Recommended HDR Photographer.....

I recently came across a photographer online called Trey Ratcliff, his photography is just amazing. He uses the HDR technique for most of his photos which really makes them stand out.  You can read more about HDR here on Trey's website stuckincustoms.com. 

Below you can see a selection of Trey's photography.....

pink floral

I realised yesterday how long it's been since I'd uploaded any new photos....March!! 7mths ago! time surely does fly.  I took this photo a while back but recently edited it, I think it was taken in Birmingham, I do actually miss the place, it's where my interest in photography started to grow, I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but for me when I've taken photos of a certain place, theres always a feeling of connection, it's quite hard to explain to be honest but I suppose it gives me a good feeling towards that specific place. One of the many beauties of photography :)

Love is what brings the hearts closer.......

Je t'aime plus qu'hier et moins que demain ....

I love you more than I did yesterday and less than I will tomorrow :)

Down on the beach...

I took these on our recent outing to Barry Island, with 4 kids in tow I didn't manage to get many photos, but I was quite happy with these two.  Now that I'm back on the road I want to try and explore Cardiff a bit more with my camera, since I've moved back here I  haven't taken many outdoor shots, and have been slowly starting to run out of ideas of what to capture around the home! Hoping to visit Penarth Pier soon, maybe Roath Park, there's some beautiful places here just need to get out and see them!

While at the park........

We've had some gorgeous weather the past couple of days, so yesterday I took the kids out to the park to get some fresh air, it was lovely :)  While sitting on the bench relaxing, my daughter brought me some flowers, I only had my iphone, but couldn't resist taking a few pics.  Nowadays I prefer using the iphone to take photos, maybe it's the editing I can do there and then, then post and share, hhmmm....

I noticed yesterday that someone had cracked my right wing mirror on the car, I was not happy, especially as a couple of months back a few times we had nails in our tyres.  Just the other week also our neighbour had her back window of her car cracked and eventually ended up shattering, so I'm not sure if it's the same person targetting some of the cars here, but whoever it is it makes me really annoyed, these people don't have any respect for other people's property, if it happened to their car, well....probably the whole world would know about it. 

But enough ranting for today, the weather's gorgeous again, I want to enjoy my day insha Allaah :D

The Daily Shoot.....

Well it's a gorgeous day here in Wales, really want to get out with my camera and take some outdoor pics, which I haven't done for ages! but may have to postpone for another day, as my mum may be coming, it's been weeks since she came last, due to her car being off the road.

 

But before I get off the computer and start tidying like a mad woman, I wanted to share a website I just came across called The Daily Shoot , they post assignments each day on Twitter which after completing you can then upload to one of the photo sharing sites, like flickr for example, and then tweet a link to your photo to share.

The idea is to encourage you - The photographer, to get your camera out and start shooting, as they say 'practice makes perfect!' So I may have a go at this insha Allaah.

Also wanted to share a photo I added some textures to yesterday, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it, one of the textures I used is 'northern lights' by pareerica, you can find the texture on flick here , I've used it on another photo and I just love the effect it gives, I also used a texture by Kim Klassen. Hope you like it :) ....

Before and After........

I've been playing around with textures today, and re-edited one of my older photos using textures by Kim Klassen.

Here's the before and after ......

Swirling light.....

Texture- Northern Lights by pareerica on flickr

Selected prints now for sale..........

Last night I made the decision to display some of my photography in an online gallery and offer my prints for sale. Not long ago a friend suggested I try selling some of my work, I'm not quite at the level I would like to be yet, there's alot to learn and alot more I would like to do with my photography in terms of creativity, but I feel this is a good place to start. I will be adding more of my personal favourites as I go along.

If there is a particular photo you like on my blog that isn't showing in the gallery, please let me know and I'll add it on.

progressing with photoshop.......

I recently started a texture course by Kim Klassen working with photoshop, I am amazed at what you can do with this programme and I've only just started out.  This evening I enrolled on another of Kim's courses 'photoshop essentials' which is going to start on 15th March, and I cannot wait! it's about time I learnt photoshop, and what better way to do it than as part of a group.

You can check out Kim's website here

I've just got myself an iphone, and downloaded a couple of cool photography apps, namely 'LomoLomo' and 'Instragram' and have managed to capture a few cool shots, like the canon photo I have here on my blog. some of the photos people are uploading on Instragram are amazing.

Ok, well I'll leave you with this re-edited photo I did on photoshop earlier this evening as part of my homework for the texture course, I actually prefer this to the previous one,  hope you like it!

Canon.....

Canon Powershot..

Abstract.....

While taking a photo of my ring, I zoomed right in and got this effect.......

Looking through........

My friend Mouna took this photo and I took care of the editing...........

My friend Mouna took this photo and I took care of the editing

Watching The World Go By........

Sweetheart .....Literally!

Little Princess.....

I took these of my friend's daughter, we managed to get a few good shots, you don't realise how hard it is photographing a toddler until you try it! lol. For more more versions you can visit my flickr photostream by clicking on one of the photos.

Two Of A Kind...............

Rose Macro

All by myself......

Heart....

Fruit shot......

So here's my first go at a fruit shot, probably not the best, the apple could do with a good shine, but it's a start. I've got back into my photography course which I'm doing with 'proud photography.com' , I've been working on shutter speed and aperture, can be a bit much to digest at first but I'm just experimenting with the camera on different settings, and I'm hoping I'll grasp it soon, insha Allaah.

Craft and Vision Website......

I'd like to share a great photography website I've just come across called Craft and Vision , there's alot of really useful and inspiring e-books to help improve your photography. There's one book I'm thinking of purchasing called 'close to home'....finding great photographs in your own backyard.  The book aims to help the reader find the extraordinary in the things we consider mundane, I think I need this right now!

Ideas for a 365 project......

I've been thinking lately about trying to attempt a photo a day project, I've seen so many people online doing it, some more successful than others. Knowing myself I don't think I could be fully consistent with it, that's why I would choose not to openly broadcast it and just take each day as it comes, and try my best! Anyway I was browsing the Digital Photography School Website, and I came across '53 weekly themes for your 2011 project 365', the author of the website has been kind enough to give ideas for each week of the year, go take a look!

Love Hearts

Seen In A Different Light........

My Youngest Son.....

First attempt of feeding himself back in 2009, it went quite well suprisingly, there wasn't as much mess as I'd expected!

How Busy The Life Of A Toddler Is.........

Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play.

MONTAIGNE, Essays

Vintage style...

I recently bought these from the Next Sale, and I absolutely LOVE them!! Will be putting them up on the Kitchen Wall very soon insha Allaah.

We Belong Together.......

Nature Centre Birmingham.....

Fallen Flowers

Let It Snow.........

We had some beautiful  snow this year, or should I say 'last year'!, I didn't take as much pictures as I would have liked, I was kind of limited to the back garden, what with the kids being ill and the amount of snow we actually had. But here's a couple I took.......





Down By The River...............

Big Leaf...........