3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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Making Tulips “Pop” With Photoshop

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Photoshop is a powerful photography tool when used properly. My goal for most photo editing is to create an image that doesn’t look like it’s been edited. So let’s render an image of a tulip into something that pops just a little, but doesn’t take it over the edge.

See how subtle editing can improve a photograph without going over the top, as I have a tendency to do sometimes, according to my daughter.

Tulip SOOC (straight out of the camera)
Tulip SOOC (straight out of the camera)

This edit first involved adding a levels adjustment layer and darkening the whole image.  I selected the pink color in Image/Adjustment/Selective Color and added more magenta, which brightened the color in the petals.

The white portion of the petals seemed washed out so I then used the Burn tool and stroked over the creases in the bottom of the petal, which brought out the fine streaks.  I then used the sponge tool and desaturated the background.

I tried some special effects with this image, but I was never quite happy with them, so I settled on realism.

Learn How to Edit in Photoshop

120 Easy Tips And Tricks For Photoshop: LearningAdobe Photoshop CS6 Revealed (Adobe CS6)Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a BookAdobe Photoshop Elements 13Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (Photoshop CC +

Day 87/365: Victorias Secret, Shimmers

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Day 87: Give Me the Shimmers

My daughter picked up this Victoria Secret “Give the the Shimmers” Sparkling Body Powder at Bit’s and Pieces and I instantly thought, it’s gotta be my photo of the day.  Fun pink glittering powder in a bottle with a super soft feather brush.

It’s more of a novelty for her dresser, but I think I need to try it sometime.

Photoshop Notes: normal action layers, bumped up the contrast and decreased the brightness. Sharpened the feathers a little. I’m going to play around with some curves and effects later. This will make a good subject.

Day 84/365: Look Out It’s a Pink Pig

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Day 84: Pink Pig

It’s a giant pink inflatable pig! He lives in my living room and is used as a bouncy chair, similar to how an large 3 foot exercise ball is used. Not for exercise, but to sit on. This carnival prize was won for my daughter at the Cass County Fair several years ago and I really do think it’s an exercise ball inside considering how sturdy it’s been. Pig doesn’t have a name and he’s starting to deflate, notice the saggy bottom, but keeps getting blown up because he’s a favorite.

The boys have a deal, whoever get’s “pig” has to use the corded Xbox remote, the person with the seat gets the cordless. See getting to sit on “Pig” is a privilege and that means you don’t get the good remote. First thing that I hear before an Xbox game is started with a group of boys is, “Where’s the pig?”

Now excuse me while I bounce on pig.