- a term used by Jay Maisel all the time to describe what he waits for when choosing a subject for his photograph. I can’t say that I fully understand the concept- but I usually know it when I see an obvious example. It seems to be a quality that makes the subject unique and isn’t only limited to living subjects. Even Scott Kelby was having difficulty understanding the meaning when interviewing Maisel.
To my eye, this tulip exemplifies gesture; in fact, it seems to have a definite attitude!
a little flower
Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
-Hans Christian Anderson
Just the petals again. . .
A companion to Monday’s orange petals post . . .
Tuesday Monet
It’s Topaz Impression time again. I used a Monet filter (plus textures added in Photoshop) on these two images. The second one is a copy of the first, re-edited in Lightroom in black and white with some split toning.
Ranuncu-LOVE
I had a photo already to post today, but then I came upon these ranunculus photos in Lightroom that hadn’t yet made my blog- one edited and one not. I had fun editing the second one to kinda-sorta match the first- so here they are!
Editing notes: I really need to start consistently labeling my layers in Photoshop. I could tell I added a filter to a layer in the first photo- and then some texture (which comes in with a label automatically). I assumed I used Topaz Impression- but which filter??? No idea. For the second one I used Cezanne II, one of my favorites. And another thing- is there a way to mark favorites in Impression? Anyone, anyone?
Big Boys of Summer
Golden Spotlight
The other evening, I glanced over at my entry hall as beautiful light from the setting sun cast a golden glow over my forgotten ranunculus arrangement on the cabinet. I am always complaining about the lack of good light in our house, so I felt compelled to run and get my camera and snap photo after photo until the light faded. My lensbaby Sweet 35 was on the camera- and of course I don’t remember what the aperture was set at- maybe f/4, which produced a lot of blur on the sides (more than I usually like). The second shot shows my adjustment- pushing the bottles together to put more of the flowers in focus. Closing down the aperture would have forced me to raise the ISO more than I wanted to in the excitement of the moment, so that was my speedy solution.
The Final Chapter
It was hard to let them go, so I took a few lensbaby shots of my peony petals before saying good-bye.
From above:
A black and white:
With added texture:
An abstract:
Cheery
Is there anything more cheery than ranunculus? Happy Friday to you!
A Lensbaby Still
Next week I start an online Lensbaby class through Clickin Moms with Caroline Jensen! I’m beyond excited to learn from this Lensbaby guru (and also from some of the amazing photographers taking the class- Holy Cow!). I’m taking it “study-along”, meaning I won’t get any feedback except from my classmates, but I will have access to all the class materials and can read the feedback Caroline gives the other students. We’ve already been given “pre-assignments” well in advance of the class starting, so I already have started learning.
Because I’ll be so involved with the class, it is possible that I’ll be pretty behind in my still life assignments, unless I combine the two (which I may in fact). But since I often use a lensbaby for my stills, I’m going to try to step outside of my comfort zone and practice outside and with people.
So here is a lensbaby still life of PEONIES (surprise, surprise!) and my chair.
melinda anderson photography 