On the Water, Scavenger Hunt, & Labor

Theme: On the Water

Here is the SOOC to the above image:

I adjusted levels, color, sharpened and cropped.

This is our 2nd son, his cute wife and grandkids from them.

Ain't they CUTE??? BWAHAHAHA....

It's OK, you don't have to answer, I KNOW it!  ;p 

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1. Red & 2. Homespace

Sorry, had to combine them...

THIS is my front door, so it WORKS.  ;D

It's also SOOC, short on time.  *sigh*

3. Fence

This gal is a BIG part of my being busy. Her "country style" wedding was last Thursday and we took off camping on Friday. So I'll be busy with her edits for a bit.  ;D   So we had a perfect FENCE shot. YAY!!

4. Rock

I had to pull from my archives of June for this one. I did shoot my son on a rock up camping, but I don't have timeto edit it and it NEEDS it badly.  So, hope you like this one.  ;D

5. Sharp

Her bouquet is in "sharp" focus?

OR

Hmmm... I was debating between the sharp KNIFE for the cake cutting or the sharp(?) toe of the boot?? LOL!! I know, it's a stretch, but this one appealed to me more and it's edited already... ;p

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Theme: Labor

Trust me... Shooting plays and casts is laborious.  ;D

WHOOPS, Edits, Random, and a Sunset Silhouette! Oh MY!

This is the best I could do with THIS WHOOPS! I tried to make it look ARTSY!  ;p

I didn't show it to her at first. She asked about it because she remembered me snapping it. It wasn't a posed shot, I had the wrong lens and settings, but thought it was cute and snapped it quick, anyway. Even completely blown out she wanted it so I told her I'd try to make it better. I think the original file is on another external drive. If I find it later today, I'll upload it so you can see the difference.

This week's Theme: WHOOPS!
(aka The file never intended to see beyond the trash folder...)

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Ashley Sisk pointed out yet ANOTHER photo challenge. LOL! Here's the SCOOP!

Brent Riggs recently took a trip to Colorado and thought he'd offer a challenge and reward for all of those who participated. Here's the deal:

1. Download this original landscape photo he took by clicking here…
2. Do your own version of improving, enhancing and otherwise putting “wow” into this image
3. Put up a post on your blog displaying your enhanced photo, and explaining what you did
4. Come back to this post, and enter your photo and blog post on the Thumbnail Linky 
5. Then, Brent Riggs will do a private online demonstration of what he does to get his outdoor photography to come alive, and send a link to every person who participated by following these instructions and entered the Thumbnail Linky list.

Original Photo by Brent Riggs :

Original Edit by HJ/Pix Plus:

Final Edit by HJ/Pix Plus:

The first edit was a bit too rich, so I duplicated it, turned off the 100% layer and reduced the duplicate of it to 66%. I turned off the previous process layers so the final reduced opacity would blend with the original to make it more realistic. Yes... I get OCD about these things... THIS is why I have to limit my projects. LOL!!

I did a screen shot of my layers and tried to label each step. As you can see, I use layers and play them off each other regularly. I usually go more for a clean edit unless I have a specific goal in another direction. Hope this makes a little sense.  (((HUGS)))

... and the Photo Roulette lands on Folder 6 photo 14

(OR Folder 12 photo 14... must choose before looking.)

This was during our snow storm in MAY!!!
YES!! I HAD to get a picture of our tulips with the house in the background and the ridiculous SNOW!!

This is from my current bride that is getting married NEXT WEEK!!  ;D

Don't you just LOVE a pretty sunset?? I DO!! Our city has the BEST!!

Blast from the Past: Aubrey & Alan 2007

A couple I did their wedding for in 2007 happened to be there at the wedding I did Saturday... with their toddler little girl! The grandma was commenting how I must be getting popular because everytime she goes to a wedding, I'M CLICKING AWAY as the photographer... She must not go to many... I don't schedule THAT many... I try not to overload... I like to have time still for family, church activities, and to do a good job on the editing... LOL!! Funny, theirs was outdoors on a rainy day, too!! At least It wasn't all wet when they walked down the isle. It waited till after and we did group shots inside.  ;p

Here are a couple from theirs...

I know... a little heavy on the flash here, 

but this was BEFORE I started using the ProMax System and I DO still LIKE it.  ;p   

Something cried vintage to me on this one... that's why I did the b/w... 

but the red just SHOUTED to be NOTICED... So POP goes the RED!!  ;D

I just LOVE chiffon on a gown... *sigh* LOL!

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Fast forward to the present...

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Here they ARE!!! He's in the ARMY now, stationed in Monterey...

I could definitely think of worse assignments... 

although when hubby was sent there, 

it was to become a Vietnamese linguest... *sigh*

She's pretty proud of her TAT... It's FRENCH...

That's her mom's name...

Advice from mom maybe??

Soyez toujours gentil 

Ont une bonne attitude 

Ne renoncez jamais

"Always be kind, 

Have a good attitude, 

and Never give up"

I think this is what it means, 

it's one of her favorite quotes, anyway.

Pretty COOL!  ;D

...and this is their CUTIE BABY with Alan's parents.  ;D

It's always FUN to see couples down the road.  =D

Ali - Kory Wedding Day

Here's a couple images from the day! Great couple, family, and party!! In spite of the weather, it was GREAT FUN!!  Thanks to ALL involved!!  ((HUGS))

Disclaimer: NONE of the following images have been edited yet and do NOT represent a finished job.  ;p

The KISS!! Please notice the WET all around the perimeter of the gazebo...

My knees were soaked... That's why we wear BLACK, baby!  ;p

The CHANGING of the SHOES...

Her dogs were barking... She wanted them OFF... NOW! LOL!

Check out the lovely effect of an outdoor wedding on a rainy day on the bottom of a white wedding gown. Good thing she's a mellow bride... It was NO BIGGIE!  YAY!! 

Maybe I'd survive without the Lorazepam after all... HAHA!! 

Yeah... OOPS, didn't switch WB for shoe change...

THANK HEAVEN for PHOTOSHOP!!  ;p

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Yeah... Since I BARELY got there in time for the WEDDING, we reenacted her "getting ready shots..." HAHA!! She didn't really care and they just goofed around.

Hey GUYS!!! The goal here is NOT to DROP HER!!

They didn't... but I was worried for a second. HAH!

Then she has to keep her girls OFF her man... except his sister... LOL!! 

Yeah... staged... GEE!! How could you tell???  ;p

Do I hear an AWWWW...

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After editing, I'll post a slideshow of more images.  =D

Michael & Katie are MARRIED!

Just thought I'd share a touch of the current project I've been on.  ;D

The day went smoothly. The images in the current slideshow were actualy taken ahead of time so they could have edited pictures to diplay at the reception. Made it quite a bit less stressful for all.  ;D