Fix it Friday - Challenge #81

Today's I HEART FACES "Fix it Friday" photo challenge uses a photo by Michelle Johnson.  You can find her photosite here.

http://lovethatshot.com/

THE ORIGINAL:

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTIONS!

Let's be honest, there are so many photoshop actions out there, that you can create numerous variations with photos today. Here are a few of my favorite actions, and I used them on this beautiful photo.

#1 Heartland Action - by Pioneer Woman (because this photo had a timeless feel)
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2008/12/pioneer-woman-action-set-2-yahoo-yippety/

#2  Florabella Action - BW Champagne Haze
http://florabellacollection.blogspot.com/

#3 Florabella Action - Allure  (I love how this one popped the colors)
http://florabellacollection.blogspot.com/
PLUS, I added a Sunflare Warm Overlay from Patti Brown's Light Play (upper right hand corner)
http://www.pattibrownblog.com/light-play-is-here/

#4 Paint the Moon - Illuminate Action
http://paintthemoon.net/blog/
PLUS, I added on of patti Brown's flares, from her Lite Flare Overlays
http://www.pattibrownblog.com/lite-flare-finally/

#5 Mandy Chiappini's Black and White Pop action from her Fairytale Action set
http://pandmchiappini.blogspot.com/
PLUS, I rotated the photo 25% CCW and cropped it as an 8x10.

I can't wait to see your edits.  Happy Friday, and Happy Holidays!!!

Pet Faces Contest at "I Heart Faces"

I Heart Faces normally showcases human faces, but this weeks contest is about pet faces.

Meet Bella Grazia

G is for girly..., originally uploaded by Abby Lanes.

She is a Bichon Frise puppy who realizes the competition is stiff, with so many adorable pets out there, but her paws are crossed for good contest karma.

Good luck to us all!!!

P.S. A little over two weeks ago, she was homeless, hungry, filthy, and covered in one pound of matted rasta hair.  Please spay and neuter your pets, and remember there are rescues and shelters packed with homeless animals.

Photo Editing Fun / Fix it Friday #80

I Heart Faces has weekly editing challenges.  This is a fun way to learn some new editing techniques, and see what various editing tools can do.  This week's original photo is by Jessica Page, for the "I Heart Faces" Fix it Friday challenge.
Link to Jessica Page site

If you want to play along, and edit this too, or just read the tutorials,  here is the link.

Link to I Heart Faces - Photo Editing Fun / Fix it Friday #80

THESE ARE THE STEPS I USED TODAY:
Software Used:  Adobe Photoshop CS
Step 1 - Actions Used - Paint the Moon - wonder quickie
Paint the Moon blog

Step 2 - Dodge tool on teeth, eyes, and under eyes to lighten.  I used the healing brush on the older girls scar between her eyes, and I cloned the younger girls teeth to fill the gap.  I burned the background and the hot spots on the girls faces to recover some of the lost detail from the bright sun.

Step 3 - MCP action - fake blue sky (in the Bag of Tricks Action Set)
Link to MCP Actions - Bag of Tricks

Step 4 - Rotate 15% CCW and crop in a square.  To keep the fingers I had to clone the older girls jacket and shirt to fill the frame.

Voila. That is my edit.  I look forward to seeing yours too.  Happy Fix it Friday!