FINE AND DANDY

Bit of old-school texturing over this pretty dandy shot. This looks like something I could have put out there a couple of years ago and it feels good to dig into that old textures folder now and again.

THE RETURN

I like returning to places where I’ve enjoyed taking photographs at different times of the year, just to see change. In summertime, I had no interest in these flowers but I’m drawn to them when their glory has faded. I find them poetic when they are reaching their end.

FROM WITHIN

Tiny pops of red are irresistible when there’s a general lack of colour around.

BABY’S BREATH

Gypsophilia is often treated as an afterthought or a filler in bouquets but it really is exquisite in its own right. Soft and gentle.

LAYERED

I have a love/hate relationship with textures. Actually ‘hate’ is far too strong a word but there are times when I don’t reach for them too often when I’m processing my pics.

I know there are those who feel that any manipulation in post is not on, that even the slightest tweak in curves somehow pollutes a photograph and violates some sort of special photographer’s code but I’m not one of those. Obviously.

It’s all art at the end of the day so I think my decision to texture or not to texture, must come down to mood, to what is reflected in the natural world around me (tone and light) and in making judgement calls as I begin the process of layering beautiful scratches upon stains upon smudges onto my work.

FORECAST: SNOW

Cannot wait to see if it will snow this weekend! Having spent the past 15 years living in the Middle East where the weather is either ‘hot’ or ‘hotter’, the novelty of changeable days still hasn’t worn off and I especially love cold weather. That feeling of tightness on your face as your skin freezes on a winter’s day and the ensuing tingling heat and runny nose when you go back indoors. And then there’s the wintery wardrobe of cozy knits, hats and gloves to wrap up in. Bliss. So I’m waiting and hoping, holding frosty breath with fingers crossed … and toes.

MISTER LOVER LOVER

Avert your eyes if you’re under 18.

BARE BONES BEAUTY

That half-haze you get in the autumn/winter cusp is gorgeous to me. It’s all so dreamy. The branches are now all naked and poetic. Bare bones beauties.
These trees are at the end of our road and I’ve been watching them shed their leaves every day on the walk to school with my daughter. Most of the leaves have gone now but there are a few golden hued  hangers-on that really stand out against the muggy tones of the season.

LOVE LETTERS

Bought myself a box of small vintage alphabet stamps and my mind’s abuzz with how I can use them. They’ll definitely come in handy in my photography and I could use them to stamp out addresses when I send letters (yes, I love handwritten letters) unless it’s too slow going. Need to get thinking …