Photoshop experiments

I had my first experiments of photoshop today! At first I was completely baffled as it wasn't obvious how to use it, so I had to go on Youtube and watch some videos about getting started. I wanted to learn how to put two pictures together so there are different layers to the picture. I picked these katie costume ones for my experiments as I though the close up pictures of the textures could work well as backgrounds

Latest Costume adventures on Hamps Fell

Here is a selection of my favourite photographs from the latest costume photo shoot with my sister Katie wearing her latest costume. See duxburydesigns.co.uk for more costumes!

Polarising filter

I've had a 'circular polarising filter' for ages, but haven't used it until this week. It's a filter that goes on the lens, and blocks some of the light from reaching the camera's sensor. It makes skies look bluer, and reduces reflections on water and other shiny things, which makes colours look more saturated. I went for a walk at the Ulverston canal to try it out.

Then in the evening I went for a walk at Rydal Hall near Ambleside where there is a lovely series of waterfalls. I went in the evening deliberately as the reduced light would mean that the camera would need longer shutter speeds to capture the scene, resulting in the lovely smooth moving water effect. I think the polarising filter might have helped add to this as well by removing the unwanted light reflections.

Editing Abingdon

I have looked again at the picture of Abingdon that I took last week and have been experimenting with ways to enhance it by making adjustments in the editing software. I've been learning what all the different buttons and tools are and how I can touch up different parts of the photo with them.

I made three different versions, a sepia, a colour and a black and white. I can't decide which one I like best. I think the colours of the scene were what made it eye catching in the first place, but on the other hand it looks really dramatic in the monochrome versions

And on to Brighton for a wedding

I arrived in plenty of time to Brighton, so there'd be time for a bit of an explore before the wedding. I don't think I've ever been to Brighton before, so it was exciting to se places like the old and new piers, the pavilion, and to attempt to paddle on the very pebbly beach!

Then to the wedding, there were so many beautiful decorations that I couldn't resist snapping away all day! Hers are a few of my favourites.

A visit to Oxford and it's surrounding wonders

I visited a few more places 'down South' during my summer holidays. The first pictures are from a visit to Avesbury, another of the places I heard much about whilst studying archaeology, but had never had the chance to visit before. It's a tiny village with lovely thatched cottages, that is surrounded by ancient bankings and stone monuments. Unlike Stonehenge, which is fenced off, you can walk up to the stones and see how big they are from close up which is nice.

This was a nice little museum, but you had to pay to get on a timelslot to visit so we didn't bother. It was nice to look at though!

The next location we visited was 'The Living Rainforest'. It seems to be something of a charity set up to teach people about sustainable living, and they use their greenhouses with tropical plants and animals to help with this. There were lots of things to take pictures of!

And finally back to Abingdon where I was staying with my friend at her house. We went for a nice walk in the evening and the town looked lovely in the setting sunlight.