Before & After Tuesday

Editing is just as key as taking a good picture to begin with. And I didn't really know that up until a few years ago. I worked really hard to get it just right in camera (good practice!) and then that is how I left it.

Once I discovered the beautiful world of editing tools, I found a creative side to myself I didn't know I had. It's art.

For this photo, I pumped up the contrast, and highlights.

Then I added a matte finish to the background...a few times. (I painted this on)

I added some purples in and increased the saturation on those.

That is pretty much it.

When I edit a photo, I am really indecisive and play with it a lot before I find what I am looking for.

So much fun.

Also linking up with:

Beauty During a Thunderstorm

I decided to get outdoors a little more to show my love for nature and that when I take the time for it...I can get some creative shots. I adore the bee one. To edit this I adjusted the hues and sharpened it slightly.

I had a million shots of a pond we visited during today's thunderstorms...so it was hard to choose my favorites. This was the only white duck among the others.

I think it can be tricky to create an ambience when the sky is washed out. That is why it was important for me to capture the reflection on the water against such greenery...and well, editing helps too:)

Simple Things Sunday | Window Seat Entertainment

If I had the day to sit in my window seat, the variety and amount of living creatures I would see would be astonishing....

I sat peacefully curled up in the window, coffee in hand, camera in the other, waiting for all my little friends to emerge from their homes all in search of the same thing...breakfast.

For a moment I pretended I was snow white or Cinderella, singing a beautiful song and they might all come to me....

but I didn't even have to...

A Chickadee has taken up on of our nest boxes. I can't wait for the babies!

I like these little guys. They are so sweet, tender and a little nervous!

Red Breasted SapSucker...

There is a pack of coyotes that come by everyday. I didn't have time to adjust my SS, so hopefully, I can get a clearer shot next time!

I love Robins...they are just so sweet. They are always on the ground hopping around, a little shy....I just love them!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

And I am grateful to our men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country so that I can sit in my window seat, drinking coffee, watching animals...

enjoying my freedoms. 

Simple Things Sunday | Blossoms

Some of my simple joys this week.

The blooming of our dogwood trees...

 Gorgeous apple blossoms on a lake shore...

Every tree sprouting leaves and seeds...

Nature amazes me. 

 Linking up with Simple As That for The Simple Things

You can also check out my personal blog www.leishell-lifeinascrapbook.blogspot.com for more about enjoying nature...more cute photos!

Spring Tease

Lately, I just feel like spring is completely teasing us. One day gorgeous and little buds appearing...next day cold and icky.

It's confusing, and disappointing...because I really am ready for this.

And most of all this...a pic taken a couple years ago of a creek that runs near our home. I am ready to let the dog free, bask in the sun and feel the change of seasons! ( For good!)

Moon

"Aaaaarooooooooooo!"..(howling to the moon)

Just enjoying tonight's full moon. 

(I never realized that I don't take pictures at night. It's a trickier thing...trying to get things in focus and still capture the essence of what I want...

It wasn't completely what I wanted. I wanted interest..trees, clouds, etc...but none were around...and I wanted it to really stand out as bright as I saw it in person. But hey, I am learning...)

Birds Of Prey

I have always been sort of obsessed with capturing birds of prey.

They're majestic and independent.

Everything about them is larger than life.

Their wingspan, beaks, talons...nests.

Whenever I spot one soaring in the sky while driving, I almost veer off the road to capture it..but then within the seconds it took to get my camera out of its case---

It's caught the wind and funneled upwards. Sometimes I get lucky, most times not.

I see lots of hawks, just VERY rarely eagles, although the population seems to be improving since there have been lots of sightings.

After church last Sunday, I spotted and captured what I believed originally to be a really really large hawk. I was too far away even for my lens to get a clear, crisp capture...but I managed to have enough detail to realize that it could possibly have been an eagle...but I am not sure. I am unsure if it is a juvenile Bald Eagle or in fact a Golden Eagle...or just a really really big hawk.

What do You think???

Excuse the major zoom and sharpening editing done to bring out more detail (since I was SO far away)...

The second picture I was very close to and this guy was so much smaller than the other guy I saw. So I am leaning towards eagle...but who knows?!

I've got to get a 300mm plus lens. I took this with 55-250mm Canon Lens.

Home Town Beauty

One of the best parts about living in a place where there is beauty around every turn is the amazing sunsets each day that set over our little lake...or the ones I see from my porch.

Today my camera battery died right as the light hit the most intense place and just as it did, a bald eagle flew over me...ten feet away. I could make out his head, beak and sharp talons he was so close. I was in awe and felt my stomach sink with disappointment. Rarely do I leave the camera bag behind with the back up battery...but today I did.

Lesson. Learned.

Still, I managed to capture some amazing shots just before.

And then these earlier in the week.

Linking up with Simple As That for The Simple Things...things that made me smile this week...check it out.

Snow

A recent storm covered our mountain in about 6 inches of powder, making for a very enjoyable cup of coffee this morning. It was so peaceful watching these cute little Juncos go from feeder to feeder, so grateful for the convenient food. Just a quietness in the air, except for the occasional drip of these icicles and the soft snow flurries still coming out of the sky. What a Beautiful day!