When I saw this cherry-red ladybug nestled on a cool, blue hydrangea flower, the contrast immediately caught my eye! I don't have a macro lens, so used my Canon 28-135mm lens and zoomed in as close as I could. This is one of my favorite shots!
About Me
- Andrea
- I'm Andrea. I'm a wife, mother, full-time computer software developer who seems to never have enough time to do everything I want to do. I married my high school sweetheart, who also happens to be my best friend. I love photography and am a total "mommarazzi" to my son Dillon. I grew up in the South, so I have always been loved, and also love others, with food. So my idea of a good time, is getting together with family and friends, eating some great food, and documenting the whole thing with my camera. So, "food, family, and photos" pretty much sums it up!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Red - Rock the Shot Contest Submission
My entry for the "Red" theme contest at Rock the Shot! (www.rocktheshotforum.com)
When I saw this cherry-red ladybug nestled on a cool, blue hydrangea flower, the contrast immediately caught my eye! I don't have a macro lens, so used my Canon 28-135mm lens and zoomed in as close as I could. This is one of my favorite shots!
When I saw this cherry-red ladybug nestled on a cool, blue hydrangea flower, the contrast immediately caught my eye! I don't have a macro lens, so used my Canon 28-135mm lens and zoomed in as close as I could. This is one of my favorite shots!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tips for Sharper Images: Part 1 at Everyday Elements
I'm back over at the Everyday Elements blog today posting the first part of a series about how to get sharper images. Check it out!
Friday, September 14, 2012
My first post at Everyday Elements!
You've probably seen me recommend the Everyday Elements website for Amanda's fantastic photography and editing tutorials. I'm excited to announce that today I am introducing myself over there as a new contributor to help out with Canon-centric tips and tricks.
Check it out and leave some love over there!
Check it out and leave some love over there!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
How could you not love this face?
It's pet faces time at I Heart Faces! When I heard this, I knew immediately what photo to choose. I mean, how can you not love this face?
Murphy has been such a blessing in our lives for many years now! For anyone new to my blog, Murphy is our almost 8 year old Australian Cattle Dog mix. He and 2 of his siblings were found as puppies alongside a road in our county after they had apparently been thrown out of a car. We adopted him from a local pet rescue organization in January 2005. He is such a huge part of our life and family. He watches TV with us on the couch and sleeps in our bed. He's a big mooch and NEVER misses mealtime. He has brought us so much joy! If you're looking for a pet, be sure to check out your local shelter or rescue organization. There are so many wonderful animals out there that need homes!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
A Boy and His Box
I'm not sure why we even bother buying Dillon toys, he seems to have more fun with the boxes than anything else.
It's a good thing I love shopping at Amazon.com.....we have a pretty decent box supply at this point.
Dillon said this was his kayak and you'll notice he even decorated it with a few fish!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Crave Mentoring Giveaway!
Oh how I would LOVE to win this! Crave Photography is giving away a 2 day, all expenses paid, in person workshop along with amazing prizes from 10 other vendors! Don't miss out, enter today here!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Crave Photography is giving away an 85mm lens!
Head on over to the Crave Photography blog to check out an awesome giveaway! My favorite photographer Andee Tate is giving away some awesome prizes. The top prize is either a Nikon 85mm 1.4 or Canon 85mm 1.2 lens. The winner gets to choose which one!
http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/25000-fans-giveaway/
For those of you who aren't entering....please keep your fingers crossed for me!
http://cravemyphotography.com/blog/25000-fans-giveaway/
For those of you who aren't entering....please keep your fingers crossed for me!
Monday, October 3, 2011
MCP Actions Blueprint - Murphy
I'm sharing another blueprint of a photo edited using the MCP Mini Fusion action from MCP Actions as an entry to win the new set of MCP Lightroom presets!
The top photo is the before, the bottom photo is the after.
Here are the steps I took to edit the photo:
1) Used Spot Healing Brush tool to get rid of white spec under left eye
2) Ran MCP Mini Fusion
3) Increased Clarify layer to 60% and masked off background
4) Increased Warm Tint layer to 65%
5) Turned on Pink Cadillac layer at default opacity
6) Used Darken layer to darken edges of photo
7) Added Hue/Saturation layer (with no adjustments) set to Overlay blend mode at 44% opacity
The top photo is the before, the bottom photo is the after.
Here are the steps I took to edit the photo:
1) Used Spot Healing Brush tool to get rid of white spec under left eye
2) Ran MCP Mini Fusion
3) Increased Clarify layer to 60% and masked off background
4) Increased Warm Tint layer to 65%
5) Turned on Pink Cadillac layer at default opacity
6) Used Darken layer to darken edges of photo
7) Added Hue/Saturation layer (with no adjustments) set to Overlay blend mode at 44% opacity
MCP Actions Blueprint - Dillon
I'm sharing a blueprint of a photo edited using the MCP Mini Fusion action from MCP Actions as an entry to win the new set of MCP Lightroom presets!
The top photo is the before, the bottom photo is the after.
Here are the steps I took to edit the photo:
1) Ran MCP Mini Fusion
2) Increased Clarify layer to 90% and masked off skin and background
3) Increased Hazy layer to 40%
4) Increased Warm Tint layer to 50%
5) Turned on On Cloud Nine layer at 40% opacity
6) Turned on Cool Blue Sea layer at 15% opacity
7) Turned on Pink Cadillac layer at default opacity
8) Used Darken layer to darken background
9) Added levels layer and masked to only brighten eyes
10) Added general levels layer
9) Added Hue/Saturation layer (with no adjustments) set to Soft Light blend mode at 55% opacity and masked off shirt
The top photo is the before, the bottom photo is the after.
Here are the steps I took to edit the photo:
1) Ran MCP Mini Fusion
2) Increased Clarify layer to 90% and masked off skin and background
3) Increased Hazy layer to 40%
4) Increased Warm Tint layer to 50%
5) Turned on On Cloud Nine layer at 40% opacity
6) Turned on Cool Blue Sea layer at 15% opacity
7) Turned on Pink Cadillac layer at default opacity
8) Used Darken layer to darken background
9) Added levels layer and masked to only brighten eyes
10) Added general levels layer
9) Added Hue/Saturation layer (with no adjustments) set to Soft Light blend mode at 55% opacity and masked off shirt
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Pet Week at I Heart Faces!
I've always had "mutts" for pets and our dog Murphy is no exception. He's a mix of Australian Cattle Dog and something else, we're not sure what, but the combination made for a beautiful dog who is a perfect addition to our family.
If you are considering adding a pet to your family, please don't forget to consider adopting from a local shelter or pet rescue organization. We adopted Murphy in 2005 and he has been a joyful part of our family ever since!
If you are considering adding a pet to your family, please don't forget to consider adopting from a local shelter or pet rescue organization. We adopted Murphy in 2005 and he has been a joyful part of our family ever since!
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 33
"Time Flies"
Week 33 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Slow Down & Look Back
"Watch this, Mommy! Watch this!" my son yells to me as he zooms past on his little bike. It seems like such a short time ago we were just bringing him home from the hospital after he was born a month early. He just turned 3 and the time has gone by so quickly. I wish I could make it slow down. He looks back at me, "Watch me, Mommy!" and time stops for just a second as he smiles, but then he takes off again, ready for the next adventure...
Also, my photo for this week was picked as a top 10 featured photo on another photographer's blog. Check it out here!
Week 33 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Slow Down & Look Back
"Watch this, Mommy! Watch this!" my son yells to me as he zooms past on his little bike. It seems like such a short time ago we were just bringing him home from the hospital after he was born a month early. He just turned 3 and the time has gone by so quickly. I wish I could make it slow down. He looks back at me, "Watch me, Mommy!" and time stops for just a second as he smiles, but then he takes off again, ready for the next adventure...
Also, my photo for this week was picked as a top 10 featured photo on another photographer's blog. Check it out here!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 31 - Halfway Point!
"Storm Rolls In"
Week 31 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Sky
So this is the halfway point! It's hard to believe that I've made it so far. Honestly, I'm a little bit of a committment-phobe, so I'm sort of impressed with myself that I've stuck it out this long. I have so enjoyed this "photographic journey" and I can really see how this has improved my photography. So, if that's something you're trying to improve, I highly recommend starting a 52 week project.
We went to Virginia this weekend, and I got some great photos of my family that I am very pleased with. I also took a ton of photos of an old barn with a soaring blue sky and puffy clouds with the intention of doing something HDR-ish with them. But as I was going through my photos, this one really spoke to me - so I used it instead. I just love how peaceful this scene looks...and I can always use a little more peace!
Just before the storm rolls in...
Week 31 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Sky
So this is the halfway point! It's hard to believe that I've made it so far. Honestly, I'm a little bit of a committment-phobe, so I'm sort of impressed with myself that I've stuck it out this long. I have so enjoyed this "photographic journey" and I can really see how this has improved my photography. So, if that's something you're trying to improve, I highly recommend starting a 52 week project.
We went to Virginia this weekend, and I got some great photos of my family that I am very pleased with. I also took a ton of photos of an old barn with a soaring blue sky and puffy clouds with the intention of doing something HDR-ish with them. But as I was going through my photos, this one really spoke to me - so I used it instead. I just love how peaceful this scene looks...and I can always use a little more peace!
Just before the storm rolls in...
Sunday, August 7, 2011
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 30
"To a T"
Week 30 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Letters of the Alphabet
T is for Thomas...
Ok, I have to admit to being just a little uninspired this week, so this is what you get. The light was gorgeous and I got some pictures that I love of Ron and Dillon highlighted by the settings sun, but those didn't work for the theme and I've made it this far staying on theme, so I wanted to try and keep it up. So, anyway....I'll try to do better next week... :-D
Week 30 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Letters of the Alphabet
T is for Thomas...
Ok, I have to admit to being just a little uninspired this week, so this is what you get. The light was gorgeous and I got some pictures that I love of Ron and Dillon highlighted by the settings sun, but those didn't work for the theme and I've made it this far staying on theme, so I wanted to try and keep it up. So, anyway....I'll try to do better next week... :-D
Saturday, August 6, 2011
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 29
"Web Weaver"
Week 29 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Get In Close
Found this black and yellow garden spider outside of my bedroom door. I'm not a fan of creepy-crawlies and viewing this one up close didn't change that. It's outside, so I'll leave it alone...but spiders inside are a whole different story!
We used to have at least one of these "writing" spiders each summer at my parents house when I was growing up. Honestly, I think the ones in Virginia were quite a bit bigger, but maybe I was just smaller, so they seemed that way. We would call each spider "Sparky" as if it was the same one each year.
Week 29 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Get In Close
Found this black and yellow garden spider outside of my bedroom door. I'm not a fan of creepy-crawlies and viewing this one up close didn't change that. It's outside, so I'll leave it alone...but spiders inside are a whole different story!
We used to have at least one of these "writing" spiders each summer at my parents house when I was growing up. Honestly, I think the ones in Virginia were quite a bit bigger, but maybe I was just smaller, so they seemed that way. We would call each spider "Sparky" as if it was the same one each year.
Friday, August 5, 2011
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 28
"Pamletto Sunset"
Week 28 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Sweet Relief
A week of vacation at the beach is definitely a sweet relief from our normal day to day routine. It was so nice to spend a week at Myrtle Beach with my family. We all had a fantastic time, especially Dillon. It wasn't his first trip to the beach, but I think it was the first time that he was actually old enough to really enjoy it. I'm ready to go back already, and we just got home...
Week 28 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Sweet Relief
A week of vacation at the beach is definitely a sweet relief from our normal day to day routine. It was so nice to spend a week at Myrtle Beach with my family. We all had a fantastic time, especially Dillon. It wasn't his first trip to the beach, but I think it was the first time that he was actually old enough to really enjoy it. I'm ready to go back already, and we just got home...
Thursday, August 4, 2011
MCP Actions Blog - Project 52, Week 27
"Lace"
Week 27 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Nature's Finest
I love the lacy look of hydrangeas as they first start to bloom. Our hydrangea bloomed and then died down. I finally cut off the old blooms and just recently noticed that a new one was popping out. It was a nice surprise considering that I thought it was pretty much done for the season. I like that kind of surprise... :-)
Week 27 - MCP 52 Week Project Theme: Nature's Finest
I love the lacy look of hydrangeas as they first start to bloom. Our hydrangea bloomed and then died down. I finally cut off the old blooms and just recently noticed that a new one was popping out. It was a nice surprise considering that I thought it was pretty much done for the season. I like that kind of surprise... :-)
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