Tuesday, February 10, 2009

What's the buzz, tell me what's happening

Here, on the right, is a look at how a photo I took today looks straight out of the camera (SOOC if you are photo savy). On the left, is how it looked when I was done playing with it. I take the photo from my camera into a photo editing site called Picnik and play with various settings, adding and subtracting, until I am happy with how it looks. This second phase is a bit like painting. This is usually my therapy after work ~ I sit with my laptop and play with a photo until it is a new creation. Many times, it is hard to determine which rendition of the photo I prefer. Then, I usually have some fun finding a quote or coming up with a clever title for my photo before posting it on Flickr. That is how I have been spending these dark, damp evenings after work!
I have been determined to work on improving my focus with my photos. Part of that is just plain concentrating on holding the camera still, but also working with the new lens with manual focus. So many things come so easily to me, I am not used to working so hard on acheiving something. I am happy to say that I am seeing the results and reaping the rewards of my determination.
For Shutter Sisters this month, I have chosen the word focus as my theme for a month of photos. Here they are so far.
I am enjoying putting my thinking cap on every day for this project.
So, that is what's been happening around here!

10 comments:

Leacayoungart said...

Nice group of photos. I like seeing the sooc version too. very nice.

ELK said...

looks like art Martha ~it is a fun thing to do

Char said...

I see a heart in the buds. I like the focus and the work you're doing is clearly evident. It's a great group of shots.

I love playing around with the shots.

Sebrina Wilson said...

I think your SOOC is really great!! I too love to play with my photos :) But sometimes it's nice to just leave them be!!

Bridge said...

this is wonderful, i love to play with photos and make them look beautiful.

spread your wings said...

wonderful photo and fun to see the before and after of photo manipulations. nice work.

Anonymous said...

i too like to refer to the processing as "painting". you do it exquisitely. and your focus on focus is producing amazing results.

Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs said...

I think it's amazing what you do with your photos. You've really worked hard at it over the last year. I'm too scattered to concentrate on one hobby at a time. (The kids don't help matters there.)

Anonymous said...

i've begun to see your work on flickr and your name over at SS. hello and this is a wonderful before and after example. i too have to work very hard for my photographs and yet the fun i have in the post processing always makes it worth it :) great word btw, "focus".

A said...

Very cool program. I've actually never heard of it, but I'm already a fan!