Photo Storify

Photos, Stories and Scrapbooking

Anywhere, Everywhere

By

On April 18, 2018

In Photography, Scrapbooking

We stopped at the park last Thursday for a short time before picking up her brothers from school. I captured her moves when she jumped up on the bench at the park with my iPhone. Actually, Kate is always moving, sometimes to music and at other time just imitating what she has seen, for example these gymnastic moves. She doesn’t mind my taking pictures as long as I slide, swing, climb and dance right along with her. In fact, she will often tell me what I should photograph.

Extractions are one of my scrapbooking strengths. I use them often, so they are fairly quick now. On this page I did use my tablet to control the Quick Selection Tool and masking. Often, I just use the trackpad on my computer. Below, I detail the steps for creating this page.

To create an extraction, trace the image to extract with the Quick Selection Tool, choose refine mask and then output to a mask. With a small, hard round brush, clean up any unwanted pixels. Add a custom shadow.

Complete the other extractions and add shadows. Reduce the size to about 50%. Place psd layers of file 3 from MultiMedia Accordion No. 2. Delete the gold elements and adjust the position of the thread. Rotate the frame 90°. Clip copies of artsy paper 1 from ArtPlay Palette Infatuated to each mask. Add file 1 from UrbanStitchez No. 2 to ground large extraction. Add thread 10 from ButtonThreadz No. 2 to the right side of the frame.

Note: I reduced the size of the paper and linked the copies.

Stamp brush 10 from MiniDots No. 2 vertically and horizontally behind the extraction and frames.

Note: Use the eraser tool to remove overlapping areas.

Place pattern paper 1 from ArtPlay Palette Glance. Using the dots as a pattern, stamp randomly with a hard round brush some black and pink dots. Add and journaling.

I’m going to miss this girl when she’s in kindergarten next year. She is so much fun!!

Different Purposes

By

On April 8, 2018

In Photography, Scrapbooking

On Thursday during my week in California, I flew up to San Francisco to spend the day with my friends, Adryane and Don. Last year it rained, but this time, the weather was perfect t-shirt weather and perfect for making photographs.

I use the photos that I make not only to create art, but also to document the things I want to remember or share with family; in order words, I make pages that I will print through Persnickety or add to the my current book project. This two page spread is for my book.

While I have used both focal photos on this two page spread on two previous pages, I wanted to create something for the next book I will publish. Think about it from an efficiency perspective, I’ve already done some of the creative the work, so why not?

Note: I started with the photos that I previously used on layouts. For information on those previous layouts, see Quick and Simple and Pokemon Go.

I explain the process below.

Place layers of photo on left, deleting layers and changing blend modes as needed. Place photo on right, create a sketch, mask another layer to improve color and maintain blue in sky, add track extension.

Note: I used most of the layers of the photo on the left from a previous page. I placed only the photo on the right but repeated some steps, i.e. making a sketch.

Add frames, stains and art strokes from templates 2, 9 and 13 from WaterColor Template Album No. 5. Clip photos to masks and adjust as needed.

Note: I used the fotoblendz mask from template 9 on the right. I also substituted a frame and mask from template 13 to accommodate the screenshot on the right. I used the frames from template 2 on the left.

Below all the frames, place transfer 1 and 2 from ArtPlay Palette Surf’s Up on the right. On the left, place transfer 7. In the page gutter, place two gold transfers, reversing one. Stamp brushes 5 and 10 in blue. Pull layers from psd files 1 and 4 from Artsy Transfers Surf’s Up to fill in background. Stamp brush 5 in red, rotating for variation.

Note: I chose layers from the artsy transfers based on color and texture to fit my vision for this page.

Place additional photo in page gutter and add an inverted mask. Stamp with brushes from ArtsyPaint 7 and ArtsyPaint 8 on the mask in white to reveal the ship. Align photo with line of background brush on left.

Add Pokeball, red button from ArtPlay Palette Weihnachtsbaum and thread from template 15.

I think it’s okay to reuse photos for different pages, especially if you have different purposes, i.e. art or memory keeping. Both are valuable for me at this point in my life.

Quick and Simple Art

By

On April 4, 2018

In Photography, Scrapbooking

My art is what I create with my photos. On this page, I combined a brush from Pier No. 1 and a photo that I captured in February while visiting Adryane in San Francisco. My sister paints from photos; I combine photo treatments, with papers, transfers, threads and small frames to create art. Below are the steps that I followed for this page.

Stamp brush 6 from Pier No. 1 in a dark blue black. Change the blend mode to linear burn at 100%.

Place mask 4 from WaterColor FotoBlendz No. 6. Duplicate photo 4 times and clip to mask. Create a sketch, normal blend mode at 100%. I lightened the sketch with a levels adjustment layer. Change the blend mode of the second copy to vivid light at 100%. Change the blend mode of the third copy to normal at 70%. Change the blend mode of the fourth copy to lighten at 100%.

Note: While I used Topaz Studio to create a quick sketch, this can be done in the filters menu. I also masked out a part of the fourth copy.

Add a small frame and threads for the photo. Clip photo to frame and adjust as needed.

Note: I pulled a frame and thread from WaterColor Template Album No. 4 for this page.

Place solid paper 1 and pattern paper 2 from ArtPlay Palette Sea Life. Add a layer mask and divide space using the dashed brush line as a guide. Above the papers, place transfers 5 and 11 from ArtPlay Palette Sea Life.

Place word art 6 and beaded thread from Art WordART Mix No. 1. Add text to title in a different font.

Note: I erased part of the stamped title and substituted words to fit what I wanted to convey.

When time is short, I am learning that I can still enjoy my art creating something quick and simple with a photo.

Chrysanthemums

By

On March 25, 2018

In Photography, Scrapbooking

I went early for my evening classes at Lauritzen Gardens last fall just for the light at the magic hour. These evening classes are one of the few times that anyone can enter the gardens just as the sun sets. Normally, they close at five. So I’ve decided that this year, I’m going focus on attending the evening photography classes. I’m looking forward to what I find in April’s evening class.

I’ve been trying to catch up on some pages for my flower album. For this page, I used Anna’s new FotoInspired Template Pack 2H. As I have done with the previous pages, I reduced the size of the template base. However, I did not change the size of the small frame. I deleted the framed mask’s shadow. I changed the color of the mask to white and blurred it so that the photos would show behind the journaling. I then gave the frame a custom shadow using the warp tool.

I clipped my photos to the masks and adjusted as needed with levels adjustment layers.

Below the masks, I layered a brush and overlay from ArtPlay Palette Euphoria as well as layers from transfers 3, 5 and 5 in Artsy Transfers Euphoria.

Finally, I added a title consistent with the other pages I have created for this book. Showcasing my photos couldn’t be easier.

Walk in the Fog

By

On March 20, 2018

In Scrapbooking

Early one morning on a walk for hot chocolate with my sister, Glenda, I captured this photograph with my iPhone as she approached the lights illuminating the sidewalk. This is probably one of the best shots I’ve ever made with my iPhone. I did not change the blue in the photo while creating this page, instead, I made changes in the color of the palette that I used.

I thought the background paper in the Mini ArtPlay Palette Conserve, currently available free with the purchase of Anna’s products during the sale at Oscraps this week, gave the appearance of the fog in my photo. I knew that I could adjust the color. With that in mind, I started my page by clipping the photo to three layers of file 3 from Scenic FotoBlendz No. 1. I also clipped a levels adjustment layer to the photo and changed the blend mode to soft light at 100%.

Next, I place brush 4, brush 5, the gold paint and overlay 3 from Mini ArtPlay Palette Conserve.

Then I placed solid paper 1 and adjusted the color based on the hue of the masked photo by reducing the saturation and adjusting the hue. I duplicated of the paper, desaturated it and changed the blend mode to linear burn at 75%. I placed that above the original paper layer.

I created a cluster along the bottom of the photo, layering the word strip and paper leaf from the mini artplay palette with a button from ArtPlay Palette Savor and thread 6 from ButtonThreadz No. 3. To darken the yellow button I clipped a levels adjustment layer to it and changed the blend mode to linear burn at 70%.

Finally, I added a title from Scenic WordART Mix No. 2 and journaling.

Perfect Birthday

By

On March 17, 2018

In Scrapbooking

I’ve finally finished the layout with the photos I captured on our birthday. Glenda and I have had a birthday tradition for more than 20 years, having tea at the Huntington Library. This year instead of tea, we had salads under a lovely canopy at a new place on the library grounds.

We spent some time during our walk making photographs. Glenda has a new camera, but not a lot of experience using it. Personally, I’m glad that she has taken up this hobby that I love so much. Photography is a wonderful complement to her painting.

For the first time that I remember, there were geese floating in the waters of the Chinese Garden. We see them all year here at a large pond at Lakeside Park, huddling together on the frozen ice during the winter. I’m wondering if the garden staff will let them stay.

One thing that I appreciate about Anna’s templates as I create pages is how easy it is to switch masks and frames to create a new look. For this layout,I used only the frames, textboxes, stitching and a few stains from templates templates 5 and 12 of WaterColor Template Album No. 5. Below, I explain my process.

Place file 3 and the psd version of file 4 from Scenic FotoBlendz No. 1 on a new blank 24×12 document. Open the templates, drag over only the textboxes, stitching, frames and stains below the frames. Place above the large fotoblendz masks. Note: I adjusted the position of one frame on the left side to accommodate a photo.

Clip photos to fotoblendz masks. Clip a levels adjustment layer to each photo and change the blend mode to overlay at 50%. Duplicate the photo on the right and clip it to the psd layers. Note: I deleted the splatter and tape layers.

Clip photos to small masks and add adjustment layers as needed. Stamp brush 6 from ArtsyCameras No. 1 below one frame on the right. Note: I often clip photos to the stains below the frames so that I can extend the framed photo. I clipped another photo to the camera brush on the right and clipped a photo to it (lowered saturation) just to repeat the pink on the left side.

To expand or intensify the sky, place transfer 6 from ArtPlay Palette Scenic on the right below the fotoblendz mask layers. Add a layer mask to hide any part bleeding through the focal photo. On the left, place transfer 3 from Sky Transfers No. 1 below the mask. Place transfer 5 from ArtPlay Palette Scenic and png file 3 from Sky Transfers No. 1 across the gutter of the page and mask as needed. Note: I lined it up with the bridge on the right.

To finish, add the camera charm from ArtPlay Palette Traveler; add a mask to place part of the charm under the threads and create a title. In this case I combined two fonts to say what I wanted but in a format similar to a file in Scenic WordART Mix No. 2.

Creative Genealogy

By

On March 4, 2018

In Scrapbooking

My grandparents, Mose and Irene Kennamer, built their home in 1910 on the James Allen Kennamer farm near Quitman, Texas. They lived there until 1939 when they moved to Dallas, Texas. Mose studied music, farmed and became an efficient piano tuner. My grandmother ran the farm and supervised eleven children while my grandfather traveled throughout Texas to tune pianos.

I didn’t live near my grandparents as a child. My grandmother died when I was 4, but I have a wealth of information because my grandfather contributed significantly to publishing of a genealogy book on his ancestors. I thought the look of book would be perfect for this layout.

I placed solid paper 4 from ArtPlay Palette Archive on a new blank document.

Place the psd layers of file 2 from MultiMedia Documents No. 3. Just below the fastener shadow, place the photo. Give the photo a custom shadow, pulling it in with the warp tool below the fastener.

Below the multimedia layers, add transfer 1 from ArtPlay Palette Archive and change the blend mode to darken to blend it into the background paper.

Add edge overlays 1 and 2 below and recolor both. Flip overlay 1 vertically and erase anything overlapping the newsprint edge in the paper.

To create an informal family tree stamp brush 8 from NoteBook No. 3 in black. Below, stamp brush 6 from Trees No. 2. Note: I added the names of my great grandparents.

Add word art 3 from Family WordART Mix No. 1 for a tile and journaling.

Having a copy of the book my grandfather helped compile and publish, I wonder what he would think of this page. I know my dad would have liked it.

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Pokemon Go

By

On February 25, 2018

In Scrapbooking

As part of my birthday celebration in February, I flew up to San Francisco to play Pokemon Go on Pier 39 with Adryane and Don. Besides finding enough Wailmer candies to evolve a Wailord, I captured the Dragonite in the screenshot and fought level 5 raids. We played, stopping only for photographs, lunch and dark chocolate, until I had to catch my flight back late that afternoon.

When I caught the screenshot of the Ferry Arch from inside the app and the photo of the Ferry Arch with my FujiX-T2, I was already thinking about making a page remembering the day. This was one of the easiest pages I’ve ever created. It involved combining two photos and some iPhone screenshots using artsy brushes on inverted masks. Directions for creating this page follow.

Create a sketch of the photo, change the blend mode to linear burn and duplicate. Add an inverted mask and use brushes from ArtsyPaint No. 14 and AnnaBlendz Artsy No. 10 to bring back the sketch.

Note: I used Topaz Simplify to create my sketch. You can also create a sketch with Photocopy in the Filter gallery.

Use the same brush sets on inverted masks to add color from the photo copies to the sketch. Place the top color layer on color burn at 100% and the layer below on linear burn at 100%. Use the same technique on the extension of the track.

Place textures 2 and 3 from PaperTextures No. 6 above the photo layers.

Stamp brushes from ArtsyPaint No. 14 on new blank layers in a light blue below the photo.

Place iPhone screenshots on the page, resize and give each a custom shadow. Add thread 9 from UrbanThreadz No. 15 above the cards. Add a Poke ball above the screenshots and give it a shadow.

Note: I found the Poke ball on the internet.

Place photo just below the Pokemon screen shots. Extract and give it a shadow.

Add title and journaling to finish the page.

I want to thank Adryane and her husband, Don for a fabulous day: talking, walking and playing Pokemon Go.

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Photograph Art

By

On February 18, 2018

In Photography, Scrapbooking

After a wonderful visit with my sister last week, I’m just now beginning to work with some of the photographs that I created while in California. Although my art primarily emanates from my photography, at times, a page is inspired by both the photograph and the designs with which I work. In this case, the greens in Anna’s palette inspired me to use this photograph.

I began by placing artsy paper 1 from ArtPlay Palette Heath, but soon switched it out for solid paper 2 in order to eliminate the sky. I placed transfer 1 in the same position as on the artsy paper.

Next, I created a sketch of the photo and clipped it to mask 1 from FotoBlendz Overlays No. 11. I changed the color of the mask to white to accommodate a blend mode of linear burn on my sketch.

Above the sketch, I clipped the photo, added an inverted layer mask and revealed the color photo by stamping on the mask with brushes from ArtsyPaint No. 7 and ArtsyPaint No. 8. The photo layer is on normal blend mode at 100%. I added a levels adjustment layer above the photo on overlay blend mode to brighten the photo.

Next, I roughly extracted the pagoda from a second copy of the sketch and placed it above the other photo layers. I changed the blend mode to linear burn at 100% but I did not clip it to the mask. That allowed the pagoda to dominate the scene since it wasn’t clipped to the mask. I also place art stroke 1 above the group of photo layers.

With the addition of a title and text from Inspire WordART Mix No. 1, a button and leaf from ArtPlay Palette Heath, a thread 14 from ButtonThreadz No. 1 and some journaling, I finished my page.

Initially I struggled with where to place the journaling, but after I extracted the pagoda so that it rose above the masking, I though it provided enough balance to place the little cluster, text and word art on the right side. I like that the photo still dominates the page.

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Huntington Library

By

On February 5, 2018

In Photography

My twin and I had a wonderful first day of celebration of our birthday. Today we walked the Huntington Gardens and had lunch on a patio; the weather was that fantastic. It was also an opportunity for me to help my sister learn to use her camera. She’s learning quickly.

I tried using the shrub to frame the Asian art.

This was shot with my 35mm, 50mm equivalent on my crop camera, so it’s not macro quality. However, I liked the bokeh behind the flower. Although I had brought my macro lens with me, I used only my normal lens on this walk.

Another favorite was this small nook in the Japanese garden.

White is really hard to capture, but it helped that I shot in raw. Moving the highlights to the left in Lightroom made a big difference.

I was surprised to see geese in the Chinese garden. It’s hard to see but there is one sitting on the bridge.

I liked the light coming through the openings of the bridge from the other side.

Of course it’s always a good idea to try a vertical perspective.

The glare from the ceiling lights made it difficult to capture Pinkie and Blue Boy, but working with ISO and aperture was a good experience for my sister. I shot these in raw with my Fuji X-T2 for a friend. No flash is allowed in the galleries at the Huntington Library.

 

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