Tones on Tuesday #8 11.08.11

Thank you so much for linking up last week! I am in awe of the amazing photos that were linked up. The photography talent inspires me and I learn so much each week. You make it very difficult to just choose 3 to showcase. I wish I could showcase all of the photos without making a post that is way to long to read and load. I can't wait to see what you have in store for this week!

Here are the photos I want to showcase this week, be sure to grab your showcase button:
Mimi at The Most Precious Moments of My Life

The light and mood of this photo are stunning. I love how it conveys a sense of passion and focus that are only amplified by the black and white. Thank you for sharing Mimi!

Kimberly at A Fresh Perspective

The original of this shot is lovely. The tones being altered, though, adds a great softness and stillness to the photo that makes me wish I could just stand in this spot and soak up the peace. Thank you for linking up Kimberly!

Nancy at A Rural Journal

The detail in this photo is beautiful and the tones really highlight the perspective of the shot. Thank you Nancy for sharing and linking up!

Be sure to grab your this button if you were showcased! (button for linking up can be found after the guidelines)

<br /> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nb2adXWvuDU/Tp0bdkcJBlI/AAAAAAAAAM8/34ueiklmgZc/s1600/showcasedtt.jpg"></a> <br />

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is 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.
• If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
• Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<br /> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oheKkR_BFoQ/ToqWTprynwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/eQ5mj0lgqx4/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> <br />

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

During my sunrise shoot, I captured this shot of Mount Rainier. I love the SOOC shot. The soft colors are such a great match to what I saw in person. So for the editing I just decided to have fun, which just so happens to be my tip for this week. There are so many directions you can go with editing that it sometimes feels overwhelming. I try to remind myself that sometimes I don't have to do a clean edit. I can go creative and enjoy the process! I played around with a black and white edit on my own and then used a preset I download (not sure from where, I will have to get back to you on that). There is something I like about both of them. Which one is your favorite? 

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/400, f/10 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edited Shots - Black and White and Antique with LR Preset

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots!

   

Sky Diver Fair Ride 09.17.11

On Saturday my mom and I went to the Puyallup Fair, a Western Washington staple. We had scones, the signature fair food, and rode the Sky Ride for the first time. Then we did my favorite fair activity, looking at the photographs. I have always loved looking, but this year I saw everything through a new perspective. I wondered what aperture they used, if they used a tripod, if they shot manual, what the photos would have looked like cropped a little tighter. I had a new appreciation for how the moments were captured and I was awed by so many images. This was also the first year I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could enter a photo of my own next year. In the past I never thought I was good enough, but what I am beginning to realize through this journey and connecting with other photographers is that the beauty of an image is not necessarily directly related to how much technical knowledge you have. It is so much more than that. 

This photo was taken after riding the Sky Ride, which gives you an aerial view of the fair. It is of a Sky Diver ride that I was drawn to because of the purple lights. It was just beginning to rain and the sky was a bland gray. In post processing I wanted to give some interest to the sky so I played with the basic settings and then ran Pioneer Woman's Fresh and Colorful, Lovely and Ethereal and Boost actions. I would love some thoughts on how it turned out or suggestions on how to add interest to the sky in another way. Thank you for stopping by and for teaching me so much about photography!

Come by tomorrow for the Tones on Tuesday first ever link up!

Settings: ISO 200, 39mm, ss1/80, f/6.3

"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun." - Katharine Hepburn

Linking up with The Creative Exchange. Be sure to take a look at the other fabulous photos!

Normandy Park Sunset 09.04.11

I had planned on posting a picture of lily pads I took on Saturday, but last night I had the privilege of witnessing a stunning sunset. I just had to share it! We raced the sunset last night and had planned on going to Des Moines Beach Park, but when we arrived we found everyone else had the same idea. We decided to drive up the hill and found a street with an amazing view. I felt a little like I was trespassing but it was a public street and the view was one I could not pass up. I have come to believe that sunsets are good for the soul and I always feel blessed to watch and photograph them. I love the quiet and serenity of the moment.

In post processing I did some minor work with the basic settings, I reduced the temperature and tint and upped the blacks, fill light, highlight, vibrance and contrast. I did all of this in Lightroom, but was feeling like I wish I had Photoshop and knew how to use the clone tool as I would like to remove the branches hanging down from the tree. Do you think they detract from the photo? I can't decide if they add an interest or distract. I would love to know your thoughts.

Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/125, f/10 (full manual)

"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire." - Pamela Hansford Johnson

Linking up with Monday Moments and The Creative Exchange. Head over and check out the other beautiful photos!