Anxiety

That's what I've been feeling this week…just lots of stuff going on.

That said, I'm really behind in my Be Still class, but I just have to take one day at a time.

So for Texture Tuesday I first made some adjustments in Lightroom and then added Kim's "Gentle" preset.  Next into PS 
for some texture and text.  I used Kim's "Carmel" texture on overlay at 64% opacity, and her "Luxe" texture on divide at 42%.  The text is a font called "Reswysokr".  Don't you wonder how they come up with such odd names?

I'm planning to spend tomorrow doing some photo shoots.  Hopefully I'll do some catching up in my class.  

I wish you all a beautiful week!

~ Give ~

Flea Market Addict

Saturday, Erin of My Painted Garden and I went to "Behind the Picket Fence" vintage marketplace.  I discovered flea markets are one of her passions, and I believe they will become one of mine.  I was looking for props for still life photography, and I found so many neat things.

Erin found the cutest vintage metal rolling cart shown below in the upper left corner,

 She also purchased a round metal tray with some little tea lights.  I found a  vintage box/crate that I can use to put items on or that I can shoot a display inside like the one in the upper right corner of the image above.  I almost bought the chippy painted chair in the first image and I know I could use a stepladder for display but I remained calm and not too free with my allowance.  We found a most fun booth called "Far Away Hood" where a mother and daughter team make custom signs to order.  They made mine while I waited.

The one above that says "Jardin" is like mine.  I think it will look cute on my fence in the yard.  Ooops….forgot I was looking for props.  Oh well, a gal's got to have a little fun.  These ladies will be at The "Vintage Marketplace" at the Oaks in Fallbrook scheduled March 13th - 15th this year.  I also purchased a really cute metal etagere for my garden….I know, I know…. I veered away again from my original intent to purchase props.   But…it was such a good price! 

Anyway, a fun day it was.  I met Sunday Hendrickson who is a stylist for some major magazines like Romantic Homes and Sharon Hughes of Launch Your Creativity organization….also Lidy of French Garden House . She buys and sells beautiful vintage items and antiques. 

Yes, I think I will be a Flea Market addict. 

~ Give ~

Room to Breathe

I've longed for an eternity

To return to this space

Of silence, of stillness

~Jason Westlake~

Week 2 of Be Still 52 is all about room to breathe. This means taking time to be still and just breathe as well as leaving room in our photos to breathe (white space).  

My exercise for giving myself room to breathe was this painting.

I wanted the airy, ethereal feel of a wash.  It's an exercise that gives me calm and serenity.

For Texture Tuesday and Be Still I took these photos.  I'm using my new crate I found at Behind the Picket Fence flea market Saturday.

I used Kim's "Dark Light" preset above. All editing was done in Lightroom.

Above I used Kim's "Serendipitous" preset.  It almost looks as if it has a texture applied.

This final photo was a preset experiment 

The preset was MoodyDark with slight vignette.  Visit Kim's site

by clicking on the badge below.  You will see a lot more creativity there.

Hope you all have a beautiful week.  
~ Give ~

Just Keep Shooting

When I visit others' blogs, I'm always impressed with how beautiful their presentations are….the photos….and how well written too.

I don't know about you, but there are just some weeks when I'm not terribly inspired to do a shoot.  The weather is cold and overcast or  it's just plain winter!!  I should not

complain knowing how a lot of the country is buried under snow and ice.  Here I sit in beautiful sunny (not always) California.

I took almost 50 shots of this subject and had only a couple maybe sort of worth working with.  I had to laugh at some of the shots.  The chocolate looked like little turds….nothing picturesque

at all.  This is the final result.  I know I just need to keep shooting. 

I applied Kim's "Grunged" preset.

After looking at my edit, I decided I wasn't happy with the blown out highlights and went back to Lightroom and used the radial filter.  A little better…. 

This mug is one of my favorites.  I got it at a restaurant in Chicago….called, oddly enough, "Scoozi".  The cup must be 25 or 30 years old.  I wonder if "Scoozi" is still there.  We had a delightful dinner there one evening.  It had one of the biggest bars I've ever seen.  

I'm linking up with Texture Tuesday over at Kim's and also with Be Still 52. I used Kim's "Distressed Wood" texture.  I liked the texture it added to the backdrop and the base under the composition (in first shot).  I think the radial filter did away with most of that 

wood texture in the second shot. 

Here's to lots of joy in your life!

~ Give ~