Friday, February 12, 2010

It's begun....

It's begun! Autumn is on it's way! The first tantilising tell-tale signs of my favorite season are appearing everywhere... berries, leaves and rusty, earthy colours!
I took myself for a walk Monday morning after watching an inspiring documentary about National Geographic's Top 10 photos of 2009. The dedication and skill is certainly something to admire! My camera  has a RAW function which I have been ignoring  (oh...who was it that asked what I use?? it's a Nikon d40x) and I finally decided to flip the switch, loaded my editing software and go and photograph in RAW. In part that's where my problems began! Software that didn't work resulted in my not being able to see my images off the camera or it seized my computer all together. Back in the too hard /irritating basket! Yesterday I downloaded and trialed a few different free photo editing programmes  that allowed me control over my image and then converted them from RAW to JPEG. I settled on one called Photoscape which also has lots of filters to play around with. Here's a couple of images with the Anitquing filters applied...


I have to admit I quite like the way these look although it was time consuming, I wonder how they print out? This effect could look quite good on the right image in a collage!
Below are the originals as well as a few other pics that I took. I actually took about 30 photos but the rest are waiting for conversion.There must be a quicker and easier way to do this? Perhaps I should be taking a better look at the NEF (RAW) + JPEG button on my camera...




Just look at all those spider babies in the nest below...I was brave!


I've also been spending time on Lisa J's book for our Pulp Redux collab, researching my family history (yes that is relevant to my art...more on that later!) and scouring second hand shops for bargains. I came home one day to find a lovely gift from Deborah Eck of Dryadart. Deb was my partner in Lawendula's first paper swap. I love those chickadees! Thanks Deborah for the lovely nesty surprise!

 

So, that's a quick round up of my art week. It dosn't look like much when you put it into a few photos and words...but it represents hours, moments, fragments...who knows where this is actually leading? What discovery is on the verge of being made? I'm just going to follow the road...

8 comments:

Jasmine said...

No! We can't miss Spring and Summer! Although I do love Autumn. Great pictures :)

Caterina Giglio said...

oh yea! if your autumn is on its way then our spring must be close on the heels!! I am so very ready for birds nests and songs and the bees humming in the garden! woo hoo! enough of snow!!!

Debi said...

Oh, I LOVE that antique filter! I've seen photos similar (yours are a personal fave, though), but didn't know it was a software filter. I thought it was some Photoshop complication.

Bravo to you for trying RAW even though it didn't turn out well. I have made the same promise myself. It just fell a few notches on the list.

Delightful post! Every bit of it is yummy to me.

ArtPropelled said...

Our Autumn should be on the way but I think it took the scenic route passed Tauranga. I like the effects of the antique filters, Lisa.

Renee Howell said...

Your autumn is starting as I hope our spring is beginning. How true the "it doesn't look like much...but it represents hours, moments, fragments." I identify! The antique filters are wonderful! May you have fun moments in experimental/play,

Mick said...

I only say this because it's something that I've yet to do myself: "when in doubt, read the manual". I love the filtered photographs, but you probably knew that ... follow the road, if nothing else, it offers a lot more choices.

Debrina said...

Hi Lisa! i love what that antiquing filter has done to your photos. They were already good, but the filter has taken it to a whole new level! And I totally share your sentiments about Autumn...I've noticed subtle changes too...the mice are back sniffing around in our pantry for one! The chooks have been going off the lay ever so slightly...the crab-apples are almost ripe....ahh...it's an ode to autumn alright...

John M. Mora said...

The photos are splendid - I like the effect on the second the best.

Good to see chickens back in your images and not just in comments.

Big hug - I am whooping it up. Best.