Dabbling in Photoshop Elements years ago did much to turn me off photo editing using that program. Little did I know when embarking upon a self-taught CS4 Photoshop excursion that I would come to absolutely love terminology that formerly freaked me out completely...masks, layers, fills, gradients...oh my it's like being a kid in a candy store for photography enthusiasts like me. What took me so long to embrace this fun and all-hours consuming wonder? Glad I took a chance to dive back into that pool once more. I'm happy to report that I seem to be treading water quite nicely.
I take this into account now when I see wonderfully edited films, especially one with special effects. I consider all the painstaking labour intensive work involved with putting together beautiful moving images. I am awestruck at the talent out there, this big blue marble is full of truly artistic beings. My photo is an archive redo, one I pulled out of the dusty files from a summer or two ago...lovingly Photoshopped for the 52 Photos Project this week.
These last weeks have been unbearably hot (finally). I have waited for this weather all year! Now I will roast in it happily. A chilled lemon beer, a good beachy read, my children playing and laughing and running around so jovially...these are the things that make a life. It's living well. Living well doesn't take much talent, you only need to embrace what is in front of you at any given moment and pour your attention into it. To be grateful.
Gratitude is an overused word these days. (I've overused it, guilty as charged!) Almost as overused as inspired, artist, wondrous, kindred...you get the idea. We are so attuned to these buzzwords now, so focused on what is wrong with our lives and how to "fix it" by incorporating all these techniques to get a happier or better life. How crazed we get if we don't live a certain way, making us feel as though we aren't worthy. I am not buying what these dingbats are selling. These dingbats know who they are, they don't need to be pointed out to you. Perhaps you know a few.
YOU DO have a wondrous, inspiring life if you aren't an artist. Or if you don't make a lot of money. Or if you don't feel particularly inspired. Your "look" or talents or finances are ego based qualities that don't amount to much once you strip them away. What's left of YOU if you have no money, fancy cars or artistic talent? Why YOU of course.
Pretty cool, I think. So.
Cultivate a little you! Water you, give you sun, plant you into some good thinking soil. You'll reap what you sow.
Really it's all good. Listen well to the beating inside your chest and the stillness in your mind to find what you look for. It's all in there. While you do, mess around with some photos on CS4 it's a lot of fun. Or whatever photo editing tools you have at your disposal. A good online and very user friendly program is Picnik. Heck it even has curves! Gotta love that.
Enjoy your summer YOU.
xoxo
p.s. I planted marigolds from seeds and they are four inches high! I'm so excited because seeds are tiny miracles that never cease to amaze me and when November comes I'll have bunches of pretty yellow and orange marigolds....! Isn't that fantastic!!!!!!!!
What a beautiful reminder, Miss G. I love coming over here for a read - and I leave feeling full again! Lovely pic. xo
Posted by: Bella | July 20, 2011 at 07:15 AM
thanks for this beautiful reminder my friend. you speak it so well, so eloquently, including the use of the word "dingbats" -- a perfect description!!!! Stay hydrated in this heat -- watering you right now is so VERY important!!! xo
Posted by: Sherry Smyth | July 20, 2011 at 09:45 AM
hahaha!! My latest post at Gypsy Girl's Guide has the word wondrous in the title! ;)
This is a lovely entry...certain words do appear with pretty intense frequency, it's true. Even so, hopefully their meaning won't become lost in their over-use.
Posted by: Swirly | July 20, 2011 at 10:13 AM
tx Bella xo!
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM
lol, staying hydrated alright! xoxo you too!
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Beautiful photo, beautiful sentiments.
Posted by: Erin McGill Beard | July 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Inspirational thoughts (another overworked word, probably, along with miracle).
Posted by: Meri @ Meri's Musings | July 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Beautiful photo, beautiful sentiments.
Posted by: Erin McGill Beard | July 20, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Oops. . . since my 52 Photos Project piece is on my other blog, I ought to have linked that.
Posted by: Meri @ Playing Along | July 20, 2011 at 10:35 AM
oh too funny! well if something really IS wondrous then shout it from the rooftops I say!
but so many journals claim inspiring, bliss, and others that maybe get lost in a sea of inspiring things...so much inspiring going on then we have no contrast from which to not feel inspired. ya know? lol
love you Christine! xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 20, 2011 at 10:36 AM
yes i bombed you with the word *miracle* however in the instance of a seed i believe it to be true :)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 20, 2011 at 01:45 PM
thank you Erin xo
i tried to visit but couldn't link back for some reason ;)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 20, 2011 at 03:30 PM
you are full of life. inspiring.
Posted by: Diane | July 21, 2011 at 10:48 AM
SOOO, you're saying I'm a dingbat? ;-) xo
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 21, 2011 at 12:25 PM
"Heck, it even has curves!" *grin* Love that, Gillian! I never thought about CS4 that way. :) Sounds like you are having a terrific summer although I CANNOT believe that you love this heat!!!! Dingbat? No. Crazy? YES!!! ;p
Posted by: susanna | July 24, 2011 at 06:59 PM
PS: My sister, M., works in visual effects for film and television. And yes, it is amazing what she and her coworkers can create on the computer.
Posted by: susanna | July 24, 2011 at 07:01 PM
The picture from the fruit en cheese looks great, I love that look. I don't like the photoshop programs, but must take time to learn it myself, happy for me, there are a few nice creative buttons on my camera wich I like to use.
Posted by: Els | July 26, 2011 at 12:20 PM
thank you Els...yes DO learn it you'll have a ton of fun xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 26, 2011 at 11:19 PM
i am having the
BEST
summer ever. i hope you are too, Susanna. i am a little happier admittedly now that the humidity has waned...it was making me drink too much red wine
lol
xoxo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | July 26, 2011 at 11:20 PM