Topaz Glow
To say that I’m excited by the release of Topaz Labs newest plug-in would be a huge understatement. This week Topaz Glow was released and what a great addition to Topaz’s arsenal of great tools.
Topaz Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin (for PC & MAC) to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects. Glow reveals hidden textures in your photos that aren’t visible to the naked eye. While you may not want to apply Glow on every image, you can take your creativity to the next level with this awesome plug-in.
Glow comes packed with 70 filters which you can use as is or you have complete artistic control to customize, combine and tweak to make your vision come to life.
Topaz Glow is regularly priced at $69.99 but until December 31, 2014 you can pick up Glow for $49.99 using the coupon code INTROGLOW.
Here are a few of my images processed with Topaz Glow. Click on each image to see a larger version.
Sunflower Sunshine
I love sunflowers. In full bloom they exude happiness and light and much like a photographer they follow that light. I came across this beauty in a sunflower field in the hills of Tuscany.
Click on the image to see a full resolution version (it really does look better) or to Purchase a Print.
Funky Flowers
Disclaimer….no flowers were harmed in the making of this photograph.
This was shot through a piece of water-glass. The only post processing was a slight adjustment to levels in Photoshop.
Click on the image to enlarge or to Purchase a Print.
Yellow Rose of Friendship
The yellow rose signifies friendship and caring so I thought it appropriate to share this image with you today and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Click on the image to enlarge (it really does look better) or to Purchase a Print.
Black Friday Special – All prints & products in my gallery are 20% Off. Use discount code Thanks2012
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Getting in Close
I don’t do a lot of macro or close-up photography, but like most of us, I’m always looking to expand my skills. This weekend I participated in a close-up photography workshop with photographer Julie Waterhouse. Julie is a skilled photographer and teacher with a keen eye for detail and an infectious attitude towards learning and discovery. I really enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and trying different things during the workshop and if you’re not familiar with Julie I encourage you to check out her website or sign-up for her free photo-tips newsletter.
I’m still working through processing my images so you’ll see more in the coming days but here’s the first from this weekend’s workshop.
Click on the image to enlarge (it really looks better) or to Purchase a Print.
Stand Tall
Sorry about the post title…I was trying to come up something a little bit more unique and witty but unfortunately I was having one of those creative-title-creating-uninspired mental blocks. Fortunately though I was feeling a little bit more inspired when I saw this lily as the sun was setting the other day. The top petals were a bit wilted but the base of the lily was standing straight up and the light from the setting sun was shining right through.
Click to enlarge or to purchase print.
Awards, Nominations & A Big Thank You
Over the past several months I’ve been honoured (and humbled) by being nominated for several blogging awards. I am embarrased to say that while I have acknowledged and thanked the individuals who have nominated me I’ve not dedicated a post to it. It’s just a simple matter of lots of juggling of work, family and various projects and lack of precious time. So today I’d like to publicly say THANK YOU to the following bloggers that have nominated me…
Otto von Münchow – Münchow’s Creative PhotoBlog
Nia – Photography of Nia
David Pasillas – iPhone Photographer
nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award and
Silvia Ganora – The Visual Notepad nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award
Definitely check out Otto, David, Nia and Sil’s blogs as they are quite incredible.
The award requirements are that I share seven random facts about myself and nominate 15 other bloggers so here we go…
7 Facts about myself
- I have a Bachlor of Fine Arts with a major in Theatre
- I worked professionally as a Stage Manager and stage managed a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland
- I have 4 men in my life that I would walk to the end of the planet for (my husband, 2 sons and my dog, Brady)
- I have a travel bug that I can’t cure (and don’t want too)
- I love musical theatre and know the words to just about every Oscar & Hammerstein; Sondheim; Kander & Ebb and Lerner & Lowe (amongst others) musical…but I CAN’T sing…so sad 😦
- In photography I know it’s not about gear…but I love gear.
- A few years back I wrote and published a pregnancy journal titled “Baby…I Can Hardly Wait!’
So according to the award I’m supposed to nominate 15 blogs but to be honest this was a very difficult task. There are so, so many wonderful and talented photographers out there that I found it very difficult to keep to 15. So as someone who’s been known to bend the rules every so often here are 21 (my lucky number) absolutely awesome photoblogs that I nominate and you should check out (but only visit if you want to be completely awestruck and inspired…you’ve been warned):
Eden R. Ellis – Eden’s Captures
Len Saltiel – LensEye View Photography
Adam Allegro – Catch The Jiffy
Mike Murphy – MurphyzPhotography
Aaron Barlow – Delineations of the Eye
A Creative Adventure photography by Denise Ippolito
There are still so many other blogs of talented photographers that I visit and I will list those in a follow up post.
Purple Petals
There’s something about flower images that when merged with a texture provides an intricate and interesting tactile experience. I had a lovely selection of cut flowers in a vase at home and decided to put my new Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens to the test. I loved the contrast between the purple petals and the green buds (is that what they’re called?) in the centre of the flower. I composed the image to that the petals would be more prominent in the frame. While the image, right out of the camera, was lovely I felt that adding a texture provided more drama to the piece. Let me know what you think.
Click on the image to enlarge or to purchase a print.
A Flower By Any Other Name….
Project 52 – Entry #10
There’s a flowering plant in my backyard that’s been there since I moved in. I don’t know what it’s called (I’m really bad with plant names) but it amazes me as it keeps coming back year after year. You might be saying…”why is that so amazing?” For those of you that know me, know that my thumb isn’t that green and plants don’t tend to do well with me over the long haul. Anyway I don’t pay too much attention to the plant in question but I do water it and it rewards me every summer with pretty orange flowers. The other evening I was sitting in the backyard as the sun was starting to set and the light hitting the flower was amazing so I ran inside to grab my camera.
This was the result. There was no additional post production on this image with the exception of tweaking levels slightly in Photoshop.
Canon XTi, Sigma 18 - 200mm, f/6.3, 1/100, 51mm
