Fix it Friday #84

It's been awhile since I've played along with Fix it Friday at i heart faces!  So let's see . . . I used photoshop and here are my steps as best I can remember:

1. Threshold to identify highlight and lowlight and skin tone

2. Adjusted using curves

3. Used the highlight/lowlight tool

4. Cropped to remove the light

5. Added a layer with multiple, "erased" to create darker edges. There's a fancy name for that, right?

6. Used burn tool to bring out highlights in eyes

7. Added a bit of color to the blown out bits of the chair

8. Added a Totally Rad filter -- can't remember which!

Life is full and busy. But I'm determined to continue finding ways to include creativity and play. Took some fun pics this morning while cleaning the kitchen sink . . . I'm going to get back to the housework and grocery shopping but with an eye to other images to share later in the day!

Perspective

Oh, I'm not sure I have many words to share. Just pictures snapped after school one day this week. I love that I got to pick up both of my children because I'm my own boss and take them to the park to play -- and then home for homework and dinner and night time routines. I love that we've eaten together as a family every day this week. My perspective has shifted . . .

A part of me worries that without the structure of a job, I won't be as driven. Maybe I need the pressure and demands in order to be effective in my role. Then I realize that is the voice of fear speaking. Of course I'm motivated and though this building up time is slow, the pace will accelerate. Now is the time to establish the balance I and my family need so that I can hold that line as the business grows.

There has been a tension between what I believe families need and how I help families in my work and how I've managed my own family . . . now I get to bring these two things more in line. Attend to my own children's needs before I turn to those of other families. Ah. This is good. This is right!

Grow

Ok. Moment of truth. Shutter Sisters posted a challenge for the New Year of picking ONE word to "influence" and "shape" the entire year. Picking the word was easy -- grow. I want and intend to grow in so many ways! Of course there is the new practice that I want to grow. And there are friendships and community that I want to grow. And I want to grow my skills in creating balance for myself and my family. 

Now that all sounds well and good, you say, but what's with the pictures? Well, there was this other Shutter Sisters entry about allowing yourself in front of the lens rather than always being the safe and invisible photographer in the scenes you shoot. Guilty. I have a love/hate relationship with my body. Don't we all? Some lucky gals are comfortable in their skin and have a certain confidence that makes them beautiful and sensual. I want that! I want to grow into loving myself and living whole hearted.

So the first photo was my not-so-courageous self-portrait. And then I took a day or two to work on my nerve and tried again. I like it. It makes me nervous that I like this second photo. And more than a little nervous to share it. This is what it feels like to grow. Uncomfortable. Nervous. Wanting to go back to safety and the known.

In what ways do you want to grow and stretch this year? I'd love to hear :)

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a bright and beautiful start to 2011!

Need for Speed

Playing with motion and shutter speed today. Amazing how much more willing my subjects are when they can play!! Doesn't hurt that mama has the ability to use the remaining holiday cookies as bribes . . .

New Beginnings

I've been away from this blog and photography for quite some time. So many distractions. Good ones! Exciting changes and new beginnings under way!

I've begun my own private practice and just before the holidays, I left my job so that I could concentrate on my own enterprise full time. It is exhilarating and terrifying. Inspiring and exhausting. For several months, the details of finding an appropriate space, establishing the business part of the practice and beginning to develop referral sources was all-consuming. And now I can feel the energy building and the practice is growing, bit by bit.

One of the many reasons that I took this step was to nurture balance in my life. Already I've attended field trips with my children that previously I would not have been able to! I look forward to actually sticking to the weekly menu I outline and family dinners at the table. Oh, and photography and creativity! So much to look forward to. An adventure to be sure!

What have you been up to while I've been away? New adventures of your own?

Summer Craziness

I have been absent most (ok, all) of the summer . . . it's just been CRAZY. So much that I don't know even where to begin! I'll gloss over the last two months, saving it up for a future entry and instead tell you about yesterday. It was a "pinkalicious" day with Little Sis.

Yesterday was a mom and daughter event, featuring lots of pink. Here's our list of accomplishments:

• painted pink toe and finger nails
• made pink-frosted cupcakes
• bought new pink undies
• watched Dora who I think was wearing pink
• made some pink jewelry
• and of course, we wore pink

We picked up Big D early and headed to a local fountain to play and cool off. I got to experiment with my iphone and a polaroid ap. Very fun! In all the busy-ness this summer, I have missed creating beautiful photos and sharing them. 

Today is Big D's day with mama. We will do his school shopping, get him a haircut and then do some sort of project. He's excited about the prospect of helping me sand two little tables I'm rejuvenating for my office. 

There is so much to share! Good things are afoot.

What has kept you busy this summer?