Illusion of Beauty

As a photographer I was in my twenties I started out in black and white film with a gentle used Pentax 'K' that my husband's boss had sold me.  I took classes amassing huge amount of college credits in photography.  Over the years I had different cameras.  Going from film to digital.

I now have a Sony A7 which I dearly love, a Samsung 8+ phone that takes super pics, and a Apple X phone which I am slowly learning to like after years of being a NON APPLE person.  In fact I had switch from PC to IMac so my learning curve is in full swing at moment.  But that's another story for another day; today we talking about programs I use to assist me as a photographer.

I call my process "Illusion of Beauty with Photoshop and Filter Forge."

Photoshop Elements 2018 is the tiny version of Adobe's Creative Cloud for working on photos or develop ones own artistic creation.  It allows the artist using the program to expand their creations; this statement is a simplified explanation believe me.

Filter Forge 7.5 is program to work with or stand alone with Photoshop any of the versions.  Filters are what create different effects or layers upon a photo.  I use both Potoshop Elements and Filter Forge.

I don't know many photographers who do not use some form of assistance to enhance their photographs.  Even when I use to develop from film my own photos in a darkroom that there tricks of the trade to enhance a photo.

I like a certain style to my photos.  It is one reason I use the programs I use. My personal taste for a photo is:

 A soften look, more of a painters style using a watercolor effect, 

 a singular item as the focus of interest. 

It's amazing what one can do to a photograph!  When I look at magazines or art book I look to see the "Illusion" as I call it.  Many times it very obvious, other times its so subtle that it's often not found.  Unless a person is told you may miss the "Illusion".

These are my Illusions:  Hope You enjoy!

Lost In Her Own World - Final Edited Photo

Lost in Her Own World - Original Photo I took

Rainy Day in France - Final Edited Photo

Rainy Day in France - Original Photo I took

Day After Christmas Sales

As many who celebrate holidays without family in the same city or like me even same state...the more holidays celebrated alone the less the holiday means.

This year I meet a great bunch of individuals through my job.  Many have become super friends and some have become part of my family. 

Friends at the Discovery Center's Christmas Party December 16, 2011

So this Christmas was fun!  I and my guy visited several different homes dropping off little gifts to those who have touched my heart.  The joy that those little presents brought to them was just what this ole fishlips needed!  Next Christmas I am already making plans for it & I haven't thought like this in a very long time!

I am taking the young woman I work with now out for a bit fun -  'day after Christmas Sales' madness.

Honestly not the best idea since she has behavior challenges but we are gotta try; even knowing that she can become angry at the slightest thing.  If it happens we leave and her day's outing is over.  Since she has a couple of new gift cards I am thinking she will be able to behave until all the money is spent!  Then it's Starbucks time!

Happy Holidays to all ...

And don't forget to return those gifts that just made you laugh and think "oh lord why me".  And yes I received one of those gifts from the young lady I work with...'a knee length robe' and I can never use it since she even stated to me several times during the course of working with her: "only old ladies wear robes". Since I am not an old lady, I refuse to be an old lady, I will always be a  young lady in my heart and soul while I'm working with this young woman; so this gift gets returned!

PS.  my mother sent me a beautiful full length robe that I adore.  So when I'm not around the young lady I work with I'll be wearing the one Mom sent!!!! 

Challenge of Color #2

We start the new color challenge March 1, 2011.  For the next 15 days you are invited to challenge yourself with the color YELLOW.

Yellow is not one of my favorite colors although a wide variety of flowers are found in this range. I seem to fight with myself when snapping photos of flowers because they show up so strongly plus it seems to me they dominate gardens.  Some of my best photos are of yellow flowers.

So for me this challenge is going to be difficult in the fact I must find items that bring me out of my comfort zone.  And isn’t that what Challenges are all about?  Taking one out of their comfort zones and inspiring them into a whole another realm!  

Thank goodness it is winter time making this challenge a tad bit more interesting since the gardens of Anchorage are under a foot of snow.

                                                     Child's Carnival Ride @ Fur Rondy 

                                                              Anchorage Alaska

                                                                    2-26-2011

Altered Art Techniques

As you all know, one of my greatest pleasures on my laptop is creating digital art from my photos.  My desire presently is to take my photography into new realms.  

As an artist one needs to grow and challenge one’s self along the way.

Anchorage’s Library as any library brings in new books on a regular basis.  A thrill beyond anything is when I located a book on a subject matter that takes my type of art into a new arena for me.   Right now I’m awaiting 10 new purchased artsy books to arrive.  My mouth drools just at the thought!

In the meantime two books I’ve discovered fascinate me!  Both are fine examples of where I desire my art to go and also give me new ideas on how to expand my artist skills.

Two books from 2007 that I highly recommend:

Mixed Emulsions/altered art techniques for photographic imagery - by Angela Cartwright

Digital Photo Art/beginner’s guide to – by Theresa Airey

Then I found a brand new published book 2010 that grabbed me by the ears because it also deals with using Photoshop to create art.

            Digital Art Revolution/creating fine art with photoshop by Scott Ligon

So the next few weeks I’ll be trying some new techniques that each of these books discuss.

So until the snow melts I’m letting books be my moment’s journey and excitement.

                                                           Red Challenge - #9

Go Red for Women

I want to mention 'Go Red for Women'.  This is a yearly fundraising and awareness event for any woman concerning Heart Disease.  All major cities have annual events. I have gone to the luncheon to help support women in Anchorage starting five years ago.  On my cell phone I have my cherished 'red dress' and a angel that dangle off of phone so I can locate that silly phone whenever it's hiding in my purse so support your local American Heart Association in this wonderful event!

With all that said; it is quite fitting that my first color challenge turned towards red.

As the challenge for color started off this week I thought Red would be a color I would have a hard time finding. 

WRONG!

Happens to be one of those colors that is in just about any advertising signs, in buildings, and transportation. Just in a 3 block drive down one of Anchorage's main road ways...Red was every where.  I'm just excited beyond believe! 

I'm going to have to dress up in some of my heavier winter gear...Anchorage temperatures are in the low teens...so I can walk these 3 long city blocks taking pictures of each Red items.  I swear I'll have enough pictures of red to do me for each day of the year.  Yep that many items on both sides of the streets.

All I can say is "Go Red"!

                                                         'When Dinosaurs Wore Red' is my title
                                                   one of Anchorage's Art projects
                               Metal Sculpture located W. Northern Lights Blvd just before Lois Dr

Comfort Zones - How to Get Out of Them

A blog I follow  'Art Making in The North' by Cindy Shake an awesome Metal Artist and Quilt Designer here in Anchorage has a post of a wonderful challenge by a fellow artist that she follows.

Being curious as I am – it was a quick click and racing off to check out the challenge. 

SketchBook Challenge

Although I really can’t draw; the challenge is one I feel that it will inspire me.  As one of my goals was to become more creative this will be a something I can add to becoming more aware of my style of things I like and don’t like.

I must add Jill's blog http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/ is amazing and filled with wonders of many types and kinds!  I am happy to add I am now a follower of this blog.

So my dear readers I challenge you to also step out of your comfort zones for 2011 and explore more creative outlets for your passions, start a journal, follow the monthly sketchbook challenge and enjoy a bit more out of life!