FREE!! New "Mood Swing" Textures

1. Bloom | 2. Grow | 3. Love | 4. Dead Grass Green | 5. Relief | 6. Fascination

7. Satisfaction | 8. Lonliness | 9. Energy | 10. Blah | 11. Whatever | 12. Boredom

I have created some new textures for your use and abuse. You can download these and/or any of my textures from my flickr site.  The above are part of my "Mood Swing" collection.  Enjoy, and I would love to see some of your art created with them. 

By the way, these are FREE - no strings attached textures.

One of my canvas textures - again, it's a FREE for all!

Available here.

I have been photographing for my personal enjoyment for about 15 years. And I took photography classes at the Art Institute of Houston. But I’ve never really done any macro photography. So, last year I got a new and awesome camera for Christmas from my eldest son (must have done something right), and just recently coupled it with a new lens that has macro capabilities.

I went on a “field trip” recently, stalking out my first macro shots and it went nothing like I hoped.  Actually, it was awful.  For one, the sun did not cooperate…AT ALL.  (Do you think there is a secret to photographing under dull grey skies? – I’ll google it later.  Maybe!  It is called pho...to...shop.)

The dyptech (above) was the first thing I looked at when I exited my vehicle. I thought that I would do a few practice shots before looking for that perfect one – turned out to be closer to twenty practice shots! After the fence, I went for a walk hoping something would either “pop out” at me or jump up and down screaming for me to photograph it. No such luck.

Macro Photography Lesson Number 1: the photographer must learn to look at everything with a completely different perspective…duh. And this (MUST) take practice, practice, practice. Because - I’ll be honest (and embarrassed) - I am one of “those” that looked at a fantastic macro photo and thought, “It’s just a leaf! There are a billion leaves out there! So I’ll just zoom in on one. That’s easy! Right?” WRONG! (LOL) So before I go on, let me apologize to all of the macro photographers out there, for my ignorance.

Next time out, I’m thinking I’ll grab a picnic blanket and just relax on it for a while, allow nature to come to me, rather than me stalking nature out. Or, maybe I’ll simply walk around my yard and practice, practice, practice. I’d definitely be more comfortable there anyway. (Secret about me, I can’t stand the idea of people watching me photograph.)

Anyway, comment back with your constructive criticism (or whatever), maybe a photography tip you have found useful and don’t mind sharing. - I L♥VE L♥VE L♥VE TO HEAR FROM YA’LL!

Yesterday, I spent most of the day lounging in my pj's and admiring some of the following - amazing - flickr photographers who have sparked new inspiration for me. I probably marked at least 20 photos by this talent as favorites - Moosebite is my hero!  And then there is the amazing and generous Isabelle Lafrance who offers free photoshop actions! Kudos Isabelle! While macro magic is evident in Martha's photostream, and, thanks to her, I can't wait for tomorrow's field trip to break-in my new macro lens!  Hopefully, I'll get some results posted soon, but that darn full-time job keeps getting in the way of the more important things in my life - ugh!

My dad, may he rest in peace, was a big guy, who seemed to strike the fear of God in all of his daughters' male friends.  Surrounded by women in his home, he couldn't wait for coffee and a smoke with his friends every morning before sun-up.  Born a poor country boy, he worked - hard - all of his life, and took up smoking before his teens.  His gruff laugh was infectious and he always left a memorable impression with those he encountered.  He loved beautiful art and poetry, old country music and horses, a big truck and Marlboro's.  His hands were huge and rough, so even his tender touch was not so tender. He loved the children and, according to him, all of the grandchildren favoured his features.

Yesterday was New Year's Eve - it was also my father's birthday.  Happy birthday dad.