I'm looking forward to my husband having a garden this year. Last year, I planted marigolds all around the front of our little patch of earth, on either side of the arch he'd made years before. And this year, I'm looking forward to getting out there with him again, and just being near him when he works in the soil.
You see, he's all about the vegetables. And although I love them (don't even get me started about rutabagas), I'm more into the flowers. Besides, flowers make excellent subjects for my macro lens.
This is a photo I took in the garden last year. I added a texture to it and I'm sort of liking how it turned out. Here's the original photo below as well as the texture I used. I downloaded it from Deviant Art.
I use Photoshop. I'm not terribly skilled, but I am learning my way around. For those who have this program and would like to fool around using textures, there's a tutorial here. But please remember, if you use it, to experiment with all the blend modes in your layers palette. The tutorial doesn't tell you this. And I'm sorry, but I don't know if this works with Elements.
I've also had many questions from readers as to how I get my photos to appear this large on my blog. I've tried to answer some of you but don't have e-mails for all. I use Windows Live Writer (sorry Mac users) and got the instructions here. Basically, you have to choose the right blog template first, then go into your html code and change the sizes of some of your wrappers. It is not terribly difficult! If I can do it, you can. Just make sure to be careful. Then I downloaded Live Writer. When I'm working on a post, I can choose any size photo I want just by clicking on it and dragging the corner until it's the desired size. Love it.
It's quiet here tonight as I write this. George is playing with a new toy that came in the mail today. I'll tell you about later. He's even took a nap with it!
Until tomorrow, my friends . . .
25 comments:
Good morning. You have created a lovely effect. I have been playing with deviant art textures but when I run them they go fine to a point and then say choose one of your files for an effect, so I suppose that means I need to have other types of scratchy vintage layers on the ready... The action stalls at that point.
Looking forward to getting in the garden is a lovely feeling - nothing like hands in the soil...
Happy days
These textures really do amazing things to your photos. Thank you for showing us the actual texture. Very Interesting!
Happy Weekend!
We sat down to figure out our seed order tonight - mmmmm- Vegetables!
Love the photos. You can also go into the sizing of the photos right in Blogger and make them a bit bigger. They don't make it easy though :|
I'm just loving these texture photos of yours! That marigold is breathtaking! That's it - I'm going to the store tomorrow to buy photoshop!!
P.S. Looking forward to seeing George's new toy. has to be better than my cat's - which is a milk ring right now!
I LOVE it! I've just started playing with textures (or maybe layering is a better word for what I do) and can't stop. Seriously. I'd love to be able to have the texture more in the background, like what you did with this beautiful Marigold (some of my favorite shades, these sweet ones) so I'll have to look into Photoshop. This is one expensive hobby!
Once again, well done!
Golly, Kate....you elevated that garden-variety marigold to a very beautiful position. I love all the color and the enhancement of the texture.
Thanks for including the info about Live Writer, too.
This is very nice, esp. how the focal point pops off the screen so 3-D like.
What a lovely marigold! Just had a rawhide chewstick wing by me. Cody (my parent's wonderful dog) likes to fling them in the air and then chase them. Nothing - human or otherwise is safe!
I'm back, and took a leisurely look at your photo video which is just lovely - it has a mellow tranquil feel to it and made me feel very calm. Thankyou
THANK YOU for answering how to make the photos bigger! I actually just downloaded Microsoft Live Writer yesterday and Film Maker (I have big dreams ;-)) Guess I'll have to go in and check it out, it wanted me to upload my website that I use for blogging and I was so afraid I'd screw something up!!! So I just said to heck with it...but I'll check it out now...
Oh Rutabagas huh?? You should definitely come to Norway my dear- you'd be quite at home here, Rutabaga is a standard side dish here. I have to be honest and say I never tried it before I moved to Norway but I like it...no, I love it. I even like it raw...just tried it raw at my barnehage a few months back- they all laughed at me because I had never tried it raw before...tastes like a sweeter carrot I think- really good!! I have to admit I've mostly eaten it mashed but also baked with meats...if you have another way to prepare it- do share!!!
Gardening is peaceful- I'm not an expert by any means but I love to play in the dirt and if something actually grows (and it does sometimes) I'm so proud- Would love a veggie garden someday- it's on the wish list!!!
Have a great Saturday!!!
Thanks for sharing the tips!
I tried downloading Live Writer, but it did something to my toolbar, which messed up my ability to type correctly in emails or on blogger (it skipped letters & spaces!) I had to call Microsoft and have them help me, because even uninstalling it didn't help. I was bummed because I really wanted to try it out, I heard great things about it!
Someday, I hope to have Photoshop and play with some of these great effects! ;)
Lovely photo and effect, Kate. You're one talented lady.
I do like the addition of the layers.
HTML makes my eyes cross though.
A new toy! Lucky George!
I cannot wait until garden time. More snow here tomorrow. Sigh.
I had all but given up on textures - it just wasn't clicking for me. Seeing your stunning marigold has prompted me to give it another try. Can you just drop everything and run over to my house for a hands-on tutrial??? I thought not. Oh well...can't blame a girl for asking.
I know where Georgie's new toy came from :) I hope the soft frisbee is easier on his mouth.
Hope your weekend is wonderful and relaxing!
After choosing a WIDE format template Mac users can upload their pix to Picasa, copy the picture location by pressing the Option and Command (or Apple) keys together with the mouse or mouse thingie on laptops ..then go to your blog and paste the code into the proper place selecting the size you want .. small, med, large .. AND then once its uploaded you can make it larger or small by pulling or pushing the ends in the Compose box.
OF course you need to use a large format photo to begin with .. iPhone pix or other camera phone pix will not embiggen nicely
LOVE the photo Kate and the effect/texture
And George is cheating on me, isnt he?
i love marigolds and I am the one oddball who absolutely loves SOTC photos.
I am so ready to plant my gardens but the weather and ground says NO YOU DON'T not yet!
gorgeous color and texture application - you are rocking it.
This one is Etsy worthy. Do you display your work in your home? You should...really.
Thank you for posting the marigolds and the texture photo - I have a little more idea of how it is done now.
As for George and his new toy - Tess is so possessive of her toys - no-one else can have them. I put them all away in her tin toy box and ten minutes later they are all out and spread around the floor - and woe betide anyone who touches them - wham, she is there in a second and snatching it back.
Hi, Country Girl!! My name is Merrim, I live in Patagonia, born and raise here, and i have to tell you that i Love your pictures and your writings .... but most of all I loved George´s pictures "got stick? " is charming!!! Well, Kate I will visit your blog from now on ... write you soon!!
Very nice! I love the textured look.
I love the colours in this photo. And I am really going to have to get off my butt and play around with textures as well! I'm really liking the look of alot of them! But I've only had Photo shop a short while, and have only just learnt how to crop, and apply actions. All the adjustments and stuff are still Greek to me. But I'm learning! Check out my new banner for my drill site ;P
That texture is wonderful! I think it's probably pretty versatile. I got into textures a while back and am hooked!
I wish I had patience to figure out the writer thing 'cause your site is gorgeous. My husband's working on a new one for me but it's all a bunch above me!
kate ~this is so vivid and I appreciate all the technical You are so generous to share as always ~ELK
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