Tuesday... another day closer.

Cottage Living

Counting down the days till Christmas. I actually got the Christmas cards off into the mail. As mentioned in an earlier post I had picked up a pack of large christmas cards at the local thrift store. They hadn't been used,  were fine as is, and at 99 cents a bargain, however I always like to put a little something personal together. I took a picture of the Christmas cabin, fiddled with it in photoshop and then ran to fed-ex (kinkos) and had them print me a couple sheets on card stock. A little double-sided tape to affix my art dejour' and wah lah!!! Of course when they turn the cards over and see the Unicef logo it might be a dead give away. Next they will probably peel off my artwork to see the original underneath before they toss it. I would. Curious happens... No matter. I can cross that task off my list.

Before and After project 365

In search of "Bokeh" for my today's project photo

 

So, what is bokeh, exactly? Simply, when someone talks about “bokeh” they are referring to the out of focus portion of a photograph, usually the background, especially highlights in the background that can appear as blurry circles. Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke which means blur (Wikipedia: Bokeh). When photographers discuss bokeh they are talking about its aesthetic quality.

The use of Bokeh is always popular around this time of year because christmas lights with the right lens and settings can create amazing effects. As per normal my take is a usually a little strange but you have to find it where you can.

Before

This was taken this afternoon through the window of the "Old Cabin" which is all decked out for Christmas. I had to get far enough away from the christmas tree and have something to focus on, thus the jars in the window. This right out of the camera is okay but I always like to tweak.

After

 

I've simply bumped up the contrast (darkened the dark, lightened the light) just to make it pop. The bright colors were already in the photo it's just a matter of layering and bumping up the exposure using a mask to paint in the light.

Here's another example of christmas Bokeh...

Thanks Milo for letting me use you as a guinea pig.

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Monday before Christmas

 

 

 

Cottage Living...

I wish I knew who wrote this wonderful rendition of an old favorite...

 

Twas the Month After Christmas

 

Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt—

I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So—away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie—not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore—
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Before and After project 365

I did not leave the house today. That should help explain today's subject.

Before

Okay. It's a lemon on my windowsill. It was handy, and I needed something to shoot.

 

After

Just a little boost, highlight, and then took the spot out of the glass. Not really a masterpiece but it accomplished my task.

 

 

Pause for thought...

 

A feast for the eyes and the ears. Brings back a sense of wonder with all the creative Christmas displays.This HD video was shot using a canon 7D... I am definitely smitten. To be honest I'm just learning how to use mine to take still photos.

Until next time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday has come and gone...

I borrowed nephew Daniel to use as an ornament...

Cottage Life

Tis the season to be busy. It is now almost midnight, and I am still thinking, typing, and fiddling. Mostly fiddling. The Bearded One is snoring contentedly in the background. I can't believe that I have turned into such a night owl. I'm thinking that I will probably have a little difficulty getting back onto my old work schedule routine come February.

Tomorrow is officially send out the Christmas card day. At least that is the plan. There is something in my hardwiring that loves a "deal"... I found some old card blanks at the "nifty thrifty" for 99 cents with envelopes so I thought I would think of something creative to do with them thus satisfying both my cheap streak and my artsy inclination. I am tempted to make myself a really big christmas stocking since the Bearded One and I have officially decided to fill our own this year... That baby will definitely be bulging.

I would like to make some fudge and still have to figure out what to take for the Christmas Eve White Elephant exchange. Our family really goes all out for this traditional favorite. We all to try to find the worst possible uglies to wrap gloriously to entice the greedy. Experience has taught me however that not everyone plays by these rules. My family and I once went to an exchange with our usual carefully planned out uglies only to see in horror that everyone else had brought big ticket real deal presents. Our whoopee cushions and hideous bric a brac were not cutting it. The humiliation was horrendous. The kids desperately started trying to take back the presents we had brought which only made people think they were worth going after. I still cringe when I think about it.

Before and After... project 365

Spent the afternoon going to Quinault and back so I was scrambling to figure out what to shoot for today's photo when I got home.  This IKEA lamp hangs in our stairwell...

Before

This is as shot. My white balance was a little off. It showed a little too warm for the effect I wanted.

After

A slight crop to make a better composition and the white balance adjusted. I added a "screen" layer in photoshop to help illuminate it just a little more.

 

Anything and everything can become a work of art..

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

it's all about the tree...

 

Until next time...

 

 

Saturday, Sock Stuffing Strategy...

 

 

Cottage Life

I don't think I'm ready for christmas. At least it feels that way. It's like when you've packed for a trip and you're ready to go but you feel like you've forgotten something. I keep going over things on my mental list. I've decked the halls, or at least the loft. We've put out the garland and hung the twinkle lights. I've scored a case of  Seductive Food's "Praline drizzle" to share with my favorite family and friends. Christmas cards will go out on Monday. The gift giving is pretty simple this year. A little something for the small one's, a knit picks gift card for Grandma Lou, and best wishes to everyone else. The "Bearded One" and I are doing Christmas Stockings. We have almost come to the conclusion that we should fill our own socks and act surprised... Oh there is the little matter of me getting the "pre Christmas" Canon 7D... the gift that keeps on giving. Gone are the days of everyone piling over at our house for Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner and me baking oodles of cookies and mixing multiple batches of fudge. Large gatherings are a little more than our 600 square feet can handle, and as time goes by, the kids get older and new traditions begin.Passing on the Baton... Maybe that's what makes me think that I've forgotten something. I am so used to being busy and doing. This year is different. I've taken a hiatus from work this winter so things aren't crammed into after work hours and I have plenty of time to be busy and yet not a lot to be busy with... Hmm... I think I'll knit another Beret, or maybe a cowl. Friend Lena has given me some amazing yarn. If only I could figure out a way to knit and work on the computer at the same time.

Two ends of the same hank to show the amazing colors. Marvelous.... thanks, Lena!

 

Before and After - Project 365

Lately I find that I am really attracted to light and the reflections thereof. I think it's because of the shorter days and early darkness, a sign of the season. So here's  today's 365 picture...What... You mean to tell me that you don't photograph your pots and pans?

Before

A little light coming through the window.

After

Here I did a "Boost",  a little light painting with a curves adjustment, and a final sharpen, just to enhance what was already happening. Who knew cast iron could be so glamorous.

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

On another note... this one's for you Ferol. All this and Willy Nelson Too.

 

Until Next Time...

We will be stuffing our socks. Good thing I have large Norwegian Feet. :-)

Friday Night Full of Tunes

 

Cottage Life

I am sitting across from the Bearded One this evening as I am posting. I am more than a little bit distracted. He has discovered music on his computer. He has his headphones on. I am hearing him crooning a variety of tunes.... bits and pieces... I just heard "beat it"...

Now he's chair dancing to Bruce Springsteen... How will I ever get this posted before midnight???? This is impossible... I think we are now cruizin' through the oldies. Leader of the pack just went by. I quit. The Bearded One singing with Connie Francis "where the boys are"  is a little too much.

Before and After Project 365

Trying to find something to shoot for my 365 that I could squeeze into my busy day.

Before

Old stuff in the garden shed windows. The light was bad and so was my angle..

It needs a lot of help and I needed something desperately to go on the project page for today.

After

Cropping, straightening, painting with light. Whew. Got it done.

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

Welcome to "The Bearded One's" World...

 

Until next time...

 

 

Happy Birthday Sis... Thoughtful Thursday

Cottage Life

It's my oldest daughter's Birthday today. I'm feeling older...

My day has been spent shooting for my project 365 and getting some product shots for "Seductive Foods". The new camera really helps because I can now trigger my speedlite flash remotely so that I don't have to get harsh shadows. Amazing. Combined with the light tent it makes taking shadowless product photos a cinch.

A light tent... very useful for taking nice diffused shots

Here's an example of a light tent shot... mmmmmm. Sassy to sultry glaze. As soon as I'm done shooting this, I will put this on top of a pork tenderloin. Yes sir, I can taste it now.

Before and After

This is the shot I took for project 365

Before

This is the shot as taken. For my 365 project I wanted to have the attention more focused on the sunlight hitting the metal gizmo... and not so much on the book shelves behind.

After

Here I've cropped it a bit and then put the non-essentials into "shadow" or darkness. This way you see the bright light coming through the windows and hitting the subject.

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

Vintage Laurel and Hardy. I like looking at all the fashions and furnishings of the times.

It's good to laugh... enjoy

 

Until next time...

 

Whooty Whoo Wednesday!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo shoot with Traci,  Personal Chef... Seattle

Cottage Life

I'm home after being gone for a couple of days doing a photo shoot for Seattle Personal Chef and Specialty Food Mogul, Traci Post. Daughter Leslie got the two of us together. What an amazing time. Traci was wanting some Business shots done as well as some personal photos with her dog for christmas. Always makes the job easier when both dog and owner are as photogenic as these two. We took some shots from atop Queen Anne Hill and then headed down to the waterfront to get some classic "Pike St. Shots". I will be doing some product shots in the next couple of days.

Was good to get back home. I had finished my "beret" and was blocking it on a dinner plate so was exited to try it on.

 

I couldn't try it on and take the photo so "frenchman" Perdue A.K.A the Bearded One modeled it for me...

My Project 365 Photo

These are the photos that I'm taking each day and posting on project 365 for phototips.biz It's a great challenge. Keeps you on your toes trying to find different things to shoot...

 

Baking pots in Melody's Kitchen

 

Hmmm... Pause for Thought

I learned that I can be bought for a supply of Chef Traci's signature Praline Drizzle... One of her "Seductive Foods". OMG!!!  Be thankful those of you on my christmas list. I might share. Here's Chef Traci  at the fish market at Pike St.

Thanks Traci, Was a total Hoot..

Until next time...