Not So SAHM

Downhome Goodness

The best food, even if not the best for you, comes from hole-in-the-wall restaurants. BBQ is one of the best examples. This restaurant happens to be in Warner Robins, Ga, but good barbecue in hole-in-the-wall restaurants can be found all over America.

Fincher's Barbecue in Warner Robins, Georgia. Not So SAHM — Downhome Goodness – ProjectEdit365 – 08 Dec

This is a clean restaurant, just a small, old one.

I didn’t edit the original much but wanted to make it look a little vintage. I decreased the exposure, highlights, exposure, and saturation. I increased the contrast, clarity, and whites. I then added some grain and a little bit of vignette. Here’s the original:

08dec

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Daydreaming

I don’t know what it is, but I’m just not feeling very creative with the edits recently! It may be the pool of pictures I have to choose from – I’m not too crazy about what I’ve taken in Decembers past and present. I’d like to do some noticeable, drastic edits, but most of my December pics are of the girls opening Christmas presents. Exactly 1.5 people want to see those pictures, and that’s none of y’all, I’m sure!

I did find this one, and it’s cute. We have a family tradition to see the Christmas Lights at Callaway Gardens every year and then do some shopping the next day in the cute little town. Here’s Reagan pretending to relax and daydream:

Girl sits on bench and daydreams. Not So SAHM — Daydreaming – ProjectEdit365 – 07 Dec

The original was cute but I wanted to give it a more special look. I cropped in to leave you wondering a little bit more about where she is. I ran a CoffeeShop Blog Preset and adjusted some of the settings to my liking. Then I used radial filters to highlight Reagan. Here’s the original:

07dec

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Time for a Christmas Story

Their bond is so special to me.

I pray that it’s as special to them when they grow up.

Older sister reads a Christmas story to younger sister. Not so SAHM — Time for a Christmas Story – ProjectEdit365 – 06 Dec

I was practicing shooting at non-normal angles and I’m so glad I got this one. The focus isn’t so great, but the sentiment and action are priceless. I sharpened it and reduced the noise to help out a little. I turned it monochromatic to reduce the distraction. I thought about cropping in to get rid of the wooden chair on the right and the socks? above the book, but I like having the little bit of negative space around their heads. I increased the contrast and clarity, which can darken things, so I lightened the shadows. I adjusted the tone curve just a bit to slightly matte the image. Here’s the original:

06dec

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Crazy Christmas Lights

Sometimes the season feels like this. See yesterday’s post for the cure.

I had a lot of fun playing with the tree lights, long shutter speeds, and movement. Looks like a funky neon sign!

Christmas tree lights look like a neon sign. Not So SAHM — Crazy Christmas Lights – ProjectEdit365 – 05 Dec

The original was neat, but hazy. I decreased the contrast and vibrance and increased the clarity, whites, and saturation. I cooled the picture a bit, too, so it wouldn’t be so yellowish. The edited picture is much crisper. Here’s the original:

05dec

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Focus of the Season

I’m back home from my quick trip! Looking at my calendar for this month I know that it’s going to fly by. It’s imperative for me to get my focus set right now on what the holiday season is all about. For us, it’s celebrating the birth of Jesus. My hope is that I’ll remember that as I get tied down in the busyness of life and celebrations this month. Here’s a reminder:

Nativity figures are shown behind a frame. Not So SAHM — Focus of the Season – ProjectEdit365 – 04 Dec

I took this the first December that I had my “big” camera. The composition was off and it’s a little warm. I cropped to straighten and to get rid of the distraction around the frame. I wanted to keep my daughter’s hand though. I used an adjustment brush to cool down the figures, decrease their clarity just a bit to soften the look and increase their contrast. I decreased the highlights and the vibrance of the whole picture. Here’s the original:

04dec

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

December at the cemetery

Every December Wreaths Across America lays wreaths at the headstones of veterans. We helped out one year laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery.

Black and white fits this setting and the dark wreaths really contrast against the white stones. I cloned out a person in the background and cropped in a little. Here is the original: