Posted on by Anne Sandler · 36 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #154/410: One Photo Edited

I just love to take my camera out for a walk. Editing is not something I truly enjoy. That doesn’t mean that I don’t edit. It just means that I’m not that good at it and rely on programs like Lightroom, Topaz, Color Efex and Silver Efex. Photoshop is too technical for me. So, Ritva’s challenge is truly a challenge for me!

Through the next three examples, I will try to explain how I use these editing programs. I’m sure I can use them more expertly; but this is my hobby, and I want to keep enjoying it!

Example 1 (original is on the left/edited is on the right) Fun at a neighborhood fair.

I like to stop by local fairs when I can catch them. It’s one of the few times I use my tripod because I like to catch the rides in slow motion. This picture of a ride that brings seated riders into the air as the chairs spin around.

First I changed it into black and white in Lightroom. Then I cropped it on the left and removed other rides on the right. I brought up the highlights and contrast to accent the twirling chairs. I wanted to draw attention to the blurred chairs and riders. Lightroom was the only program I used.

Next we were in a small town and I liked this tree that formed a tunnel over the sidewalk. I’m so glad that no one trimmed it!

I took this photo into Silver Efex and chose one of their templates. I usually stop editing in Silver Efex at that point, sending it back into Lightroom. Once back in Lightroom, I worked on the highlights, darks and contrast. I like how it came out looking almost like a sketch.

On a visit to an Iris farm, we had so many beautiful flowers to photograph. I was in photo heaven!

Because I wanted to accent just one petal, I cropped in closely. Now you can definitely see the interior and striations of each petal. I also softened the background. This was edited in Topaz Sharpener just to make sure the image was sharp when cropped. It was then brought back into Lightroom. I masked out the background to smooth it out. I’m so glad Lightroom now has a masking feature. I also saturated the colors a bit.

I doubt I will totally enjoy editing as much as I enjoy taking the picture. For me the goal is to get a good composition to begin with. Please link your challenge response to this post, and to Ritva who showed, through her artistic ability, how editing can enhance our pictures.

And thanks to Steve Hyde, Steve Hyde Photography Blog, for challenging us, last week, to choose our best images. Wow, that was tough and it was fun to see what you all chose. Next week, Sofia will be leading the challenge. Until then stay safe and be resilient.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 46 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #360: Found at the Fair/Market

I’m reluctant to start this post with a negative; but I really don’t like crowds. However when it comes to festivals and fairs, my camera insists on taking me to them. And, I go willing. Such is the power of photography!

This week Ann-Christine is asking us to show some of the celebrations we’ve enjoyed.

I loved the Sacramento Music Festival, in Old Sacramento, each year. We used to work the youth gig. I was always amazed at the talent of our youth. Of course, we had our adult favorites too. Each festival started with a parade down Front Street. Unfortunately we no longer have this festival, but I do have pictures and memories.

And there’s always something to photograph at small town county fairs.

One year my friend Linda found us a Pirate Festival to explore. These pirates played the part!

A nighttime carnival is something I really enjoy. We have an old shopping center that used to host a small carnival once a year. Now that they’ve decided to tear it down, we’ve lost that fun opportunity. You know how I enjoy slowing down my shutter!

Ann-Christine also mentioned markets. Not only do farmers’ markets have delicious produce, but they provide excellent photo opportunities.

Actually, I do have fun at these festivals. With camera in hand, the crowds don’t seem to bother me. Sometimes people will move when they see me taking a picture. I guess crowds aren’t all that bad.

Thanks Ann-Christine, I enjoyed reliving these fun times. Please remember to link your post to Ann-Christine’s and use the lens-artists tag. I also enjoyed seeing everyone’s lines and patterns posted for John’s challenge last week. Sofia will be challenging us next week so look for her post.

In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

Posted on by Anne Sandler · 42 Comments

Lens Artists Challenge #174: Shapes and Designs

Just look around you. Wherever you are, open your mind and see the shapes and designs of the objects around you. In this week’s challenge, Patti encourages us to see the shapes and designs around us. Truthfully, I didn’t truly see the possibilities until I started photography. Now I see them everywhere!

For instance at an outing to Ironstone Vineyards a few years ago, we were down in their cellar that they call the Cavern. The round wine barrels stacked and angled down a cavern hallway offers many shapes and designs.

Water lends itself to shapes and designs too. The fountain at the Fountains shopping center offers many shapes and designs. A single burst of water takes its own shape while the entire fountain lets your imagination free. A crystal ball turns our design upside down.

Fairs and carnivals also offer us photographic opportunities for shapes and design. The Ferris wheel was photographed at the Nevada County Fair. Just sitting still we can recognize many shapes like triangles, rectangles and, of course, round. But at night during a carnival, light play turns it into a design bursting with color.

Sunflowers give us various shapes too.

I’ll end with trees. They are beautiful in design with their branches gracefully stretching out. Add some fog and you have a more dramatic scene.

Thank you Patti for helping us find adventure in our archives!