More Sunsets

NIK Software

I downloaded the Color Efex Pro 3.0 Photoshop plug-in in my computer today and I would call it the lazy person's best tool to get cool photo effects (PERFECT for me!). The software provides 52 different photo filters and claims to generate 250 different effects. I found it very easy to use (and it must be very easy because I am not the type that would try hard to figure things out). -- Stella

Original file:

Default "Dynamic Skin" option:

Default setting "Pastel" option:

Sunset

I was jogging in my neighborhood and was amazed by the view of the sunset. Also, there were a lot of geese flying to the south. -Feli

More Autumn Pics

Felicia and I were taking advantages of the always short Fall season. -- Stella

Autumn

I just love this picture. Taken on Rt. 31 on the way to find autumn leaves :) -- Feli

Photoshop : Lomo Effect

I am on a role, aint I? I always love the Lomo effect. I even bought a Lomo camera once but could not stand the 35 mm film....I need instant result :) -- Stella

My dear daughter took this picture. I thought it was kinda artsy :)

Before:

After:

Another before:

..and after:

Photoshop : Vintage Effect

Before:

After:

Photoshop : Washed Out Effect

To get the Washed Out effect as seen in October 2nd post :

1. Create 2 layers from the original picture.

2. In one layer, adjust the saturation all the way to left (b/w)

3. In the other layer, select Soft Light mode.

4. Adjust opacities for both layers to desired effect.

Chicago Landscape

We took these pictures by hand holding the cameras in high wind (Chicago style wind).


This one was taken 15 minutes after. Look at the difference in the color of the sky. Amazing. William photographed this one, I was already freezing to death.

Back to Photoshop?

Couple years ago, I was introduced by my friends to this photographer's wedding photo blog, Axioo. I was in awe then on how creative the Axioo team was with background setting, make up and poses. Since then, I have been following their blog and I never got tired of it. Although some themes are repeated, they always managed to keep me interested on what they will come up with next. My favorite from this year was when the Axioo team did an Alice in Wonderland pre-wedding theme. It was awesomely cool! (You could tell I am a fan).

Anyway, looking at their pictures, as much as I like plain sharp with vivid color pictures now, I also like how your creativity is challenged with what you could do with photoshop. Unfortunately, like taking pictures, there is no one class or school that you could go to, and suddenly become an expert at photoshop. You have to have the art skill and experiment with it.

So, once in a while I will post "modified" pictures, starting with this one below. This one was just slightly modified to wash out the color so the picture looks softer. Which one do you like better? -- Stella

Beach

We took the dogs to the beach and it was so cloudy, however, it was a perfect day to be at the beach since nobody was there :) We just unleashed the dogs so they can run free. I love the color of this picture. -Feli

Squirrel

I remember the first time I saw a squirrel really closed to where I stood. It was an awesome experience. I was watching him eating a nut. So cute and so amazing.

Last week, I had another close encounter with some squirrels in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I had my camera!
There were a bunch of squirrels running around campus. Too many of them!
I started snapping pictures of them! Some were very photogenic and even posed for me. Some just shied away and showed me their behind (not a pleasant thing to take a picture of).

The pictures are too big to be uploaded here and I'm too lazy to resize them. Here's one of them.

For the other pictures, please look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feliciasuwarna/

Apple Picking Fall 2010

Went for apple picking at Apple Holler, Wisconsin today. Now the kids are older, they enjoyed the activity much more. My dear daughter also had a great time with pony rides. -- Stella

My old Weiner Dog

Navy Pier at Daytime

I decided to take a day off and take my dear daughter for her favorite train ride to downtown Chicago. Not only that, I added a boat ride (water taxi from the train station to Navy Pier and back) and a day trip to Navy Pier. -- Stella

Took this on the boat ride to Navy Pier. It's the Merchandise Mart building..If I recall it correctly, this building has five zip codes! The clouds looked interesting here as well.

Wrigley building..I used to work in NBC building right across this building.

Some interesting wall decorations in Chicago Children's Museum. I think it has something to do with Mexican's day of the dead.

Playing farm (2nd fl of Chicago Children's Museum)

Waiting in line for three ride combo of the Carousel.

Rode the giant ferris wheel. Few views from the top.

Love the color of the wave swingers here.

Trial

cuma pengen liat bisa gak gua post new post as Feli :)

My version of the zoo

I didn't go with Stella, but I went to the zoo several weeks ago. These are my favorite photos. -Feli

Zoo Day

Cannot waste a nice day in Chicago! It's a rare 80'F, zero humidity day and we wanted to be outside. The winning place was the BROOKFIELD ZOO! -- Stella

The shameless brown bear kept scratching its butt while we were watching.

Okapi...I'd like to think of it as a hybrid of horsey and zebra? The zoo called it the forest giraffe.

Cupcakes Hunting

My girlfriends and our daughters went on a date night yesterday. We went to see Disney PRINCESS on Ice, had dinner at Cheesecake Factory on Michigan Ave, then...CUPCAKES hunting !! -- Stella

"Sprinkles" just opened on Walton St. There was a long line and we were planning to go there after dinner but they closed at 8!

Then, we found another place that opens until Midnight and was highly recommended by my work friend. The place's name is "Molly's Cupcakes" in Lincoln Park.

Dear daughter could not wait to eat her Mixed Berry cupcake. I was just trying to take a picture of it before it got all messed up.

And mine is the white one : Peanut Butter and Nutella! Yumm!

Halloween Came Early

My 3 year-old got too excited about her Snow White costume. She has been wearing it every night since I bought it. -- Stella

She took this picture by herself using the Canon infrared remote control. She insisted to have a picture taken with Donna, the dog, even if she had to sneak under the dining table. -- Stella