MMXII 17::EDITING A PHOTO-A-DAY IN 2012

Did you know that you can download a free beta version of Lightroom 4 right now?  You don’t get to keep it forever but until March 31, 2012 which is practically forever. I don’t do a lot of work in Lightroom right now, I have downloaded the trial a few times but for what I do, it hasn’t really worked for me.  I also use the free Camera Raw (ACR) feature in Photoshop for my simple edits, so I didn’t feel like adding another expense that I wasn’t going to use. I do feel that if you are a photographer that is doing shoots with consistent light and subject that Lightroom could be a lifesaver, one day when I have my product shots down I think Lightroom is going to be mine. If you have been wanting to try out Lightroom I highly suggest downloading your free copy (limited time only).

I cringed today when I noticed one of my fave Flickr photographers had ‘favorited’ the ‘before’, I had inadvertently left the ‘after’ private.  Talk about embarrassing!

I will be editing a photo a day for the remainder of 2012::Project MMXII, this is my ‘after’, you can view the ‘before’ here.  

P.S. If you haven’t already and are so inclined sign-up for the Natural History prints giveaway!

POPPY SEASON

Poppies!  I am so excited that poppies are in season!  The one thing with poppies though is they come in tight buds when you buy them, so it’s a surprise what color they will be be when they open.  I was hoping for some blush ones, but these fiery orange ones blossomed instead.  I loved that the one pale white poppy opened with a streak of orange, random but beautiful. These poppies remind me of  a Kate Spade ad, just very rich and vibrant. They don’t last very long but are thankfully relatively inexpensive (as far as fresh flowers are concerned). I am going to go back next week and replenish, hopefully I will get some pretty pale pinks and the blush hues I adore. Has anyone gone to California (or lives in California) and seen the wild poppies in bloom?  I so have want to plan a visit.

P.S. Don’t forget about the Natural History Print giveaway and yes, it’s fine if you live on the other side of the world, everyone is welcome to join in! Visit here.

MMXII::16::EDITING A PHOTO A DAY IN 2012

MMXII::16::AFTER
I have always loved gemstones, rocks and the like. As kids we used to grow ‘rock’ gardens all the time. I did a whole post on some beautiful gem photography and find the subject endlessly fascinating. I really wanted this image to impart the beauty that I originally had witnessed.  From the ‘before’ you would never know the great depth, texture and luminance that was present.  I feel the ‘after’ really gives it a second chance.

I will be editing a photo a day for the remainder of 2012::Project MMXII, this is my ‘after’, you can view the ‘before’ here.

P.S.  I will email the winners of last weeks contest and hopefully we can all see what creative goodness they got themselves into!

P.P.S. If you haven’t already and are so inclined sign-up for the Natural History prints giveaway!

NATURAL HISTORY PRINTS GIVEAWAY!

If  you knew the time, money + effort  I spend on test prints it would blow.your.mind. I have had many requests to print my photographs, granted most of them have been from my husband who can’t stand that images live on my hard drive.  Before I was a photographer (I’ve been published multiple times in major interior design publications, gah!), I was a graphic designer and before I was a designer I was a printer.  Printing my friends is very important to me.  I feel that if an image is not printed on the right substrate than the final product is a failure (this is only true for my own images, I am sure yours look great no matter how you print them). It took a ton of trial and error for me to find a printer that was as insane passionate as I am.  They get me.  The two prints above are the product of this coupling. The snowy owl is a giclee print, which is an archival process printed on cotton rag paper. It is by far my favorite way that I prefer my images to come into printed fruition.  I once sent a giclee to a good friend that asked if I painted the image, it’s an outstanding way to showcase your work.  The antlers are printed on a metallic paper, which is perfect for this image as I wanted to re-create an almost daguerreotype effect, it works with this photo seamlessly.  To say I am happy is an understatement.
In order to celebrate my great fortune in finding printing true love, I would love to share my prints with you.  I am giving away two framed photos to two winners (One snowy owl + one antler, one photo each winner). The only request I make to potential entrants is that if you win you are willing to photograph the image in your home. That being said enter by letting me know where you would put this in your home or who you would gift this to. Any links are always welcome, I adore visiting them and getting to know you more.
P.S. Specs–the Snowy Owl is an 8″ x 12″ giclee, with an 8″ x 10″ archival mat in a 16″ x 20″ simple black wood frame.  The size of this really makes an impressive statement! The Antlers are an 8″ x 10″ metallic print, with an 8″ x 10″ archival mat in an 11″ x 14″ simple black wood  frame.
 
I will announce the winners next Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Good luck!

MMXII::15::EDITING A PHOTO A DAY IN 2012

MMXII::15::AFTER
I mentioned that this may be disturbing for some, thus a Sunday post.  I was pondering why this would be more disturbing than the other edits of stuffed, dead animals and my conclusion is these look dead, thus upping the ick factor.  It doesn’t bother me as much, I suppose since I went to a zoo biological science school I have had a lot more experience around these types of specimens than most, so perhaps I am a bit inured to it, my husband not so much. “That’s disgusting hon, ” was his assessment. I have told him that when our little fur baby G.G. passes I am going to have her taxidermied, because I can’t imagine not seeing her everyday.  Yes, he still married me, even though he has emphatically stated that, that would never ever happen. We’ll see.  I do hope this hasn’t turned your stomach too much, both the image and my rhetoric.
I will be editing a photo a day for the remainder of 2012::Project MMXII, this is my ‘after’, you can view the ‘before’ here.

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