6 months of ProjectEdit365

I started ProjectEdit365 in February, so today marks six months that I have been editing a picture a day! The time has flown. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process of the project:

  • choosing the pictures
  • editing each one
  • posting the edits (on several different platforms)
  • printing out some of the pics

It doesn’t take up much time each day so I haven’t felt overwhelmed by the project (yet). There are some months. . . actually I think it’s every month, that I get to the last couple of days and wonder if I’m going to be able to find enough pictures to edit. Sometimes I gravitate to the already-pretty pictures and have to remind myself that this project is to learn how to edit better.

Do you want to participate? Here are the guidelines I’ve created and have been following:

  • I am only using pictures from the month in which we are in – from any year. So, with August coming up, I’m only going to use pictures that I’ve taken in Augusts of years past (and this year if I take any).
  • I am using Lightroom to edit, but that’s only because it’s what I’ve got. I have Photoshop Elements, but it’s not fast for me and I would love to get more proficient with Lightroom and then move on to learn how to use Photoshop (including Elements).
  • Sometimes I try to think outside the box and edit in a way that I wouldn’t initially think of. . . but much of the time I have an idea in my head already of what I want to try.
  • I tag each post with #ProjectEdit365

Here’s my work so far:

Spring is coming (01 Feb)
Beach Sunset (02 Feb)
Oceans
Lone Cypress – ProjectEdit365 05 Feb
Seal Rock – ProjectEditt365 03 Feb
Into the Woods – ProjectEdit365 06 Feb
Bixby Bridge – ProjectEdit365 – 07 Feb
Carmel, California – ProjectEdit365 – 08 Feb
Set the world on fire – Project Edit 365 – 09 Feb
Toy Boat – ProjectEdit365 – 10 Feb
Big Sur – ProjectEdit365 – 11 Feb
Epcot – ProjectEdit365 – 12 Feb
California countryside – ProjectEdit365 – 14Feb
Negative Space – ProjectEdit365 – 15Feb
Silver-spangled flag – ProjectEdit365 – 16 Feb
Not Frost – ProjectEdit365 – 17 Feb
Fall of the Wall? – ProjectEdit365 – 18 Feb
ACT UP! – ProjectEdit365 – 19 Feb
Puffy Vest – ProjectEdit365 – 20 Feb
Sisters – Project Edit 365 – 21 Feb
Fat cat – ProjectEdit365 – 22 Feb
Out of the Shadows – ProjectEdit365 – 23 Feb
Static Electricity – ProjectEdit365 – 24 Feb
Reflection – ProjectEdit365 – 25 Feb
Stroll – ProjectEdit365 – 26 Feb
Adding light – ProjectEdit365 – 29 Feb
Promise of Spring – ProjectEdit365 – 06 Mar
Lines – ProjectEdit365 – 07 Mar
Bridge
Tulip Magnolia – ProjectEdit365 – 09Mar
Antiquated – ProjectEdit365 – 10 Mar
Bill – ProjectEdit365 – 11Mar
Lover’s Point – ProjectEdit365 – 12Mar
Nautical Morning – ProjectEdit365 – 13 Mar
Opportunist
Explorers
Petals – ProjectEdity365 – 19 Mar
Vertical – ProjectEdit365 – 20 Mar
Sun Salutation – ProjectEdit365 – 21 Mar
Bird of Paradise – ProjectEdit365 – 22 Mar
Sleepy Harbor – ProjectEdit365 – 23 mar
Washington in color – ProjectEdit365 – 25 Mar
Jogging the Mall – ProjectEdit365 – 26 Mar
Stigma and anther – ProjectEdit365 – 18 Mar
Capuchin Silhouette – ProjectEdit365 – 27 Mar
Working the beds – ProjectEdit365 – 28 Mar
Secret Garden – ProjectEdit365 – 29 Mar
Olmec Chocolate – ProjectEdit365 – 30 Mar
Jungle Cabin – ProjectEdit365 – 31 Mar
Blue Eyes – ProjectEdit365 – 01 Apr
The Heart of El Capitan – ProjectEdit365 – 03 Apr
Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf – ProjectEdit365 – 04 Apr
Dragonfly Nose – ProjectEdit365 – 05 Apr
Big Sur – ProjectEdit365 – 06 Apr
Crabby – ProjectEdit365 – 07 Apr
Enola Gay – ProjectEdit365 – 08 Apr
Biltmore from the Lagoon – ProjectEdit365 – 09 Apr
National Sibling Day – ProjectEdit365 – 10 Apr
Oil Spill – ProjectEdit365 – 11 Apr
Winter Wonderland? – ProjectEdit365 – 12 Apr
Biltmore Reflection – ProjectEdit365 – 13Apr
Charleston Custom House – ProjectEdit365 – 14 Apr
Charleston Side Street – ProjectEdit365 – 15 Apr
Fisherman’s Wharf Detail – ProjectEdit365 – 16 Apr
Wooded Bridge – ProjectEdit365 – 17 Apr
Surprise! – ProjectEdit365 – 18 Apr
Gate – ProjectEdit365 – 19 Apr
Echium in Pacific Grove – ProjectEdit365 – 20 Apr
Carpet of Flowers – Pacific Grove – Project Edit365 – 21 Apr
Depth of Field – ProjectEdit365 – 22 Apr
San Giovanni – ProjectEdit365 – 23 Apr
Rugged – ProjectEdit365 – 24 Apr
Cormorant – ProjectEdit365 – 25 Apr
1930 Ford Model A – ProjectEdit365 – 26 Apr
Thorncrown Chapel – ProjectEdit365 – 27 Apr
Pikes Peak & Garden of the Gods – ProjectEdit365 – 28 Apr
Spring Dance – ProjectEdit365 – 29 Apr
Amish Bell – ProjectEdit365 – 30 Apr
Wyoming – ProjectEdit365 – 01May
Showing Age – ProjectEdit365 – 02 May
Spider – ProjectEdit365 – 03 May
Dalmatian – ProjectEdit365 – 04 May
The Grass of Utah – ProjectEdit365 – 05 May
Transcontinental Railroad – ProjectEdit365 – 06 May
Light Painting – ProjectEdit365 – 07 May
Puddle Jumping – ProjectEdit365 – 08 May
Still Life – ProjectEdit365 – 09 May
National Mammal – ProjectEdit365 – 10 May
Battle of Little Bighorn – ProjectEdit365 – 11May
Lockkeeper’s House – ProjectEdit365 – 12 May
Knotted wood – ProjectEdit365 – 13 May
Snake River, Twin Falls – ProjectEdit365 – 14 May
Sutter’s Mill – ProjectEdit365 – 15 May
Deep Conversation – ProjectEdit365 – 16 May
Luna Moth – ProjectEdit365 – 17 May
Columns – ProjectEdit365 – 18 May
Summer ride – ProjectEdit365 – 19 May
Big Sky Country – ProjectEdit365 – 20 May
White Out – ProjectEdit365 – 21 May
The Archives – ProjectEdit365 – 22 May
Pink Sunset – ProjectEdit365 – 23 May
Standing Jellyfish – ProjectEdit365 – 24 May
Old Post Office Tower – ProjectEdit365 – 25May
Yellowstone, NE Entrance – ProjectEdit365 – 26May
A girl and her horse – ProjectEdit365 – 27 May
Famous house – ProjectEdit365 – 28 May
Top Cover – ProjectEdit365 – 29 May
Vanishing
The Coming Rains – ProjectEdit365 – 31 May
The girl in the flowers – ProjectEdit365 – 01 June
Amboise, sigh – ProjectEdit365 – 02 June
La Tour Eiffel – ProjectEdit365 – 03 June
Biltmore Sisters – ProjectEdit365 – 04 June
The Visitor – ProjectEdit365 – 05 June
Lady Liberty
Sunshine Lady – ProjectEdit365 – 07 June
Gateway to the West – ProjectEdit365 – 08 June
Refuge for the Wild – ProjectEdit365 – 09 June
Naked Poppy – ProjectEdit365 – 10June
Red Boots – ProjectEdit365 – 11 June
The girl in the boots – ProjectEdit365 – 12 June
Golden Grass – ProjectEdit365 – 13 June
Hazy days – ProjectEdit365 – 14 June
Spoke – ProjectEdit365 – 15 June
Layers – ProjectEdit365 – 16 June
Urban Wildlife – ProjectEdit365 – 17 June
Balconies – ProjectEdit365 – 18 June
Yellow – ProjectEdit365 – 19 June
Spaghetti Garden – ProjectEdit365 – 20 June
Grate – ProjectEdit365 – 21 June
Modes of transport – ProjectEdit365 – 22 June
Badlands – ProjectEdit365 – 23 June
Breaking dawn – ProjectEdit365 – 24 June
The Bean – ProjectEdit365 – 26 June
The Navy Pier – ProjectEdit365 – 27 June
University Bay – ProjectEdit365 – 28 June
George’s Head – ProjectEdit365 – 29 June
Garden of the Gods – ProjectEdit365 – 30 June
Alexandria Apothecary – ProjectEdit365 – 05 July
Before – ProjectEdit365 – 06 July
After – ProjectEdit365 – 07 July
Nourishment – ProjectEdit365 – 08 July
Beach Sunrise – ProjectEdit365 – 09 July
Wave jumping – ProjectEdit365 – 10 July
Jars of Potions – ProjectEdit365 – 11 July
Strike! – ProjectEdit365 – 12 July
Aloha! – ProjectEdit365 – 13 July
Na Pali Coast – ProjectEdit365 – 14 July
Aqua greetings – ProjectEdit365 – 15 July
Let’s go surfin’ now – ProjectEdit365 – 17 July
Pearl Harbor – ProjectEdit365 – 18 July
KC Suspension Bridge – ProjectEdit365 – 19 July
Strangled Palm – ProjectEdit365 – 20 July
Painted Eucalyptus – ProjectEdit365 – 21 July
Painted Eucalyptus, Up Close – ProjectEdit365 – 22 July
Waikiki Moonrise – ProjectEdit365 – 23 July
Reading a Palm – ProjectEdit365 – 24 July
Iao Valley – ProjectEdit365 – 25 July
Sea Grass – ProjectEdit365 – 26 July
Mini swamp – ProjectEdit365 – 27 July
Fresh Fruit – ProjectEdit365 – 28 July
Hidden Cove – ProjectEdit365 – 29 July
Sailboats in Nawiliwili Bay – ProjectEdit365 – 30 July
Standing watch – ProjectEdit365 – 31 July

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Standing watch

I spied these two at a house right at a beach on Oahu. There’s so much to look at, including a pair of work gloves on the shoulders of the man on the right.

Two life-size asian statues stand on either side of a front door on a beach house on Oahu Not So SAHM
Standing watch – ProjectEdit365 – 31 July

From the original, I cropped in to focus on the statues. I cooled the temperature just a bit and slid the tint slider towards the magenta. I decreased the exposure, contrast, and highlights and increased the clarity. I used an adjustment brush on the statues to sharpen them a bit and make their texture more distinct. Here is the original:

31July

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Sailboats in Nawiliwili Bay

In my dream
I’m drifting
on the whitest sailboat,
in between a sea and sky that are competing for the bluest.

Sailboats drift in Nawiliwili Bay on Kauai Hawaii Not So SAHM
Sailboats in Nawiliwili Bay – ProjectEdit365 – 30 July

The original was beautiful, but a little dull and too bright. I used graduated filters to lower the exposure of the sky and decrease the shadows of the hills. I used a radial filter on the hills to increase the contrast to show off the texture. I lowered the clarity of the whole picture to create a more dreamy effect. I checked the “remove chromatic aberration” button in the Lens Corrections section of Lightroom because it looked like there was some aberration to me. I still see it a little, but don’t know how to get rid of it fully. I ended by adding a little vignette. The original:

30July

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Hidden cove

It’s not really hidden, it’s on the Road to Hana – there were people everywhere! But somehow I got a shot with barely anyone visible.

A cove at a black beach on the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii Not So SAHM
Hidden Cove – ProjectEdit365 – 29 July

The original was dull so I upped the contrast and clarity. I decreased the shadows and the highlights in the sky. I changed the temp towards the warm, but even with that the grass was still too blue. So I adjusted the hue of the greens. I cloned out a fence on the little peninsula part and used an adjustment filter on the whitecaps to up the clarity and sharpness. Oh, I also used some adjustment filters on the dark rocks to lighten them. The original:

29July

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Fresh Fruit

Back in Hawaii – near Waikiki there is a small farmers’ market with fresh fruit.

A seller chops up fresh coconut at a fruit stand in Waikiki Hawaii Not So SAHM
Fresh Fruit – ProjectEdit365 – 28 July

There’s a lot going on in the picture, which is all great (everybody is doing their own thing), but I wanted to focus on the man chopping the coconut. So I found a preset to use and then adjusted it slightly. I cropped in to take out the gloved hand and sharpened the whole picture. The preset lowered the saturation a little too much so I increased it just a tad. I then added a radial filter to focus on the man. I lowered the exposure on everything outside of the radial filter. Here’s the original:

28July

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Mini swamp

In Wilmington, NC there is a local park with a small swamp, in the city. No trekking to get to these waters.

A small swamp with cypress trees in Wilmington, NC Not So SAHM
Mini swamp – ProjectEdit365 – 27 July

It’s not so ominous in the original picture. I cropped in and straightened the picture. The main adjustment was lowering the vibrancy to make it not so bright. I adjusted several of the colors and temp afterwards to get the look I wanted. I also increased the contrast and clarity and added a little vignette. The original:

27July

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