Dare to LIVE!!!

This Thanksgiving weekend we had beautiful weather which meant it was a wonderful time to take some photographs outside. We gathered up the gang and headed to the river. I caught this shot as Ashley and Kurt were having a fun time being silly. I used the shadow in the picture as a reference point because I wanted people to see how high Ashley can jump! The shadow adds a nice dramatic layer to my picture. I had a chance to play with Rhonna Farrer's Super Comic Digital set from Rhonna Designs.  It was super fun… Because I LOVE COMICS!

Go Check out the blog today because the Creative Team has some pretty neat things on there and Rhonna is giving a printable away. Pretty sweet!
{Rhonna Designs}

Have a SUPER Day and Remember...
Dare to Live!!!
~Susan

Gotta Luv Rhonna Designs……Oh, and BEARS!

I have been having SO much fun playing with the digital elements created by Rhonna Farrer. You can find all of her work at Rhonna Designs.  I have to admit I am really quite new to the digital world. I LOVE taking pictures…….ASK MY POOR FAMILY!!!!! However, I am a beginner in the world of Digital Scrapbooking! So when I was asked by Rhonna to be part of her design team I was both thrilled and terrified! I can edit a picture with no problem, but to use digital element in new and different ways……..well, lets just say, I am learning! Rhonna is wonderful though! Her work is amazing and she really is so 'inspiring'! So, it has been a pleasure to learn and create in this digital world!

I had fun this summer taking THOUSANDS of new pictures. When we went to Waterton and were camping within two days we happened upon 15 bears! Imagine that! They were all so calm and peaceful. Just eating berries and minding their own business! For the above picture I used the Honey Comb Pieces Kit from Rhonna Designs. You really have to check out her lovely shop.

This bear that I happened upon below was a little older then the one I I found above. He was happy munching on some Saskatoon berries. These pictures weren't taken too far from our campsite but the bears never bothered us. They were more then happy with their berries!

Oh, just to let you know.. I used I 20x zoom lens to get this shot and I was inside a vehicle parked in a parking lot! I really believe bears are safe at a distance, but like anyone or anything, they want a little privacy and respect. We all have BAD days. They are wild creatures. DON"T approach animals just to get a GOOD shot even if they look like a teddy bear.

Also, too let you know…… I am having a MyMemories Suite giveaway over on my other blog- {mysweetearth} this week-end.

                                                 http://mysweetearth.blogspot.com/                             

                           So make sure to check it out.

 

Also I have been given a code- STMMMS48037

If you use it you get a $10 discount on the purchase of the My Memories Suite v2 scrapbook software. (Software also comes with a $10 coupon for downloads-a total value of $20!)

HAVE A SUPER WEEK-END & MAKE SURE TO TAKE LOTS OF SNAPSHOTS!

~SUSAN

Have Fun With a Little Photo Editing.

Computers, editing software, filters, and programs make it so easy and fun to alter photographs that you take. The other evening, all of a sudden I announced to the kiddos that the sun was fantastic so we were going to grab the guitar and head to the coulees. Well, they knew that I never leave home without my camera. The sun setting over the golden grasses gave me the perfect backdrop to take some pictures of my kiddos. When we got home I was thrilled by the photographs that I had captured and so with a select few pictures uploaded, I started to edit them.

I first use Adobe Photoshop CS5 to enhance the clarity and sharpness of my photo. Corel is a good program to use too. I like to shoot on an angle looking up so that the background behind my subject is often as neutral as possible. I can play with that blank space behind the subject. I love using my Bamboo drawing pad from Wacom to doodle on my photos.  

 

 

If you don't have a tablet you can visit website where you can download fun brushes and overlays that you can use to  decorate your images.

 

Here are some next sites that you can check out:

 

                                            Vol.25

                                      

                  Brusheezy                                       

 

 

 

 

Take advantage of the beautiful colors over the next few weeks and then try some editing!

Have a some fun creating!

 

~Susan

Summer Colors

Whether you are taking macro photographs or landscape shots, summer is the perfect time to take advantage of all the gorgeous colors. There are so many rich hues in everything and very little photo editing is needed because there is such an intense natural color saturation taking place. It really is a delight to take out the camera and absorb natures palette all around!

See how you can play with nature's colors today!

Happy shooting,

~Susan

The Rich Colors of a Summer Day.

During the summer months it is a fantastic time to take advantage of the fantastic colors and natural lighting that is available. If you go for a drive in the country, the fresh green grasses and the wonderful blue sky make a wonderful backdrop for for any photo opportunities. My family tends to make fun of me, but I love to take pictures of cows. They are such gentle creatures and they really do 'pose' nicely for a photograph

Below is the color palette that I created to go along with the summer photographs that I was  shooting. This will be how I translate my photos to my mixed media artwork and painting/drawing.

 

Color Palette~

Summer Surprise by, Susan.Weckesser

 

So take your camera and go and enjoy the summer sun!

Happy shooting!

 

~Susan

Playing with Beach Glass

I had fun playing with a handful of colored beach and a wine glass for a photo shoot. It was amazing to see the different effects that I could achieve by placing the camera in different spots and using natural light to enhance the color of the beach glass.

I used an open window as a background in this setting where in the other shots I enjoys the contrast of the dark flooring against the bright colors of the glass.

It is so amazing how something so simply can be so beautiful!

~Susan

THE BIRDS ARE MOVING AGAIN, GET OUT YOUR CAMERAS.

North Rough-Winged Swallow

What an awesome time to take some wonderful pictures of birds as right now in North America when they are busy migrating to their nesting spots, they are on the move, and they are busy looking for food to eat. So right now your will find a lot of different varieties of birds to take pictures of right around you.

 

American White Pelican

When taking pictures of birds keep your camera on a fast setting such as a sports setting so you can catch details such flapping of the wings. If you don't have a good zoom setting or landscape setting on your camera, your can try using the macro setting on your camera to catch detail on long distance shots. Play around with your camera to see what setting works best for you.

Have fun and enjoy the birds this season!

Happy shooting!

~Susan