Shadow Shot Sunday : Tree+?

Hi there.

I would like your input on today's shadow shots.

At first glance these two photos look the same...BUT if you're very observant (and I know you are), you'll notice the tree is in the center in the first photo and a bit on the right in the second photo.  I usually try to go by the rule of thirds in my photos, which tells you NOT to put the main subject dead center... BUT once in a while I like a photo better with the subject in the center, not on the side.  Like in these photos.  I like the centered one better, but I was going to ignore that and post the other one because "the rule... don't ignore the rule!"
 I think sometimes we need to break the rules.




















I would really like your opinion. Which do you prefer out of these two photos?  Sorry to make you work on a Sunday ;-)  but I appreciate your input.  Thank you!!

For more shadow shots or to join in with your own shadows, go on over to Hey Harriet's for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Dear Yellow, I Think I Love You!!

Lemon Tart

This week's color for the Summer Of Color challenge is yellow.   I didn't have much time this week, but I remembered this lil' bit o' fun I had laying around from years ago that never got finished.  

 I did this at a time when I wanted to create but was sooo stuck because I was taking myself and my art way to seriously.  So I decided to start making fun whimsical stuff that some might not consider art or take seriously.

  That's when this little collage was born.  The only reason it didn't get finished at the time was because I kinda forgot it's purpose.  It was almost done but I didn't know what to put at the top.  The word "tart" kept coming to mind (which would make me laugh whenever I thought of it), but I would talk myself out of it because it was too silly.  Um, hello, that was the whole point.  So my lil' Lemon Tart got tucked away and long forgotten until this wonderful challenge reminded me of it.

You can decide for yourself whether "tart" is referring to the lemons or the girl ;-)

The whole idea came from the cool netted bags that our lemons come in.  I kept saving them and one day I decided to make a collage on watercolor paper and use one of the bags as a dress.  I started by painting the background and the lemons, and cutting out a magazine photo of a girl and gluing her down.  Then I "designed" her recycled lemon bag dress and hat. She needed a necklace so I drew and painted on a citrusy one for her.  To blend her in she has a soft wash of paint over her and I doodled details onto her, the lemons, and other parts of the collage with a black pen.

To finish it (finally!!) I glued down a piece of paper across the top and stamped on leaves with green paint.   Then I stamped "tart" and added more layers of paint and pen until I liked it.  Done!   Whew!  In time to post for "yellow week".  Woohoo!

And now ... because 1) I think I'm in love with yellow

and 

2) I'm also now in love with my iPhone and the "Hipstamatic" app I decided to make my post even longer (!!) and share some yellowy photos with you from our recent Kern River trip.

You can see the reflection of my shirt on the window.  Coolio!

I love how the bus is distorted from the windshield! 

 None of these photos were altered in any way!!  That's all the work of my iPhone and this amazing Hipstamatic app (well... and a talented photographer, haha) !!  

Ok, that's enough.  See you soon!

Vacation Photos and Blogging Artist's Directory

Hi!  I'm back!  Didja miss me?  Huh, huh, did you?  Fine! ;-)

I just got back a few days ago from a nice relaxing vacation at Kern River.  Right before we left we got us some iPhones and I had fun taking tons of photos with the "hipstamatic" app!  Love it!! 

 Thought I'd share some of the photos with you. 

 

These three bottom ones were taken during our drive home (sadly, most of the photos are from the drives and not actually of Kern River...oops!) .   I have tons more to share with you.  This is just to start things off.

Lake Isabella

I also wanted to share this with you.  Geri over at My Heart Art is starting a directory for blogging artists.  If you want to be included hurry, she's gathering the info now to launch it this Monday, July 11th.  To find out more click on her blog name or the photo below to be  taken to her blog.

I'll be back in the next day or two to post my yellow "stuff" for the Summer of Color.  See you then.

Photography: Beautiful Waterfalls Part 1

Here's a few pictures of one of the waterfalls (altough this one might be more of a waterslide) at Kern River.  I took tons of pictures on a hike on our recent vacation, so it's taken a while to go through them.  I decided to split the waterfalls into two posts, one for today and one for tuesday.  I was afraid that cramming them into one post might take the attention away from the beauty of each, so without further ado, here's the first...

Ahh...breathe it in.  So pretty, right?  I usually avoid turning my camera toward the sun, to avoid sun spot (or halos, or whatever they're called), but this time I was having fun experimenting with purposely trying to get some spots and glare from the sun.  I like how they turned out, who needs photoshop right ?(she says longingly while (not so) secretly hoping her dear husband will surprise her with it one day...wink wink).