Photoshop, retouching an old photo.

So I found this old photo of my parents. I think it was taken at the airport, just before my Mum flew home to Scotland after not having been home for more than 15 years.
I was about 4 at the time.

A few years later, they split. Someone cut the photo apart!
But years go by, and someone regrets the decision. Its scanned back together and reprinted.
The quality is terrible!

I decided to choose this photo to retouch, as I feel it tells a story about our family history. About the journeys we have taken.

Firstly, I cropped into the copy I wanted. I used the eye dropper tool to select the colour of the background and blurred out not only the cut line, but all the noise from the background.

This area has been tricky. I have tried spot healing, healing brush, and now the clone stamp. Which has done the best job, I just need to need to give it a more natural appearance.
(The spot healing brush did the trick.)

A preview of one layer. You can see where I have painted the background, then erased where I didn't want it.
I'm sure there would have been a fancier way of getting the same result. One day I'm sure I'll find it!

And here we are! If my relative who wanted the photo back together could see this, I know that she would be happy. Happy to have the photo fixed, happy that I'm doing something I love.

Photoshopping the Blonde Lady, a lesson in retouching.

This is the picture we started with, for our lesson in retouching.

The aim was to 'just take a few years off'. Not, to retouch her into someone unrecognizable, just enough to be flattering.

 The tools I concentrated on were the spot healing brush, for automatically correcting areas, and the healing brush, a source selected brush.

The biggest change to my image was made using a gaussian blur on a mask layer. I 'blurred' the entire image, then 'painted' the detail (like eyes) back in.

And here is my final image!

My final steps were with the dodging and burning tools to add some light or dark back into a few areas, like the nose. Which had lost some tone with the spot healing.

The start of my portfolio.

To show that I was indeed able to study photography, or just study in general I guess, I had an entry interview.

I wanted to share with you the images that I put together to achieve this.

A single bloom of Geranium Maderense.
These plants are an explosion of flowers, so I love this capture of a seemingly solitude flower.

Organic beetroot in a farmers market, Camden, Sydney.
The hues of colour, and the focus being drawn right to the center is appealing to me.

Kariotahi at sunset.
One of my favourite photos. I love the reflection in the wet black sand, and the focus being drawn by the silhouttes.

Curious Cow.
He (a steer) was my next door neighbour for quite some time. Liked to pose for the camera.

Soaking in Soda Springs.
This old Fella was a regular at the spring. I haven't quite captured the 'essence', but the feeling is there.

Steam of the Springs.
Living with this down the road was pure heaven. I think this shot shows some of its mystical nature.

Commercial farming in Karaka, South of Auckland.
I think my design tutor would like the balance of this shot. I know I do.

The hill with the hut.
A strange little structure as you approach Rotorua. I like how the wood is picking up the golden light.

Nature harmonising with industrialism.
The road between Rotorua and Taupo. I love this photo, just love it.

The green of goodness.
Lake Rotoma. Getting this many hues of green to stand out from one another took many tries. Worth it in the end.

Old Dog, old day.
A seasoned old boy taking his evening dip in the water of lake Rotoma.

Mountain Road.
A colour photo. Which is why I find it so interesting.

A freeze of fur.
Some clarity is lost in upload, but the fur like icicles standing out against a grey day. It looks magical.

Sunset over stormy skies.
The clouds, plus a rainbow would have been enough. But I like the element the pylons add.

Sunset at Back Beach.
There is a certain 'moodiness' that I love about this shot. 

Beach Cliffs.
I love that there is a clear center to this photo. Which draws your eye right in.

Morning light turns dew into diamonds.
I love the clear contrast between bright sun and dew drops against the dark metal.

Street Lights at Sunset. Karaka Harbourside.
This image reminds me of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. So its a favourite.

Winter Woolies. Rocky Point.
When she isn't being a wriggly worm, my beautiful daughter makes a stunning subject.

Geranium Maderense.
As shot, no editing. I love the light, the bokeh and the focus being exactly on point.

Visions of violets.
A violet is slightly smaller than a .10c piece. I got this photo by laying on the wet grass, with my phone. Because I could not pass it by.

So there it is. A collection of my best photography, so far. Emphasis on so far.

See you soon,

Off we trot to the party. Camera in hand, of course.

Sunday morning had been highly anticipated in our household. It was Party Day!!!
My daughters 'Best Preschool Friend' had (inevitably) turned 5. Which of course gives way to a fabulous celebration.
A party teeming with small girls, add two ponies and BAM! Recipe for success.

Tilly, my daughter. Horse Mad.

Like a Pro.

Look at those faces. Euphoria.

There is no other place in the world this kid wants to be.

In these moments, I'm grateful for my camera and the art of photography.

Until next time, 

Rosy.

The First Class Assignment.

The first week of study is done and dusted, and I am so fired up about whats to come.
I have been dreaming of doing this for as long as I can remember. But it was never a reality, until now. Life is coming up roses!


Our first (solo) assignment with a camera was a fun one. We were sent out with a list of 10 subjects to shoot, and around 40 minutes and a campus to do it.
By biggest lesson was in punctuality. Take a time piece with you, if you are anything like me and become completely absorbed in the click of a camera.

'interior'


I chose the stair well, as I hoped the collection of lines would contrast in the way I hoped.
I was very happy with how this turned out. Straight from camera it was a frame I liked, it took one simple edit to get this end result. Which is how I imagined it could look.

My tutor, Chris Hill, NZIPP, saw this frame as fitting more the prompt of 'texure'. What do you think?

'Repetition of Shape'


A simple rubbish bin, with a pattern that provided an angle that caught my attention.

'Triplets'

Three of a kind, of anything we were told. I wasn't looking for chess pieces when I entered the library. But was so glad I stumbled across them.

'Portrait'


I walk around campus, and see so many people with fascinating features that could translate so well into photographs. Whether its dark skin against bright headphones, a striking hair cut or a smile and light in the eyes that sparks my imagination.
I have a passion for capturing people candidly, images that really do take a snap shot of their current mood, their personality and the feeling of the moment.

These are the photos from the exercise that show a sense of 'me'.Who I am aiming to become as a photographer. The style that I am going for, and an accurate portrayal of where my art is at present.

So until next time, which should be soon....

Rosy. 

The beginning...

She took the leap and built her wings on the way down

I finally did it. I took the leap that I've been too scared to take. I have gone back to school.....
Though my mind has been hungering for knowledge of all kinds, there is a

field that speaks to my soul.
Photography. Seeing a moment, feeling a moment, capturing it, having it speak to me as art.
So this is my journey. Starting as an 'amateur' and maturing into the photographer I know I can be. 

This is where the fun begins. A platform for learning, creativity and positive assessment, with the added charm of social media.

I will be posting as often as I can shoot and 'create'. 

So see you soon world,

Rosy.