Tones on Tuesday #41 08.07.12

I cannot believe that I have been shooting in manual and blogging for a year on August 6th. Yes the time has passed, but what I am more struck by is how much I have learned from this journey and from all of you! Thank you for choosing to link up here and be a part of this photographic journey! Be sure to check out the giveaway toward the end of the post!

Here are the showcases from last week...

Sarah at Sarah's Camera

Adorable! This is just an absurdly cute photo. I love the pensive expression, the perspective and the softness provided by the black and white. Thank you for sharing Sarah!

Laurie at Pride in Photos

A lovely composed photo with the sun setting and the boat in the foreground. Beautiful color and tones! Thank you for sharing Laurie!

Mona at Mona's Picturesque

There is a lovely feel to this photo. The muted tones, the texture and the subtlety make for a beautiful piece of art. Thank you for sharing Mona!

Sarah, Laurie and Mona please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here are the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one is for Tones on Tuesday.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button or a link back here to your post.
• Leave comments for at least 3 other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<center> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_U2oqLh1UmXZMxfX_WPVaPVWJYh_HuiqvmOJi2frJOmTvsFe8rQPCPuzZfqD9Rm5Lz1E9ijR7i5_09GjPNDZeIcGNOwpU1VlkboGqGPGHxc0q-s28fzb99utdKzU6TvONWyodJtseQ/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> </center>

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

I thought it fitting that I mark this anniversary with a flower shot as a flower shot was what started it all. My very first post here was a close up of a flower at my dad's house in Astoria, Oregon. Today's photo was taken at the flower gardens at the Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA where they have amazing test gardens. Looking back at what I posted a year ago I can still see some similarities such as my focus on capturing what I see and trying to keep my photos as close to what I see in person as possible. There are many differences as well. I have a better understanding of light and am much more in command of my settings. I continue to have much more to learn and discover, but that is one of the things I love about photography...there will always be something new to learn and some way to become better!

I hope you will come back later in the week for more photos from this trip and reflections on my first year blogging and shooting manual. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 400, 40mm, ss1/1250, f/7.1

"There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning." - Jiddu Krishnamurti

Now for the One-Year Blogiversary Giveaway!

In celebration of the one year blogiversary of this blog and of my shooting on manual I am hosting a giveaway! The fabulous Kristy at Life-n-Reflection has graciously donated The Science of Textures Book and Kit to one lucky winner! Kristy is a regular Tones on Tuesday participant whose unique and beautiful photography and editing style features amazing use of texture. She shares her knowledge in her eBook that includes textures for you to use on your photos! What an amazing prize!

"If you've been longing to use photo textures, but do know where to begin this book is for you! Learn how to layer, blend, re-size, & adjust textures to create extraordinary images!"

To enter the giveaway "Like" Life-n-Reflection and Scattered Horizons Photography on Facebook using the buttons below. You can also follow Life-n-Reflection and Scattered Horizons Photography on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway for extra entries again using the buttons below. Don't forget to link up your photos for Tones on Tuesday as well! The giveaway ends on 8/11/12 at 12:01am EST. The winner will be announced next week during Tones on Tuesday on 8/13/12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!