Gratitude eDition Returns

     Kim asked that we center our "texture" around "gratitude" especially with Thanksgivings in US and Canada just completed. I am thankful... for my freedoms, for my children and families, having the opportunity to share in my mother's passing in February - such a blessing, getting better from a major fall in July, my part-time employment so I can continue to support my arts, a home, a car, food - and, smaller luxuries... a wonderful little milk frother purchased on Black Friday that even heats the milk (thus, my photo and texture this week). Smiles, love and hugs to all.

And, those "10 Things to Remember" in case you wish to know...

[a gift from my oldest daughter]

TEXTURE TUESDAYS

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Snowy Drive

     Driving from Kenai to Anchorage... Roads were "mostly OK" with some snowing. The first photo was taken with my iPhone4; the others with my Panasonic/Lumix at the Turnagain Pass Rest Stop - the Raven allowed me to get within three feet - obviously "the scavenger." 

The Scavenger

I HEART MACRO

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Ditan Park Beijing

     This image was taken on my "retirement" trip to Beijing. I enjoy revisiting several of my favorites. This is one of them.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

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Winter Wonderland

     Bonnie (Pixel Dust Photo Art / Friday) this week asks "next week's 'challenge' will be to post a piece of photo art from your archives that never got the spotlight and attention it deserved" -- therefore... Since I am out-of-town, prepared and saved this as a draft; will do a link and post.

Winter Wonderland
[with Bonnie's Winter Wonderland Texture]

PHOTO ART FRIDAY

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Free and Easy eDition

     This image was captured when I drove down a gravel road, to a home studio, to participate in a stained glass class. This "was" their backyard; they have since cleaned it up a bit and the cars are not sitting side-by-side. With the storage unit bringing up the rear - I found the vehicles fabulously textured to begin with. I have one photo that has a huge model car sitting on top of "stuff" inside between the front and back seats and makes a cool "window" shot. Love the old vehicles.

Three Oldies

[with KK WarmGrunge texture]

TEXTURE TUESDAYS

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CamWow for iPhone4

Essentials

Essentials

I HEART MACRO

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Too Hot to Touch

     This is an amazing fire pit image, SOOC; I think it makes a great abstract black and white. Please click on the image for more detail. [If you are interested, I posted the color original on my Photography Page on this Blog, link in bar above. 12.02.2011 posted color version here below the b/w, to free up the Photography Page. Thank you.]

Too Hot to Touch

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

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Kasitsna Sunset

     Photo taken at "Across the Bay Tent and Breakfast" - Kasitsna Bay, a bit East of Seldovia, Alaska. This week Bonnie asked us to show an image with one of our favorite "go to" edits. Mine is rather simple. I duplicate the background, do an enhance/adjust lighting/levels to tweak the black/white (left and right adjustments; sometimes the middle range just a tad) a little bit to brighten the image -- that is about it! The image is shown below the main image with a texture from Bonnie, of course! With the texture, I pulled over "One Life," used the layer with "multiply at about 71%", reduced the size, added the stroke and the signature after doing a "stamp visible", and resized for web. 

Kasitsna Sunset

(Bonnie's "One Life" texture from pdpa)

Kasitsna Sunset

(SOOC, with a tad brightening)

PHOTO ART FRIDAY

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Pink Abundance

     I have been trying to "tone down" my texture processing because I truly enjoy vibrant colors. However, others are more attracted to the "softer" look and monochromatic feel. This image is beautiful in black and white, which I posted here on October 7th; but, the original color SOOC is gorgeous. This time, for Art of Texture (Kim Klassen's on-line course), I chose to use the scripted background and her choice of text. This is not for any particular challenge, just a wonderful image, in my opinion. More than likely, I will use it for gifting.

Pink Abundance

Didn't mean to confuse any "lookers" from Texture Tuesdays who may not have linked in from Kim's Cafe (direct link) and may have clicked return via my comments I posted to his/her blog... smiles... the TT post follows this one, dated November 14. Thanks so much to returning family and friends - and, to new visitors. I just had to continue working with CS. Hugs - kareninkenai

Phoebe eDition

     When I opened PSE to work on this challenge, my granddaughter Milena was staying overnight. Milena wanted to make choices and helped with decision making, thus producing her own version of my image. So, I am posting both of our images and she would love to hear what you have to say.

Votive Candles 
original with textures used and photo of Milena

Milena's Choice (Hue Saturation)

Karen's Choice (Linear Burn)

TEXTURE TUESDAYS

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Single Votive

Single Votive (iPhone4 image)

I HEART MACRO

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Saturday w/Grandma

     Photo text will explain all. Milena wanted her "hand" in the pot -- actually, hand in the paint!  We had a great time. Milena also wanted to make her own choices when I did my work for sharing in a couple days with Texture Tuesdays - so, I will post her selection and mine. Should be fun! 

Single Votive

(with Milena's texture)

Click on the photo(s) for more detailed views, if you wish.

Penny's Orchids

     Penny's Orchids

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

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All Veterans, Thank You

    

     Forty-four years ago I received this photo from Vietnam, I think (but hope to be corrected if I am wrong). With a little bit of help from CS5 the fading was sharpened and some of the white spots were removed. I don't do restoration, but thought it turned out better. My kids' father is the only "family member or relative" I have photos of in military uniform (whether dress or fatigues). Tilford (my step-Dad) and Matt (my nephew-in-law) have photos, but I don't have copies; something I hope to remedy soon.

Roger, thank you.

Dad, thank you.
Matt, thank you.
Christine, thank you.
Lonnie, thank you.
Chuck, thank you.
Nancy, thank you.
Steve, thank you. 
And, all other loved ones, I may not know who served,
THANK YOU, ALL, MOST SINCERELY.

Sedona Ceiling

     The addition of Bonnie's "Feelings" texture at 50% soft light enhanced the sharpness of the darker tones and lines just a tad to be perceivable by the naked eye. Will admit that the SOOC was very nice; but, I like this... would be no different if I were "dodging" in the darkroom. Right?

[Click on the photo for a really great "detail" view.]

PHOTO ART FRIDAY

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Looking Out the Window

     One of those "snowy" days again, but at least temps were in the double digits - we had a bit of "ice rain" which made it difficult to keep the windshield clear. Still got my camera out for this shot before heading to work and am behind on my Photo Silly class, but hope to catch up soon. Warm weather sure does sound good. LOL

Number Two eDition

Two in the Rain

(w/kk shades of november texture)

TEXTURE TUESDAYS

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Brats and Beer

     This is a bit of an unusual recipe for Brats and Beer because it has a touch of thousand island dressing... the church served it during Oktoberfest. Excellent.

Free Motion

     Rather crude-ish - but, posting my first sampler from the class that I took last Friday. Hopefully I will do better at enhancing my book cover inside "sheets", signature covers, and pages. 

(Please click on the photo for detail.)

Sedona Cacti

I HEART MACRO

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Chapel of Peace Cross

     Acapulco, Chapel of Peace Cross - this is one of my favorite images. Hope you enjoy it, too.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

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Walking Away From Ravens

    Bonnie, Photo Art Friday, asked us to do something different this week, "try something we have never done before - something a little out of our individual comfort zone." I don't often superimpose two photographs, choosing to modify only one if given the choice. This week I am combining two of my original photographs and then using Bonnie's new "soft echoes" texture. I rarely use this particular color palette, also; however, it appeared to work well with the ravens and the birch trees retained some of their light and added texture to the scene (branches along the walk rail especially). I welcome "feedback, suggestions, tips" and sincerely thank you in advance.

Walking Away From Ravens

Please, click on the photo to view in greater detail, if you wish.

PHOTO ART FRIDAY

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"And Then Some" eDition

TEXTURE TUESDAY

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