Fix-It-Friday - again!

Well it’s time for another Fix-It-Friday from I ♥ Faces.  Today’s challenge was a lot of fun, and I really like the results.

 

Here’s the original photo from Hotomom.  What a cute young lady!  Head on over and check out some of Hotomom’s photos.  She’s got a really cute family!

 

Now here’s my fix for this photo.

1) Opened the original and adjusted the exposure, added a little warmth, and rotated the photo in Lightroom 2.5.

2) From there, I went on to edit in Photoshop using an “Eye Pop” tutorial from Jessica Sprague.  I also used the healing brush to take away a few blemishes.

3)  At this point I went back to Lightroom 2.5 and used an adjustment brush to smooth the skin.

4) I also adjusted or added clarity, vibrancy and a post crop vignette in LR.

5) The scrapbook page was made for “Pink Lemonade” from Jessica Sprague also!

 

I really enjoy Fix-It-Friday.  It gives me an opportunity to practice new techniques and make the ones I know better.

I have a son, and he’s all boy!  When Beth was pregnant with RJ, I did nothing but buy girl clothes, but that’s another story for another day!

 

Halloween 2009

Well, it’s come and gone.  Now it’s time to skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas.  Can you believe the speed this year has?  It’s moving along like an out of control snowball rolling downhill toward the depths of Hades!!!!!!

Tradition is something that all families hold dear.  For us, heading to my Mom and Dad’s for Halloween is one of those traditions.  With RJ being older, I thought we were all but done with the idea of schlepping through the neighborhood dressed as who knows what, begging for candy!  Heaven knows, I don’t need candy in my house at this time!!!!!!!!

Well, as much as I thought we were finished, RJ decides that we need to go.  Not for him mind you, but so we would not hurt his grandmother’s feelings.  Every year, Mama Jo makes a big pot of chili, and RJ has loved it from the get go.  When we get there, Mama Jo ask if I brought my camera, then says, “Oh, wait minute, is your arm attached to your body?”  Kind of like the old proverbial question, “Does a bear @%$ in the woods?”  I can’t believe it, she wants me to take her picture!

For years, I’ve told everyone that my mother (and her 2 daughters) were witches.  No one would believe me.  Now I have proof!  Here she is, in all of her glory mixing a cauldron of potions!    You got to have at least one ghost picture on Halloween! 

RJ said he was to old for the ritualistic begging of candy!  Those were his exact words…”ritualistic begging:.  When did my boy grow up?  Anyway, when Mama Jo gave him a bag of “seed candy”, he was off to the races.  Heck, she even gave him a Jeff Gordon football jersey to wear for his costume.  It was funny, I was taking pictures and the neighbor boy came over for his candy.  RJ asked if I was ready, and I told him no, I was staying here taking photos.  The neighbor Dad told him to come on, he could go with them.  RJ said he now understood what it was like having a younger brother.  He then politely  but firmly said “DON’T WANT ONE!”

Now, I believe this is one of the best pictures I have taken of my mother.  She looks as if she is in her element (dressed for the part and all!)  But there is a reason, she has never asked me to take her picture before… 

And this is it….

Sorry Mama Jo, I couldn’t resist dragging out an oldie but goodie!