Resistance and Overwhelm - v4-#15: Alstromeria Blend

Today's Picture to Ponder Photos
Blended White and Purple Alstromeria - the two source photos (see Lesson 6), taken at different times, were combined into the single image shown on the top, using Photoshop Elements 4.0.

 Self-Reflecting Queries
Regarding today's featured blended photo, I am delighted with the achievement that produced the end result. I thought you, too, might appreciate the light, airy, as well as almost mystical, feeling that it exudes. The creating of it is actually the outcome of letting go resistance and also taking on something one step-at-a-time.
                  
My resistance was to using the Photoshop program for anything beyond basic resizing, sometimes cropping, occasional minor color adjustment and sometimes touch-up, eliminating small, distracting spots. As a matter of fact, in various issues of Picture to Ponder, a year or two ago, I've written about wanting to remain "pure" to the photography, actually being somewhat defensive and, as I reflect on it now, "positional."
                  
I invite you to look into your life, are there places where you have taken a strong position on what you will or will not do, places where, in fact, if you made a shift, even slight, there might some exciting openings for you? This could be related to tasks and/or relationships.                   
                  
Also, are there places in your life where projects look so overwhelming that you are turning away from them? The alstromeria photo blend almost did not happen. There were so many different aspects to the course, or so I told myself, that I simply stopped, put off completing a couple of lessons I'd started and never moved on to the others. Then at the last minute, the day before the two-week extension ended, I simply stopped thinking about it and got into action, one exercise at a time.
                  
Now I am ecstatic. For the same exercise I also did another combo photo that will be the DVD cover for Banana Sky DVD, soon to be released in an easier to produce, easier to purchase format. I know I will be using this technique, as well as many other small, timesaving tips I picked up in this course, in many more creative ways.
                  
Perhaps you, too, have areas, in your life, where you "know" the answers and don't need support.  I also invite you to step back, look, and consider places where things might become easier for you, simply if you allowed someone else in and took a few lessons.
                  
More on my "Resistance Story," if it will help you.
                  
In the last issue I mentioned taking this online Photoshop Elements course. I've been using an earlier version for some time, simply using it for basics. Some of what I do is self-taught and some I gleaned from the online courses led by Sara Froelich for Eclectic Academy. As I recall, my main reason for enrolling in the course at this time was to start coming out of the state I've been in and get into some more ready, creative activities.

My dear friend, Rebecca Collins, pet portrait artist, whom I've mentioned in the past, is an avid user and promoter of Photoshop and has been after me for years to get into using it myself. I'd been routinely resisting and would simply call her if I got stuck.
                     
Having connected with her when I hired her to do my first web site, I had experienced following her lead with Dreamweaver and other programs. I did finally take on Cafe Press, where our Gift Shop is, well over a year after she kept encouraging me to do that.
                     
Now, I am finally moving a little more into the Photoshop world. After all, many professionals do refer to it as the "Digital Darkroom" and I'm certainly familiar with that, having oberved my beloved Sam spend hours in the darkroom where, for years, he tweaked his wonderful black and white photographs. Thank you both Sam and Rebecca.
                     
Note - If you love pets and/or are interested in seeing some creative work with Photoshop, do check out Becca's artdogblog, where she actually shows you what she's doing. You can also link to her site from there.

Comments

[Becca]

You sweetheart ...thanks for the mention. I was just ending a long busy day and saw your e-zine in my box ... I was eager to open it up and see what you were up to this week since our visit in May is just around the corner! Your experiment is lovely ...very light and airy. Is it multiply or some other groovy layer effect that I do not know about?

[Stephen]

I'm also interested in Photography and find it a great tool to escape with.
When looking through the view finder one has to focus more carefully on a subject.
Since starting Photography I've often been asked, "do you touch your photos", the answer is "Yes".
I like to inject my vision and emotion into what ever I do.

Keep up the good work.

[Sheila Finkelstein]

Thanks for your comments, Becca. Regarding the process there are two layers, with a third in between. The transparent gradient tool is used in the middle blank layer.

I can explain further on the phone, or we'll play when you come visit. In the meantime, I did two more blends, posted on FlickR now, using the same two photos - One photo has the bird as the background, the other the water. See http://flickr.com/photos/inspirational_sheila/sets/72157604818184174/

[Sheila Finkelstein]

Steven,

Thanks for your comments and acknowledgment. I like the way you speak of "touching" your photos through your viewfinder - "injecting your vision and emotion into whatever you do." It's what I'm doing, I guess what we all do, without really thinking about it.

Regarding "escape" - I've often said when I need a "mood shift" I take my camera for a walk. Do you have your photos posted anywhere on the web?

Appreciatively,
Sheila

[Stephen]

No problems Sheila, I just like to acknowledge another fellow traveler that seems to be traveling a parallel pathway. I do have a small gallery of images that I have taken if your readers are interested they can have a look see here > http://members.iinet.net.au/~sissell/

I also had similar musing a week ago and put a page together http://members.iinet.net.au/~sissell/musings/musings.html

I notice also that you have some DVD's out, you are doing what I want to do, and have already completed the first.

It's funny how one thing can lead us into another and slowly but surely we find like minded souls.