{Weekend Texture} California Ramblings and Endless Epiphanies

Hello lovelies....Oh my...it's been too, too long. In fact it seems like forever since I've popped in

I've missed you. How have you been?

I'm back in Canada.... full to the brim with inspiration..... and a stream of epiphanies. More on all that soon.... :)

I went to visit Myriam.....She invited me there to share a little photography/photoshop. Oh my.... it was much more than that!! I'm still processing everything..... But may I just say it was all so good....I know there's so much more to come from our few days together.... So exciting.

I wanted to give you a little tidbit, about my latest project.... Actually it's a collaborative with my lovely London friend, Xanthe..... I'm can't spill the beans just yet.......but let's just say a new and pretty cool eCourse is in the works.... It's much different than my current offerings...I'm so pumped about it. We'd love to spend the summer with you. Stay tuned.

Myriam has sparked some BIG ideas as well....  I can't spill just yet.... not even a teaser...but the thought of it all makes me giddy....

It feels as though.... a new chapter in my life book is about to open..... and for that, I'm so grateful.

I wanted to share a few photos today. I know I was in California....  land of loveliness.... but I have to say the highlight of the trip was Myriam's beautiful home and her company...

So for today... let's take a little peek inside..... Shall we?

'sigh'

Of course I have your texture too..... Check it out at the top of this post...  I call it epiphany.

I used it on this beautiful orchid image....a gift for Myriam from her sweet husband. So lovely.

Here's my easy peasy processing recipe......

Opened the image, then radLab.....  applied the sx-70 stylet 100%. Next added a layer of today's texture, epiphany at 100% soft light....Added a hue/sat adjustment layer, clipped to the texture to lighten the just the yellow. That's it. :)

Okie doke...that's all for today..... It's a long weekend in Canada? Not sure if it is in the rest of the world... do tell..... We are off to the lake for a wiener roast..... My job..... pick up the ingredients at the grocery story.... So I best run.

Texture Lovin' Listers....  your download link is on its way. Not on the list? Click HERE to sign up and start receiving freebies....right away.

xo,

{Texture Tuesday} Free & Easy eDition

Hello friends,

It's time for another Texture Tuesday! 

Here are this week's TT challenge details.

• Your image must contain any 1 of my textures. That's it that's all.

Before we start linking up. Let's talk next week's details.

Next week's TT theme. (May 22nd)

How 'bout a theme/prompt week.....  

Share an image centered around the word LIGHT. Your image must also contain at least one layer of any of my textures. 

Have fun!

New to Texture Tuesdays? Here's the short and sweet TT rules.

• please link directly to your TT post, not to your main blog url or flickr stream. Please do not link to your online shop. 
• please link back to the Café. You can grab the TT button HERE, if you wish.
• please visit the other TT participants and leave them some comment love. Remember it's a party.... and what's a linky party without lots of comment love? Right! 

Want more details? Click HERE for the full scoop!

Let's get to the linky party, shall we?

xo,

California Here I Come.....

mouse over to see the original

I'm off to California... for 4 fabulous days......

I will be back next week...renewed....inspired....and ready to share!

Have a most fabulous weekend friends!

xo,

{Texture Tuesday} The Two-Texture eDition

mouse over to see the original 

Hello friends,

It's time for another Texture Tuesday! 

Here are this week's TT challenge details.

• Your image must contain any 2 of my textures. that's it that's all.

I used 2 layers on my image above. One layer of Chase at soft light 100% opacity and another layer of framed (part of the Ultimate Bundle) at soft light 100% opacity.

Next week's TT theme. (May 15th)

Let's keep it simple... Any texture...any theme...  another free & easy eDition. 

New to Texture Tuesdays? Here's the short and sweet TT rules.

• please link directly to your post, not just to your blog or flickr stream. Please do not link to your online shop. 
• please link back to the Café. You can grab the TT button HERE, if you wish.
• please visit the other TT participants and leave them some comment love. Remember it's a party.... and what's a linky party without lots of comment love? Right! 

Want more details? Click HERE for the full scoop!

Let's get to the linky party, shall we?

xo,

p.s. I've had so many emails asking if it's too late to join Beyond Layers? Absolutely not.... there's plenty of time to catch up on the lessons already posted....I'd love to have you join in. Click HERE for more info.

{Weekend Texture} I Heart Blossoms

mouse over to see the original

I have a sweet new texture for you to try out today.... I call this little lovely.....Chase.

I used it on my image above at soft light 100%.... I love the soft subtle touch it added to the photo.

Test Kitchen members...I posted the a step by step video tutorial for this image.... Come check it out. It's a good one!

Click HERE to download Chase. 

Want more fab textures... join my list and get some instant freebies......

I'm signing off.... but I will be back for Texture Tuesday..... See you then.

xo, 

{iPhoneography} Our Week Squared

Hello Lovelies,

Tell me, how was your week?

Mine was fast and fab.....  But as always....everyday... no matter the weather... we walked our daily walks. 4 miles in the afternoon and another 3 in the evening. It's just what we do. If the weather would warm up, Ben and I would swap one of our walks for a bike ride.... But it's been really quite wet and cool this past month. I'm definitely ready for some sun. 

Anyhow, here's my favorite tree on the trail... the tree that started this whole photography thing for me.... The sky was daunting... a storm was rolling in.....  I took a quick pic.... Can you see Ben across from the tree on the right? 

Sophie got a haircut this week... Here she is by one of the ponds they like to dip in..... right now it's nice... but as the weather warms up...it can get a little stinky.... 'sigh'

My favorite section of the trail by far.... a path of trees....  it fills in beautifully in the summer.... Really so peaceful. Ben's the little speck in the center. :)

Another watering hole the pups like to dip in.

I didn't have a lot of time for setting up stills and taking pics with my Nikon this week... but I took a few snaps here and there with my phone..... and experimented with a few fav apps..... I love using down time to process images on my phone..... You know you love your work...when you walk away from it and proceed to do the same thing for fun!! :)

Just a few fav camera pics....

Love this sweet holiday brownie.....

One more.... 

Oh and.....I started this book....I'm really looking forward to diving into it.... I've heard great things.

Let's see...... what else did I do this week, besides walk and work? 

We went to my parents on Monday for dinner.....to celebrate my birthday.... Thank you for all the lovely wishes, by the way. It was a quiet, but really good day. John and I are going out for dinner this evening.... a little belated birthday outing. Oh this morning we went to an auction sale and I snagged another antique typewriter for $10. It needs a little cleaning up... but it's a fab old underwood. I had my photography kids over to work on their projects. That was fun. I caught up with a dear friend...such a blessing. You know a true friend, when no matter how long you are apart, you can pick right back up where you left off... and not miss a beat. And finally.....I had several revelations this week...that seemed to break open a flood of new and exciting ideas.. I mean seriously BIG stuff. Burst.

WOW.... it really was such a FAB week. 

Tell me.... Are you instagramming yet? What was your week like? I'd love to hear about it.

xo,

{Guest Post} Back in Time by Tracey Clark

 Oh my goodness... I'm so excited.....the super talented...always inspiring....  Tracey Clark is here to share with us today! Woo hoo.... Be sure to check out the surprise below her beautiful words and images.

Take it away, Tracey.....

My love affair with photography began in black & white. Before the digital age, you had to make a decision what kind of photograph you wanted to create. For me, it was always black & white. Roll after roll, shooting with a monochromatic palette, I began to actually see the world around me translated through the absence of color. It helped to hone my photographic eye. I became a stalker of light, of shadow, highlights, shade, shape, curve, space, composition and expression. When you remove the color from the image, each of these things becomes even more important. 

Since then, I’ve come to embrace the digital age and have learned to love (and depend on) seeing the shot in color first. After the fact, with the click of my mouse, I can change it on a whim. It’s changed how I see the world. I still see all of the things I saw before only now I have the luxury of choosing how to proceed. Color or black & white? And I usually make my choice on a shot to shot basis. Now, every shot can ask for something unique. Each one tells me what it would like to be. I listen and follow along.

Even still, I am 100% certain that laying my photographic foundation in black & white made me the photographer I am today. I’m not so sure I’d be able to see all of the elements I see, all of the things that make up a strong image, if it weren’t for the monochromatic practice. Would I still know the way the light shapes things and bring them to life, the importance of gesture and expression, the way every part of the frame is a narrative? I’m not sure. I just don’t know if color makes you work hard enough to not only see those things, but also to put them to good use in your images. I guess at this point there’s no real way to tell but I can say that with Picture Black & White, I am eager to shoot with black & white in mind again. I am looking forward to the challenge of going back to basics, of revisiting my beginnings, and reminding myself of where and how my passion was sparked.

Why is it that black & white images from the past stir our souls? Is it just a coincidence that all of the black & white images I cherish feel timeless, classic, and true? I doubt it. Black & white isn’t just where I began in photography; it’s where many of us began experiencing photography, whether by shooting or just by looking at early images. Black & white photography is a part of our history, part of who we are. And no matter how much amazing and awesome technology there is to help us capture life in living color, traveling back in time to where it all began will never get old. 

.....

Thank you Tracey... I adore your B&W imagery.

Fabulous News

Tracey is offering 3 lucky winners a spot in her upcoming class, Picture Black & White. 

To enter, leave a comment below sharing your thoughts/ideas/experience with Black & White Photography. Be sure to enter your email address in the info box.

The lucky winners will be announced tomorrow evening (May 2nd).

Update on Wed, May 2 by Kim Klassen

Thanks so much for your wonderful comments.The winners have been choosen... 

Congrats to Deanna Swauger, Jo Nelson & Donna Hopkins. 

It's not too late to sign up for the class.... pop over to the registration page to check it out.