Book Review

Today I have a review for you on a  great new book called Photo Craft by Susan Tuttle and Christy Hydeck. 

Photo Craft features tips, tricks and projects that combine the art of photography with the messy goodness of mixed media arts.  The book will help take your photos to the next creative level! Did I mention they even drop in iPhonography tips and app suggestions?! *swoon*

Those of you familiar with Photoshop Elements will be excited to see that the photo editing tricks are done using tools found in PSE. "Regular" Photoshop users can easily adapt these to your own system. I'm not sure how easily they'll translate if  you're using other graphics programs. A few of the techniques covered include removing unwanted areas of your photos using the clone tool, using blend modes, and creating cross-processed images.

My favorite technique had to be about shooting through found materials.... I had NO idea you could shoot through tissue paper and other items to achieve really interesting effects! Think super cool blurs and photo tints!

Oh the photography.... be prepared to be inspired... the whimsical shots will keep you thumbing through the book while your dirty laundry pile continues to grow.

Throughout the book you'll also find crafty projects thrown in. They have thoughtfully provided step-by-step directions (complete with more gorgeous photos) which lay out just what to do and what supplies are needed. Very helpful for those of us who have a fear of "messing up". 

One of my favorites projects was on how to create a realistic looking watercolor painting using a photo as the basis. Below you can see how I used this technique to create this a sweet Valentine's Day card. 

There were only a few steps involved and I think it came out really sweet!

Want a chance to WIN a copy of Photo Craft so you test out the projects yourself???

Head over to the OSD blog to enter!

xo Lauren

Photo Art Fun

The benefits of digital photography are endless.... pairing that up with Photoshop just extends that even farther!

Natalie of SmART Class, has proven this fact with a really fun DIY tutorial on how to blend your children's art work WITH your photos!

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Isn't that a great idea? I can see taking this basic idea in so many different directions!
Be sure to head over to the tutorial for more details on how Natalie achieved this look.

xo Lauren

Dear Photograph

You know when you look at old photos and think, "I wonder what that place looks like now." or you drive past the school you grew up in and are flooded with old memories? Well that's basically what the blog, Dear Photograph is based on.

Taylor Jones, creator of the blog, took old photographs and brought them into the present... combining two times into one amazing memory. Jones' blog began with photos he created, but he now takes submissions from readers as well. These morphed photographs speak for themselves and the quick notes under them are powerful. I'm certain you'll be inspired.

Here are some shots from Dear Photograph...

 

Dear Photograph, 
At the time it was not common for a man to walk behind a pram.
I’m still proud of my father.
Eva Willemier Westra

Dear Photograph,
Letting go of my mother’s hand the first day of school was always the hardest.
Liz

Dear Photograph,
Je t’aime Paris, but I love my mother more. After 15 years she finally brought me along!
Leah Romm

Dear Photograph,
Thank you for everything we had.
@jonathanstampf

Dear Photograph,
It’s nice to know that we loved each other once upon a time.
Sam

Amazing.

For more info on Taylor Jones and Dear Photograph, check out this article by ABC.

creative is an understatement.

if you aren't currently a stalker follower of Mila's Daydreams, you must drop everything and run directly over there and sign up for her feed, or at a minimum, bookmark that sucker so you can pop in lots!

what you'll find at the blog is..... well, not only a precious little baby, but a creative photographer to the exbillionith level! (yes, i'm aware that number doesn't exist, just humor me will you?!)

here's are some of my favs....

All pictures Copyright ©Adele Enersen

be sure to pop by her blog and leave her some love! i'm going to talk hubs into another baby JUST so i can take pics like this! is that wrong?! ;)

xo