What to do when you don’t know what to do:
- drink tea
- tidy up the house
- have a bath
- take a nap
- read … have you seen Sweet Paul Magazine Winter 2015 issue?
Day 26 #nablopomo
Home Stretch
Light Study at My Daughters’ Home
It seems I can’t go anywhere without doing a little light study …
I took a few moments to quickly capture some of my daughters’ (props) … I’m not sure I can call them props, since she sees them simply as her decorations, and kitchen bowls …
… and recipe books …
… but goodness … what’s a lover of still life to do when presented with such beauty?
The Studio | Online
kk_SoftHaze
Day 23 #nablopomo
Wood Photography Background
I’m always on the lookout for new wood photography background ideas. I dare say a person cannot have too many choices … one day you may feel like using barn wood, the next day you may feel like using an old rusty old drawer … and the next … well, nothing seems right.
And what if you aren’t home and don’t have access to your “stuff”? We travel between two places and of course it’s not possible for me to throw my chippy potting bench into the trunk along with my suitcase … hmmmm, or is it? … nah. not.
Anyway, as I’ve been staying in my “city home” the last few days, I needed something small and easy to carry, so I made a quick trip to Michaels where I found a 28″ x 11″ piece of wood (and it’s light as a feather – bonus).
I have no idea what it’s really for … a sign perhaps? I quickly scooped up 2 pieces and a small container of Martha Stewart’s Vintage Decor Paint with a matte chalk finish.
Here’s the before:
… and here’s the after …
Since I was going for a rough finish, it took me about 15 minutes to paint both boards. Initially I was going to give them 2 coats but decided it wasn’t necessary (I must say Martha’s paints are very thick and easy to apply).
There was also a lot of paint left over, so I’ve been painting up a storm … more backgrounds to come … .
You may also like 5 Photography Background Ideas, or Rustic Photography Background.
Day 19 #nablopomo
Autumn is Definitely on the Way Out
As much as I am in denial, autumn is definitely on the way out. Pinecones and holly berries are waiting in the wings, along with shortbread and sugar cookies.
Last night’s blustery snow squall, and today’s freezing temperatures are the cold hard reality.
I just got back from shopping for groceries and my hands are so cold! I neglected to wear gloves, but at least I was wearing shoes and socks, which is something I put off for as long as possible. Sandals, sandals, sandals … to the end … brrrrrr.
So now, I shall bid adieu to autumn with a few more pressed beauties:
… and another one for Frankenstein …
Dragging my b*tt today for Day 18 #nablopomo
Supporting Actors
The prompt in The Studio|Online is about allowing the supporting actors (i.e. tables, etc) be the star for once. As usual, it’s open to interpretation, so I’m letting “the chair” shine.
I’ve had this little beauty for a few years and I don’t believe I’ve given it the respect it deserves. Somehow it got relegated to a bedroom in the basement and as they say “outta sight, outta mind”.
Well, no more. Meet Ms. Chippy Chair.
She’s really quite lovely.
And so are these apples … I still have apples I picked from my neighbours orchard last September, and I don’t want them to go to waste. So, what to do …
I think making apple sauce is once again on the agenda.
Since most of the apples I picked were teeny tiny, I gave up with the peeling part and found I liked it much better. That went for the pies and crisps too … no more peeling for me. I also discovered that after a whirl in the blender the peel virtually disappears. All those years of peeling … what was I thinking?
How do you make applesauce?
Day 17 #nablopomo
Catalina Highway, Mount Lemmon Trip Review
Today I have a review of our trip to the top of Mount Lemmon via the Catalina Highway. Armed with plenty of water, a homemade lunch, and snacks, we set out on our adventure.
The Catalina Highway, officially the General Hitchcock Highway, is the popular name for a Forest Highway and scenic route located in Pima County in southern Arizona (Wikipedia).
When we first arrived in Arizona it was early November and I wasn’t ready to let go of autumn. After a little research and much debate, we decided to make a trip to Mount Lemmon (near Tucson) rather than Oak Creek (near Sedona) to search for colour.
We weren’t sure we’d find autumn, but we’d never been to Mount Lemmon, so we decided to take the chance. It was quite a hike from our place in Fountain Hills at 172.1 miles (3 hours 28 minutes), and after a while I was feeling a little sheepish, thinking I had sent us on a wild goose chase. But not to worry. It was spectacular! The whole drive was spectacular … we love the Arizona landscape, so really, we would have enjoyed the trip whether we found autumn or not.
As we neared our destination and arrived at the park we found the Cactus Forest which “is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 594 at the 2010 census (Wikipedia).”
Like I say, spectacular!
When we stopped for lunch at wonderful picnic area, I was already seeing colour … not really, but … maybe? The air was fresh, scented lightly by pines, and if you weren’t in the sun, it did get quite cool. I love that …
I have finally, after years and years of travel, started taking photos of the signs on the highway … oh my … am I the last person in the world to do this?
Mount Lemmon Hoodoo at Windy Point:
and then this … I think we’re on the right track …
I hope you’ll join me tomorrow when I share the spectacular colours we found … you won’t be disappointed!
Day 13 #nablopomo
Wabi Sabi Wood Table Study Part I
Hello, today I have a little “wabi sabi wood table study” as well as a study of the light and how it changes in our little end-unit condo in Arizona.
When Kim posted the new prompt in The Studio | Online, I was astounded!
It was exactly what I needed … I’d been thinking I should get some shots of this wabi sabi table before we leave for home, but I hadn’t felt inspired.
kk_Lilly – photo taken at 2:00pm north and east light
Here I am, holidaying in the sunniest state, and yet feeling completely blah about taking photos … specifically still life photos—and not just blah … a bit blue … I think I miss my props :( which is silly because I’ve been gathering many wonderful items for this place as well.
Items like this sweet little Wabi Sabi Wooden Table I found last year at a garage sale for $0.50. The story is comical and fits perfectly with the new hashtag #stillswithstories I’m hosting with Kim on IG (have you checked it out?)
Anyway, after reading the prompt and listening to Kim’s inspirational video, I jumped up and started gathering a few treasures to set on my table. I’m also “studying the light” in our little condo, and I’d have to say it’s abundant … we have an end unit so we get north, west, and east light. Mostly, I prefer an east or north exposure for the cooler light and when I get a corner with both lights … well, I’m in heaven.
So, my table doesn’t have great legs ;) but what I love are the grooves along the edge. Apparently they’ve formed because the softer part of the wood has worn away over time and left the hard ridges.
So that’s where I put my focus, on the rough edge.
Camera Settings **
f4.5
1/100s
ISO 250
kk_Chocolate – photo taken at 2:00pm north and east light
It’s dry as tinder and the top boards fall out if you don’t handle it properly … someone suggested glue, but I think I’ll just leave it and see what happens.
kk_Air
… same image, different crop …
Sweet little oak leaves from our trip to Mount Lemmon …
kk_Lilly
I’m now on a mission to capture this table in all sorts of different locations and lighting situations.
** Just wondering** do you find camera settings helpful when listed on a blog post? Does it ever influence how you shoot?
Updated Shoot Info (for Petra) thank you Petra! Your comment made me think a lot harder about my settings, and I’ve tried to answer in the order you asked ;)
I’d say, that it’s interesting to see camera settings when they are listed on a blog post, I always have a look at them, but generally I don’t find them helpful. They usually represent just part of information, don’t they? You don’t know where and how far from the scene the photographer stood, whether they had a lens hood in place and where exactly the focus was aimed, whether the flash fired and at what power, what metering the camera was set to and what kind of light there was, whether they were shooting in manual or aperture/time priority… Also, if you don’t have that particular lens, you can be sure that with your lens the conditions would be different… Yet I admit that if there is most of the above listed explained, then the data have some value. They may not be comparable with your data but they may teach you some principles. They may not give you a detailed manual but they may show you a way. Well, does it make sense, as contradictory as it seems?
~Petra~
My Camera Settings: (these setting are based on the second photo, although they are almost identical for all the shots.)
f4.5
1/100s
ISO 250
now, in answer to Petra:
- I was sitting about 3 1/2 feet from the table.
- focal length 38mm
- no lens hood
- focused directly on the edge of the table
- no flash (I never use a flash)
- matrix metering (now I wish I had used spot metering!)
- north and east light (2:00 pm)
- manual mode
- 18-105mm lens
Oh my … you just never know how a reader may challenge you! and in a great way – thank you once again Petra. Please feel free to challenge me some more!
Day 12 #nablopomo
What I Did This Morning (and most mornings) and What Does Goatsbeard Have to Do With It (take that Google)
So what happens when you go to bed at 8:30 pm?
… you get up at 4:00 am.
ugh. that was me this morning. and the answer is … what? you get goofy? umm yeah … but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Now it’s almost 4:00 pm and I’m just getting around to writing my daily blog post for #nablopomo. I couldn’t think of anything to write so I popped over to BlogHer to check out the prompts. The question for today is “What is the first thing you do every single day (I mean, after you hit the snooze button)? When did that step in your routine begin?”
OK. So I guess the first thing I do (or at least the first thing I do that you want to hear about) is I make coffee, and then drink it. That started in about grade 10 … . Post done. Check.
Not.
I must elaborate. Today I got up at 4:00 because I couldn’t get back to sleep. Which means I probably was awake at 3:30. Ugh. Oh well. I made coffee then picked up my phone and started checking IG. After a bit I thought I should post a photo. So, (because it was still pitch black outside) I had to go into the archives where I pulled out this image of Goatsbeard I’ve been sitting on since late August.
So I’ve determined that, when you go to bed at 8:30 and get up at 4:00, you:
- Write silly posts with really long titles which Google hates.
- Write posts that score BAD on the SEO scale. If fact the SEO of this post is N/A. I don’t even have a red dot, it’s black.
- Bring things out of the archives (for better or worse).
- Have a bit of fun.
Day 9 #nablopomo
Rivers, Manitoba Walk-About-Town Part I
One of the many things I enjoyed while attending Finding Stillness|2015 in Rivers, Manitoba were the walks we took …
Not only did we take walks along the many beautiful trails, we also walked around the town itself, and were delighted to find some of the most intriguing buildings you are going to find anywhere!
While I know it’s not a true still life, as I composed this first shot and then later edited it, I found stillness in there; the weathered wood, the window, the door, and the chippy paint … these are all things I love to incorporate into my photography … I just wish I could have brought everything home with me!
Don’t you just love it when a photo opportunity is just sitting there, waiting for you to take notice!
All photos edited in Lightroom using kk_DarkMood
Read Part II here.
Day 6 #nablopomo
Artful Blogging Magazine Giveaway
Today I’m celebrating something I dreamed of, but did not quite believe would ever happen … my blog has been published in the winter issue of Artful Blogging!
The moment I laid eyes on a Stampington Publication many years ago, I was smitten. I’d never seen so much creativity in one spot; such inspiring and unique creativity. Since then I’ve amassed quite the stack of these treasures: Somerset Studio, Somerset Life, Stampers’ Sampler, Where Women Cook, Where Women Create, Digital Studio, Mingle, Artful Blogging, Bella Grace … so many! Goodness, I can’t even list them all here! To say I’m obsessed … um well … maybe?
No matter! To celebrate, I want to gift a copy of Artful Blogging to one of my lovely readers … could it be you?
If you would like to be entered into the draw, please leave a comment here on my blog saying that you’d love a copy (I’d love to send it to you) … don’t be shy – everyone welcome!
The draw will be random and will be made on November 10, 2015. ** comments are now closed **
Thank you for visiting and remember that dreams can and do come true …
Barb
xo
Day 4 #nablopomo
Succulent Parade and a Lightroom Tip
I’m not ready to say goodbye to the succulent parade …
kk_Lilly
I guess I’ll have to spend the winter editing photos and playing with Kim’s presets …
kk_Lilly
kk_Hazed
kk_Organic
Do you use Lightroom? Have you ever spent a ton of time getting a photo just right (which is great) but then deciding you want to adjust exposure, or contrast,or try a different preset?
Lightroom Tip of the Day:
- In the Library Module, with the original image selected, right-click and choose Create Virtual Copy.
- Work on the virtual copy.
- Now you still have the original to go back to.
- You’re welcome!
Day 3 #nablopomo
kk_DarkMood
Stills With Stories
Kim Klassen has started a brilliant new series Stills With Stories because well, every still does have a story. Granted, some are more profound than others, yet a story is most certainly in there somewhere (and it doesn’t have to be profound!)
A few weeks ago I wrote about my ladder in Serendipity Part I. It was an amazing find, and an amazing story. It most certainly was not earth shattering, but it was curious, and one of those things that make you go hmmmm … .
It was just plain fun! and who couldn’t use a bit of fun in their life?
So when Kim asked if I’d be interested in co-hosting a brand new hashtag on Instagram about stills with stories, I was thrilled. This tag is a way to celebrate the stories behind our stills, and we’d love to have you join us! To play along, simply tag your photos with @keepingwiththetimes @kimklassen #stillswithstories and every week or so we will share a #stillswithstories feature four.
I didn’t start my photography journey shooting still life, I was into landscapes, birds, and animals. But I adore shooting still life. To me still life is real life is still life.
I’ve always had vignettes set up in my home as part of decorating: the mantel, a cupboard, a coffee table … and now I see them as photo ops … no space is safe. I even see my deck and garden as a real life still life. Vignettes bring order and calm to my surroundings, as well as my mind.
OK, now for the truth … shooting still life is hard work. Let me say that again … it’s hard work.
Especially my food photography since I’m usually cooking at the same time. If you could see the “behind the scenes” on some of my food shoots you would see chaos, and by the end of the day I’m exhausted. However, after a good rest I get up and start all over again. Every.single.day. I get up and do the work. Why? Because I love it. It fills me up.
Still life fills me up. It fills me to overflowing and then I have to share because I have too much. I share my food, I share my images, I share my process, and I share my enthusiasm.
Barb
That’s why I’m so excited about this new stills with stories series. If you shoot still life, tell me … what does it do for you?
Foraging for Fun
I spent this past Sunday morning outdoors, foraging for relaxation and a few photos to work with for The Studio | Online prompt. Foraging is good for the heart, mind, and soul wouldn’t you agree? I’m so lucky that I can walk out the door and into a natural reserve where there is no shortage of inspiration. I need it like I need air to breath.
It goes without saying I’m smitten with succulents, leaves, and rustic wooden backgrounds. And there’s nothing I love more than a quirky succulent … there’s just something so fun about them. I watch as they sprout up and spray outward, reaching for the sun (and probably more space.) I rescued these two from my Upcycled Toolbox Planter which had become extremely crowded over the summer.
I’m also a lover of repetition … leaves, leaves, and more leaves …
kk_SoftLightMoreLeft
… so perfectly imperfect … I was shooting outdoors so I didn’t use studio lighting as did Kim in her lesson, instead I used kk_SoftLightMoreLeft to slightly enhance the natural light coming from the left …
kk_SoftLightMoreLeft
That pot of succulents on the top shelf is so funny; it’s been struggling all summer and I love it to pieces!
Autumn in Alberta II
Autumn in Alberta II … because it’s just so amazingly gorgeous out there and I want to remember it … one of the reasons I continue to blog.
The wood pile photos were taken a few weeks ago as we started the preparations. We ordered a full cord of birch which will probably last us three years! Hubby stacked it all … I begged off because of a bad back, and sore knees, etc. etc. etc.
Most of my Upcycled Toolbox Planter is going to have to hit the compost heap … I simply cannot save everything (that succulent in the middle being an exception).
I dropped everything and took a walk …
If you click on the following photo you will be taken to my new IG account @barbbrookbank where you can watch the leaves fall, and listen to the sound as a light breeze blows through them …
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Succulents on Sunday
Now that it’s October, the time has come for a bit (a lot) of garden cleanup, but as I was dumping flower pots and and digging up plants and bulbs, I had to stop and well you know, play with a few succulents …
(before I go any further, Sunday Sundries will be posted later today) …
After bringing in all the plants I wanted to save, I looked around my yard and saw chaos, so this is my attempt to tame it … I’d like to use that hammer and shout “order in the garden!” and some magical force would clean it up …
I’ve had a lot of response to my Blogging Bits and Bytes and I’m so grateful! Thank you to all of you who are participating. It’s very encouraging and my head is spinning with ideas … . See you later for Sunday Sundries!
Today I’m participating in Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage where Judith talks about her reasons for naming her blog, and her reasons for continuing blogging when sometimes it seems pointless. Her story is very interesting and I can relate to a lot of it. How do we stay inspired? How do we keep up? Pop over for a thought-provoking read. And thank you to all who have revealed their own personal stories as a result of this prompt from Blogging Bits and Bytes.
Autumn in Alberta
Autumn in Alberta is beyond stunning this year, and I can’t remember such colour! Everywhere I look I imagine flames …
I used a polarizing filter on this … pretty dramatic …
I was out and about on Wednesday and stopped to take a photo of the landscape, but look who was hiding in the trees waiting for me (kinda wish I’d used my filter here). Do you ever use a polarizing filter? Truthfully, I’d forgotten about it …
Almost home …
My back yard …
I am not looking forward to the first winds … and I’m sure you can guess why … .
Thank you so much for dropping by and have a wonderful Friday!
You might want to check out Autumn in Alberta II
Quail Eggs Celebration on Steller
Just popping in to announce my Steller Story “A Celebration of Quail Eggs” is showing up in the Editors Picks … whoa! I think it’s safe to say I’m hooked on Steller! I’ve seen a lot of my IG friends featured as well … so.much.fun.
It’s just another beautiful way to tell your story. Have you tried it? Instagram on Steroids.
Rustic Photography Background
When shooting still life, I love using a rustic photography background. Therefore I’m aways on the lookout for new and unusual pieces to add to my collection. I have a lot of barn wood in the form of coffee tables, side tables, and potting benches. I use old doors (front and back), and my recently acquired old table, covered in scratches and paint splats. But it seems I’m never satisfied!
So begins my (shameful) story of … dumpster diving … . As we live in a rural setting, we don’t have garbage pickup, and I have to take our garbage to the dump once a week. Well, at said dump, there’s an area called “take it or leave it” and I’ve done my share of leaving (mostly junk that could go into the landfill, but with a little tlc, could be salvaged.)
But on occasion, my eye wanders as I’m dropping stuff off … and one day I spied these … and of course it’s not the poppies … or the books …
kk_MatterFact
At the back of the building sat a pile of something … something I recognized, but couldn’t quite believe. It was an old Hoosier, falling apart, and not all there. I gasped. I have a Hoosier, and it’s a treasured family heirloom from my husband’s parents. Check it out here if you feel the urge to see what I’m talking about.
With a sinking feeling, I knew in my heart I wasn’t going to be able to drag the whole thing home. I’m not physically capable, my car isn’t big enough, and I couldn’t involve the hubs. On top of that, it would need to be completely restored with new pieces built from scratch … just.not.going.to.happen. What to do.
Well, I knew I could not walk away from the enamel table top, so I sheepishly dragged it to the car and hoisted it into the trunk. This table top sparked a whole series on white enamel #fromtheenameltabletop so I have no regrets about it. I know I’m going to be using it all winter, it’s easy to move, and will work extremely well with the changing light in my home.
After that, I couldn’t stop myself … into the car went all the drawers … the pile was impressive …
When I got home, I washed the pieces, and proceeded to hide them under the deck, all the time wondering what I was turning into … an eccentric hoarder perhaps? During the summer I felt guilt and angst every time I saw the pile … but I knew … I knew I’d be using pieces of it sooner or later. And what the heck, I could always take all of it back to the dump.
So, the background for my images today is metal … a metal drawer and a metal lid. I think it looks beyond amazing, especially when one of Kim’s Lightroom presets is applied. Pure magic.
kk_Truly
kk_MatterFact
kk_MatterFact
My only regret is I didn’t drag home more.
5 Photography Background Ideas
A great photography background is the foundation of a great still life image. We all use backgrounds … weathered wood, white foam core, or simply areas of our home.
I love to use my mantle because it’s a true part of my life. With it’s white shelf, and the low-key, mossy green wall behind it, it’s the perfect starting point for a great image. There’s also a window to the right which lets in some killer light, especially in the winter.
The pretty “painting” is a canvas I found at HomeSense … it was fairly inexpensive and works not only for decorating my home, it’s the perfect photography background for my beautiful globeflowers. For late summer, I could change up the flowers for green grass, or wheat, or oats, picked from fields nearby.
To give the painting a bit more “oomph” I used a tiny bit of hot glue in each corner and glued it to the wooden background, which is actually a framed mirror. I can easily pop the painting off the wood and replace it with another canvas for a different look.
Here’s another example using my mantle, a different canvas, and some globe thistle (not on wood frame):
So, I’ve been using canvases in my still life images … but the thing is … they’re mostly abstracts which I’ve come to really love. They are also quite inexpensive, and can be used in your home … bonus! When your not using it for a still life, simply hang it in a room somewhere! Our guest bedrooms have never looked so good!
My mantle is simply one still life image after another … changing with the seasons. Even my Quirky Autumn Mantel is a still life in real life.
Here are four more great ideas for photography backgrounds:
- This tutorial by Cristina Colli is fabulous! In fact, it’s how I got started on the canvases … and I do plan to follow her tutorial and make my own real soon.
- Scrapbook paper.
- One of my favourite shoots was done on the back of a cork board … it was all I had at the time.
- Breadboards …
So look around, turn things over, look for surfaces that are not obvious at first glance … it’s amazing what you can come up with!
Later this week, I have a photography background that I’ll be sharing with The Studio | Online for the “Stories” prompt. I cannot wait to tell you about it!
I have an exciting new series coming up this autumn and I’m really hoping you’ll join me. It’s going to be quite different and presented in a way I’ve never done before … I’m excited … and scared … more on that later.
Have a wonderful Monday!
Putting Myself Out There
My latest food styling post is on the blog at Kim Klassen dot com .
I’m always so amazed and humbled that I’m even there … I’m also amazed and humbled at how kind people are … with all the lovely comments and lots of support every single time …
I am not a professional food photographer … not even close … and I don’t pretend to be.
All I’ve done is study the art form, and applied it to what I love … which is working in the kitchen and sharing my creations with family and friends. It’s how I demonstrate love.
I make mistakes … I sometimes don’t get great shots but I still share them. I share my inspiration, my workflow, and my camera settings, and every time I share something, I learn something.
I put it out into the Universe and let it go … and what comes back is amazing … .
Echinops in a Corner
Right now the globe thistles (Echinops) are bustin’ out and I have to say they’re one of my favourite flowers … so quirky …
It’s quite funny what a photo can reveal … the first shot I took revealed there were spider webs on the wall, the blue book (which by the way is Hamlet) was upside down, and the stack was crooked!
Now that was real life … this is the edited version!
But see that vase … I die … my daughter gave it to me … it’s from Anthropologie …
I created this for The Studio Online where the prompt right now is “in a corner”.
August You Amaze Me
August … you amaze me … I love all your beautiful imperfections, and your beautiful colours.
Weeds, bug-eaten leaves, seed pods.
Greens, yellows, oranges, reds.
Berries, lilies, dahlias.
… my perfectly imperfect (needs to be weeded) garden …
Our summer has been so hot and dry. Today the temperature reached 29C (and I begin to melt at 25C) but now, thankfully, the nights cool down to 12C or so … truly a blessing when one does not have air conditioning in their home.
The mornings are cool, and a thick layer of dew covers the lawn, and the garden, and the deck. It doesn’t dry up until after 10:00 am … and it’s bliss. That’s when you’ll find me out in the yard, pulling a few weeds, taking a few photos, and arranging berries and flowers on tabletops.
… just having an “unwinding” kinda day …
Serendipity Part II
In Serendipity Part I, I wrote about not only the ladder that got away, but also the luck of finding valuable or agreeable things not looked for … those things which may not be obvious at first glance … perhaps it’s an item, or an idea, or simply a treasured moment.
Of course you already know I have a ladder … the PERFECT ladder. But how did that come to be? Even I don’t quite understand, since it’s almost a replica of the one that got away … but there it is, sitting on the deck, gracing my herb garden … perfectly imperfect … in a perfectly imperfect “behind the scenes photo” …
So now on to Part II.
It was almost a week later, and the kids and I were discussing when we should go back into town. I was aiming for Thursday, they were aiming for Wednesday. Wednesday won.
I suggested to the kids that we may as well stop at my fav store for a minute (I was on the lookout for vintage white enamelware), and they agreed. As I casually headed toward the back, something made me glance over to the spot where the original ladder had been standing … and … oh.my.gosh… I nearly fainted … there it was, and as far as I could tell it was the exact same ladder, in the exact same spot! Deja-Vu of the highest order.
This time I touched my granddaughters arm and said “Teagan, look! MY ladder!” As I rushed over to put my hand on it, she ran to get the owner, and I started to remove the items that were sitting on it.
As we headed toward the front of the store (and out the door), the owner assured me it was a completely different ladder just arrived that very morning. Then she casually remarked how strange it all was … someone had called the day before and asked if the store had any ladders, and at the time, they didn’t …
It’s quite inexplicable. What are the chances?
Thanks for stopping by!
Serendipity Part I
Today I’m sharing a story of serendipity … after you read it, let me know if serendipity is the right word … can you think of a better one to explain this event?
The New Oxford Dictionary of English defines serendipity as the occurrence and development of events by chance in a satisfactory or beneficial way, understanding the chance as any event that takes place in the absence of any obvious project (randomly or accidentally), which is not relevant to any present need, or in which the cause is unknown.
say wha? lets just go with this:
Serendipity = the luck of finding valuable or agreeable things not looked for.
If you’re part of The Studio | Online I need not explain why I had to have a ladder … well, actually not just a ladder, but this ladder … this vintage, weathered ladder, covered in paint splats, splotches, and drips.
Oh, and just look at that hardware … that gorgeous grey hardware … love … .
If you’re not part of The Studio but you love the old, the weathered, and the worn … you’ll understand as well.
kk_SoftLightMoreRight
Several months ago, one of the prompts in The Studio | Online was “on ladders” but Kim shared some images on her Still Sunday on Ladders blog post (take a peek if you want some amazing inspiration).
Ever since then, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect specimen, so I now own one red ladder, one 11′ grey ladder, and now this wonderful paint splattered brown gem. Newsflash: when Kim suggests a prop, said props are scooped up across the country … heck no … the world! So here’s the puzzling and amazing story as to how I got my hands on this …
kk_Hazed
kk_Hazed
One lovely summer day whilst browsing my favourite junque store “One Man’s Treasure” I spied an amazing ladder. The PERFECT ladder. But after looking at it and swooning and exclaiming loudly about how wonderful it was, I walked away. Why did I walk away? Well, I’ve pondered that decision a lot.
On that fateful day, I had three of my grandchildren with me, and I guess I thought I was going to demonstrate self-control to the kids … aaacckk … is it possible I didn’t want to appear impulsive? I really don’t know. I remember telling them I was going to walk around and think about it … but I KNEW better. Well, it wasn’t 5 minutes later when my granddaughter touched my arm and said “grandma … look! that lady is taking YOUR ladder!”
Gah! I spun around and stared at the woman as she began removing the items that had been set on it. She clearly was on a mission … and I swear she shot me an evil look. It didn’t phase me. I took a few steps towards her, my mouth open, wondering how I was going to stop this. But all I could do was gawk helplessly as the shop owner appeared and began to help that woman take it to the front of the store and out the door … and, er … I may or may not have followed them … I can’t remember.
Within 10 minutes the whole event was over, the ladder was gone. I turned to my granddaughter, and with some weak bravado croaked “I guess it wasn’t meant to be mine.”
Suddenly I didn’t feel like junquing anymore, so I suggested we should come back another day … for now, let’s just go to Walmart (insert a chorus of hooray’s from my grandsons) and out the store we went.
kk_Hazed
In the car, my sweet grandchildren expressed their sadness for me, so I had to make a joke out of “the ladder that got away”.
We discussed the whole matter at length, until I was sure they had had enough, and I promised to never mention it again.
But of course I brought up several times that week how the ladder wasn’t meant to be mine, how I had enough stuff already, how it didn’t matter, and oh yes … I won’t mention it again. It always elicited a huge laugh. I was having a wonderful time teasing them, and they were enjoying it wholeheartedly … a valuable and agreeable memory … one we weren’t looking for.
If the story had ended here, it would have been fine. But it didn’t.
Continue reading Serendipity Part II
Blackberries
Blackberries can be somewhat difficult to photograph. I spent the better part of a day figuring out how to best show off their gorgeousness and it happened by chance …
Check out my process, and a few Lightroom tips, on my food styling post at Kim Klassen dot com.
Photographing and Editing my Chamomile Tea
Today I’m sharing my process on photographing and editing my chamomile tea images. I’ll explain the setup, the shoot, and the edit in Lightroom.
I adore chamomile. As I drive along I’m always scanning ditches, and right now this exuberant little flower nods, and waves, and beckons me.
I will acknowledge some people regard it as a (noxious) weed, but I regard it as a wildflower full of possibilities … photography, a bouquet, tea … certainly something to be celebrated.
I do not make my own chamomile tea (I leave that to the experts) but it is probably my favourite tea. It warms, it soothes, and it calms. Apparently it has medicinal properties and any Google search will attest to that. But today I simply want to explain my photography process.
I set a cup of tea on top of the green door which I dragged home a few weeks ago. I chose the green door since I thought the white flowers needed contrast. I then painstakingly lovingly, clipped the flowers off the stems and arranged them closely, leaving one on a stem so I could prop it in the teacup.
In the following images, the one flower is my focal point. I used f5.6 to blur the background, but not too much.
Camera Settings:
- Nikon D7100
- Nikon 40mm lens
- 1/125s f5.6 ISO 160
- No flash
I was thrilled to have this image featured by @poppytalk (IG) and on their blog Poppytalk: Tuesdays Summer Colours
kk_Hazed
Since my photos were a bit overexposed in camera, when I imported into Lightroom, I did not apply an Auto Tone. I wanted complete control to tone manually, and on an individual basis.
After cropping and straightening, I applied Kim’s kk_Hazed Lightroom preset … and kaboom! magic!! Dreaminess with a click of a mouse … the one thing I loved most was the softening haze it put over the tea …
kk_Hazed
kk_Hazed
After that I simply grabbed the Adjustment Brush and brushed over the prominent flower, bringing back some sharpness.
Then I decided to experiment just a little … I wanted the images to be “less green”.
To do this, I clicked on Color in the HSL/Color/B&W tab in the Develop Module, chose Green and moved the slider to the left to desaturate … what do you think?
Do you prefer more green, or less green?
I’m undecided … I’ve printed one copy of each and am still debating … I’ll let you know …
Thank you for stopping by today!
Set of 3 Greeting Cards Winner!
Good morning! The winner of the Set of 3 Greeting Cards is Barbara Skrobuton … Barbara, I’ll be sending the cards to you right away, and I hope you enjoy them.
And just because I can’t create a post without a photo … I present to you another peony shot … I had a lot of feedback on the template and the word art – and am so happy everyone enjoyed them!
Fix Photos Fast! My Experience
Have you had a chance to check out the class Fix Photos Fast with Actions by Linda Sattgast which I’m offering at a discount price? If you are at all interested, please don’t wait … I can personally attest to the fact that you will be getting more than your money’s worth, and the offer ends tomorrow night.
Final Image
I used a few of Linda’s Photoshop actions on this peony image to create an invitation for an “imaginary” garden party I plan to hold in July ;) oh wait … I think I’m having a garden party all summer long …
Here’s my original image, straight out of camera:
Original
I played the action “Lighter: Shadows/Highlights-minimum” and with one single click I achieved what I was going for; I wanted to lessen the shadows but I didn’t want to blow out the highlights on the peonies. Ya gotta love these results …
Lighter_Shadows_Highlights-minimum
Then I played “Smart Sharpen-Low” and “Color: Boost” which gave just the right amount of color without being overwhelming. I could have played more using the mask to brush away some color, but I had to stop somewhere! It’s addictive and it could not be easier.
Subtle, but powerful changes:
Lighter: Shadows/Highlights-minimum, Smart Sharpen-Low, Color: Boost
The class comes with a money back guarantee so you simply cannot lose … .
Click here to find out more about this class.
Thank you for dropping by and have a wonderful weekend!!
Layer Mask Basics Free Tutorial
If you like adding artistic effects to your photos, I have the perfect short (approximately 6 minute) Layer Mask Basics how-to video for you.
For the Photoshop version, click here. For the Photoshop Elements version, click here.
You’ll learn how to blend a photo of an old wooden clipboard with an ordinary photo to create extraordinary results!
Start with a photo like this cute kitty sitting on a column.
Add a photo of an old wooden clipboard above the kitty.
Change the blend mode of the clipboard layer and use a layer mask to put the slightly grungy effect exactly where you want it.
This tutorial is especially helpful for anyone who doesn’t really understand how to use layer masks or why they’re even useful in the first place. The instructor, Linda Sattgast, says, “I use layer masks all the time when fixing or enhancing photos. It’s one of my most often used tools!”
Linda is the instructor for the Fix Photos FAST class I’m offering, so if you’re wondering whether you should take her class, this is a great way to see how she teaches.
Now through Saturday, June 27, 2015, I’m offering a discount on the Fix Photos FAST class. Click here to see my original post, and to get all the details.
Please don’t wait! This is an amazing class at an incredibly low price, and I can hardly believe Linda offers it at such a discount!
Again, for the Layer Masks Basics how-to video, Photoshop version click here. For the Photoshop Elements version, click here.
Fix Photos Fast with Actions
As a new affiliate with Digital Scrapper, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to offer the class “Fix Photos Fast with Actions” by Linda Sattgast, at a discount price!
But first, a little background information … I joined Digital Scrapper in March of 2009, and it has to have been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’d just purchased a copy of Photoshop Elements 4 which included the “Learn Digital Scrapbooking” CD by Linda Sattgast. Linda’s teaching style is friendly, clear, and concise, and 95% of what I know about Photoshop and scrapbooking I found at Digital Scrapper. Amazingly, I went from learning Photoshop to teaching Photoshop! True story!
What if you don’t scrapbook? I say … no matter … we all use photos! We have them in our personal albums, on our blogs, on Instagram and/or Facebook … so why not make it easy on yourself (and your viewers) by using Photoshop actions to enhance them?
Click on the following image to be taken to the full class outline, and an opportunity to purchase at a discount price!
I firmly believe in Linda and her dedicated team of professionals at Digital Scrapper, and am confident you will love this class (I know I did!)
Here’s an excerpt from the class description:
Here’s What You Get With Fix Photos FAST (by Linda Sattgast)
- Receive my personal set of 36 time saving photo editing actions that I use constantly to fix my photos.
- These actions are available for the following versions: Photoshop Elements 7 through 12 and Photoshop CS2 through Photoshop CC.
- You receive both versions of this class: Photoshop Elements and Photoshop, so if you change versions, I’ve got you covered.
- Print out my action “Cheat Sheet” to use as a quick reference until you get acquainted with what each action does.
- For those who want more training, I’ve provided more than 25 video tutorials on various topics from how to use individual actions more effectively to my personal approach to photo editing.
- I’ve also included more than a dozen Watch-Over-My-Shoulder videos where I go through a photo from beginning to end and tell you my thought process. In my opinion, this alone is worth the price of the class. You’ll pick up so many tidbits and ideas you may never have thought of before!
Limited Time Discount
For 4 days only this class is on sale for $10 off, so if you’re interested in a faster way to quickly fix your photos using actions, click here to find out more about the class.
Here’s what one class member had to say:
I learned in a few weeks what I had tried (and failed) to learn in the prior 14 years.
Terri Fullerton, Michigan
This is a sample video from the Fix Photos FAST class:
In the spirit of full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, which means I may get a commission if you decide to purchase this class. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself. I truly believe in Digital Scrapper.
Do you have questions or concerns? Please leave a comment and I’ll be very happy to answer them!
Click here to find out more about the Fix Photos FAST class.
Purple Haze
It seems that when I was choosing flowers and pots for my garden and deck this year I gravitated towards so much purple that I dubbed my Instagram feed “Purple Haze”.
So today when I was writing this post, and entering a keyword for SEO purposes, up popped “purple haze lyrics” … hmmmm … oops, I have to admit I didn’t know (or remember) the Jimi Hendrix song, so that led me down a cyber path whilst I did some research … very interesting. Serendipitously I named the following photo “let’s dance”.
“let’s dance”
OK, how about “let’s hang” …
“let’s hang”
Here’s the soap dish, on the back of the green door, served with wild cranberry florets and cranesbill geranium …
A purple haze post would not be complete without my little Johnny Jump-Ups …
Bachelor buttons, anemones, columbine, and wild vine”y” things …
This is my interpretation of “the human touch” for The Studio On-Line” … me, myself, and I at the potting bench … I have quite a few more ideas for this prompt, swirling around in my head, it’s just too much fun …
Check out my “purple haze” post on IG …