Photo Related Halloween Craft

I was looking for a Halloween craft to do with the kids and of course it had to include photos. =)

I found these adorable templates posted by relentlesstoil on flickr.
Just print, color, affix photo for the face and tape around an empty toilet paper roll or heavy cardstock rolled into a tube.

She has them listed under a creative commons license so you can do whatever you want with them except sell them. You can download the template files to print here:
witchandzombie.pdf
wizardandmummy.pdf

We finished our crafts. my 5 yr. old did the one on the left, I did the one of DH in the middle and the last one was done by my 2 yr. old.

Postcards from Kentucky

I took a drive out Keene Rd. today to get away for a little while. I found a couple of scenes I just couldn't pass by without stopping to get a few pics. I used a texture on these from ghostbones

Quick and Easy Vignette Tutorial

I have been asked this question several times, so I have decided to post my vignette method. I sometimes use an action from Vibe Resources called Vignette My Way. Ren also has one called Vignette Your Way that is great. If you want a quick and easy method you can even do in Elements, here's one method. You can click on the photos to make them easier to read.

Open your image. and select the oval marquee tool. Drag the marquee to the size and location you want it to be. At the top where it says Feather, put in about 75. For a lighter, less dense vignette you can go up to about 150. For a more opaque vignette, lower the number.

Right click on your mouse and choose "Select Inverse" from the menu.

Click on the little half darkened circle to create an adjustment layer.

Select Solid Color

Click on the color palette to select the color you want your vignette to be. 

Use the slider to further adjust the opacity, or how light or dark you want your vignette to be.

Now you just right click, flatten your image and save it as a jpg.

I like this method because it is so easy to customize. You can adjust the opacity and select any color you want. You can even use the color picker tool to select a color from your photo for a perfect match. You can also use the eraser tool to erase back in any areas you don't want covered by the vignette. Have fun playing!

*Photo by Mary Jo Martin

Kentucky Horses

These horses were so friendly. I could hardly get a shot off because they kept coming over for me to pet them. These lost some contrast on the upload for some reason. =(

Fall color

Fall in Kentucky

I spent some time at the Lexington Cemetery today and then headed out a scenic road in search of some fall color.

Getting bigger...

I tried again tonight with my 2x teleconverter and 200mm lens. Still hand held since my tripod is in storage at the new house. Settings were ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/125. As seen from Lexington, KY.

Tonight's Moon

I haven't been feeling very motivated to pick up my camera this week, but I couldn't resist this beautiful moon tonight.Camera settings on this one were f/5.6, ISO 200, 1/350 at 200mm. I did crop this one since I was too lazy to go inside for my teleconverter. It was also hand held since my tripod is in storage at the new house. =(

Odds and ends from this weekend