Showing posts with label collages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collages. Show all posts

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Project 52 - Weeks 23-28/52

The act of catching up on the editing and posting of my Project 52 was daunting with 5 weeks to go through. I have been shooting some amazing events and locations each week, but I have been in an editing rut. When I decided to do a collage for each week not only did it seem doable, but it the act of creating collages add a jolt to my editing leaving me recharged. I hope you enjoy a journey through the past 5 weeks. I would love to know what you think! I have a long way to go in learning how to perfect collages.

Week 23 - Light in the Front Yard
Busy week at work = chasing the light around the yard. I love shooting with the intention only of capturing the light. It is such a challenging and creative exercise.


Week 24 - Brown's Point Lighthouse
I had tried to visit this lighthouse a year ago, but they were having a picnic and the tiny parking lot was full. This time, however, we pulled in just as one spot opened up. The sky was full of blue, clouds and sun that made for some amazing and challenging lighting situations.


Week 25 - Father's Day in Astoria
I spent Father's Day in Astoria, Oregon with my dad going to the Farmer's Market and riding the trolley - both of which were new experiences for me. It was a beautiful day filled with family and fun. There is nothing better!


Week 26 - Edmond's Sunset
I have said many times (maybe too many times :o) that sunsets fuel my soul. It has been a long time since I have photographed a spectacular sunset and I did not know how much I missed it until I was lucky enough to experience this one. I was looking for a new place to see the sunset and looked online. I found a list that comes out each year based on votes of residents of Western Washington. The Edmonds Waterfront, right next to the ferry dock, made the list each year. I can now see why! It was stunning and only got better and better!


Week 27 - Mount Rainier and Bumping Lake
I was hoping for another amazing sunset as we drove around Mount Rainier and ended up at Bumping Lake. Alas, it was not to be. However it was still a beautiful place and allowed me to play a bit with shutter speed for those smooth water surfaces. I need more practice :o).


Week 28 - Illwaco Firework Tradition
Finally, this past weekend I went to the annual Illwaco Fireworks show, which is always held on the first Saturday after the 4th. I was unfortunately sick on the Fourth of July. The fact that this is my favorite holiday made it even more sad. Luckily I had already planned to go to the fireworks in Illwaco with my mom like we have for the past 3 years. We stumbled upon it the first year and loved the atmosphere and the fireworks of course! This year I rented a 17-40mm f4 L lens for the trip. This is my seconded rented lens and I highly reccommend it. So much fun! It was very windy, which made getting the shots difficult, but fun nonetheless.

"I say that I can't make anything up. I think of myself as a collage artist. I'm cutting and pasting memories of my life. And I say, I have to live a life in order to tell a life." - Spalding Gray

  the long road  Weekly Top Shot    Ni Hao Yall Nurture Photography Challenge - Summer 2013 Edition



Thursday, April 18, 2013

Project 52 - Week 16/52

On Tuesday I mentioned that I spent this past weekend visiting the Woodburn, Oregon Tulip Festival. The flowers were beautiful, the weather cooperated and I am very happy with the photos I was able to capture. When I first arrived at the field I had no real intention on what I wanted to shoot, but I knew I wanted to use my macro lens as much as possible. As I started though, I realized that it was not as simple as pointing and shooting. I assumed that with so much beauty the shots would come easily to me. It became apparent that I had to be very careful in choosing my composition to convey more than just a vast field of flowers. The quote that follows the photos is not only a beautiful sentiment, but it also captures how I approached my shots. I either had to focus on the blend of tulips or on how they stood out from each other. I found it easier to focus on the details than the whole fields. There was no shortage of details to photograph and I am sure I could have taken many more photographs if I had more time. Not only was this shoot fun and beautiful, but it was also challenging for me and stretched my composition skills. In the end though, that makes these photos even more rewarding to me. 

I would love to know what skills you have been working on lately. How have you been stretched by what you have been shooting?

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/500, f/4.5

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/160, f/16

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/80, f/16

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/1250, f/5.6

"Every person is like a single tulip. While they may blend when together, each one is special in its own light." - Daniella Kessler

  the long road  Weekly Top Shot     Ni Hao Yall Nurture Photography Challenge - Spring 2013 Edition

Monday, January 28, 2013

Tones on Tuesday #63 1.29.12

Danielle at Unconventional Photography
I love the strength in the black and white tones. This merging of two photos is very impressive! Thank you for sharing with us Danielle.

M. Vane at Compiled Ideas
Gorgeous vibrant colors and a beautiful reminder of summer. Thank you for sharing this amazing beach scene with us!

Jill at This is Life?
Adorable baby, beautiful scene and a tutorial on how to add bokeh to a photo makes for a lovely capture and a great blog post! I love the brightness and softness in this photo. Thank you for linking up Jill!

Danielle, M. Vane and Jill 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. If you link up more than once only the first photo will be considered for showcasing.
  • 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!
Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

This weekend I had report cards to write so I had to go out on a rainy day to photograph. It took quite a while (and some driving) to find something that inspired me. Near a marina at the Port of Tacoma I found this abandoned house and was drawn to the color, texture and unexpected moments inside and out. It is a sort of a departure for me to photograph something that is not "nature-made" but there is something natural to the way that a house falls apart when abandoned. I have been playing with collages in Lightroom in order to make one for my first completed month of my Project Reverse 365 so I decided to make one here too. I feel like it works well. 

Settings: ISO 800, 100mm, ss1/200, f/5.6
Settings: ISO 1600, 100mm, ss1/125, f/5.6
Settings: ISO 1600, 100mm, ss1/640, f/5.0
“Abandonment is a process. There’s nothing static about an abandoned building. Slowly the brickwork crumbles. Windows get broken. Doors get boarded up. Paint cracks and fades. Vandals attack. There comes a critical point – the point of no return – when a decaying building slips inexorably from being empty but useable, to being fit only for demolition.” - Abandoned Britain

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!
 P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday with Kent Weakley   and then, she {snapped}

Monday, January 2, 2012

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.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

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!