The Magic of the Levels Adjustment!

My friend, Betty John, is the one who enlightened me about the Levels Adjustment Layer on PSE 7. My photos are usually underexposed, a problem that was recently solved. But it still helps to go to the Levels Adjustment. Let me show you:

SOOC

It doesn't look too bad, exposure wise, to me. But let's check:

See that white triangle to the right of the input levels? If I drag it to the left to the first peak , it will make a difference in how the photo looks. Watch:

And here is the picture after the adjustment:

Much better, don't you think? Next flatten your layers.

Now look what happens when you go to make a hue/saturation levels change:



See how the background changes to more of a blue? I don't like it in this case, but don't be afraid to experiment.

Okay, now I am ready to continue with my edit. Of course, flatten at this point.

I don't like how the background is not all the way to the right, but we are going to fix that with the Marquis tool.This is a trick that I learned from Shauna at Flora Bella:





Now, you are going to grab the transform tool, shortcut is "Ctrl t". And then place your cursor on the right part of the line and drag it to the right, to fill in the purple background.

Like this:

See how that works!

Next, I am going to get rid of that little white line on the upper right by using the crop tool.

Now, that's better:

I like to do a "Screen" with opacity of about 50-55% like this:

See how the whole picture is lightened and has a softer look?

Next, I am going to run an action by Flora Bella, called Sweetness:

At this time, I like to add a texture so I am going to head over to my files by  Kim Klassen to see what I like today:


This is a Kim Klassen texture called "Life is good" and I applied it with the free MCP action {http://www.mcpactions.com/} that automatically adds the texture and gives you multiple ways of adjusting it. I chose Overlay and Color Burn, then selected each layer, I used a soft black brush with a lower opacity of about 75% and brushed away the texture from the flowers and vase.

I don't like the blank, stark white on the bottom, so I am going to do another texture called Kim Klassen's paper:

This is my final result. What do you think? :o)

Rainy Day Wisteria

SOOC except for levels adjustment

It has been overcast, cold and sometimes rainy this week in Georgia, but I couldn't help myself; I had to get out and shoot some pictures. So between errands, I stopped here and there to get some shots of the spring foliage. I was especially struck by the beautiful wisteria that blooms in a close by area on my way to downtown Kennesaw. I parked my car, put on the caution lights and grabbed my camera. The blooms were covering the trees all over for about an acre. I was stunned, however, by the trash that was caught in the underbrush: bottles, paper and plastic wrappers, old tires and assorted junk. What are people thinking when they toss out their garbage along the roadsides?

Wisteria, Flora Bella Style

Wisteria, Charlotte's Style, yeah baby!

In the quiet of this afternoon, there has been little to distract me from my editing....well, except for Elmo at my feet complaining that he is bored and wants me to come back to the living room and read while he sits in my lap. I can't believe that it is already 4:30! Almost time for a gin and tonic!

Blessings to you all on this rainy Thursday!

Channeling Flora Bella

Shana Rae of Flora Bella has been one of my most inspiring mentors. Her style is fresh, soft, dreamy, ethereal. She has created beautiful textures and actions that can be purchased on her website:  http://florabellacollection.com/blog/


In fact, I have purchased not one set, but two, of her textures sets offered. And a good friend of mine, bought me her Luxe II action package. I love them all. But, alas, getting the same results has proven to be elusive to me, anyway. But I am not one to give up easily. So I continue to study the photographs of those I admire and try, try, try to get something that I like.


Editing photos is a very relaxing time for me usually. Here is what I worked on yesterday:

And this:

And finally, this:

I know I have a long way to go, but the journey is fun. Thanks for looking!