Edit Me Challenge - Tulips

This week's Edit Me Challenge photo was taken by guest judge Diane.  Very pretty tulips, Diane!

I opted to do a simple edit with an effect called Century.  I just love the velvety (is that a word?) look that the flowers take with the sepia tones.  So ethereal and timeless.

And that's all, no crops or sharpening this time.  :)

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Beach Baby

This week's Edit Me Challenge photo is from the guest judge Kat.

I love the cute simplicity of this one!

All I did was crop the photo to bring focus to the baby girl.

Then I sharpened it using Unsharp Mask. 

Lastly I used a preset called Mountain to brighten up the colors.

I like simple edits on pretty pictures and think this is a keeper.  :)

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Beach Tree

This week the Edit Me Challenge picture is from guest judge Alicia.

I didn't make too many adjustments for this picture.

First thing I did was sharpen the image.

Next I used a preset B&W adjustment called Anvil.

And last, but not least, I adjusted the curves level to lighten it up some.

And that's all the editing I did.  I like how it looks so dramatic.

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Hiking Kids

This Edit Me Challenge picture is from Pam, who has been part of the Edit Me Challenge since the beginning. 

I first cropped the picture to make the kids the focus of the scene.

Next I adjusted the color, contrast, and curves adjustment of the photo.

Then I ran a Mountain preset that brightened the picture and added depth the the greens and yellows.  I also ran a Natural Photograph preset that took out the redness that had resulted on the kids faces from my previous edits.  After that I ran the Mountain preset again for an additional color boost.

Next I sharpened the image using Unsharp Mask.  I used the settings of Percentage: 100, Radius: 1 and Threshold: 0.  It seemed to get a good sharpening effect without over doing it.

I then added a slight vignette around the edges and called it quits. 

I love the end result!  And I love how carefree the kids are and in such natural, yet perfect poses.  A very fun photo to edit.  :)

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Berries

This Edit Me Challenge picture is from Beth, a stay-at-home-mom of 2 little girls.

For this edit I first adjusted the curves level to heighten the contrast.

Next I sharpened the image using unsharp mask.

I decided to add a vignette to bring the eye to the center with the berries.

Then I used a preset called Sixties Slide to add a retro color effect to the picture.  I think it made the pretty berries really stand out and toned down the bright green to a more olive color.

And that's all folks!  Thank you for such a fantastic picture to edit Beth.  I love the bokeh!

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Three Brothers

This weeks Edit Me Challenge photo is from Belle, a teenage photographer from a family of ten kids!  How fun:)

Now for my edits...

First up is the above image, the one that I submitted to the Edit Me Challenge this week.

I tried using an old Photoshop version to edit this image and I felt like I was all thumbs, bumbling around the new-to-me program.

I know that I used these actions from The Pioneer Woman:

• Define and Sharpen
• Slight Lighten
• B&W Beauty
• PW's B&W

I thought this photo would look awesome in black and white, which is why I fired up the old Photoshop, rather than the more-familiar-to-me Corel Photo-Paint.  I knew that I had the Pioneer Woman's B&W actions I wanted to use in Photoshop.

It was definitely trial and error! 

I liked the empty space on the right side of the photo for the eye to travel to, so I opted not to crop.

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

And now for curiosity's sake on my part, here is my edit of the same image in Corel Photo-Paint. 

First I masked the boys and adjusted the curves level to brighten them up and add a bit of contrast. 

Then I reversed the mask and darkened the background a tad.

Next I added my favorite Mountain effect that gives the photo an overall boost in color and contrast.  Even though I wanted to make this a B&W image, I've read that its best to correct the image in color and then make it B&W for the best contrast and tones.

Next I used a plug-in called Process FX and desaturated the photo some and gave it a faded antique look.

After that I applied a B&W effect to the image.

Before:

After:

Which do you prefer?

Photoshop Edit:

Corel Photo-Paint Edit:

Edit Me Challenge - Week 10

Here we are, at Edit Me Challenge week 10.  I might have to think of a new way to title these challenges, numbering the weeks of the year are making it seem to go by too fast!

This beautiful horse picture was taken by this weeks guest judge, Amy.

Here is what I did to edit this picture:

1) Cloned off the rope, halter, wood pile, shed, utility pole and driveway.

2) Cropped the image.  (Negating my need to clone out so much of the background, but oh well.  A new lesson for next week--find ideal crop, then attack major cloning.)

3) Masked everything but the horse so I could lighten it up a little bit without brightening the entire scene.

4) Used a tool I hadn't used before to adjust luminosity by 50%.  Not entirely sure what it did, but the picture looked brighter and happier after it was done.  :)

5) Applied a B&W effect called MyPhoto to the image in a new layer and then adjusted that layer to 50% transparency.

6) Thought it would look nice with a birch tree border, so I found an image I liked and made it into the border.

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Week 9

This week's Edit Me Challenge picture is of Jonah, the son of new co-host Stephanie.  This picture is so fun, he is such a cutie pie. 

The first thing I did to the image was to crop it.  I wanted to get closer to Jonah and eliminate some of the blanket from the bottom.

Next I adjusted with a curves adjustment to lighten and balance the image.

Then came my favorite mountain effect.  I love the color and liveliness it adds.

I decided to sharpen, brighten and ever-so-slightly enhance the color in Jonah's eyes.

Then I used the mountain effect again.  It added more oomph.

Finally I did an overall sharpen.  Done!

Here is the before:

And here is the after:



Edit Me Challenge - Week 8

I'm loving these weekly edits with the group over at the Edit Me Challenge.  So here is what I did to this adorable picture for week 8.

First I cropped the picture to vertically center the cute little girl and align her to the left third side of the photo.

Then I adjusted the curves level which seems to correct color and contrast all at once.

Next I adjusted the overall color with my favorite Mountain color adjustment that is in a plug-in I use.

I then sharpened the image just a bit. 

Finally I added a delicate set of fairy wings to the little girl.  I love this picture and don't typically make major edits to images, but I kept wondering what she'd look like wearing a set of wings, so I went with it.

I really like how it turned out.  :)

Here's the before:

And here's the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Week 7

Edit Me Challenge time!  I love the darling little sheep in this picture.

For this enchanting image I first adjusted the curve levels to lighten and brighten the image. 

Next I adjusted the contrast levels by color.  I'm not sure what to call it, but the plug-in I use in Corel Photo-Paint calls it Contrast Balance.  That brought out the red in the brick and yellow in the grass.

I like the light reflecting off of the windows, so to draw the eye a bit I applied a dodged effect to each window.

And for my final touch I used another plug-in to apply an effect called Mountain, which brightened the color and added a little pop to the image.

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Week 6

For this Edit Me Challenge I adjusted the curves levels and added a vignette.  I think the vignette helps add dimension to the sky that was washed out.  I love how the red flower in the bride's hair adds a pop of color, so I resisted the urge to try this in gray scale. 

Thank you to Selena for letting me edit this picture from your first wedding shoot!

Here's the before:

Here's the after:

Edit Me Challenge - Week 5

This is my first Edit Me Challenge.  I did a simple edit to enhance the colors in this already beautiful photograph.  I use Corel Photo-Paint and used a plug-in by Red Paw Media to edit the colors.