The Raspberry

Texture is a very trendy thing to add to a photograph nowadays. I do know it is a very controversial tool in the photographer's bag of tricks! Some use it well, some overdo it, others think it is absolutely unnecessary. And everyone out there has a different opinion!

Me, I just like to play around with it! I love that it can take any picture and give it a completely different feel, depending on what you choose, if anything...and you can use several on one picture. It's an art form, and one I enjoy seeing others display and one I really enjoy working with. You can take up-close pictures of trees, concrete, the clouds, your hair, wood grain, basket weave, water, paper...do I need to go on? Everything around you has some kind of texture - so it's neat to overlay any kind of texture picture over an existing picture in Photoshop to see what happens. Plus, there are tons of free high resolution pictures on the internet from people all over the world that have offered them up for free use. Cool, huh?

I can see how some people don't like it at all...and I shied away from using more of it in the past based on some opinions...but since this is a learning journey, fun...and a picture of my kid...I figured I couldn't go wrong! :) I especially love what it can do to a mediocre picture, even though sometimes it can be way overdone.

This picture is of Cole....and Spaceballs lovers unite...he's giving me the raspberry. :) (I HATE raspberry!) hahaha, I just love that movie. :)

Here is the original picture...one I was practicing on him with the flash - it came out a little too bright, - it's still cute, but I thought I would play with it - and I think the added overlay texture (a high resolution picture of a blue leather couch, by the way!) gives the picture such an old-time kind of Polaroid feel - I'm liking how different it is from the original. But they will both go in his baby book for sure!

Tell me what you think! Love it or hate it, why? I would love to know your feelings on what it does to you. Texture is so controversial! Of course, I wouldn't do every picture like this, and most not even this obvious, but some just call out for...something to highlight the focus of each picture. Discuss!

Hush, Little Baby

So, I'm sprucing up wedding pictures of Paige and Casey...and neither one of them are in this next one!

Disclaimer:  I did not take these pictures!  They are here for a "makeover". Go here to find out the whole story.

This mod stars one little cutie-pie and his aunt! Paige and Casey's son, Reese, and Paige's sister were captured here. I struggled with this picture, since it was a very cute moment...and all I kept thinking was - why was it taken when there was just so much to clutter the picture up? The struggle comes in thinking that this is really what a wedding photographer has to deal with - these moments, surrounded by the chaos, the preparations and the package deal that really make the day memorable, but might not make the pictures perfectly iconic. So, I have to go easy on the critiques of this one - and try to come at it from the back-side: Photoshop. Some pictures just have to be taken with the knowledge that a lot of post processing will be needed to make it work, that the moment would be lost if you decided not to take it, even with all its "baggage".

I got to work, clearing out the excess "baggage", and I had to accept a few things here: I know that I have been a little texture-heavy on my mods lately, but this one, with it's grain because of low light, and the cloning technique adding a softness and imperfection to the background...texture was necessary to mask the problems that could not be altogether eliminated. Black and white was also necessary for the same reason! Sometimes, you just have to go for it, even if it feels overdone, since it will only get done in this way. ;) 

Here's the original - the moment is obvious here, but it is so overwhelmed with the busy-ness of the day (again, not a word, I know. ;) - funny that I am such a grammar snob that I HAVE to make references to made-up words).  I had to make it so these two are the only ones in the room if it were to have any effect at all. 

I cropped to eliminate as much as I could, and to put them on the same line, draw your eye to them and their reflection. I softened the actual pair, drawing more attention to the reflection, on Reese's face.

Then, I got to work, eliminating (cloning out) every other thing and person in the room!  I decided to leave the diaper bag and things on a table to their right, to keep the realism intact. I didn't want them to look like they were surreal! Also, since the low light already lends a grainy texture, I decided to add two layers here, one grainy:

and one flowy:

...and then I added a vignette and I thought I was done for a few days:

Afterwards, I decided to add the text - and I like it here, I think it adds something to the finished picture, focusing on Reese. He is being comforted by his aunt, and his almost crying expression looked like he needed a comforting quote expression! So, here's the final result:

I'm learning to always try and work with what you have, go with it for a while, even if it's not exactly how you would have imagined a shot like this turning out. Not everything works or is saveable, but some things might just surprise you. I'm happy with the result, given the start, and, Paige - I hope you are too!

Storyboard - The Second Married Kiss

Sorry no post yesterday - a bridal shower, a family dinner and a couple sickos in the family (including me), so a busy day!  Today's feature is one of the most recent, and I am not sure if I am in love with it.  :)  I need your feedback.  

Since I am dealing with pictures that were already taken, I need to try and makeover some of the major moments of the day. The "you may now kiss the bride" picture was at a weird angle, not bad, but when I saw this picture, I thought it could be a better stand-in....so I tried to do a little something with it. Less emotion than the other picture, but a much better angle! Since there are many people in the background, I needed to phase them out a bit; I wanted a "lost in the moment" kind of feel here. 

Disclaimer:  I did not take these pictures!  They are here for a "makeover". Go here to find out the whole story.

Original picture:

I cropped it closer to eliminate some distractions and showcase the moment.

Then I added some texture to kind of "muddy" the background a bit and give these guys their own spotlight.  

Added a quote, and darkened the picture to lessen the harshness of the new background.  

Then, I added background, borders, swirls and a lens flare effect. Here's the final result:

See what you think and tell me if I should have just left it alone!  I am lost about this one.  Maybe I need to walk away from the computer for a bit of fresh perspective... ;) Please comment, commenters!  ;)

Two "Getting Ready" Texture Mods

Disclaimer:  I did not take these pictures!  They are here for a "makeover". Go here to find out the whole story.

I have been playing around with texture in photoshop for quite some time now and marveling at its power.  Take a look at Jesh de Rox on my sidebar if you like these kinds of texture overlays - he is the one that got me started on it!  The right texture or overlapping textures can add, enhance or subdue an emotion in a photograph. Plus, it helps when you have pictures with glaring fluorescent light overhead, enhancing...foreheads. Ouch.  So, here's what I did to help out two quintessential getting ready shots - one for Casey and one for Paige.

Original Image:

Casey: Mom pinning on boutonniere. 

Problem: Casey is so tall that the light is right in his face. Poor guy! 

He is so happy, just beaming, so this picture is definitely a keeper....now what to do.....

I tried to crop it a teeny bit and then convert to black and white - sometimes that's all you have to do.

Still glaring, I went for the risk and added some serious texture here - and I really do love the outcome! **Texture is not for everyone, and I admit it had to grow on me at first...but once it clicked, now I am hooked!** There are two layers here, both adding motion and a bit of color to the black and white.

Final image:

It's ironic, because looking at it closer, this texture actually makes his forehead more bright and glaring, but I think since the it adds so much emotion to the picture, his beaming smile is more obvious now and the forehead is less of a distraction to the picture as a whole.  Hmm.

Paige: Makeup time - an iconic moment!  Again, the light is just so harsh, it's unflattering to her.  Clutter in background is distracting. Though, a keeper since it could be great without the light and there is no other to take it's place.

Original Image:

Again, a closer crop and a black and white.  This one looked much more dramatic for the moment with this change alone.  Reminds me of a Vegas showgirl getting ready for her performance! 

But I think the brightness of her face still needed a little subduing.  So, I added a paper texture behind this one.  Love the burnout look it ended up creating...

Final image:

So? What do you think? I would appreciate your comments here - I am taking some creative risks and would love to know your honest opinion - good or bad - be brutally honest! What do YOU think of the modifications?

More tomorrow....storyboards galore!

Makeover....Paige

Ok, new project!

I entitled this new series of posts "Makeover", because "Redux" is just too corny.  ;)  Anyway, I was approached by Paige through my little sis to take a look at her wedding pictures and try to "spruce them up" - kind of make a few more romantic or special, make something cool out of them.  Some people (like myself) just expected way more out of their wedding pictures and were sadly disappointed to not get a chance to rephotograph that one special day in their lives. Good pictures are okay...but exceptional pictures...ahhhh - don't we all wish we had that?

So, this is where I come in!

I needed (still need) practice in photoshop and trying to makeover some wedding pictures is the perfect way for me to get that much needed training time in.  I adore wedding pictures - if I were braver, I just might attempt to shoot a wedding someday, but the pressure is simply ridiculous.  I give wedding photogs a TON of credit, since it really is a one-shot deal.  It's hard to be artistic when the pressure to capture every iconic moment is weighing you down and keeping you frantic all day!  I would absolutely melt.  ;)  

So, this project is perfect for me, since I love all things wedding and I get a chance to put my spin and mark on pictures that were already taken...no pressure!  Yay!  Looking at and tweaking something beautiful all day long is my kind of day.  ;)

I am going through and cleaning up all of her photos (cropping, darkening, etc...), but I would like to share some of the more creative photo shop changes I made to take some disappointing pictures and try to make them into something cool. I will be posting (or trying to anyway) one or two transformations every day, so keep tuning in!

Paige, I hope you like them - I want so very much to give you this gift of better pictures - thanks for giving me the chance to delve into them - I feel like I know you and Casey so much already by getting this glimpse into your most special of days.  

Sweet, Sweet Bailey

We lost another angel of this world today, my friends.  And he was the sweetest dog I have ever known.  

The other subjects I wanted to practice shoot this past weekend were my parents' two dogs, Jack and Bailey.  I had so many reasons to want to practice on them, since they are both black dogs (notoriously hard to photograph), two crazy, high energy dogs and they were two dogs! That in itself is hard to work out, since they both tend to level each other out.  One is crazy while the other mellow and vice versa.  Never a quiet moment together.  Plus they are physically opposite, Bailey being sleek and glossy and thin while Jack sports the long and wiry gray/black fur on a large, thick frame.

The other reason I wanted to go over was that on Friday, Bailey was diagnosed with a giant tumor on his spleen.  My parents were devastated.  My dad asked that I come over and take a few good pictures of him.  After some exploring, however, they found that they could remove his spleen and he might just be in the clear.  We were all pretty happy after that good news and started to let our guard down. 

So, I went over post-surgery to capture a few pictures of sweet Bailey anyway. He was doing pretty well, relaxing and resting afterwards at home. I was able to get a few good ones, but I figured since he was going to be ok, there was no pressure to get them all this weekend and I just let him be after a few minutes with him.  I honestly didn't want to put any stress on him after his surgery to hamper his healing. Though, I was amazed with his resilience, even for a dog. 

Today, my father called to let me know that Bailey had taken a turn for the worse, ironically in complications from the surgery that saved his life.  They have assumed that he had a possible stroke and his poor body has been seizing ever since, for two days.  There was nothing more they could do for him but let him go.  

Bailey, with his beautiful brown eyes, his habit of laying on the couch while his front paws were standing on the floor (a Great Dane trait, by the way), his smooth and glossy black coat shining in the sun and his strong tail always thump, thump, thumping on the floors and walls.  He was happy. Eternally happy. Always sweet and loving and ready to get in on whatever fun there was to be had. Whether it was playing ball or eating his food, Bailey always did it fast and furious, his whole being thrown into what he was doing.  When he wagged his tail, his whole back end wagged with it.  So much enthusiasm for life and we were lucky to have known him. His eyes said so much about him, forever entreating you to play with him, really to just love him.   

I am so sorry, Mom and Dad for having to lose him and having to deal with the pain that ensues. Please know that you gave him an amazing life full of joy and treats and snuggles in the waterbed.  He was part of your family and he will be missed every single day.  Know that he is at play in the fields of heaven, his soul at peace, playing blissfully with Jake and Ruger.  

And please kiss Jack for me.

Here are the few pictures I got of Bailey and I hope that you like them, even though I did him no justice at all.

  

Adding Texture

Texture can take an otherwise good photo and raise it to an extraordinary level. It can also rescue a boring one. Picking the right texture to add is an art form...one I can easily tell you that I am no where near mastering. ;)

I can be found lately, in my spare time, snapping close-up pictures of my driveway, tree bark, the barn siding, even Cody's fur and the treadmill track. There are so many interesting textures all around us, a bevy of canvases to work with. I am starting to become a woman obsessed and it's scary just how much of my scarce free time is taken up learning how to be one with adding texture.

Here are my first attempts... I have mixed a few, added a vignette or two and went crazy. Photoshop is a tough beast to tame - it's knocking the crap outta me! So much to learn, so little time... Anyway, here are my first results of the lesson:

OOPS! I yanked most of these photos to rework them again. Learning a very good lesson here, photos in Photoshop appear more subtle than they appear online. So, I am going back to have another go, this time a little less obvious and heavy.

Jimmy


Cody and Jimmy with the treadmill track:


Then Cody's fur added:


Then the side of firewood and a vignette added:


And then Alex, a fav pic with the side of firewood:


Then Cody's fur added:


I have more, but I want to work them a little before I share. Tell me what you think!

Phase 2 - Post Processing

Hi everyone!

I know it's been a while since I have posted any learning...B landed in the hospital for a few days and all three have been sick forever! I have a few more lesson pics I need to get up, but I really think I am ready to move on... I have learned and have been practicing the camera in manual mode, and I think I am pretty comfortable with it. I have been able to play with some very cool creative techniques as well. It's time! Cross Phase 1 off my list!

Now, on to Phase 2!! Learn everything there is to know about Photoshop and its Actions. Basically, learn how to fix, enhance, change and save photos with any kind of post processing out there. This is going to take a while...

Adding textures is my first self-imposed lesson, and as you can see by the new textural header pic, I am a work in progress. I plan to add other pics to the sides, to cover some of it up, maybe add a few paw prints, etc... so it will get better as I get better...I hope. ;) I added a mossy tree bark texture behind Cody, but I'm not sure it was the best one to pick. Oh, well. I have to start somewhere...Stay with me!

By the way, some of the phases will overlap...such as Phase 3. I will be embarking on that this week, long before Phase 2 is complete. Just FYI, in case you were wondering. ;) I have two pretty horses lined up, a grouchy, yet sweet cat with attitude, and two very rambunctious black dogs. All challenges I am hoping to overcome; black dogs are tough to capture, being so dark their features get lost easily, two active dogs is a challenge, a cat with attitude - any explanation needed?, and horses intimidate the heck outta me. I love them, I think they are the most gorgeous creatures on this Earth...but wow, they are big...and I never know what they are thinking. All very good lessons and practice sessions for me. I'm excited!

Later today, I will post some of the pics I have been promising...the Light! The Action!