Mobile Art Monday No. 18

One morning these words came out of the blue as I opened my blinds at work. I jotted them down and a few days later this photo was begging for them.

A few tweaks in Snapseed, Tune and Tonal Contrast.

Several layers from Overlay, Grunge, Leaks and Light paint in Pixlr set at very low opacity.

In iColorama I chose Effects> Glow> 3 and reduced the opacity.

In Word Swag I typed my message and played with the different options until finding the one I wanted.

This was my first attempt at Word Swag. I thought it was a pricey app but in looking at a few examples on Instagram of some very creative people...    I'm glad I bought it.

How is your Monday going? How about letting the day in?

App Happy Wednesday July 9

It's an App Happy Day with Barb over at Keeping With The Times. Check out what everyone is doing with their mobile photography this week.
The original:

I used Stackables for the first part of my edit. (There is an iPad version that's better than the phone version and worth the extra .99 if you already have the phone one. The phone version is free at the moment!)
This app contains textures and gradient overlays with a lot of blending modes and multiple layers. There are a lot of textures and emulsions that are free in-app to download too. I recommend watching the in-app tutorial. It's excellent.

At this point I'm realizing I should've done some cloning out of the end of the stem that goes off the page and the bushes at the top need to go. TouchRetouch is what I use for cloning.

Thinking I'd heard something about using Pixlr Express for noise reduction, I imported it there and discovered a new love. It had been awhile since I used this app and only for the light effects. My heart was now bursting at what all my options were for this photo.
First under adjustment there are a million possibilities. I played with Focal and discovered in this app I can move the sharp focus around the photo. It doesn't have to stay in the center. Yea!!!! Add a little dreaminess.

Under Effect> Default> I chose Melissa for tonal change and played with some others.

What I didn't know about this app is that there is a desktop version. hmmmm…..

I still wasn't happy with how the natural light leak looked. It needed help. Enter Lenslight. The leaks are totally adjustable, down to the color and you can pull them off the page to get a partial one. It also lets you add them on different layers so they are more editable. I added two and decided I was finished.

I learned a lesson with this edit. Since I didn't take it into Snapseed like my usual workflow I missed getting a "cropped" original. Mostly because of using an unfamiliar app but it was user error on my part. Sometimes I like to overlay the original with a blend mode change for a different or more contrasty look. Or sometimes do a black and white version to overlay for different effects. How is your mobile photography going?

The Muse -Amarillo

Linking up with Helen for Weekend Walks.
I re-found a wonderful shop in the Route 66 area of Amarillo a few weeks back. It had been years since I'd been there and was curious to see if it was still open. And it did not disappoint.

(Rhonna Designs App)

When I loaded the car for this trip I made the decision to leave the big girl camera at home. And told myself, "You'll just have to deal with it." A few months back it was, "Don't leave home without it!" My, this year is making some changes in my habits!

This rustic bench greated us as we drew near.

(Frame, Rhonna Designs)

As we stepped inside the oohhs and aahhs started. Wonderfully redone antiques, painted, distressed, reupholstered in gorgeous colors and trims. Home dec little goodies to tease the eyes... It was heaven, at least my heaven...

(Pixlr Express App)

I love to mix fabrics like this.

(Pixlr Express App)

And just get a load of this exquisite doorway! I stared at it forever and took about a dozen photos of it.

(Snapseed)

Wouldn't this fabric of circles make something very fun? I'm thinking I may need to go back and get some.

(Snapseed)

Have the most glorious weekend and do something fun!

Sunday Sunflower

Happy September to you!
My absolute favorite Sunflower photo this season. And from my iPhone no less.
I tried to recreate my steps. This is as close as I could get.
I first edited it in DistressedFX to give it some slight texture. Dove, Whispers then slightly darkened.

Then moved it into Pixlr Express+. Effects>Subtle>Roxy There may have been more. I worked that app over pretty good that day. It's full of goodness.

I'm planning on a canvas print for this one. In fact I should go order it right now.

Have a blessed Sunday and a most awesome Labor Day weekend and get some rest!