Happiness

Happiness is a new hard drive in my Mac.  It's running beautifully - purring like a happy kitty.  It has been such a pleasure to work on just as it was prior to it's demise a year ago.  The hard drive didn't just die, it suffered a slow death.

For this Photo Art Friday's challenge, I've posted a couple images using bokehs.  For those of you who don't know what bokeh is, it's the scattered lights visualized by the camera.  The pattern often looks like subtle bubbles in the image.  Many times when we do a digital edit, we can introduce a bokeh texture.  That is what I've done with these images.

This first image is so subtle you may not even see the edges of the bokeh "bubbles".  I used two layers of "Everything is illuminated" and a layer of "Golden Bokeh Overlay" by Pixel Dust Photo Art along with blends of color burn, vivid light and saturation.

I attempted to follow Bonnie's lead with this next image and used the poster edge filter.  

I like the edges on the Iris but I don't think the bokeh did very  much to add to the image.  So what the heck.....I played with the image.....a daguerreotype effect

and a kaleidoscope effect/

and this tilt tile effect which I like

Submitting for PAF 

Illuminated

I was too late for Kim's Texture Tuesday so rather than posting at the last minute Tuesday afternoon, I decided to play around with Bonnie's (Pixel Dust Photo Art) instructions for the previous week's Photo Art Friday challenge.  I used her "Everything is Illuminated" texture and tried various filters and blends based on her work.

I also worked with French Kiss textures on this rose image.  Leslie has some wonderful tutorials on her website.

and then used different filters including the "find edges" filter to get more of a sketched look.   I also used Bonnie's "Abstract 

Scratches" here and removed a bit from the roses.

This coming week for Photo Art Friday we can either do something with a bokeh or any photo art we desire.  I better get working on that.

Anna Update

Okay I just got my computer home.  Apple replaced the hard drive -- they were kind enough not to charge me even though I'm a few months out of warranty.  This is because the problem had been ongoing even before the warranty was up.  They had it all documented.  I'm whizzing along, so everything seems to be in order☺☀☺.  Yay!!!

For those of you with Macs, have you ever wondered if Time Machine is really backing up everything?  Well, I have.  I'm here to testify that all has been restored from Time Machine to the new hard drive.  Not a thing missing!!  You know how these things go -- nothing is ever easy.  They tell you that all you need to do is plug in, turn on and then tell it to restore from Time Machine.  For some reason I seemed to be caught in an endless loop that would put me right back at choosing "restore from Time Machine". I called the tech people and they helped me get it up and running just perfectly.  They are truly so customer oriented -- very nice to work with.

Haven't had time to do any photo edits so I decided to do an update on Anna.  She continues to exhibit her real puppyhood!  Can't focus for long and is easily distracted.  I laughingly say that we should named her "ADD-ie" for Attention Deficit Disorder This previous statement is null and void, however,  if she sees the crow sitting on the fountain.  Then she is totally locked in visually!!

She and Ollie play every day like two little kids....

She  also loves playing with toys.  She will take a toy out of the basket and play with it for a few minutes before abandoning it to return to the basket for another toy.  After an hour or so, all the toys are lying in either the family room or our bedroom.  Of course she doesn't put them back.....that's for me, the maid, to do...... right?

Here I caught a couple shots of her pretty little face.

She says "Bye for now, but I'll be back!!"

Summer

Today I learned a new trick -- how to outline a font in PSE.  Head on over to Geri's blog for a tutorial.  She also has a tutorial for Photoshop.  Thanks, Geri!!

I took this shot in the mall.  I'm always smitten by bright colors and this display at Crate & Barrel really caught my eye.

Next step was to add my text and create the outline

Then I worked Geri's "magic"

Finally I added a layer of Kim's "fall in" on color burn @ 100% and a layer of Kim's "stained linen" on soft light at 57% to get this final image.  They warmed the image up quite a bit.

This is my entry for Kim's Texture Tuesday this week.  There will be lots more beautiful entries so be sure to visit her site to see them all.

See you on my next post!

Skyline

I wanted to do something a little different for Photo Art Friday this week.  We were given a choice of something with a horizon or any piece of art we wanted.

I chose this image overlooking the back bay in Newport Beach.  The buildings on the horizon are part of Newport Center.
The original was somewhat underexposed on an overcast day.  I think it looks moody.  It wasn't very colorful to begin with, so I converted to B/W.

I played with Bonnie's "intensify" texture and applied several different filters and blends to come up with these edits.  I also used frames from Pixlr on the final two images.  I was intrigued with the handprint and scrapbook frame on the final image.  

You will want to go visit the Photo Art Friday gallery for some unique and creative entries.
Have a great week everyone!!

Expect a Miracle

I got my iMac back yesterday.  I'm excited but with a little trepidation. Everything seems to be working well until I use the On One Photo Essentials 4 software.  Then it gets really bogged down.  Not sure what the problem is with that but I think I will have conversation with On One to see what might be causing that situation.
I'm excited to be able to do my photo editing again.  A day without it is like a day without my right arm....
I'm not sure what the assignment for Texture Tuesday was.....the instructions were for May 1, but then there wasn't a May 1st posting.  So I'm posting my version of Kim's newest video in the Test Kitchen.

Here's my basic recipe

I followed Kim's instructions for adding the two color fill adjustments which did give it a more dreamy effect.  So did her "Chase" texture.

I want to get this posted so I can wander over to Kim's blog and check out the other Texture Tuesday entries.

Have a good week!!

  

Well, I still have my computer problem, and I don't think it's Photoshop.  It is just so slow!!!  Arghhh!! I'm going to take it to the "genius bar" at Apple and let them figure it out.  Of course that means I'll be without a computer (horrors) for a few days.  Oh well, there's always my IPad.

It took me a hour to do this simple edit only because it is so darned slow.  I used Pixlr for the super thin frame.  I just felt the need to post something.

and with a PicMonkey polaroid frame....

My blog will probably be quiet for several days, but I'll be following all of you and checking in on Texture Tuesday and Photo Art Friday.  

For all of you with IPhones, I found a new challenge for IPhonography.  Go to Dave's blog and check it out.  I don't have an IPhone yet so can't play on this one.  But many of you are taking great pics with your IPhones.

Nancy's Texture Challenge

Photoshop is limping along.  It has been contrary about launching.....like when it feels like it.  I think either one of my external hard drives or my actual hard drive is trying to "die".  A lot of misbehaving going on.   Seagate is sending a replacement external hard drive.  If I continue to have the problem, I may be purchasing a new computer.  Doesn't seem like I should have to......it's only 3+ years old.

I had already done this editing pre misbehaving.  So I'm posting and hoping to be back in gear shortly.

First the original for the skateboarder.....

I was standing behind the fence, so you can see the green swath of one of the bars on the right.  I think the texture worked well with that little faux pax.  I used Nancy's "Grunge 1" 

Another image original

and a couple of edits using Nancy's textures.

I can't tell you what I did on these because I did them before all the computer problems.  I know I used Topaz Adjust and I believe I used Pixlr for the bottom frame.  Can't remember which of Nancy's textures I used on this one.  

Anyway, I wish you all a great week and keep "texturizing".

Anna Sunbathing

Anna says to tell you we're very sorry.  Our computer is misbehaving in a big way!  We are unable to work in Photoshop for the time being.  However, we can visit your blogs and leave comments on your work.  In the meantime, could you bring us some iced tea???  This sun is really warm....... but we like it.

Don't you just love Anna's wonky ears?  

It's a Free Day for Texture Tuesday

No particular theme today.

 We are instructed to use any texture of Kim's and have fun!  I was testing my little Coolpix point and shoot to see how close I could get with the macro setting.  Pretty close but of course, nothing like a real macro lens.  I took this photo of one of my "true geraniums" and doctored it with Kim's "Lily" texture and Pixlr.
The original first..... 

 

Then + "Lily" texture

I opened the file and hit Cmd J to duplicate, then used hue blend 100%.  I added one layer of "Lily" desaturated on hard light 86% and then a second layer of "Lily" (normal color) on lighter color 82%.  That's basically it.

and then I had some fun in Pixlr

 

Almost as much fun as Picnik!!

It truly feels like Spring here - the sun has been out all day!  Yay!!!!