Kim, I re-edited this for fun. I did a different black and white conversion that had a warmer tone. I sharpened the water droplet and then burned around it some so that it stood out more. I did the eye brightner in picnik on it too. Just to show you. I also burned the edges of the droplets on the highlight setting in CS5 just to give it more definition.

The first one is my favorite even though it has more noise than I like. I also wish I hadn't let so much of the building in the foreground. I like to do that sometimes for added depth of field but it doesn't quite work on this one. (too white I think). The second one is pretty but maybe alittle too overexposed. Worst part is, I think I did that in post. Doh! The third one is cute, it seems the color is off to me, maybe a little too green? And I love the 4th one. The sharpness is great, little noise, and I like the exposure. Ahhh...success....

Hope I look that pretty when I am 60! My Mom is stunning. So here is the lesson with these. sometimes less is more. Look at the beautiful light in that room (this is the PRI office). I think in the before pics the lighting and skin tome might actually be fine. Possibly a tad to yellow. But because I *can" I *do* feel the need to lighten this and adjust that and tweek this. I think the afters are lovely and I like the practice on "touching up" but I don't want to edit for the sake of editing. Ya know?

Ok so these both give me acceptable readings in (some spots) in the red channel. But the one on the left looks like it has too much magenta in it to me. The one on the right I turned the cyan up. I think I like it better but now it looks like it has a bit of a green tint and looks a little grey to me.
I obviously like the bricks better on the one on the left but I could always edit those separately. I was more concerned with the skin tone.

So here is re-edit. I had edited these on picnik when I took them and didn't save the originals. DOH! So I tried to re-edit this one in CS5. I do think it is *better* but not great. I really love this image. Wish I had shot it in RAW!

More practice, here is what I am learning...
What I like in photography is more of a photo journalist style. I like candid shots. I enjoy more to look at photos that have people interacting with their environment more than I enjoy photos of people posed looking at the camera. Here is the rub, no one really buys those photos. If you are going to ask someone to pay you to take their pic they want a clean portrait that they can hang on their wall. So if I want to have a business and sell people photos of what they want I have to learn to adjust my style. It's hard because I am in that place right now where a trip out with my family and I am trying to turn every shot into a portrait that someone would pay for. Then I feel frustrated when that's not what I get. (not to mention my poor kids want to explore and not be told to sit this way or that, look here, and for petes sake smile normal this time!!!)So still a journey,one I am loving and I cherish each new lesson. This weeks lesson is "for heaves sake woman, calm down, you are good enough just let it be!"

This first one is my favorite of all the shots I got on this trip.

This one Mark took and I edited it. It's fun that he also enjoys photography!!

This is at the Chicago Cultural Center. I have never been there before and I am going back for sure!! I am in love! I read it was called the "People Palace" when it was built to be the Chicago Public Library. Brilliant, that is what it feels like!

Here I think I like the before better than the after, that has been happening some lately.

Mark took this one of me and Mal at the Rock and Roll McDonalds. I love it! I edited it.

Self Portrait assignment. WOW hard!

I love when it's a challenge because I know I am learning! Self Portrait was a challenge. Getting the camera to focus on my reflection in the mirror when I can't look through the view finder, yep hard!! Having to do it with self timer and focus on where I think I will be, also hard!!

My first idea was to do a before and after shot, before and after Mom has her coffee. The before shot was me a mess in my PJ's the kids pulling on me, toys every where. That shot was easy to get Owen even get it real and had no pants on his little tush hanging out as he tugged on my shirt. (I accidentally erased it or I would share it, it was cute!!) The after was the trick, the boys much prefer to pose out of control then to sit nice.

After trying for a while I moved on to reflection shots. Also challenging but I didn't have to fight with the kids over it.The first 2 are the ones I liked the best.

These next 2 weird-ed me out a bit. Like they were trying to be sexy, which I wasn't. I didn't love how much thigh was showing. And I found the composition boring.

These 2 were ok, but just kind of plain. Not really flattering either.

I think this would be my second favorite. I like that it's me in my environment. I like the composition. And I like that it's only half my face. Leaves more to the imagination. Also I never use to like black and white but Sara has converted me. Now I LOVE it!! It helps being able to have more control over the conversion process and get the light and darks just as I want them.