Beggar Lady Photo: Before & After

As I can only add 1 photo for every "I Heart Faces" photo challenge, this is a separate blog entry for those interested in my "before" & "after" photo composites of the "Beggar Lady."

I Heart Faces: Dramatic Black & White

This is my second "I Heart Faces" photo challenge, and I wanted to challenge myself by venturing onto new learning paths.

There were so many photos to consider, but I liked this photo of the blind beggar lady that I encountered during my travels in India in 2005. This lady was standing outside the gated area where a wedding was taking place. It was very interesting for me to watch part of the Indian wedding ceremony. Guests were coming & going; a beautiful white cart decorated with flowers and 2 horses were at the ready to whisk the bridal couple away. There was such a contrast of colour & festivities vs the lone woman in drab clothing begging for a few rupees.

The original colour photo was quite drab looking and I just "didn't know what to do" with that photo. (If you would like to see the original photo, I've added it on my blog after this entry.) Thanks to this photo challenge, here's what I did to create the finished "dramatic" look:

• convert photo to B&W
• run a portrait action
• add vibrance
• add 2 textures
• make needed adjustments (levels, curves)
• burn around the edges
• add a vignette
• frame

Check out some of the other participants photos here.

"Beautiful Sky"

In addition to the weekly photo challenges on "I Heart Faces" there are also different photo themes on this website's free Community Network.

Last summer the smoke from the mountain forest fires cast these interesting rich hues on the sky above Calgary.

I submitted the above photo to the website, but the 2 photos below weren't not submitted... I have added them to this blog for interest's sake.

The sky above Lighting Lake, Alberta.

Summer 2009: I looked out the window at home & saw this very interesting cloud formation.

I Heart Faces: Focusing on Angles

This is my first entry for "i heart faces" (www.iheartfaces.com) and this week's challenge is Focusing on Angles. The weather has not been conducive for venturing outside today, so I tried a new angle while indoors.

Before my son settled down to sleep, I took this photo.

Remembering Emily

Love cannot be measured by increments of time...

An entire lifetime of love can be squeezed into a few brief miraculous moments when necessary.

~ Author Unknown

It was a year ago that little Emily & her twin sister Caidance entered this world. As a photographer for "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep," I had the opportunity to meet these 2 beautiful little girls.

Emily only lived for 12 hours, but I was able to photograph her for 3 hours of those precious 12 hours. I think of Emily so often... she was so beautiful, and she captured my heart.

Today I'm thinking of Emily on her 1 year Angelversary, and Caidance on her first birthday.

I just love this photo: Emily & Caidance are each holding onto their mother's hand.

I am honoured to have been a part of Emily's short life here on earth and to have the opportunity to allow Mom Deborah to always remember her one little angel that left all too soon.

If you would like more information about NILMDTS or if you would like to donate to this wonderful non-profit organization, please go to www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

Julie, Sarath & Amara

Julie & Sarath and 2 year old Amara came out to the studio last Saturday to have some photos done.

The first time I took photos of Amara was when she was just 13 days old; the last time I took this family's photos was when Amara was just under 1 year old; it is so fun to watch this little gal grow up!

Jules is only 12 days away from delivering Baby Sofia!

Amara was pleased with her reward from her parents for being so good!

Here is just one of the bunch of maternity photos that I took of Julie:

Amara liked climbing on the ladder :)

Sarath & his girls

Thanks for coming over, Jules, Sarath & Amara!! Looking forward to meeting baby Sofia!

Taylor, Jayden & Maleah

My sister Rochelle took some photos of her 3 daughters, and she asked me to do some special effects... so I played around with some different ideas.

Of course, this is also to give you an idea of what one can do with just 1 photograph...

"Three textures":

Vintage look with border:

B&W + Colourize with border:

Colourize with new texture & border:

Colourize + textures, no border:

Autumn glow:

Vintage Blush:

Vintage:

Sun-kissed:

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

I can hardly believe it's mid-March already! This year is just flying by... and I am finally catching up on my blog postings.

I volunteer for the non-profit organization "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" which offers free remembrance photography for families who are going through the loss of a child. We believe that these images serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honouring their child's legacy.

February 13, I attended one of NILMDTS's training seminars which was taught by Trina Lewis of Creations Photo in Edmonton. Trina is also a photographer for NILMDTS. She did a wonderful presentation for the group of 10 photographers who attended this information/training session.

It has been an honour to be involved with NILMDTS over the past 2 years and to give an invaluable gift of remembrance photography to families who have gone through the loss of a child.

If you would like more information about NILMDTS, or if you would like to donate to NILMDTS, please check out their website, www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.