It’s fun bringing something new to a photograph. The software I use is Corel PaintShop Pro Ultimate 2023. I just hammered through these doing something different to my usual techniques to soften images. I alter a photo changing lightness, shadows, or mid-range tones, sometimes adding more black or white as well as saturation. Mostly then I use vignette as the first stop in softening an image.
This photo I used a function in the software – Soft Focus, which I haven’t used before. I changed the amount of soft focus and edge hardness. Then set the Halo amount, size and visibility I bore you with meaningless numbers. From a harsh morning sun through grass seeds to this.
A bee on a Zinnia. I seem to have quite a number of similar photos. Just using vignette and dark settings Dark/Light into the negative numbers Blur making sure the subject bee wasn’t out of focus Diffuse Glow on low as well Feather Edge just encroaching on the petal
The opposite with the Australian Painted Lady Butterfly. The original photo had the grass as well as the butterfly in focus. Firstly, I bought up the black and colour as it was a bit washed out. I decided to try something new again. Selective Focus. It is in parallel band and can be moved in any direction. First I ran the focus following the butterflies body and to the tip of the wings. Left and right hand sides now blurred. Then did the same going horizontal, blurring the top and bottom of the photo. Adding a vignette in a vague heart shape.
A very old street in Adelaide, Victorian terraces and a blue stone building which were a staple for stone buildings in the late 1800’s. A bright sunny day photo. I like the result of this photo. This was the first photo I played with and was just doing all sorts of things, deciding I didn’t like it and undid the changes. Therefore no idea how I did this one, sorry
Well there you go. This is something I don’t usually do and I know why…..it’s exhausting! Hope it gave some insight into the process to get a desired result
Subtitle: Changing Seasons – in conjunction with Ju-Lyn
I didn’t take many photos in November. I am loving the rain. The frogs have been as well. Some nights it is so loud with all the frogs having their say. The most photographed thing, because the rain has made the garden just grow, are flowers splashed throughout the garden. I am doing a garden post as it is too good not to share. I have spent a bit time in the shed so there’s a post about that on the list as well.
The days we had with sunny blue skies which were taken advantage of, so there was lots of photos to pick from for This is November. Grab your usual drink/snack that you may like to consume at this time of your day and enjoy this bit of my world.
Here is your song to scroll to….a new one for me. I hope you enjoy my discovery. Hit play and let’s get scrolling. You can always come back up and stop the music if you don’t like it.
One Saturday morning I woke very early and there was colour in the sky, so I had to try and take a few photos for Hammad’s Weekend Sky. After taking my usual photos from the usual place, I tried to see what I could get through the trees. Most were ok but didn’t show all that much of the coloured clouds. My favourite of the lot.
The cows next door to my besties were calving. I think these two may be related.
On that hill where the calves are, a Double Bared Finch was having lunch too.
It is always lovely to see an Eastern Rosella or two when out and about.
Sacred Ibis always look spectacular as the glide overhead.
On the lookout tree, a Spangled Drongo (top) and a Dollar Bird keep an eye out for some unsuspecting breakfast to be passing by.
In my besties garden, a Pheasant Coucal was calling for a few days. One morning he decided to come out in the sun.
We went away for a few days to Soldiers Point. One day we went for a walk in a nature reserve at Nelson Bay. There’s a few photos from there following as well. A pair of Corellas were checking out the hollows in the Gum Tree to make home maybe.
This made me laugh, the Darter look so serious too.
We found this lily like plant and it has the most wonderful flower. I haven’t been able to ID it yet.
I just love Red and Green Kangaroo Paw flowers which were growing along the track in the nature reserve
At a cafe having a coffee while the waiting for the rain to ease a bit, I saw Bougainvillea flowers had fallen on a table out in the rain.
That’s all from our mini holiday. Remember the last two “This is…..” I have shown the progress of the amazing Gymea Lily flower. I don’t think it will be there next time.
Here is a few from around my garden as a bit of a teaser lol. The agapanthus in the garden have never had as many flowers ever! Mostly blues but some are from plants with white flowers that I never knew their colour.
This white Agapanthus flower stalk was so tall, well over a meter.
The Crinums or Spider Lilys are flowering well this year.
I have been trying to find the right place for the Walking Iris as I love their flowers
I have a Jacaranda tree which is a bit scraggly but this year showed itself as best it could.
Scattered around the garden are Spiny-headed Mat Rush (Lomandra) plants that have long strappy leaves most of the time but they do flower
The Paperbark Trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia) are flowering and the insects and birds are loving them.
I can’t grow roses at my place. It gets too wet and the Possums and Wallabies love them too much. My besties place is ideal. Here is a selection of Roses. This is a tiny climbing variety.
Some of the flowers are amazing. I love this pink one.
Such a deep colour, it is more orange than red in real life
Some Zinnias are appearing.
This is the flower from a Bromiliad which I found in the plant rescue section of a nursery. I took three and said these be easy. He rolled his eyes. Five years later, two survived and this one has flowered for the first time.
Sometimes Thistle flowers look so good.
I always forget to take photos of the Zig-Zag plant when it flowers.
I cannot believe this Pineapple plant. It has been in the garden for as long as I can remember. Every now and then it pops out a fruit. This is the flower stage. Pineapple plants are Bromiliads.
The Day Lilys have been wonderful this year
Even the Stingless Native Bees thinks so as well.
The Variegated Duranta has been flowering since start of Spring. Now it has rained there are flowers everywhere.
There was a break in the rain. A Blue-banded Bee decided to take advantage too.
In the nature reserve we found this amazing way the Lichen has formed. What shapes or things can you see in the photo? IN the top right hand corner is a tiny fern similar to an air plant. They grow on anything organic wood, rock etc
OK Who was paying attention as I would really like to know what was your favourite photo? Did you like the music?
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.
Tags and ping-backs
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
Create a ping-back to Ju-Lyn at Touring My Backyard or this post, so that we can update it with links to all of yours.
4TheRecord is dedicated primarily to Ausmusic from all eras and most genres, we will explore the dynamics of the creative process, and reveal the great drama, lyricism, musicality, and emotion behind each classic song.
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