Golden Weeds

I finally upgraded my ON1 software to the latest version (there was a deal I couldn’t resist. . .), mostly because my photo group purchased some of their tutorials for us. I’ve just barely scratched the surface of the new interface and all the new filters (new to me, that is). One thing I have noticed is better performance than with my old version of the software.

I added a texture in Photoshop to this light box photo of weeds and then added another filter and a border in ON1 Effects.  Fun! Now I just have to remember to use it . . .

20160424-MMA_0903_melinda_anderson-Edit-Edit

Melinda2 Comments

Rustic and Rural

I’m once again on the lookout for photos that have elements of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi (imperfect, impermanent, incomplete). I recently gave a presentation to one of my photo groups on this topic, and next month we will all be bringing in our wabi-sabi photos.  Here are a couple shots in and by the Drover’s Shed at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, which show the process of weathering and decay over time.

The windmill:

20160416-MMA_0183_melinda_anderson-Edit

The kitchen:

on_the_stove

Melinda1 Comment

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!

20160416-MMA_0340_melinda_anderson-Edit

I brought my Lensbaby Edge 80 along too, which I used on these flowers (along with a bit of enhancement from Topaz Impression).

20160416-MMA_0589_melinda_anderson-Edit

Melinda1 Comment

Upcycled Cardinal

I’m back among the land of the living again! I haven’t quite returned to photography as yet, so today’s photo is a reworking of one I took last summer in Tucson. I played with it in Photoshop and added some textures to create a painterly look.

20150709-MMA_0277_melinda_anderson-Edit

 

Melinda4 Comments

Points of View

8c33-3cab-e8ac-e7c4

My little AAUW photo group had the assignment last week of photographing a subject in different ways, from different angles, and/or edited different ways. I had a busy week so allowed about a half hour for shooting and a half hour for editing- I almost made it. I used my 35 mm for 3 shots and switched to my 85mm macro for the other 2. I quickly edited all in Lightroom and then added textures to two in Photoshop- all on schedule.  But I was in such a hurry and so out of patience that I kept messing up the collage in the Lightroom Print Module. I threw up my hands and sent them all to my phone where I made a quick layout in Pic Collage, which added only about 5 minutes to my allotted time.  When I picked up my print at Costco, I realized that I had sent the wrong photo to my phone for the middle one on the left- it was unedited! And so it was. . .

I added a bit of contrast, clarity, and sharpening to that unedited part of the collage before uploading to my blog- so it looks a little better (no, I did not re-make the whole collage!).

Melinda1 Comment