Taking Doc's photo one step further...before and after

In yesterday's blog I talked about using Photoshop to improve and clean up a potentially great photo. Today's photo shows what I did with it next.

 

I imported the cleaned up image into my iPad Pro via Dropbox, then opened it up in an incredible app called "Waterlogue" I have no idea how they created this magical app but after playing around with the settings I ended up with several versions that I liked.

 

Next, I imported those versions back into Photoshop (on my desktop) and then layered them and began brushing out parts of each layer to create the finished image: the photo of Doc you see below. 

 

I love technology!

 

The original image below:

Hydrangeas

I love Hydrangeas, this photo is from 2 years ago and when they bloomed beautifully. Last year, ugh, not so much. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this year is better.

Doc Rocks his first dressage schooling show!

Doc’s first horse show was terrific, huge thanks to Kris Poole – she has had only had 8 weeks to work with Doc: he’d never done dressage and he’d never been to a show! She is a great horse trainer, but she’s got a special talent for mules!

 

Doc’s Intro A and B Dressage tests:

 

http://youtu.be/h-cs1sAA204

 

http://youtu.be/K-R-sIBbxGM

 

He scored 67.50 on Text A, and placed second in his class

 

He scored 66.25 on Test B, and placed first* in his class of 4 horses!!!! Note below:

 

*The Danish system of placing was used to award ribbons, so while he placed first among 4 horses he was awarded a red ribbon because he got between 65 and 70 points (if he’d gotten 70 or more points he would have gotten blue.

 

No pre-show jitters for this mule! Doesn't he look handsome in his new trailer!

Proud mule papa!

 

 

 

More Photoshop

Some more Photshoppinng today. here is the original photo, unretouched.

And then a few examples of some image editing and filter applications.

 

Photoshop

I like to image edit nearly everything I shoot with my iPhone - currently my only camera of choice.

Last week I put up an unretouched photo I took of a church on Bermuda:

It bothered me when I went back to look at my blog-I hate it when the horizen line isn't straight, so here it is retouched. And I did some other tinkering as well. Can you tell what I did? Which do you like better?

Monday - this should cheer you up!

On Monday, many of us bemoan the end of the weekend and some of us even complain that we have the worst job ever---I don't 'cause I like my job, but in the past I have been that person. Anyway, I submit this photo as depicting the worst job in the world.

I took the photo myself. It was nearing 100 degrees out, and no safety protocals were set-up for this poor bastard. Please note, the cars in the lane inches from his feet were whizzing by at 35 plus miles an hour. And he was trying to dig a hole in that median strip using some kind of little hand held shovel.

Whatever they were paying this guy wasn't nearly enough.

2012 Scarecrow

I love scarecrows. Love them. Not many people create them, but when I spot one I have to stop and take a photo. Here is the official MJARDEN.NET 2012 Scarecrow of the Year.

Favorite Photos Revisited, Part 1

This week I thought I'd revisit some of my all time favorites photos - the criteria is all over the place- some are favorites because they hold such deeply personal memories, some because they are beautiful, and for one or two because they are both. Hope you enjoy!

This photo is of myself  and my sisters. Taken in front of our home in Illinois, it's obviously summertime, and I'm the baby and probably about 7-9 months old in this photo. Ellen is holding me. Standing next to her is her twin Ann (who I just realized looks taller than Ellen in this photo!  Ellen must have had a growth spur right after this was taken because she was 5'8" and Ann is about 5'4"), and front and center is Susan - who has managed to maintain that happy, upbeat personality her entire life! I love my sisters.

Barn friends

This fine looking snake has been hanging around the barn helping to control the mouse population.

Horse n' around

Even Dallas is having a good laugh in this one!

Friends and Photos

In today's mail was a letter from some dear friends from the great white north, L + T from Canada! It was a wonderful letter - it was so nice to get caught-up with what is happening in their life. (And they read my blog too --thank you!!!)

L asked about my photos and so I thought I'd share a little background on them. Years and years and years ago when I was in college I took 5 semesters of photography- and for a time I thought I might want to follow in my Dad's footsteps and make it my profession - and while I didn't follow that path, I have used photography a lot in my graphic artwork. Back in the day I had really nice 35mm SLR cameras- well I still have them, but then I bought a digital camera - a cheapy model- and while I loved the convenience of being able to download my pics, I hated the lack of control I had in shooting the actual picture. See the 35mm cameras I used were all manual, and frankly I think that's just a whole lot easier then trying to figure out fully or even semi-automatic cameras. Those camera's just stump me.

I've thought about investing in a really nice digital camera, thinking it would give me more control, but the truth is, if I spend that much I'm not going to carry it with me. So, the end result is everything that I've shot for this blog is being taken with my I-Phone. It is fast and I always have it with me. However, the quality is lacking and so I end up retooling all my photos in an image editing program called Photoshop. (Oh, I can also remove anywhere from 10-20 pounds off my figure and get rid of wrinkles- and yes, I do that all the time!!!)

Anyway, here is a little step-by-step of taking a not so great photo and turning it into something a bit more interesting using Photoshop.

Silent Sunday

Bella in Bed

This is the face that greets me every morning when I wake up.

Lovely Bella believes that her rightful place at night is between dad and mom (that would be Gerry and me.) Bella and Ben are the reason we moved up from a queen size to a king size bed - and I wish there was something even bigger out there.

Anyway, Bella is right, I can't sleep now unless I have four paws pressed up against my back and fall asleep to her sweet snuffling.

Cowboy Up!

Don't want to give away too much intel but this past Monday I had a professional photographer come to the barn to shoot photos of Dallas, Beau, Gerry and myself-some in costume! I snapped a couple of quick photos of Gerry, then did a little photoshopping to it, so here is a taste of photos to come! Have a great weekend!

Sisters

Early yesterday morning my best friend L. called to tell me that her sister had died during the night.

I spent the rest of day thinking about L. and her sister, and, about my own sisters. I mentally revisited the bumpy path that our relationships have traveled--but despite geographic distance and vastly different personalities and lifestyles, despite all that is different, I'm still awed by the strength that bond of "sisters" holds.

Today's photo is of me (I'm the little one) with one of my sisters.

Dog of Summer

Last year we sold our 1995 Ford Explorer for $5,000 and with that same $5,000 bought this cute little red 1996 Miata. (A very frugal move considering what gas prices were last year!)

Though it was ostensibly to be my car, Gerry drives it far more---and he likes to take Miss Bella for a ride (OK, in truth that didn't work out so well, and the trip will not be repeated- the front seat was a little small for her doggy rear-end and she was a bit too wiggly for safe driving, but it made for a cute photo op, that's for sure!

The Postcard Horse

Last year my barn owner's husband took some lovely photos of Dallas, absolutely total glamour shots. So this year I wanted to be sure we afforded Beau the same honor. We took this photo (and a bunch more) this past Saturday. It was stinking hot (actually, just the usual summer type weather for around here-- we just aren't used to it yet) so didn't ride but instead prettied up our boy Beau and took let him hit the catwalk. He is a handsome boy isn't he? Gerry calls him his postcard horse, when asked why, Ger explains that Beau is happiest when he is looking sharp and standing still, like in not moving and wasting any energy .... Beau is not a git up and go kind of pony---'except of course when he sees scary stuff out in Fair Hill. But Gerry has really been working on that and Beau is definitely braver than he was on our first ride of the year. He and Gerry even go out on their own for what I call character building rides, and Beau has definitely gained in the bravery department thanks to Ger's hard work.