canadian goose in marsh

I didn't do much to this shot other than a little brightening and sharpening. I like all the water surface texture and reflection in this marshy location.

Valentine Tulips

I am a sucker for tulips. I might even love them more than roses, but asking me to choose would be like asking a mother to choose between her children. There's nothing like having a vase full of fresh cut cheery, happy tulips at home, especially in the winter! It was the perfect mid-winter Valentine's gift from my Mommy (thanks Mom!). I sketched them, I photographed them, I enjoyed every moment of them even after they lost their fresh perkiness, wilting and shrivelling into darkened skeletons of their former selves. Here are two shots of these beauties in different stages of their glory.

(SOOC)... I actually like this as it is.

50mm lens

1/400

f 4.0

ISO 200

Skeletal Remains - (SOOC Again)

50mm lens
1/125
f 2.5
ISO 200

Winter Trees

As I push winter out the door with both hands, here's a shot of some bare wintry trees after a warm spell melted a lot of the snow we had. Actually it had just started to snow which made the original shot kind of white and cloudy looking.

For post-processing in Photoshop, first I boosted up the color and contrast, then I applied "Boutwell's Magic Glasses" to sharpen it up. That was followed by applying the "Super Fun Happy" action to give it that dreamy otherworldy look, then I added a hint of a vignette edging. I love the way these few easy steps transformed this photo. The original SOOC (straight out of camera) shot is just below. Big difference, right? I always like looking at other photographer's before & after photos because they helped me realized that I could really get my photos to look even better. I hope this helps you realize that too!

EF 50mm lens
f 4.0
1/400 sec
ISO 200

Actions Used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Super Fun Happy (also free from Totally Rad Actions)
3 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Jellyfish

My little guy favors aquariums over zoos, and I must admit that I am starting to feel the same way. Jellyfish have become one of my favorite aquarium attractions (just don't let me see one when I am in the ocean!). At this aquarium there was a jellyfish "touch" tank which was really cool, although these babies in the photo were NOT what we touched! Aquariums are generally dark and using flash (which I typically avoid at all costs) doesn't work well either so I had to boost the ISO waaaay up to 1600 (YIKES!). Yes, there is grain in my pics for sure, but I was able to get some good shots for the memory books, including the shot above. Anyway, many post-processing actions end up adding grain on purpose so I figure I can "embrace the grain" in these kinds of situations. Jellyfish = uber-relaxing liquid motion... I could watch them all day long. *sigh*

EF 50mm lens
f 2.2
1/125 sec
ISO 1600

Actions Used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)

Wintry Marsh Grasses

The sun was on its way down and beautifully illuminated the clouds and the grasses.

Lens used: EF 75-300mm zoom

Actions used:
1 - Slice Like a Ninja for sharpening (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Lomo/Cross Processing (free from SB Photography Stock)

3 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Country Cattails

This shot was just on the other side of the road from the lone swan that same cold day.

Lens used: EF 75-300mm zoom

Actions used:
- Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
- MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Lone Swan on Icy Pond

It was a very cold day, about 14 degrees and I was mostly driving the country roads & taking shots from my car. I had to crop this shot even though I used full zoom. I loved how peaceful this swan looked swimming alone on an unfrozen portion of the deserted pond.

Lens used: EF 75-300mm zoom

Actions used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses, Troy & Lux (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Winter Sunset

I took this through a second floor window the other evening as the sun was setting. I wish I used a better focal point but it relaxes me just to look at it.

Lens Used: EF 50mm f1.4

Actions Used:
1 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Dream

This is "Dream." He is the main horse that I take riding lessons on. He is mature and quite docile... classified as a smooth ride. And it takes a bit of leg to keep him moving which is perfect for a thirty-something novice rider like myself. He is a sweetie pie.

Camera used: Casio Exilim Z-3 point & shoot

Actions used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Slice Like A Ninja (free from Totally Rad Actions)
3 - Super Fun Happy (free from Totally Rad Actions)
4 - Lux (free from Totally Rad Actions)
3 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

His & Hers

We went to a car show this summer with my good friend, Cyndi, and her husband. They both have old cars but we just parked in the regular parking lot and were not part of the show so I grabbed these two "head on" shots... his is the Ford pick up and hers is the red Chevelle.

Lens Used: EF 50mm f1.4

Actions Used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Troy (free from Totally Rad Actions)
3 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free) ... used only on the Chevelle

Preschooler Feet

These are my favorite feet in the world... I just love the blur of movement indicated by the foot in motion in this shot. He never stops and keeps me on my toes! (pun intended :)

Lens Used: EF 50mm f1.4

Actions Used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Lomo/Cross Processing (free from SB Photography Stock)

Perfume Bottle

Here is a photo I took about 2 1/2 years ago. I still love the simplicity of it.

Lens Used: EF 50mm f1.4

Actions Used:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (free from Totally Rad Actions)
2 - Lomo/Cross Processing (free from SB Photography Stock)
3 - MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)

Settlement Cookbook

I just took this on Thanksgiving Day. My Mom has been using this old cookbook for almost 40 years. It's her "go to" cookbook whenever she needs to know how to make classic dishes. It is well worn and you can probably see the scotch tape holding it together in the photo. I believe there are also pages with scribble marks on them from when I was a little girl. Enjoy!

Lens used: EF 50mm 1.4

Actions Used on Photo in Photoshop:
1 - Boutwell Magic Glasses (part of free download from Totally Rad Actions hope to buy some here soon) - this actions subtly enhances photos nicely
2 - Lomo/Cross Processing (free from SB Photography Stock)... provides a really cool effect

Suspension Cable

A close up of the cable from the suspension foot bridge over the lake near my home taken a month or so ago. I love how you can see the chipped away paint layers.

Lens Used: EF 50mm 1.4

SSS #27 - Hootie Emerging from Shadow

Posting this for Shadow Shot Sunday. This is one of a series of photos of my cat, Hootie, that I took a year and a half ago. The light was just so great and he was all too accommodating. In this shot I love how his face & whiskers are peeking out from the shadow into the beam of sunlight.

Lens Used: EF 50 mm 1.4

Water Lily

A shot of a water lily inside the conservatory at the NY Botanical Gardens earlier this Spring.

Actions used on photo: MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)
Lens Used: EF 50 mm 1.4

Lakeside Foliage

A shot I took last summer walking along the lake. I was drawn to the foliage of this plant... it looks even better in B&W against the lake in the background.

Actions used on photo: MCP Burnt Edges Action (free)
Used a Canon Elph (point & shoot) for this shot (which I subsequently returned for a bunch of reasons - it took a few nice shots though)

park bench shadows

Rocky

Here's a photo I took a few days ago of my black lab, Rocky. He's Looking good... gone a bit grey but what can you expect of an old man coming up on the age of 15... in dog years that's something like 105! But he still looks like a puppy to me ;)

Carved in Wood

A closeup photo of carvings on the floorboards of a suspended walking bridge that crosses a section of lake near my home.