Everyday activity

I read an article today from Artifact Uprising about documenting everyday life. That inspired me to take something I’ve already captured and edit it to make it look better. Shooting everyday life isn’t something I do much and I don’t feel like I’m very good at composing the shots. I’m going to have to work on that!

My girls, like all tweens/teens love to be on the computer. So, this is definitely everyday life for us.

Girl sits on couch and plays on computer. Not So SAHM
Everyday Life – ProjectEdit365 – 17 Sep

I cropped in and turned it to black and white to limit the surrounding distractions. Cropping in also puts more emphasis on her face and hands (which are so cute!). I lowered the contrast and clarity and increased the exposure and whites. I decreased the blacks and shadows. I used an adjustment filter on her face to increase the contrast and sharpness of that. Here’s the original:

17september

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Keeper of the boats

This guy knows the perfect spot for fishing. And his little seagull friend is waiting in the wings. While researching the bird, I found out that a white heron is the same as a great egret. I wonder what he calls himself? Full, if he can spot a fish.

A white heron (great egret) is perched on a boat waiting to spot a a fish. Not So SAHM
Keeper of the boats – ProjectEdit365 – 16 Sep

Even though the cropped picture still has a lot going on, the original wasn’t quite focused on anything. I cropped and used radial filters to focus on the heron (egret). I lowered the contrast and saturation but increased the highlights, clarity, and vibrancy. Here’s the original:

16september

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The Tree

I feel like I’m running out of pictures for September, and we’re only half-way through! That may mean some crazy editing and/or new techniques! In the meantime, I found a somewhat pretty but boring picture of a field, a fence, and a tree, and dressed it up a bit.

A beautiful field, tree, and fence. Not So SAHM
The Tree – ProjectEdit365 – 15 Sep

To make the picture more dramatic, I increased the clarity, decreased the highlights, and adjusted the temp and tint sliders until I got a look that I liked. I used a radial filter to highlight the opening in the fence. I used an adjustment filter on the sky to decrease the exposure a touch. I also cropped out that rectangle thing just to the right and in the background of “the tree” and added another bush. Here’s the original:

15september

 

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Cotton Clouds

When I was little, I thought that we could really sit on clouds. Did you? They would be so soft, and somehow we wouldn’t fall.

I remember the deep disappointment when I was told that this wasn’t true.
I don’t think I’ve completely gotten over that one.

Fluffy, cotton-like clouds fill the sky. Not So SAHM
Cotton Clouds – ProjectEdit365 – 14 Sep

The original was a cell phone picture through the windshield and it was very grainy. So I decreased the noise drastically in this one. Normally that smooths out a picture so much that it looks fake. Well, in this instance, I think it did the clouds some good! Here’s the original:

14september

 

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Lone Cypress

Just like any other landmark or iconic object, it is special to finally see it in person.

Along 17 Mile Drive sits the Lone Cypress. Kind of all by its lonesome – it has many visitors to keep it company.

The Lone Cypress stands on an outcropping of stone along 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Not So SAHM
The Lone Cypress – ProjectEdit365 – 13 Sep

The original was pretty dark. I increased the exposure, highlights, and contrast, and lightened the shadows. I decreased the clarity a little bit to play up the haze in the background. I used an adjustment brush on the tree to increase the contrast and clarity of it. I also used a graduated filter to warm the right side of the sky and rocks. I finished by adding a small vignette. Here is the original:

13september

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Leisurely Float down the Potomac

Riverbend Park is a small area north of Great Falls Park in Northern Virginia. If it’s ever too crowded at Great Falls, head up to Riverbend!

A man floats down the Potomac River at Riverbend Park in Northern Virginia. Not So SAHM
Leisurely Float – ProjectEdit365 – 12 Sep

I started out by making the original more dynamic by increasing the usual sliders: contrast, clarity, vibrance (just a tad). But I wanted to add some character to the photo so I added a preset. I adjusted that a bit to get the look I wanted. I used an adjustment brush on the man and his reflection to sharpen it specifically. Here’s the original:

12september

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