Theme Thursday: Memory/Love Thursday

I'm doing a dual post today for Theme Thursday & Love Thursday, simply because I stumbled upon the perfect photo yesterday.  I love "finding" shots, and this one leapt out at me: the memory of love, etched in a dirty window pane.

BSM: Strategy

Before anyone mentions it (although I'm sure you are all much too polite), I realize that I have been posting quite a few basketball pictures here.  'Tis the season, shall we say?  Since James is obsessed with the game, the boys are equally smitten.  Hence, much of my photo material right now is game related.  I'm trying to mix it up by experimenting with angles and light, but hey, how many b-ball pics can a girl take?   

Hundreds, apparently.  

Enjoy yet another basketball-themed picture for BSM :)...

Weekend!

Oh, the joy of a sunny weekend!

The Joy of Cousins

I had to post these because I just love capturing the fun my kids have with their cousins.  With C's visit last weekend, we had nonstop activities and the kids loved being together.  My niece actually enjoyed being in front of the camera -- what a treat for me!  These two shots of the three of them just make me smile...

Theme Thursday: Texture

I like experimenting with texture, but sometimes, I'm not sure I like the final product.  It seems a fine line to walk between texture as enhancement and texture as distraction.  It sure is fun, though!  

 

There are great places to get free textures on line, including a Flickr group called "Textures For Layers" that I recently discovered.  Members post their own textures that others are free to use (for personal use).  It's a great way to get new ideas.  I'm excited to see what everyone came up with for this week's theme!

BSM: Just Resting

My kids had their cousin come for the long weekend, a much anticipated event!  Unfortunately, Owen has a wicked cold.  It got the better of him Saturday afternoon when he literally fell asleep at the table while we were trying out some origami (which apparently I'm very bad at since I can't figure out most of the diagrams).  

I couldn't resist snapping his picture (big surprise there).  I also played around with some texture in anticipation of Theme Thursday this week.  

Hope everyone's weekends were more "restful" than his :).

A Bit Late...

A day late, but still sweet!

Theme Thursday: Pure

Post processing can be such a great thing, regardless of whether you are simply adjusting the contrast or doing a small crop or tackling major editing to create an effect or rescue a photo.  After my disastrous basketball shoot last weekend (see my BSM post), I thought I'd post a before and after of a shot that I rescued from oblivion.  This is more editing than I usually do: levels, noise reduction, B&W conversion, sharpening, and of course, the splash of original color. (I may have tweaked it even more than I can remember.  I started in iPhoto and finished in PSE4.) But in this case, the effort was well worth it, and I was able to make a mistake into something more presentable and preserve a fun memory.  Here, the desire for a better image definitely won out over "pure" camera technique.  

BSM: The good, the bad, and the ugly

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.  For this week's BSM, I'm offering first, a photo I really love.  Then, one that I'm kicking myself over.  

I love the close up of O: his eyes are crystal clear and sharp and the lighting is right on.  Yes, (pats self on back) I rock photography.

Fast forward two days later.  Awesome self forgets to check settings on camera and proceeds to take basketball game pics of H with the exposure bias set two stops down.  Yep, I sure rock photography.  As you can see from the ugly noise, horrific exposure, and bad color, it does pay to check all your camera settings BEFORE shooting photos that otherwise might have been pretty cool.

I will say, photography is certainly a humbling hobby...

Theme Thursday: Glow

I was planning to set up some backlit shots for this week's theme, but then this situation presented itself.  H was reading in his bed with his small reading lamp on, creating the perfect "glow."  I spot metered on his face and voila, instant Theme Thursday photos!

BSM: Pillow Talk

I was aiming for "moody" in this shot.  Not sure if it worked, but it sure makes me want to go back to bed :)...