Tuesday's Texture Challenge (Part 4)

Mix and match the following three FREE textures to create new and
creative overlays for your own work.

Here are the two samples I came up with this week. The first has one texture overlay applied and the other has two textured overlays applied on it. The model is Tess, a senior from a recent shoot. See more of her photos here and here. Find more of my free textures from past weeks. using my "Quick Search Labels" link titled "Free Photography Textures".
Not sure how to add textured overlays to your photos? Click here for a simple step by step.
Now-Go texture something!

Also, how many of you out there would like me to continue with Tuesday Textures?
Let me know if you're getting use out of these or not. Thanks!

Download these FREE texture overlays at full resolution now. Click and Save!
Link back to me if you happen to use one.

Any Fine Art Landscape Lovers out There?

Well, if there are you ought to get busy looking at Gary Love's Photography!

Gary Love is a local artist who travels the world in search of nature's beauty in it's raw and pure state. He passes on that beauty to the world in flawless photography. Gary delivers nothing better than the finest of quality in every masterpiece he creates. I've seen some of his work in person at my Aunt Tina's home and was frozen in front of the glorious perspectives this wonderful artist is able to capture. I have two favorites of his from inside my Aunt Tina's home.

The first is "Born to Run" and the second is "Purple Haze".

When browsing Gary Love's Photography make sure and click on each photo to hear in Gary's own words how each fine art masterpiece came to life and his views on them. I couldn't believe what happened to him right after he shot the "Simple Twist of Fate" photograph.

The book cover shown above is titled "Artist of the West". It was a juried coffee table book for Western artists only. Gary Love has four pages in the book as well as one image on the cover titled "Break on Through" (panorama aspens). More on his published work here.

Gary Love's fine art collections are sold as Limited Editions in series' of 300.

If you see one you love you need to move fast. What's not to Love?
Each piece brings you in and grabs hold of your very soul.

Let's go for a Stroll (2)

Hope you're enjoying out stroll through SRP. I know it's been slow going, but I think nature should be savored in this way.

These rocks tickled me. I burned the edges some, but other than that all of the following SRP photos are unaltered.

(Be sure to click each photo to see them bigger)

"Hardness Amongst Amber""A Stiff Path""The Fallen Comrade"My Very Own "Gentle Warriors""A Hushed Vista"

Check out Let's go for a Stroll and Let's go for a Stroll (1)
along with Lavender Bliss from past SRP posts of mine.
Then go ahead and come on back and see the rest in the coming weeks.

My 100th Post!

For my 100th post I wanted to pick something really special to post. This may seem like just another flower and broken leaf, but it's more. This flower grows in a bed of pansies right next to our pool in the backyard. It was there almost a year ago when we 1st went to look at the house we ended up buying. I thought once it disappeared in the fall it would be lost forever. I think I practically forgot about it altogether until my husband called me outside one evening last week.

It was such a beautiful sight to see this beautiful flower pop out again this spring. The first time I saw it I figured would be the last.

What a happy reminder of our
soon to be
1 Year Anniversary in our new home!

So for my 100th post I give you..."A Beauty All It's Own"!

(click on the photo to enlarge it to it's full loveliness)

Let's go for a Stroll (1)

Another view of the earthy SRP.


"That the sky is brighter than the earth means little, unless the earth itself
is appreciated and enjoyed".

By-
Helen Keller

More SRP photographs
here & here and even more on the way.

Go enjoy the beautiful earth this weekend...you know I will be.

Rosey Mornings

Just thought I'd post this sweet rose to remind us all to savor our mornings and keep them rosey and cheerful. Sad news came last night; my sweet and smiley Aunt Tina passed away a little after 8pm. She was ill for the past few months and rather weak for several years in a row now. That never stopped her from sharing an encouraging story, lending an ear, helping out those around her or having family get togethers on her enormous property. I remember years and years full of parties, Thanksgiving dinners, baby showers and just for fun BBQ's at her home. We would all play hours of vollyball, cards or horseshoes together. Tina would usually be cooking for everybody or in deep conversation with others at her custom giant banquet table.

I will always remember her sweetness, soothing voice, easy tempermant, love for children, bright blonde hair and famous cheesy potatoe casserole (1 with onions and w/o to please everybody). That was her way. She was one of the most pleasant people I've ever met. Her kindness and loving spirit will be greatly missed.

My heart goes out to all those who loved her as I did.

Let's go for a Stroll

Over the weekend my family and I visited a local Ecological Reserve, The SANTA ROSA PLATEAU (I'll be referring to it as SRP). I was wildly enchanted by every bit of what I saw. I think we covered nearly ten miles of ground that day. What a special piece of land! Over the next few days I hope to take you on a stroll through the raw beauty of this place. I will be going back time and again I'm sure. I am putting this on my list of places to visit next spring when the wildflowers will be in bloom.

Oh...my photograph posted yesterday called "Lavender Bliss" was taken during my visit to SRP.


This sign was posted at the exit of the trail head we departed from.

I do not know why I am choosing this photo at this very moment to post, but it grabbed me and won't let go. Sheesh...this spot...this view...the quietness...the overflowing peace that it brings back to me. It's too hard to explain in just words.

If you look closely you'll notice the tree in the center-bottom half of the photograph had fallen over. It was just a massive twisted heap perfectly centered between the branches of the healthy tree I was photographing. It looks dinky in this photo, but it was NOT dinky at all.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Talk about a gorgeous day! Even when it was breezy and turned cloudy it was like the sky was smiling down upon us as we hiked our way through the acreage.

Lavender Bliss

On a recent nature walk I found a dollop of beauty among the blandest of twigs.

I couldn't help myself from capturing this photograph.

For miles there was nothing but dullness and suddenly about an inch and a half of lovely lavender brightened up the path.

Truly breathtaking (at least I thought so)!

Tuesday's Texture Challenge (Part 3)

Tuesday's Texture Challenge is back! Here are some new textures to add a little umpf to your photographs when they need it or just for the pure sake of having fun. Read more about my texture challenges here.
Remember you can download the original size here and use it in any manner you'd like.
These were some quick edits. I personally love the texture #6. It totally looks like water drops!

Free texture #5 & Sample

Free texture #6 & Sample

McKensie's World (Part 2)

No words are necessary for these...check back soon to see even more of the captivating McKenzie Jo-

(Click on each photo to enlarge)

Sweet Nothings

Color Frenzi

Tranquility

nothing DULL about this one

My Little Lad

All natural light coming in from a window. No flash. Used a reflector and in camera softening.

Add in the classic "over the shoulder pose" and you have my little lad doing what he does-for me!

:)

small things...BIG DREAMS

I think I mentioned the awesome wedding I photographed the other day, here is a small taste of some of the littlest details.

Nature Part 4 (The Heavens Above)

The past few days I focused in on some small things in nature...this time I'm expanding to some of the largest wonders of nature...

Shall we start with the sky & clouds and the enormity of it? It's awesome when you think of it...the size alone. The shapes of the clouds is a whole different subject.

I decided to shoot the sky & clouds when I went outside today to do one of the days many mundane tasks and I was practically knocked over with the amazing beauty all over the sky above me-in every direction! This first one was taken of the sky and clouds above my very own home.












Then I went to an area about 5 minutes from home where I knew there were mountains and greenery surrounding. I was able to get the next few shots there. I really like this one b/c the clouds
seem endless the
way they are
climbing towards
the sky.












This next group of photos are a little more dark in contrast which gives
them a mysterious and spooky feel to them.




There were so many more great cloud photos-I just can't share them all today. Maybe I'll share them another day. Come back tomorrow and see the finale of my nature expedition!

I think there is rain on the way...hmm...how did I guess?!


My manipulation for this series...

"It's a Stormy World"

Nature Part 3 (Why Do We Make Wishes?)

WOW...nature is blowing my mind at the moment. I go out thinking I'm going to shoot a great landscape photograph of trees & sky or something and I end up with dandelions! Who would have thought? I've always wondered why the dandelion is a trigger for making wishes. It happens the instant we see one. We're almost born to use them as a tool for wishing. And whenever you put a child near a dandelion you are bound to find them blowing wishes into the air.

Why are they so fascinating? I don't know. I really don't, but they are something special. The texture of the soft ball that we use for wishing is light & feathery...the green stems grow long & high. This first photo was taken by a meadow near my home. I walk there often and it is usually so well maintained I cannot get photo opportunities such as this.


The following three I found interesting b/c the background actually helped isolate the dandelion making it stand out even more.


The white against the green is
just the right contrast to give
the dandelion a "look at me" effect.

I like the curve in the stem
of the last one for some reason.
It's odd how the smallest things draw us in.


















































I couldn't decide whether to post the color or black and white version of this one so I did both.







I'm hoping you're enjoying our walk through nature. I know I am! My desire is to get you looking at small things in a BIG way. No matter how busy we are each day it is important to take the time to find our own joys and share them with the world. Be happy...the weekend is finally here!!!

Just The Beginning of Many More Blog Posts To Come!

Thank you for joining me for my very first photography blog! I'm excited to be here and to be able to share the unfolding of my life's work with you. Check back often to see what's new...and feel free to leave a comment on any blog you find interesting. The following photo is a newer photo from about two weeks ago. I took it at a lake near my home. I have been calling it Midnight Waters. You will find that I name a lot of my photos-especially landscape or artistic pieces. Please subscribe to my blog to get future updates.