Using the LR4 Brush Tool

Here are the photos that I referred to in the CY365 Discussion Board.

This one has no brush adjustments.

In this one, I used the brush tool with masking to darken the background. It took just a few broad strokes with a large brush and was done.

I did the sunflower one just for a quick example.

Here is an example of when I used the brush tool "for real". In no way do I claim to be an expert, but I can see how the brush tool can be really beneficial.

Here is the original after following my usual post-processing algorythm.

 I thought the lady's dress was too dark so I used the brush tool to change the exposure just on her dress and this was the result. I probably could have then played around with darkening some of the bright light above Matthew but I did not. Other than my POTD, I don't intend on doing anything with this photo so I did not invest a ton of time these alterations.

Hope this helps.

July Capture Your 365 Blog Hop

Happy July!

Enjoy the photography from members of the 

Capture Your 365 Community.

Those participating in this quarter's blog hop are:

Kathleen - Taking Pictures, Enjoying Life

Kelly - but for the Grace of God
Karen - Random Reflections
Janine - The Sweetest Dreams
Katrina - Capture Your 365

 __________________________________________________

 I am not a planner when it comes to my photography. The hunt for the photo or the anticipation of an image appearing before me are what inspire me to take pictures every day.  I enjoy looking back at photos and seeing how my pictures group together and what themes appear. The project of shooting every day typically fulfills my curiosity and I thrive on the daily spontananiety it proves.

My experience during this quarter was distinctly different. I chose a specific topic -my last days with my dad.

Dad suffered from a progressive degenerative brain disease that slowly ate away at his brain. Many aspects of his illness were incredibly sad. The saddest for me was to remember at how hard Dad worked to challenge his brain. He was a physician. My main childhood memory is of my dad reading in his den. His nose was always in a textbook or a clinical guideline or a continuing education booklet. During long car rides, Dad would listen to Audio Digest cassette tapes which described the latest technological advanced in anesthesia. 

As much as I long for a family like the Waltons, mine is the exact opposite. I believe we experience life the way we do for a reason. I will never understand why my family behaves the way they do. 

I am fortunate that Jim, the kids and me were afforded the opportunity to care for my dad every day for a full month. I took hundreds of photos over the course of the month. Those weeks will be cherished forever. We learned, we grieved and we loved. The last time I saw my dad was on May 17. Despite his limited capacities, Dad was able to convey forgiveness, understanding and love. 

I am not sure why we were afforded the month with my dad but I am grateful for it. I will cherish my photographs of him forever.

Dad died on Friday, June 29th. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________________

Thank you for visiting.

Hop on over to my friend, Kelly's blog.

I know you won't be disappointed.

Capture Your 365 Blog Hop

Today, April 2nd, is Day 550 of Capturing My Life. 550 days. Wow. 

I started as a three month experiment on October 31st and never looked back. What I most appreciate are the small details of our family life that I would have missed if not for this project. 

To showcase those details, I am highlighting the pictures I took for Twelve - where on the twelfth of each month during 2012, I take 12 photos of the day. 

January was just a typical day running errands and getting chores done! I really can't believe I am sharing the photo of my laundry room!

To celebrate February, I located items in and around our house that were red. I am quite sure I would not ever photographed the plastic plate with the picture I drew in 1971. I smile every time I see the photograph of that plate and am so glad I took it.

In March, our boys each had a school event so I chose to take twelve intentional photos at school. I liked capturing the small details that I normally would not if I was photographing their events for a full scrapbook page. That sounds odds to me even as I write it .... but it was freeing to just shoot and know that I would end up with twelve of the every day life at school.

I have an idea of what I am going to photograph for April but after that, who knows? Part of the joy of my Capture My 365 journey is not knowing what I will shot every day. I know that I will photograph something each and every day. 

I have been asked if I follow the CY 365 prompts. Some days, I do. Other days, I decide to go out on my own and find something interesting to photograph. Other days, an image appears before me that calls to be photographed and as soon as I take it, I know that I have captured my picture of the day. 

The Capture Your 365 Prompt List can be found here. It is published monthly. On that same page, there is a spot to sign up to receive the daily prompts via e-mail.

Thanks for stopping by the Capture Your 365 Blog Hop.

The last stop on the hop is Katrina Kennedy who developed and maintains the wonderful website for us to share the Capturing of our 365's.

In case, anyone was missed along the way, please hop on over to visit these other talented ladies and admire their work.

  Kelly - but for the Grace of God

  Joscelyne - ohscrap

  Suzanne - Suzanne's Adventures in Quilting, Photography, Computers and Life

  Sharyn - Live from Tormville
  Abbie - Happie by Abbie
  Janine - The Sweetest Dreams
  YOU ARE HERE!  -------- > Kathleen - Taking Pictures, Enjoying Life

  VISIT HERE NEXT -------> Katrina - Capture Your 365

Happy Spring!

LOAD Day 19 and POTD 2.19.12 Too much light?

Some may think so but for February in Northern Michigan, I'll take all I can get!

Catching Up on LOAD and Project 365 Posts

POTD 2.16.12 - Even as an adult, I still love being surprised with a new box of crayons!

POTD 2.17.12 - Is the one the maple cream?

LOAD 2.18.12

LOAD 212 Day 17

LOAD 212 Day 15

I realized this morning that I neglected to add this page! 

LOAD 212 Day 16

Photography of My One Little Word: Gentle

LOAD Day 14

LOAD 212 Day 13 - A Family Infographic

2.13.12 - Receiving Unexpected Packages in the Mail Always Makes the Day a Happy One!

February Twelve on Twelve

Photo of the Day

Celebrating the 12th of the month, I took twelve photos of red things.  I will share a layout with all of the photos soon.

LOAD 212 Day 10

Still catching up on my Project Life Re-dos.

Family Movie Night

We are hunkered down during a snow storm and enjoying Family Movie Night - the whole family, stuffed animals and all.  Tonight may be a double feature, "Annie" and "Oliver".

Catching Up

Here is my picture of the day for 2.9.12 titled "A Valentine from Long Ago". I am getting queried on other sites as to the story about this Valentine. Some must think I have a super excited story about it. There isn't. My mom gave it to me as a Valentine decoration when I got out of college. 

And here is my page for LOAD Day 9. How can there really only be 20 days left.  I made this page also as an assignment in Cathie Zielski's class at BPC, "Ten Tips for Better Type".

Today's Photo of the Day

Following Katrina Kennedy's Prompt of "Roll", this photo is titled "Able to Roll but Prefers to Bounce".

LOAD 212 Day 7

POTD 2.5.12 Almost Snow Moon: Posted Late

LOAD 212 Day 6

 Today was one of those days where I did not have the time or creative energy to expend on my scrapbooking.  I have been doing Project Life since Thanksgiving but did not like how the pages looked. I finally found a combination that I like so re-did these two pages.

Today is Day Five of LOAD (Layout a Day).  I plan on sharing my scrapbook pages, my pictures of the day as well as Project Life on these pages.  Enjoy!

This year in review is not a template. I made it from scratch.

My one little word for 2012 is Gentle.  

Our assignment this month is to photograph my word - 

which is proving to be difficult.  I gave it a shot yesterday and think it works. 

I promise to work harder at uploading to here more frequently.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Andrew is cheering for the Patriots. 

I am looking forward to the commercials.

Capture Your 365 Blog Hop

Happy 2012!

Welcome to the 

Capture Your 365 Blog Hop!  

Since I am last on the hop list, 

I am assuming you just finished viewing Janine's work and have visited the other talented photographers who graciously shared their work in this blog hop. 

Kelly - but for the Grace of God
Katrina - Capture Your 365 

Gabi - Gabi Rytirova 

Janine - The Sweetest Dreams
Kathleen - Taking Pictures, Enjoying Life 

If you missed anyone along the way, please visit their blogs, 

you will not be disappointed. 

My Project 365 started with a three month "trial" in October, 2010.

The purpose of my test period was to test myself - to see if I could do it, to see if I liked it. 

I took photos every day of something related to my life. 

Realizing the enjoyment received by my trial, I jumped in for a full year 

on January 1, 2011.

At the same time, I made a decision to not make New Year's resolutions. 

Instead, I chose the one little word of "connect".

 My goal with Project 365 was to "re-connect" with myself

and see my life through the photography lens.

Looking back, connecting happened. 

I connected with my camera.

We are best friends. I learned how to use it better.

I did not know quite how to function when I fell and broke it.

I connected with nature.

On those days when I was not so inspired or did not "feeling it",

I forced myself to get out into nature.

Something about getting outside was freeing.

I connected with my family.

My husband and children enjoyed participating in my project.

The kids were not always thrilled to have a camera in their faces ....

but they were always interested in seeing what I picked as my photo of the day. 

I connected with the Capture Your 365 community.

Sharing pictures and tips and experiences has been wonderful. 

I have connected with women from all over the world because of this community.

I am amazed at how we connected despite never having met. 

Best of all, I connected with my self and my spirit.

Certainly, I can see an improvement in my photography since I began.

  But somehow, I changed - my inner self. 

I've become more confident in my skills, more confident in my vision,

more confident in Me.

This Project has been life-changing.

  Taking at least one photograph a day has become a way of life for me.

I expected that I would wrap up 2011 and move on.

As December 31st approached, I surprised myself. 

I was so excited to take that last photo and say I completed one full year.

Here is my completed compilation of my 2011 Project 365.

Take a peak at my favorites of the year. 

I selected a favorite for every month.

(To see the book in full screen view, select the square in the
lower right hand corner of the blurb screen.)

Project 365: Our Life in Photos | Make Your Own Book

Thank you for visiting.

For those in the CY365 community, I have enjoyed being inspired by and learning from you.

If you are new to the community or considering starting your own Project 365, 

give it a try. 

It is worth the time and effort.

Last but certainly not least,

Katrina Kennedy

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS OF:

  YOUR TALENT,

YOUR TIME,

YOUR RESOURCES,

YOURSELF.