Photoshop Pickle

Since I received Photoshop Elements for my birthday last November, I've fiddled with it off and on, usually clicking it closed in frustration. I have not had much success with anything other than quick edits. I'm not giving up, but it's tempting to use something that is a whole lot easier.

For instance, Picnik.com let's you add interesting effects and do simple editing with easy clicks. Love that.

Here are examples of two of my favorites...

This is called Holga-ish. I love how it creates a dark vignette that focuses on the subject and makes a pleasing black and white image.

These next few photos are examples of Lomo-ish.

Along with a dark vignette the colors are boosted as well. I really like how the reds are enhanced.

The buildings appear a little more aged and the shading around the edges accents the photo.

I'll keep watching tutorials and practicing with Photoshop Elements, but it's a relief to have the simplicity of Picnik to fall back on.

A Little Russian Dress-Up

Pink Zebra

This post is a shameless documentation of how cute Hanna Andersson's outfits are. Annelise only has a couple because they are a bit pricey. I love the opposite stripes and the playful leggings.

Perfect for twirls and climbing girls.

Do you think she'll still wear outfits like this much longer?

I can only hope.

In Which I Sing A Little David Bowie

Two days last week Annelise wore Chinese pajamas to school. Once was for their international day (oddly, she did not want to take anything from Russia) and the other was for their Valentine Party. She kept saying hello in Japanese though, intead of Chinese. Oh well.

In the Pink

Last week, when A. had her sleepover with Pappo and Miss Peggy, she was SO excited to get her nails painted. She was barely in the door the next day before her shoes and socks were shed and she was proudly displaying 20 bright pink nails.

Sweet.

I love stumbling across moments of A.'s imaginative play. They are moments that are all her, whatever scenario is fluttering across her brain.

Hence her Star Wars characters made out of Legos.

Which soon led to building a colony and protecting the Empire from Darth Vader.

Love that. Did you know that these Legos are the same Legos I played with when I was a child? Love that too.

Just a Girl and Her Monkey

A quick shot or two on the way home from school.

Meet Abu, A.'s little monkey.

Love to see her taking care of her *friends*.

In a freakish surprise we had a few minutes to spare this morning before school. I grabbed my camera and Annelise and Sadie (our Golden) followed me to the stairs. Our foyer has the best natural light, especially in the morning.

There was a lot of movement between an excited dog and a 5 year old, so there is some blur. I snapped a few on P mode, just because I always forget about it. I usually use Av mode (aperture priority), but P mode is more like auto mode without the flash. And I despise the flash.

Yes, A. has feet. I promise. I wanted to capture how long and lean she is getting. Most of her pants have a little gap between her pants and socks.

Oh my. My little girl is growing up.

Project 365

I don't always do well with long term projects, somewhere mid-way through I get distracted or run out of steam. I want this project to be different. I do.

One of my goals for 2009 is to take more pictures, many, many more. I want to capture the daily moments, whether large or small. I want to become more proficient with my camera and all it's mysterious settings. I want to record life around me.

In that vein, I read about Project 365 over at Shutter Sisters and thought it would be a perfect fit for me.

Wanna join me?

LOOK: Camera Strap Giveaway

Are you feeling lucky? (Are you, Punk?) (Sorry, could not resist a Clint reference.)

The fabulous SITS girls recently shared the scoop about a great giveaway. If you are tired of your plain camera strap, why not spice things up a bit? A touch of color, maybe a jazzy print?

Well, *SHEY* {B} has just the thing and the SITS girls are hosting a FAB giveaway. You can read more about it and drop your name into the hat HERE.

Keep your fingers crossed...