Sunday, 31 January 2016

Create Rustic Background to Your Still Life [Photo Recipe]



January calls for cozy moments inside, both gathering with family and friends inside with tea and coffee, and moments alone in a peaceful corner, getting in deep with a book or knitting. I wanted to create a Still Life photo, that has a warm feeling of indoors coziness.

White flower with the coffee colored tiny petals in the middle, inspired me to use an old, iron coffee table as a table top and a light brown panel backdrop. I chose a simple composition with a black espresso cup, to give contrast to the ivory colored flower.


Photo recipe:

1. I opened the photo in Lightroom, checking the cropping of the image, to secure that my motive is horizontally in the middle of the frame.
2. With the brush tool, I sharpened the flower and increased slightly the contrast and the exposure of the flower.
3. Thereafter I opened the image in Photoshop, and added the Calais texture from the Olde World Collection by Love that Shot, with blending mode soft light 35 %. 
4. I removed the texture from the flower with the brush function with 100 % opacity, and from the cup using 50 % opacity.

Simple as that! I like the natural warmth, the textures from Olde World Collection add to the images. I like to use them especially in Still Life photography to create rustic background effects.

What brings you inspiration in photography in January - February?


... Until next time,

Nina


[This post contains affiliate links.]

Fountain of Life



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 Blessings to your Sunday,
Nina


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Scripture & Snapshot



Photo: Nikon D3200 

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Sunday, 24 January 2016

Fruit of Light



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 Blessings to your Sunday,
Nina


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Photo: iPhone 5S, Camera+, Snapseed Appas
Textures by Kim Klassen & Anna Lenabem

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Sunday, 17 January 2016

Rest for your souls


Give your heart a home by Don Fransisco

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 Blessings to your Sunday,
Nina

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Photo: iPhone 5S, Camera+, Snapseed, iColorama, Glaze, TnagledFx & Images Blender Apps
Textures by Anna Lenabem, 2 Lil Owls & Coppercurls Design

Saturday, 16 January 2016

Snowy Landscapes






Yes - It has been snowing this week! The frost has decorated the trees and branches - and everything is light and white. 
I took these snapshots today - The upper one is from our little town square, just in front of the library. The two others are by the lake close by the swimming hall.

I found a novel by Kate Atkinson from the library today. I like the way she describes the persons and their relations, creating captivating plots, making it hard to let go off the book, once you have started to read it. 

The swimming hall was peaceful this afternoon - the water was still and calm. Swimming the lanes was once again a feeling of being one with the water ... relaxing, soothing and making your body and muscles tired and being stretched in a good way. 20 minutes in sauna took the rest of the tension from the shoulders ... Saturdays with swimming  and sauna seems to be the best medicine for my neck and shoulders - and for the mind as well - you  kind of get into a peaceful flow and natural rhythm when swimming.

The boys have been sledging with their friends yesterday and today - Welcome winter and sledding-hill!

Snowy greetings,

Nina

Saturday's share Fest by The Sits Girls 
Photo Friday by Jen


Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Sunday, 10 January 2016

Come and listen


Always There by Don Fransisco

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 Blessings to your Sunday,
Nina

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Photo: iPhone 5S, Olloclip extern lens, Camera+ & Snapseed Apps

Saturday, 9 January 2016

Welcome 2016



I have caught myself a few times writing 2015 instead of 2016 ... Yet I have noticed the mistake, just as I have written the number 6 - It's fun to observe one's habits adjusting actually rather fast - in some things ...

The new year brings about a feeling of freshness - a new paper calendar for 2016 starts with empty pages to be filled - I do like the symbolical act of holding the new, empty calendar in my hand: Holding the coming year, 365 days ...

My resolution for 2016 is to have no resolutions as such.
A word for 2016 is just in the tip of my tongue... I am patiently letting it to find its form and sound.

I cherish the following words of Thich Nhat Hahn - they make one feel light and at ease:

Be yourself.
Life is precious as it is.
All the elements for your happiness are already there.
There is no need to run, strive, search or struggle.
Just be.

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The sweet everyday life is catching up on us:
It has been nice to see colleges after holidays - and be positively surprised that you actually remember the codes both to the pc and network!
Adjusting yourself from being a B person back to being an A person.
Morning routines with setting the tea over and toasting the bread, wondering if it is going to snow or rain later on and checking the weather ... 
And realizing all of a sudden, that it already is Friday - And that the weekend is at hand!

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I wish you in 2016
Good health and many special moments with those dear to you,
wisdom to choose how and where to set your focus and energy,
and time each day to that which matters most to you,

Nina


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Photo Friday by Jen

Tuesday, 5 January 2016

Sunday, 3 January 2016

Love us


Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin

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 Blessings to your Sunday,
Nina

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Photo: iPhone 5S, Camera+ & Snapseed Apps
 Photo Veil: Peach Glow from Illumination Collection - Love that Shot

Friday, 1 January 2016

December & November 2015 [A Month in Photos]



Awaiting with peaceful anticipation ... Advent Sunday's
Scent of ginger bread
Morning tea in candle light
Christmas spirit at work with secret elfs and funny presents 
Christmas Cards from to and from near and afar 
A pregnant young woman and her fiancee making their way to Jerusalem - long time ago ...

No hurries this year:

Life is so urgent it necessitates living slow.
Ann Voskamp

Advent: The time to listen for footsteps -
You canøt hear footsteps when you're running yourself.

Bill McKibben




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Cloudy days, wind and rare spots of sun shine 
Pots of tea and candles inside - simple pleasures
Short naps after work
Fresh air with walks and small rides in the weekends
Finding Christmas decorations from the cellar
And - A lovely long weekend with mom visiting us!



It has been a pleasure making these monthly photo collages - It all started in January 2015, thanks to Mona's Pictoresque and her inspiration! I have used these collages in making desktop calendars for 2016 - I look forward of receiving them next week!

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A month in photos by Mona's Pictoresque

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