Photo Contest – Smile

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown

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This week I Heart Faces is celebrating their 2nd Anniversary. I am so thankful I joined this amazing community which has motived me, through its weekly challenges, to push beyond my capabilities. And I've made some good friends along the way.

Happy 2nd Anniversary "I Heart Faces"

So since this is going to be a week of fun and celebration, it would be only fitting that this weeks challenge be all about SMILES!!!

This is my sweet Grandaughter Ellie that has a smile that would melt the ice caps. She certainly has melted my heart.



Make sure you go and check out all the other amazing entries at I Heart Faces.

Trendy Blog Award........

Grateful for the award from Trendy Treehouse passed to me by Natalie of The Franklins.

I was checking my fellow bloggers to see what all everyone had posted lately, since I had not checked in a few days and I noticed the post by Natalie and that she had picked me as one of her 10 blogs that she wanted to pass along the award.


So Trendy Treehouse gave out ten "Trendy Blog Awards." So now that I have received one I have to pass it to ten more bloggers. I really want to thank Natalie for thinking of me. So sweet of you and "Thank you bunches." I feel that to receive an award from a fellow blogger/photog is truly an honor.

Here is my award...Can you see me doing the Happy Dance??

Here are my 10 that I want to pass it along to.

1. Inspire Me Photography
2. Almota Roses
3. Life with Kaishon
4. Ramblings and Photos by Ashley Sisk

5. Halsey Happenings

6. Photo Freak
7. Life through a Lens: My Journey

8. The Old Nichols Farm

9. Terina Matthews Photography
10. Marilyn C Photography

I know that some may have already received the award and I wish that I could name so many more but the rules and instructions were to pass along to 10 so each of these will pass along to 10 each so I think everyone will get a chance at having a Trendy Blog!

Hey Natalie....Thanks again...YOU ROCK!!!!

Here are the instructions:
The rules of this award are very simple.
*Just post about your award on your blog
*List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs
*Share with them and
*Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button (so they can grab it too)
*Make sure you tell them the same, that they need to give this award out to 10 as well.

Absolute Best Face Photo of 2010

Update

January 8, 2011

First Place

"Best Face Photo of 2010"

People's Choice

Thank you all who voted, I am so excited that I am standing here doing my Happy Dance.

It definitley was a fun week.

(Click on the button above to take you to see all the other amazing winners)

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Wow, 2010 was an absolutely amazing year in growth. I feel like I have learned so much and partly it has to do with all the great photographers I have met and have inspired me through this wonderful community called I Heart Faces. Actually it was Julie from IHI was who originally told me about it -- Thanks Julie xoxox

It challenged me every week to be better at what I love to do. Two Thousand Ten truly was an enlightning year. I hope to make 2011 an even better year in growth and skill.

So now for the first one in 2011 they challenge us once more. We have to go through all our photos from 2010 and pick out our very favorite "face" photo. How is that not the hardest challenge ever? So many beautiful faces graced my camera last year from my Grandchildren (whom are the reason for that sparkle in my eye) to my father who turned Eighty in 2010.

But after much consideration I picked this photo as my very Absolute Best Face Photo of 2010. It was not an easy task. :)


This is Samantha
My Great Niece
My Absolute Best Face Photo of 2010

So for the first time, I Heart Faces is allowing the Public to vote!! I would be tickled pink if you would vote for this precious girl.

Voting Closed Friday Jan. 7, 2011 at 5pm

Thank you so very much for your votes!!!!

Make sure you go and check out all the other amazing entries at I Heart Faces.

Some of my Favorites from Christmas!!

CHRISTmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

Also, the day kiddies throughout wait for Santa to bring them their toys...only if they've been nice (and not end up on the dreaded naughty list). I remember when we were growing up my mother would struggle to get all the kids their presents from Santa. We were seven kids and it wasn't easy for them to get everyone equally and of course the little ones would always get the most since it was mostly about them. But somehow she always managed to make it amazing for all of us. I remember one year my mother wanted to make sure the kids behaved themselves throughout the year and laid out a bag of coals for my brother Tito (she was a humorous lady and one of many tricks). Of course my brother and I were prevy at that point in time to the the scheme and he sure did play it up. I don't quite remember if the kids behaved themselves or not that year, but the memory of that day still is vivid in my mind as it was yesterday.

This year we spent Christmas part at my daughters and part at my sister's home with family, some old friends and some new ones, and I loved every second of it. Making memories is what it's all about. From putting out cookies and milk for Santa with the grandkids to taking silly photos in front of the Christmas Tree at my sisters. It's a time for love and being thankful that we can be together (and missing those who weren't there).

Photo Contest - Pet Faces

This is Palo Gold Gun, my Dad's Palomino. He was born in 1983 in Preston, GA to champion parents, One Gun Jr. (sire) and Palo Gold Rush (dam) and went to live with my Dad in August of 2000. He is an absolutely beautiful horse and is truly a part of our huge family. This last August my husband and I visited Amarillo, TX and stopped in at the American Quarterhorse Association. There we requested his records and got his history going back eight generations and brought this information back to my Dad. My Dad knew that he had champion in him but did not have all the history. Palo Gold Gun placed in reining for a couple of years until he got hurt and had to be retired. He lives very happily at my Dad's and shares stables with other ponies. He is a very happy old guy.

Make sure you go and check out all the other amazing entries at I Heart Faces.

To edit or not to edit......

Questioning whether a photo should be edited, whether through Photoshop or any other means of many amazing software that is out there, is I suppose a matter of opinion or how much you want to perfect your craft.

I for one will never let a photo leave me without some form of processing/editing to make it the best that the photo itself can offer. Is that a bad thing? Ask any professional photographer if they edit their photos and the answer will be yes. Now, I don't classify myself in the category of those professionals that have perfected their craft with many years of blood, sweat and tears, but I consider myself to have a good eye for how I want my photo to look. Also remember that having the best camera and best lenses does not always guarantee best white balance, best lighting, best settings. So editing a photo is not a bad thing, in my opinion it makes you a photographer who wants the best looking photo out there for their clients, friends, family or just for yourself.

So for those of you out there who think that SOOC (straight out of the camera) photos is the way to go, I will demostrate the most simplest of editing/processing to one simple, very colorful photo.


Equipment: Canon 50D
Lens: 24/70mm f2.8L series
Settings: 52mm / ISO 3200 / f3.5 / 1/640
No flash / shot indoors under kitchen lighting


Editing Program / Adobe LR3
WB, auto
Add blacks to 25
Vibrance to 70
Noise reduction 49 and detail to 76

That is it and it took 30 secs!! (Click on photos to enlarge for a closer look)

Just the slightest editing to what would be considered a perfectly fine photo, now makes that photo Pop!!

So next time someone ask you why you edit your photos, just say "why not??"

Happy Editing!!!

Dec 2010

Photo Contest - Self Portrait

I loved this weeks challenge. Although after snapping a bunch of pics I have to say I that I probably shouldn't have gone with anything this close up!! Where did all those lines on my face come from? I swear they weren't there twenty years ago!! LOL Oh well, it is what it is and here is my contribution to this weeks Self Portrait (after applying a little {hehehe] softening!!!)







Make sure you go and check out all the other amazing entries at I Heart Faces.