Hey Friends! It’s Barb here checking in to say hello.
I don’t know about you, but a few times a year, I find myself getting stuck in a rut. I get bored with my clothes, I get bored with my cooking, I get bored with my routine. I even find myself getting totally bored with my photos. Right now I’m in one of those ruts.
I can usually shake my clothing boredom, by cleaning my closet. I spent a few hours cleaning my closet last weekend and I’ve had quite the fashionable week, if I do say so myself. I’ve been turning on Food Network for a bit of culinary inspiration. But my photos….no inspiration at all lately. UNTIL…..
Until what you ask? Until I started goofing around with some of Andie’s Photoshop Actions. Now I frankly admit that I’m not much of an “action using chick”. I think a lot of people go overboard with them, and occasionally…ahem….use them to cover up some of their shortcomings. Oh dear! Did I just say that?
Anyhow, last night while relaxing with the family, I was going through some pics that I took in October and just for the heck of it ran some of Andie’s actions and guess what? They pumped some fun new life into my images!
This one, Tilt/Shift, mimicks the effects of a tilt-shift lens. Now at this point, I can’t see spending the moolah on a TS lens, so for a mere $4, this action gives me just the look that I want! Here are the before and afters, taken at a Cincinnati Bengals’ game. The first one is basically SOOC, and the second has the Tilt/Shift action on it. If you notice on the second one, I selected the focus on the “Warrick” jersey on the lower left hand side. See how the blur moves both up and to the right? I told it to do that
This one, Sketch-It, applies a fun sketh-pad look to one of my daughter’s best friends. Would I use this every day? Of course not, but it would make for fun comic book pictures for kids to color, or for scrapbooking (or just for fun…..). Again, the first is SOOC, the second applies the Sketch-It action. I “painted in” some more of the detail on the face. Andie designed it that way to give you more creative control. Awesome!
And finally, I admit that I liked the first Twilight movie. Yes I did. I actually saw it before I read all of the books (all four in ten days, I’d like you to know!). Bad sparkling aside, I loved the tone that was set by the cinematography. I loved the moody color that the director applied to the film. Andie has an action called Forks that mimics the look of the movie. I thought I’d try my hand at applying it to some overly-cheery Halloween photos, and I love the results! Again, the first is SOOC, and the second has the Forks action applied.
So what do you think? Pretty cool, eh. Andie’s actions might just turn me into a fan after all. But sssshhhhhhh! Don’t tell anybody!
Gotta fly, got some hockey pics to take! My kid is riding on the Zamboni tonight, so that’s a really big deal. I’m thinking lots of photos will be required!
Ta ta for now!
Barb
by Barb
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