Good to Wow SOOC: Best of 2011 1.2.11

I have learned so much from the Good to Wow Challenge about shooting and editing. The one thing that sticks with me the most and that I will carry into 2012 is the quest to get a shot right straight out of camera. There is no greater thrill for me than capturing what I am seeing in my camera. Don't get me wrong, I love the power of editing. But I find that there is something so rewarding in taking a photograph that matches the scene, opening it up on my computer and seeing that nothing needs to be done to it. I love that feeling! The Good to Wow Challenge has taught me to strive for that and that it can be done. Jill has been an amazing teacher and cheerleader, sharing her skills, knowledge and feedback. Ashley has inspired me to enjoy editing and see the possibilities. The other participants have lifted me up with their comments and stunning photography. Thank you all! I am grateful to have participated, even if it was for a short time.  

SOOC Photos Collage

Made with Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker

Click to Enlarge

My (2) Favorite SOOC Shot(s) - I couldn't choose just one :o)

Settings: ISO 200, 42mm, ss1/100, f/22 (full manual)

Settings: ISO 400, 74mm, ss3.2, f/6.3 (full manual on tripod)

"Once photography enters your bloodstream, it is like a disease." - Anonymous

Linking up with Good to Wow for the last time! Head over and check out the other SOOC photos.

Good to Wow Edit: Happy New Year! 12.25.11

I cannot believe the Good to Wow Challenge is coming to an end. I only started participating in September, but I have gained so much from this challenge and from Jill, Ashley and the other participants. I will miss it, but I will use what I have learned to continue to grow as a photographer in 2012! Now here is my edit for the Happy New Year prompt, just a clean edit then a color change through the white balance sliders in Lightroom. Below that a collage of my edited shots from the challenge (on Monday I will do the same with the SOOC shots). Since I have only been participating for 4 months I didn't have to choose and was able to include them all. 

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 800, 28mm, ss1/20, f/4.0 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

Edit Shot

In Lightroom

Edited Photos Collage

Made with Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker

Click to Enlarge

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the the Happy New Year photo edits and end of challenge collages!

Project 64: Merry Christmas Green 12.23.2011 and Good to Wow SOOC: Happy New Year! 12.25.11

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! This is my first Christmas as a blogger and I must say I have never experienced a holiday quite like this one. The past couple of Christmases have been tough for me and have left me with some ba-hum-bug feelings that did not have me all too enthusiastic about this holiday. Then I stepped into the holiday as photographed by the most amazing photographers! I was inspired and awed and dare I say anticipating the Christmas season :o). The photos and ideas and sharing that happened in this community are just amazing. So let me say thank you for helping to get me in the holiday spirit and thank you for sharing your talent. I hope the new year finds you and yours happy and healthy. I cannot wait to see what I can learn from you in 2012!

I hope these two photos give back a little of what you have given me! This first one is from a local house that sets lights to music that my family and I decided might have to be a new holiday tradition. It is such a fun experience! I only brought the point and shoot, set on auto, as I wanted to focus on the experience and being with my family. It felt strange to shoot without my DSLR, but it was worth it :o). After opening this in Lightroom and doing a clean edit and a crop I realized it was a great match for the Project 64 color of the week - green.

Settings: ISO 200, 7.7mm, ss1/8, f/2.8 (point and shoot, auto)

This second photo was shot with my homemade bokeh set-up and some pieces from an amazingly fun game I got the family for Christmas (another tradition we have). The game is called Konexi and it a cross between Scrabble and Jenga. Not only is it a fun game, but it makes a great photography prop! I chose to do the word "LOVE" to represent my wish for the new year. I wish that you have love, share love freely and find something you love!

Settings: ISO 800, 28mm, ss1/20, f/4.0 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

"A new beginning is perhaps the best time to say…
It’s so nice to know you…
And here’s wishing our friendship
continues to grow in the days to come." - Author Unknown

Good to Wow SOOC and Edit: Ornament Tradition 12.21.11

I am completely out of sync when it comes to my shooting and posting schedule. I am determined not to let that deter me and plan to make every effort to get back on track before the new year. Luckily, school is out for winter break so I just may have a few moments to accomplish my goal. Unfortunately with all of the last minute things I had to get done before the break started I missed the link up for the SOOC shots for the Good to Wow Challenge: Holiday Traditions. I guess I will just have to post them here, along with the edits :o).

I love traditions! I love the history, the meaning and how they bring my family together. Sometimes I think I love them a little too much, but I am learning to be more flexible :o). This week's prompt at the Good to Wow Challenge was traditions and I had to think about which one I wanted to feature with my photos. We as a family have a many that I enjoy - picking out a Christmas tree together, getting an ornament every year, making candy and cookies and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve (I just started this one last year). I decided to go with getting an ornament every year as it has gone on the longest and holds the most meaning. Since my first Christmas I have received an ornament each year. Something that represents who I am or commemorates the year. It started with a lamb from my grandmother and each Christmas Eve I get a new one. As I put them on the tree I am flooded with memories of people and places and events. I love that even more than the ornaments.

For my photos, I took one of the first ornament given to me and a more recent one that reflects my love of children's books being that I am a teacher. I used a high aperture number to get the starburst effect. In processing I did basic setting edits and added rounded corners in Lightroom. For the first photo I also used Gimp to add the green color block. In the second photo I cropped to allow the ornament to fill up more of the frame. What do you think and what are your traditions? Thank you for stopping by!

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 400, 43mm, ss10 secs, f/29 (full manual, tungsten wb, tripod)

Edited with Lightroom and Gimp

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss8 secs, f/29 (full manual, tungsten wb, tripod)

Edited with Lightroom

"Christmas- that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance- a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." - Augusta E. Rundel

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the the Holiday Tradition photo edits!

Good to Wow Edit: Lighting Up the Holiday 12.13.11

I go back and forth between enjoying this time of year and feeling the stress of it. I love the lights, the music and the joy. On the other hand, though, there is so much to do and so little time. I stress about the deadlines and the responsibilities. I am trying to remember that it always gets done every other year and I know it will this year too. I just have to concentrate on what I love about the holidays and take the time to enjoy it. Thank goodness for photography challenges and blogs! They continue to stretch me as a photographer and because so many of the prompts and themes are holiday related I don't need to look far to remember what it is that makes Christmas time so special. So, thank you to everyone who is helping me to keep my Christmas spirit! I am grateful for you :o).

Now for my edits for the Good to Wow Challenge - Bokeh Lights. I loved my SOOC shot so I stuck with a clean edit in Lightroom as I didn't want to stray too far. However, I was playing around with the Vibrancy and really liked the look of putting it all the way down...almost black and white with a hint of blue. So you get to see both, lucky huh :o)? What do you think? Thank you for stopping by!

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 800, 44mm, ss1/10, f/5.0 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

Edits

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the stunning Bokeh Light photo edits!

Good to Wow Edit: The Holidays Begin in Anacortes 12.04.11

I am still not back on track with my posting being that I missed yesterday :o(. Slowly but surely I am making my way back to my previous success with a post a day. On a more positive not however, I am feeling more and more in the holiday spirit and I think that is due in large part to seeing all the amazing holiday photos. I am inspired not only to take my own holiday pictures, but also to embrace the holiday spirit. You see, I am usually slow to fully commit to Christmas when I am still working. Once Winter Break starts at school and that stress is removed, I feel like I can turn my attention to Christmas. This year is different and I am enjoying feeling like I can do both. Thank you to all of you for inspiring me :o)!

Now for my photo edits this week I wanted to go with a vintage feel for the first one and to emphasize the stained glass colors in the second one. For my holiday lights photo I lighten the photo and put the vibrance all the way down so the red popped. Then I worked with the contrast, saturation and brightness and followed this with a creamed colored graduated filter using Cedar's guest tutorial this week. For the church stained glass windows, I cropped and upped the blacks all the way. I then played with the saturation and vibrance to add some depth to the colors in the window. Very different intents and products for my edits, but I really like both of them. What do you think?

Thank you for stopping by!

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 200, 30mm, ss2.0sec, f/14 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

Edited in Lightroom

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 200, 32mm, ss1.3sec, f/6.3 (full manual, tripod)

Edited in Lightroom

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." - Agnes M. Pharo

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the inspiring Thanksgiving photo edits!

Good to Wow SOOC: The Holidays Begin in Anacortes 12.04.11

As I mentioned yesterday, I had a great day of shooting on Orcas Island! To get there we had to take a ferry from a town called Anacortes. On the way back home the holiday lights were shining and I was excited to have something to photograph for this week's prompt at the Good to Wow Challenge. The prompt is Holiday - Christmas and believe it or not I have not decorated the house yet. My family tends to wait for a time when we can all be together to do it (one of our traditions), which often comes later in the month of December than I would like. So right now for me the holidays are about watching the lights go up around town and enjoying them that way :o). Below are my two SOOC shots, one of a store front of a cute little shop called "A Little Bit of Everything" and the other of beautiful stained glass in a church window. For the store front I went with a high aperture number to get some starbursts on the lights and for the church shot a slow shutter speed to showcase the softness of the stained glass. I love that these two shots represent different facets of the holiday and seem to call out Merry Christmas!

Settings: ISO 200, 30mm, ss2.0sec, f/14 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 32mm, ss1.3sec, f/6.3 (full manual, tripod)

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles." - Author Unknown

Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.

Good to Wow Edit: Thanksgiving Morning 11.24.11

For my edit of my Thanksgiving sunrise photo, I went with a basic settings edit. I love the softness of trees in the SOOC shot, but I felt like it was competing with the colors of the sky and that was what I truly wanted to capture when I snapped. Therefore, my goal with the processing was to make the sky color a bit more vibrant allowing it to pop more. I upped the blacks, contrast, exposure and recovery and another beautiful silhouette was born! I think I may have an obsession with silhouettes. Yesterday I posted two similar pictures taken months apart, I thought I would do the same thing in this case. Then you can judge, is my obsession getting out of hand?


Thanks for stopping by!

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/160, f/8.0 (full manual)

Edited with Lightroom

"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?" - E.M. Forster

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the inspiring Thanksgiving photo edits!

Some silhouette shots from the past...

  

 

 

 

Wow, I think it may be official! I have a silhouette problem. I guess there are worse obsessions to have :o).

Good to Wow SOOC: Thanksgiving Morning 11.24.11

Thanksgiving began with a beautiful sunrise that I was able to capture with my camera. The light pastel of the clouds through the trees was intriguing and reminded me to start the day off being thankful. For the rest of the day I only got the camera out a few times. I was indoors for the day and I just am not inspired by the shots due in large part to the lighting. Maybe that will be my next task to practice...indoor lighting. I hope your were able to give thanks this past Thursday and had the opportunity to share your thanks with family and friends.

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/160, f/8.0 (full manual)

"Stop thinking about the past, and don't worry too much about whats going to happen in the future. Your presence is a present, so live for today, and appreciate everyone and everything you have. Stop thinking about what you don't have, what you wish you had, who walked out of your life, and whatever else that falls in that category. Think about what you have, who you have in your life, and how fortunate you are." - Junethea Crystal Centeno

Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.

Happy Thanksgiving - Good to Wow Edit: Winter Moments 11.20.11

I hope you had a Thanksgiving filled with food, friends, family and fun. I know I did! Here are my edits for the Good to Wow Challenge, just simple and clean. This is my second post with very little words, I didn't think it was possible (I tend to be wordy as you may have noticed :o). 

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/80, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Basic settings

SOOC Shot

SOOC ShotSettings: ISO 100, 29mm, ss1/250, f/10 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Straightened (finally figured it out in Lightroom!) and Basic settings

SOOC Shot

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/250, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edit

Processing: Basic settings

"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily.  The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." - Terri Guillemets

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the beautiful grateful shot edits!

Good to Wow SOOC: Winter Moments 11.20.11

The prompt this week for the Good to Wow challenge is gratefulness. I am of course grateful for my family and the good things in my life. For this challenge, though, I wanted to focus on what I am grateful for when it comes to photography. I am grateful for the journey I have been on since August. I am grateful that I stopped worrying about not being good enough and just tried to figure out this DSLR camera thing. I am grateful for all the talented photographers I have had the chance to learn from. I am grateful for all of the comments and critiques that have helped me to grow as a photographer. I am grateful to have a family who supports my passion, accompanies me on photography adventures and encourages me. I am grateful for the moments I have captured and the moments I have yet to capture. I am grateful that photography brings me joy and peace.

I am grateful for the coming of winter and the new challenges and opportunities it will bring to my photography. These SOOC shots are another step in the journey and I am grateful I had the chance and means to capture them on a journey across the mountains to Eastern Washington.

Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/80, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 100, 29mm, ss1/250, f/10 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 55mm, ss1/250, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life." - Joel Osteen

Linking up with Good to Wow! Head over and check out the other SOOC shots.