A Winter Wonderland

Hubby had cabin fever bad by Sunday so I made him drive me around town to look at the frosted over trees and let me take photos. We actually had hoar frost on Sunday, something I'd never seen up close and personal. (I'll post them later.)

I love how these look with some of Kim's presets applied.

 kk_dreamlike with extra clarity.

kk_hazyday

kk_hazyday

kk_moodswing

kk_breeze

kk_darklight

kk_darkday

my edits

It was starting to just get warm enough that the frost started to fall.

iPhone shot edited with kk_today.

We ended up having a snowball fight and I think I lost.

This was a 'captured frame' from a movie clip. kk_toucha

kk_breeze

I plan to put a video together since I'm in the Time Capsules Class. It's a lot of work. I could spend a couple full days just on one video.

Linking up for Texture Tuesday at kimklassen.com.

Mobile Art Monday No. 8

Light is a huge thing in photography. A little extra light can take an ok photo and make it more interesting.

The original had an awesome dark blue sky set as a backdrop against the snow and touches of gold.

The little cloud pieces made me want to try and add a moon to cover it. So in Lenslight I did, but it still looked like it needed something. I added some glow and it worked well. I t also brightened up a path across the snow.
The glow was from Effects> Lights/Glow> Lumos Glow. The Moon is also under Effects> Lights/Glow.

These are the adjustments I applied to the moon.

These are the adjustments made for the glow.

Remember to add a new light to a new layer.

Another photo that I added several light leaks to but later realized it would be so much better with a Lens Flare.

Lenslight has had an update recently so all the Effects categories are under a little menu on the right. These include Lens Flares, Lights/Glows, Bokeh/Glitter, Sun Collection and Radiance Pack.

Have fun adding a little extra touch of light to your photos.

Friday Finds Feb 20

It's Friday Finds time again. Once more, "Mur" and I went to one of her local antique shops. This one has a ton of booths under one roof. I tried to leave a few things un-purchased for my next visit. This week's stash…

(VSCO)

Mur is always horrified at how much I pay for this stuff but these just couldn't be passed up. At another shop I found this 'to die for' green child's chair that I put to good use as a step stool for some 'from above' shots.

(VSCO)

I miss my digital scrapbooking…. But not the normal kind. I like this artsy/art journal type. Captivated Visions just came out with this new kit My Wish For You and I was in the mood to play in Photoshop.

We woke up to a nice dusting of snow on Tuesday. So I drove around and discovered a spot close by I wasn't even aware of. It had all melted by 10AM.

(Snapseed)

(Stackables)

(Stackables)

I think the sign should say something… Any ideas?

I found time to play in Lightroom this week because work has been slow. Not good for the pocket book, but good for the brain. I've posted several to My Flickr gallery. I'm not in flower mode yet like some of my cyber friends, so it's still dark and moody over at Flickr. But this group is not. Lightroom preset by Pretty Presets.

Sweet Gum balls, and yes they hurt when you step on them. Barefoot Mama here doesn't dare plant one in the yard but their fall foliage can be exquisite.

Have a blessed weekend everyone! We will play the roll of fire ant exterminator this weekend at the 'folks'. What are your plans?

Linking up with Kim for Friday Finds.

Officially Winter in Texas

Winter arrived in Lubbock Texas as we arrived home from a last minute Christmas trip to the Dakotas. It was a winter wonderland ready for the capture.

I noticed a few things I wouldn't have a year or two ago.

The poor pecan trees in the neighbor's yard with pecans still heavy and getting heavier with the ice. Hundreds of dollars worth of pecans, probably not worth 2 cents now. I would have shaken his trees and picked them up myself. It would have been a bumper crop. But I reaped the benefit of photos.

Our gas is probably the lowest in the country. I guess we saved around $200 this trip compared with last year's prices.

This shot was right by the gas price sign. If you noticed the previous photo, I can't imagine why a handicapped person would ever want to park there.

We had freezing rain today, then fluffy snow flakes, then more rain. I pulled out my 100 Macro lens for this. What I love about it, is the background.

We stopped at work to check on things last night and I was glad I had more than my iPhone with me. It was a challenge to hand hold this also. It's not the sharpest, but compared to the rest…. ISO 3200 18mm f/4 1/8 sec. I'm grateful for this shot because after all the ice today, half of the branches broke off. Very sad. It's a Desert Willow, too fragile for ice storms.

My favorite shot of all. Dove in Pecan Tree. Textured with kk_postale and a texture from 2 Lil Owls.

The skies were so white with low clouds that the geese flew low today and came in swarm after swarm. The near by golf course and lakes were just covered in geese.

Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday.

First Snow

Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday.
A surprise snow this week. I'm just not ready for winter and neither are the trees.
Used two textures from the Waterfront Collection, kk_waterfront 23 and 9.

More from the Waterfront...

 Waterfront#2 and Two Little Owl's Vintique 23.

Hope you're ready for turkey day. My groceries are bought and that's about it.

Last of Winter

Remnants of our once in a blue moon blizzard. Right out the front door sits this planter of volunteers. Johnny Jump-ups (violas) and an asparagus (it will get pulled). It was totally buried in snow until the middle of the afternoon when it warmed up so fast there was none left on the porch.

I took this through the window. I was actually surprised to have caught little bokeh lights.

A few icicles forming in the midst of the storm.

While we're on the subject of white things, here is a 'shot from above' with 2 of my 'usual' props. I rather liked the out of focusness of it. Textured with Sybil by Kim Klassen and I used all 3 brushes from Beyond Beyond Class Day 7 white, 100% set at soft light. Must say I love it. Especially with the brushes added.

All edits in Lightroom.

A Day of Winter

We woke up to a blizzard today. They are extremely rare here. But I grew up with them and it's nice to have a day off and stay home.

These red house finches were trying to get out of the howling wind. Edited in Lightroom and Radlab.

 These guys have a texture layer by Kim Klassen, Sybil. Plus a dreamy gradient layer added. For the Texture Tuesday link up.

This guy was edited in Lightroom then Topaz Detail. Yes, I was all over the computer today. 

More textures, Isobel and Sybil. There are violas under that snow. They were smiling in the sun by 5PM.

 Thought it would be nice to have a little pink snow.  More textures, Cora 3 times, one with a hue adjustment, shown below. I just love these birds. They never fly away.

Join up for Texture Tuesday at the Cafe. 

Linking with Share the Love Blog Hop

Linking up with Nurture Photography, Finale prompt.