i heart faces Week 13 - “Dramatic B&W” Photo Challenge!

This week over at i heart faces they are having a Dramatic B&W challenge. 

We are looking for B&W photos that are dramatic, sensational and/or moody in the way they are presented. Something about your entry must catch our eye as being dramatic or moody for it to be passed along to the judge as a top entry. I thought this photo seemed dramatic with the sun flare, lines of the trees, off kilter angle and the way her eyes seem to be looking right through the camera. I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with this week!

This bridge in our local park is my new favorite spot that I discovered in the dead of winter.  Now that the snow has mostly melted I was able to go under the bridge to get some great shots looking up.  I love the weathered wood and suspension cables that hold it up.  There are so many angles to take advantage of here that the possibilities are endless.

So meet Mehandis.  I used a gradient to turn this black and white then adjusted by using several level layers to darken and brighten areas.  I then added in a photo filter and used a creamy tan to warm up it up a bit.  I really love the sharp angles that frame him in horizontally and then his parents legs framing him in vertically.

Thanks for stopping in!  Be sure to check out more entries over at i heart faces.

Jen

i heart faces Photo Challange "Bundle Up"

Recently I had the joy of taking some photos for a 7 year old at my girls school.  The mom wanted to head outside and it was nice out...for Wisconsin.  Gray sky's, no sun, snow on the ground...about 20 degrees.  So real nice!  Jake decided that we needed to explore his fort...his very own pirate ship.  So I went on the pirate adventure with him.  He asked me to hang out below so I sat below and waited.  Out of nowhere he poked out of his trap door.  So of course I snapped away.  

We had so many great photos from our pirate adventure that it was hard to narrow it down to just one, but this one really embodies the fun we had.

Be sure to check out more “Bundled Up” photos over at i heart faces today…

Jen

I heart faces Fix It Fridays

This week's photo came from Sarah Halstead who blogs at Loving My Life. The little cutie-pie is her son, Dustyn. Sarah wrote that she was "having issues with overexposure in the top left corner and with blemishes on his face."  Here is this weeks SOOC.

First off I use PSE7.  I did a creative crop to clear out the blown area.  Fixed the face blemish, etc.  Then I ran Noiseware on it, perked it up, dodged some of the face shadows, ran Coffeeshop powder room.  Adjusted the layers for him and then the background seperatly masking each layer differently. I also fixed the face and warmed it up a bit, but being uncalibrated I am unsure of if it is too light.  I probably messed with the saturation and hues as well. Then I ran Noiseware again lightly to smooth out the edits.

Overall I am pleased with the edit.  I would have liked to clone in the grass better from another image since when I did the creative crop I had to edit in some additional grass.  I also think his face is still maybe a pinch to light.  The noiseware I just purchased yesterday and still am trying to learn it all.  So he may be a bit over-smoothed, but I did pull it back after noiseware ran on a duplicate copy.  If anyone uses this I would love a tutor. :)  I have read what I can find about it, but I think I have to just work it out.

Side by side:

Stop by i heart faces to see more Fix it's.
Jen

i heart faces “I Wanna Dance!” Photo Challenge

This week over at i heart faces it is all about dancing.  I recently had the opportunity to take photos at the Snowball Dance for the special needs high school kids and adults in our community.  I had loads of great captures throughout the night but this one really sums it up.  Most of the kids in attendance had their aids with them.  The aids got into the mix and really engaged everyone to dance.  Here is one student cuttin' a rug.  The student is non verbal and in a wheel chair, but you can really see the pure enjoyment in this moment.

Stop in at i heart faces to check out more dance shots!

Jen

Photo Challenge: "We heart kisses"

This week over at i heart faces it is all about kisses.  This is my nephew and sister in law.  Nothing sweeter.

Go and check out more kisses here.



Jen

i heart faces, Week 3 - “We Are Family” Photo Challenge!

Let's celebrate families this week at i heart faces.

It doesn't matter to us at all if your photo represents a "traditional" family or a "non-traditional" family. We are looking for photos that show off a cool way to capture a family together...be fun, creative, unique and enter the most awesome photo you can! We would also like each photo entry to have at least one (1) adult in it and even possibly a wide variety of ages represented. So here is my entry, I love when you capture those moments in between the typical family pose.  These moments make for the best photos as we all know.

Be sure to click over to i heart faces to see more entries!

i ♥ faces Photo Challenge "Best Face Photo"

First off Happy Birthday to i heart faces!!  I am so pleased to have this resource and since stumbling upon you a few months ago I have really enjoyed my Monday mornings.  This week's contest is sharing your best face photo. It was so hard picking the best face photo I have; it is my favorite thing to photograph so I have TONS.  But this is one that I took most recently and I love the red frame around Abby's face.  We were at the museum and she was popping her head out of the play farm gazing out onto lake Michigan.

As the photo says, this is Abigail.  Be sure to check out all the entries at i heart faces.