Friday Finds - 30 May 2014

This week I have a new tea-towel, a new to me vase and the Allium was a nice find in the local Aldi.

I'm becoming quite a fan of Aldi as you never know what little treasures they may have.  This week they had bunches of Alliums, 8 stems for just £3, which I reckon is a bargain.  I'm hoping they will dry out nicely, but also that I get to enjoy them in flower.  The tea-towel was also from Aldi.  The vase was from a charity shop and the book in the picture just happened to be to hand.

To this I've added kk_rest at 71% soft light and kk_cora at 58% soft light and removed some of the texture from the the Allium.

Be Still 52 - Day 2

I'm already behind!  Day 3 is up and I'm just uploading my effort for Day 2.

To this is I've added kk_waterfront28 at 49% soft light and kk_waterfront4 also at 49% soft light.  The font is Scriptina.

I have every intention of keeping up to date and catching up on Beyond Layers and Beyond Beyond, as well as Picture Process and Round Trip, but somehow things happen.....guess many of you know how that goes.

Texture Tuesday - 27 May 2014

This week the theme was free and easy, so what to do, mmmmm.  I bet you know how it goes, walk around the house, pick something up, put it down, pick something else up and then there's the I wonder......

 

I picked up the bottle (bought in Sainsbury's a few weeks back), pulled 3 stems of Sweet William's out of a vase, placed a little table in front of a window with white linen tablecloth and a white reflector, and snapped away from all angles.

It's turned out with a bit of a sad feeling, so I call it "Bottled Memories".  In Lightroom I applied Kim's melancholy preset.  Then in Photoshop, 1 layer of kk_cherish at 58% soft light and 1 layer of kk_written at 45% soft light, removing some of both textures from over the flowers and bottle label.

Friday Finds - 23 May 2014

I'm a bit late with this weeks find and it is a little rainbow.

I haven't added any textures.  All I have done is have a little play with Nik software to bring out the colours in the rainbow.

Texture Tuesday - 20 May 2014

This week the theme was Black and White.

I've added kk_framed 64% soft light and kk_justatouch 100% soft light.  The font is Talking to the Moon.

We all rush about to much and forget we do need to settle down and let our bodies and minds rest and recharge, so we should all find time to switch off, and how better than with a cup of fruit tea.

Be Still 52 - Day 1

And so our journey to find inner peace begins.....week 1.

My main intention for the coming year is just to enjoy what is around me and take time to sit back and be still....be calm.....be quiet.....be peaceful.  This image was taken on a lovely sunny Sunday morning.  The yacht was far out on the horizon and there was quite a bit of heat hazy, hence why the yacht is faint.  But it was just what I was wanting to depict Calm.....well close enough....I guess it could have done with a totally flat sea, but this is the English Channel and the tide was coming in.

I have made some basic adjustments in Lightroom....can't remember what, as I just tweaked the sliders!  In Photoshop I added 1 layer of kk_dreamit at 19% multiply, removing all the texture from the water and some in an arc around the yacht.  The fonts are Living Together and Gabriola, and the background motive behind the text is from Nymphette.

Beyond Layers - Day 7

On Day 7, Kim encouraged us to think of things that make us happy.  She also gave us a link to a very moving real life story of a mother's fight for her disabled child, which stopped me in my tracks and made me realise how lucky I am.

My photo was taken in the morning with the light from an east facing window.  To it I've added kk_simple at 70% multiply, kk_musiclovin at 55% multiply and duplicated that layer at 40% multiply.  The fonts are Freebooter Script and Kleymissky.

I bought the rose in a bunch 5 days before and the whole bunch of 10 are a real delight and make me happy.....I think whenever I feel down, I should just buy myself a bunch of flowers.

Friday Find - 16 May 2014

Yesterday I had to take my Mum to the dentist, which gave me half an hour to have a wander around the charity shops, where I found this little pottery jug.  It's just 10.5cm tall, and so sweet.

I haven't done very much to this image....a few tweaks in Lightroom, over to Photoshop and 1 layer of kk_bend at 50% multiply and removed most of the texture from the table and jug.

Texturize - Day 6

The final day of Kim's Texturize class and there were many tips and techniques in the videos.....I shall have to watch them a few more times for everything to sink in.  The following is my variation on Kim's image of pale pink rose in a bottle by a window.  I've used the same words, but changed the textures and font.

Texturize - Day 5

For day 5, Kim demonstrated various techniques with an image of a mauvy coloured chrysantheum in a green bottle on a white chair.....this was my sort of copy of the image, only it's a rhododendron in a green bottle on a table with a white table cloth.

I loosely followed Kim's instructions and used the same words.  The fonts I used were Montez and Chantelli Antique.

Start 2 Finish - Day 2

On Day 2 we were encouraged to find the light in our homes, as well as considering blur in our images.

The front of our house faces east, doesn't have many windows and we have quite a few mature trees, which doesn't allow for much light.  But the back of the house is the complete opposite.....lots of big windows facing west and the afternoon sunshine floods in.  We don't have any windows that face north or south, or rather we do, but the north one faces a brick wall and the southerly one is tiny.

My picture was taken mid morning in the conservatory which faces west, so the sun wasn't shining directly in and the light was just what was there from a pleasantly sunny morning.  I did try bouncing light, but didn't think this shot needed it.

I started off in Lightroom and used Kim's kk_classicwarm preset and cropped to 4x5, then into photoshop.  There I added kk_chase texture at 47% soft light, a gradient fill (hex d6cc91) over the top left hand corner at 45% soft light, a slight hue/saturation adjustment, kk_2711 at 26% soft light, levels to dull down the book a little and finished with some text in "Across the Road" font.

Camera:  Nikon D90, 50mm f1.4mm lens, at ISO 200, f2.8, 1/125 sec.

Props:  Top of a very old picnic table (guessing from 1920's), old book, little pewter pot, some creamy coloured sheer organza (used by florists for wrapping bouquets) and a single stem of wild Columbine.

Texture Tuesday - 13 May 2014

Not long to go now.....Be Still 52 starts tomorrow.  Today for Texture Tuesday the theme was Yellow.  I had thought of arranging some yellow leaves I have in the garden, but this bunch of roses was only £2 in the local Aldi this morning, so who could resist them.

Our house is 101 years old and these floor boards are in a bedroom I'm decorating, so thought I'd make use of them before they are covered by carpet.  It would be too drafty to keep them uncovered, but think I shall have to replicate them somehow, although don't think the other half would be impressed if I asked him to take these up and replace with new!  But at the speed I'm going, they wont be seeing carpet for some time.

Anyways, my image......I had a tweak in Lightroom before moving to Photoshop, where I applied a solid colour fill (hex a4a363) at 100% soft light, followed by kk_simple at 66% soft light and then duplicated that to 17% hard light and lightly removed texture from the roses......sort of following along with Kim, as per the textures, but haven't yet downloaded kk_melancholy preset.  The font is "Bilbo Swash Caps"......I spent a whole evening downloading free fonts.....who would have thought there could be so many.

Texturize - Day 4

There were more techniques to learn on Day 4 and I went through the video lesson, took my photo, and then played through the video again to process my photo.  I used the same hex codes and textures as Kim, but varied the opacity slightly and the angle of the gradient.

Texturize - Day 3

Quite a lot to take in on Day 3, but I've used my own image and roughly followed Kim's adjustments to create the following......

.....I did have to change things slightly, but I did follow each step.  Might have to do this again.....or make a note of the recipe, as along the way it did look a little weird.

Friday Finds - 9 May 2014

This week I was so excited to find these litte butterflies in our local museum, as part of a WW1 exhibit.

They have been cut out of copies of old documents, letters, maps and some were of photographs.  Some were on card, whilst others on paper.  I thought they were absolutely delightful and came away saying I should make some of my own.....but it's that time thing!  These had been made by local school children.

The lighting in the museum was a little challenging.  Bright spots in places and nothing in others.  Then there were things in the background, either brightly coloured or shiny.  I used my 50mm with an ISO of 500, and aperture ranging from f1.4 to f2.8, but still had to fiddle in Lightroom to put some light into these images.  They aren't as sharp as I'd have like, but never mind :)

You can't normally take photos in the museum....signs up every where say you can't.....but the museum opened up after hours, so that a group of us from Bexhill Photographic Club could wander around taking pictures.

The following image is part of the same exhibit as the butterflies and is the "Tree of Tears".

 

Each little bottle represents the tears shed for a solider who didn't return from the fighting.

Texture Tuesday - 6 May 2014

This week the theme was Cuppa.

This morning I had to take my Dad shopping to Tesco....not my favourite store, but, this morning it surprised me.  The mug was in the sale and the Home catalogue was being given away.  I also bought some fruit teabags.

The catalogue is really very lovely to look through.  It's on matt paper with a bit of a chalky feel and some wonderfully inspiring photos.  I might just have to buy some of the items to add to my growing photo props collection :)

I already had the table cloth - inherited at least 20 years ago from I can't remember which relative...shame on me.

To this image I've added Kim's latest textures to us:  kk_0405 at 100% soft light and kk_0605 at 25% multiply with some of the latter texture removed from the centre.

Friday Finds - 2 May 2014

I have 2 lovely little finds this week.  The first is a flower made from a piece of hazel and the second a little hand-made bowl.  I would think both had been made with love.

I watched the chap who made the flower, make others by peeling a stem of hazel on a very sharp blade.  They start off as a natural creamy wood colour, but he had a bucket full of ones that had been dyed.  I bought 5 of different colours, and they will most probably figure in future photos.  The little bowl was for sale on a craft stall along with a few others....think I got there a bit late in the day as there weren't many left.....but I just loved the purple colour of this one.  It's very light and delicate.

To this image I've applied kk_word at 40% soft light and kk_2Bsafe at 80% multiply.  The font is Pea Step.

Texture Tuesday - 29 April 2014

Today's theme was "Free and Easy", so I've simply snapped a Germini with light and shadow from a nearby window and curtain.

I've only added one texture, kk_awaken, but twice.  Firstly at 100% soft light, then duplicated the layer at 51% multiple.  On the second layer I've lightly removed most of the texture, accept in the top left and bottom right corners.  The text is Windsong and the title comes from the song by Mumford and Sons.

Beyond Layers - Days 5 & 6

On Day 5 it was suggested we take some photos to show how our day went and on Day 6 we were shown how to create a storyboard with those images.

The following is my effort and is of images from the Heffle Cuckoo Fair on Saturday 26 April 2014.  Heffle is the old way of pronouncing Heathfield, which is a village about 20 miles from where I live, here in East Sussex.

Friday Finds - 25 April 2014

Yesterday evening I went for a stroll along the beach with a couple friends (Dave and Paul).  It was perfectly still with soft clouds and a setting sun to warm the sky.  On the beach I found this battered shell and it became my find of the week.

 

To this I've added the 2 free textures Kim gave us on Tuesday, kk_simple1 at 78% soft light and kk_simple2 at 53% screen.

Texturize - Day 2

Kim gave us an image to practice some techniques, but I've made my own image and applied the kk_chase texture and used the same quote that Kim used.

Start to Finish - Day 1

Kim asked us to give our creative story and what lead us to being where we are......taking pictures.  Also to give our intentions.....so here goes......

To begin with I wasn't sure about joining the class, as somehow, I wasn't sure I would be up to it, as I don't consider myself to be an artist, although I would like to make pretty pictures.  There is something in me that wants to be creative and photography has taken over as my #1 hobby.

I've been quietly following along with Kim's blog and classes for about a year, and feel it's time I came out of the shadows, hence joining S2F and Be Still 52 classes at the start and hoping to join in with community life and happenings, and all being well, I shall do my best to keep up, as well as try and visit everyone else's posts and pictures.

So my intention....think positive and be myself, whoever that might be.  Allow what will be, will be.  Take each day as it comes and enjoy the process of seeing and living.  Tomorrow is an empty page to fill, not a list of does and don't.

Anyways, I wish all the very best to my fellow S2Fer's and thank Kim for adding some meaning to my life.

PS....I love the idea of collecting bits 'n' pieces to make pictures and think I've head start there :)  I used to be a self employed curtain and soft furnishings maker, and so have lots of fabric.  Plus my hobby before picking up the camera was flower arranging, for which I gathered lots of pretty and useless things.  I'm also firing up the other half to find bits of wood in his junk store.

Texture Tuesday - 22 April 2014

This week the theme was Simple and my image is simply a bottle placed half in shadow and half in light.

The textures for this were kk_2801 and kk_coolgrunge.

Since Kim announced her Start to Finish classes, I've been umming are arring about whether to join in, as I am so far behind with all her other classes I've subscribed to, but yesterday I took the plunge and have joined.  It will be the first time I've joined at the beginning and fingers crossed, I'll get to the end on time.  It will be an adventure!

Beyond Layers - Day 4

The title for this day was Vision and Blur, but as you'll see, I didn't quite follow the brief.  We were also asked to think of a single word and mine was Grace.  I then went in search of a suitable quote and then set about thinking up an image.

The textures used were kk_savour and kk_cinnamon.

Texturize - Day 1

My Texture Story - I had to look through my Flickr photostream to see when I first up loaded an image with texture and it was on 24 May 2012, with the following:

I'd noted that I'd used 3 textures and they were most probably from "Shadowhouse", although I've long since flattened the image so can't remember what or how.  Before this I'd had a little play with free boarders from photography magazines, some of which gave distressed appearances to images.

On 9 April 2013 I uploaded the following image, which I think was my first with Kim's textures:

For this I used the Soft and Faded action from The Pioneer Woman and then applied the following 2 textures from Kim:  kk_401 (Soft Light blend at 100%) and kk_canvasgrunge (Multiply blend at 16%, plus lightly removed some of this texture from the middle).  The font is Tall Paul.

As yet I've not made any of my own textures, although I have photographed to odd image that I think could be used or worked with to make a texture.

Beyond Layers - Day 3

Kim introduced us to Smith Magazine and our 6 word stories.  This got me a thinking and I jotted down some words and after just a short while came up with "Seeking quiet in a noisy world", which just about sums me up.  I like the simple and uncomplicated life.

My picture was taken a couple of weeks back of an unknown lady on the beach, gazing out to sea, which is something I do quite often.

I've added kk_pumpkingrunge at 80% soft light just to the beach, then kk_totalgrunge at 100% soft light.  The font is Italianno.

Beyond Layers - Day 2

On this day, Kim urged us to be simplistic with our composition and think "Less is More".  Also to look for the light and be light with our processing.

So, this is my effort.  I've added the texture Kim gave us in the lesson, kk_awaken, firstly at 40% soft light and then duplicated the layer at 20% hard light.  I've brushed out some of the texture over the vase, stem and centre of the image.

The text is Alex Brush to which I've applied a drop shadow at a distance of 7, spread of 70% in black at soft light.

At the beginning I made slight adjustments in levels and hue/saturation and then used the high pass sharpener at 4.5 pixels.  To end I resized to 1400 pixels wide and sharpened slightly again with unsharp mask.

The plant material is a stem of Comfrey from my garden and the little vase was a £1 from Asda.  They are on a mantelpiece, with light from an east facing window about 10 feet away, at 8.30am.

Beyond Layers - Day 1

In 2012 Kim ran a year long workshop called "Beyond Layers".  This is now a self paced course and free to those who subscribe to Kim's Test Kitchen, but I bought it along with "Beyond Beyond" which was another year long course from 2013/14.

On Day 1 of "Beyond Layers" Kim encouraged us to write our creative story, and had even anticipated we would say we don't have a creative story!  Well I'm one of those who doesn't think I have a creative story, or not much of one, but here goes......

As a kid I played with Lego, using my imagination to create and build - it was very basic when I was a kid.

At about aged 7, I was trying to make dolls clothes out of scraps of fabric and a kind lady (the landlady of the flats where we lived) showed me some basic stitches and how to cut and fit the outfits.  Also at this age I started to take an interest in cooking - I usually say I learnt to cook in self defence.  My Dad did most of the cooking and it was plain and dull, but heaps better than anything my Mum put on the table.  (I'm an only child.)

My Dad bought me my first sewing machine when I was 11 and I started to make my own clothes.  At about the same time my Gran and an Aunt taught me to knit, and Dad taught me about gardening and home DIY.  I didn't really learn very much from my Mum as she had no hobbies and was always too busy to spend any time with me - unlike me, she loved ironing, hoovering and dusting!

And so, any creativity I had was expressed in cooking, sewing and gardening.  In 1997 I joined the local flower club and for many years I enjoyed flower arranging.  Then in 2009 I discovered photography.  At the end of 2011 I found my way to Flickr and was completely bowled over by some of the images, and that lead me to Kim and her wonderful style of photography.

So my creative story is brief and whilst I like to create, I don't consider myself to be a natural creative.

Friday Finds - 18 April 2014

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my photos and like to crop them to the same ratio, i.e. 16 x 9.15.....don't ask!  And I normally try and compose my images in a landscape orientation.  But for today's Friday Find, I turned the camera and my find was some little plants growing in the grass in the local park.

I've added kk_rest at 50% soft light and kk_paperstained at 10% hardlight.  The font is Dreamer.


I did give a little thought to this....the light was striking from about the 3 o'clock position and I focused on the top weed head at F5.6, the widest my 18-200mm can manage at 200mm.  I always shoot in manual mode and have since I first got my Nikon D90 in 2009 - it's been a long journey teaching myself how my camera works, but I'm there now, and hardly give the settings a second thought.  I went straight from a little Sony compact that I could just about switch on to the D-SLR.

Texture Tuesday - 15 April 2014

Texture Tuesday this week was to create a Wabi-sabi image, or in other words, perfectly imperfect.  This was the first time I'd heard of Wabi-sabi, although there is lots out there on the web.

My image was of some bluebells I'd picked 11 days before, so they were passed their best, but still pretty.  They had been sitting on my kitchen windowsill, but for this image I placed them in front of a west facing window where the sun was casting shadows from the leaded light windows on the wall.

To this I've added kk_3112 at 80% multiply and kk_jay at 60% soft light.

Friday Finds - 11 April 2014

My Friday Find was some little bowls I found that morning in an animal charity shop.

To this I've added kk_wish at 40% soft light and kk_urban at 25% soft light.

Texture Tuesday - 8 April 2014

I admire Kim Klassen and her style of photography and have been following her blog for sometime, but it's taken till now to join in.  Each week she inspires us to make images for Texture Tuesday and Friday Finds.

Texture Tuesday on the 8 April was "For the love of....." and my simple image was "For the love of light on the horizon", as I love sitting on the beach and just watching the light falling on the water.

To this I added kk_storm at 42% screen blend and kk_paperandpaste at 20% linear burn.

In the Beginning

On 14 May 2014 I shall be starting a year long on-line workshop with Kim Klassen, entitled "Be Still 52", and I am creating this blog to record my journey with Kim.

I will also be including anything else I do connected with Kim, i.e. Texture Tuesday, Friday Finds, Beyond Layers from 2012, Beyond Beyond from 2013, Picture Process, Round Trip, Test Kitchen, Texturize, Skinny Mini and anything else that comes along.