Week 4 Already? check out my 365

First, I want to say, "Thank you!" to those who have been following my progress.
I have to admit that this week I did not feel inspired.  Many days were busy with catching up on things that didn't get done while my daughter was home sick from school last week. I did try to work more with layers and textures and think I need to start working with actions again, it has been a long time since I made my own.

Much of what I worked on this week is photos of New Mexico.  I guess that is no surprise as I live here. 

New Mexico Rural Road 2  23/365

In "New Mexico Rural Road" I love the perspective of the road and fence. The small hill in the background makes you wonder what might the viewer be missing.  I also love how the tree branches arch over and block the view.

Claunch, NM Ghost Town 24/365

This building in Claunch, NM caught my eye because of the green used to seal up the windows.   The color really stood out and it looks great hear against the off-white building and deep blue sky. I used a texture in the sky that mimics the feel of the building.

Lamp 25/365

Okay, this may have been a bit of a cheat.  This is the lamp next to where I often sit at night.  The lamp shade is metal so the light is directed mostly down and though the cut outs.  I used my new Flickr app and one of its preset actions.

Hedgehog Dream 26/365

The hedgehog was taken during a photo shoot for a small magazine I do work for.  He was just so cute sitting there in the florist shop.  My 7 year old daughter loves this and wants a copy in her room.

Forest Dream 3 27/365

I saved three different versions of this image.  The first with no textures, just basic Photoshop adjustments, the second with some texture that lightened it and this.  This is my favorite.  I reminds me of dreams I've had. It was taken on a hike at Datil Well Campground.  We stayed there when we went to visit the Very Large Array.

Anyone Listening? 28/365

This is a very small part of the Very Large Array.  This radio observatory is amazing.  We went on a day they were giving tours and learn a lot.   I tried to texture this as if it was an old postcard.  I love the feel, but I'm not sure if it is for everyone.

self  29/365

I end with a self portrait.  I'm not really a fan of photographing myself and I'm much more comfortable behind the camera.

Have a great week!
Lorissa

Week Three of 365!

Hello Everyone,

I've been trying to post on Tuesday each week, but with my daughter off school and up the mountain for a ski lesson all day, I just never got to it.  Growing up in FL, I have never snow skied, but it is nice to give my daughter the opportunity.  I told her I would take lessons if she like it and it would be something we could do together.

This past week I was distracted from working because my daughter came down with a mild case of the flu.  Her temperature of 101 to 102.5 keep her out of school for 4 days.  Thankfully she only had what appeared to be a bad cold with it and not all those other terrible symptoms the flu can produce.

Okay, so what images did I work on this week?

First is a photo of el Santuario de Chimayó.

Chimayó Spring - New Mexico 16/365

Then I found some photos I had wanted to work on a while ago.  While on vacation in Estes Park, CO we stayed at the Stanley Hotel.  This hotel is considered to be haunted and the inspiration for Steven King's "The Shining"  In the book and movie there were ghost twins, so just for fun we made my daughter twins in the photo.  I did two images, one outside and one in.  The inside one was taken in the children's wing on the top floor.  People have reported to have heard children laughing a playing even when there are none staying on that floor. 

Ghost Girls 17/365

Ghost Girls 2 18/365

This beautiful bird is a Blue-crowned Motmot and I only know that because of a kind person on flickr who pointed me in the right direction.  I love the look he is giving me here.

untitled - 19/365

I'm not a good at self portraits, but I though this was fitting.

Self Portrait Jan. 20, 2013 - 20/365

I love Photography and this camera allowed the common man to try photography for the first time.  How can you not feel the love?

What do you Love? 21/365

This was taken with my iPhone while up the mountain yesterday.  She loved her lesson, but didn't finish due to exhaustion.  The thin air really got to her.

Ski School 22/365

Thanks for stopping by.
Lorissa

Week 2 of 365

I have to admit that this project is keeping me quite busy.  I am trying to organize as I go back and look at images that I took, downloaded and never went back to until now.  So sad that I did that and there are some wonderful images just sitting.  I'm also trying to experiment more with my images and creating a new image has taken me hours to get it just right.   I do generally like to take right from the camera photos and not do too much with them, but with digital there is so much more I can do with my art and if I don't start and try I will never improve, and I believe that there is always ways to improve.

Okay, that is enough rambling.  Here is what I created this week!  Hope you love them:

Carrizozo Blue - New Mexico 11/365

Clauch School - New Mexico Ghost Town 10/365

Summer Jellyfish 13/365

New Red Shoes 12/365

Cupid 14/365

The Pantheon - exterior 15/365

As you can see I've got Valentine's Day on my mind.  My daughter keeps talking about the little class party and how she needs to make something special this year.  Every year she hand makes something for her classmates and last year it was friendship bracelets.  This year it may be bottle cap magnets. She really like to make them and often makes them from images of her own art.

The first two images are from different New Mexico Ghost towns and have been taken as we travel around the state.   Carrizozo is a nice little town to stop in and get a soda from the small shop and soda fountain.  There is also a street of small galleries and gift shops.  The hours are short, but if they are open is a nice stop.

The jelly fish were taken this summer and I have a few more shot of different jellies I have yet to process.  I love to just stand there and watch the jelly fish when I visit an aquarium, they are very calming.  Much better then running into them in the ocean surf.

That brings us to the New Red Shoes. This came about from a shopping trip with my daughter.  She actually wanted to look at clothes for herself for the first time. Definitely a milestone, but to me one that make it seem she is growing up too fast.  I know, picking out a shirt, sweater, jeans and shoes is really not a big deal. But it was her reaction and the look on her face that made me wonder where my baby went. We did have a lot of fun with this shoot and she really loves the shoes.  It is nice to have the memories tied together, because I know this is only the beginning of her growing up.

The cupid was all about textures and using them to add to an image.  The hearts go so well with this cute sculpture, don't you think?

My final photo is of the Pantheon.  This was taken in 2004 with film.  I scanned in the negative and worked with it digitally. I added so scratch texture and a little paper to give it finished feeling that matched the image and worked well with the film's grain.  The Pantheon is one of my favorite buildings ever and the inside is even more amazing then the exterior. I had to do more from that same strip, so here is the interior:

Pantheon Grand

Thanks for Visiting!

Lorissa

365 - Yes, an Image a Day

I can do that. Something new every day, right?

Okay, so this year I am going to do it, and if I'm on vacation it might just be snap from my phone. I guess we will see how it goes.  I've gotten off to a good start.  Okay, well, that is, once I got started.  I started off the 2013 sick and in bed, so I ended up posting late.  But see what I've done so far! (more info at end...)

Morning Snow Crystals 1/365

Winter Aspen 2/365

Yucca Winter White 3/365

Winter White with Juniper 4/365

Yucca Seed Pods, NM State Flower 5/365

Beach Sunset 2012 6/365

Giving Hearts 8/365

Winter Globe 7/365

A's Valentine 9/365

So, you many have noticed that some photos look like they were taken on the same day, or in the past.  That is why I'm calling it an Image a day, as a photo a day makes one think of an photo taken that day and that is not exactly what I'm going to do.  I have so much on my computer that I have simply downloaded and never got back to that I need something to motivate me and get this stuff out there. Some days I will take new photos and process them all in one day, sometimes I may just go back to my archives and find something I've been wanting to process, sometimes I may just play around with layers and textures for something fun, and others I may just post something fun from my phone camera.  I'm planning on blogging about the progress I am making in this, so you can come back here every week or so and see what's new or you can follow my 365 set on Flickr at LJLongfellow Photography 365.