Rochambeau

Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii

These photos are exquisite – showing Russian life and architecture in 1909/1912. It is difficult to believe that they are over a 100 years old.

This fantastic collection of color photos was taken by Russian photographer
Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii who perfected his technique over one hundred
years ago.  The images and color are truly remarkable. Most of these photos were taken in 1909/1910. 

 He used a three plate camera with black & white film, with each film exposed through either a red, green, or blue filter. He then printed each film on a single piece of special color paper through the complementary filters of cyan, magenta, and yellow, creating a color image on the paper. This obviously tedious process produced a color image that is truly permanent.  The black & white negatives have the same durability.

All images found at Wikipedia where you can learn more about this interesting man.  The information above was sent to me by my friend Kay via email. I decided to share it here with any of you, that like me were unfamiliar with Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky.

We'll be going to New Orleans for a few days to celebrate my husbands birthday.  Look forward to visiting you when we get back.

Happy Week!

xox

Constance

Digital Expressions

 Susan Tuttle recently published a book called Digital Expressions, a compendium of artistic inspiration and creative ideas using Photoshop Elements.  This book not only shares Susan's step by step instruction, but features the work and instruction of other talented photographers like Susanna Gordan.

  About a year ago, Susan was the one that infused in me that I could learn Photoshop Elements.   "You can do it" she cheered, and bit by bit I have!  

 PSE was frustrating in the beginning, so it was convenient that my mom and I learned at the same time.  Misery loves company and it was nice to yell at our computers together.  Over time we started soaking it in, all of this fabulous information.  Things I'd forget, she could remember and vice verse.   It's nice to have an alternative brain.     

 

A few weeks ago I purchased the book Digital Expressions.  It is filled with inspiration and although it's the tinsiest bit over my head, I'm determined to understand and learn!  Thank you Susan (and husband) for getting me started and helping me learn.

  Photoshop is the best toy I've have ever had!

Facebook ~ No ~ More

An about face with Facebook~

 As I fight for a balance between real life, creative life and blogging,  Facebook was a habit I never had time to get into.  I think I understand the allure of FB, as it is a form of web logging, but I never fully embraced it.  I would forget to look at my FB, as I am a blogger gal.  So, I decided to close my account a few days ago and immediately feel a great sense of relief.  In case you see my name or face missing from your friend list, please don't think I "un~friended" you!

Now, I'm interested for you to tell me how you feel about FB!  Or any thing related to these thoughts above.

Instead, I'm enjoying the freshness of Spring ~

Learning new things while reading a library book about photographing people, circa 1980 ~

(One of my favorite examples, is this photo above taken in Paris probably in the late 1950's.  According to the author,  what makes the composition work especially well is the placement of the woman's finger).

 I've saved the best for last!  Here is a photo of Ricardo, Isabel's brother who was in a coma.  Look at him now, two days ago!  Thank all of you, for your good thoughts and prayers.  

They worked!

Have a great weekend!

xox

Constance

Gift of Friendship!

How time flies when you're in Bloglandia!

 

Looking back and connecting the dots, we might never have met if not for  Susanna Gordon dropping by one afternoon three years ago (today), to help set up this site.  Rochambeau was born because of Corey's encouragement and Susanna's technological know-how and kindness. 

 

Here, there is an opportunity to connect with like~minded people everywhere all over the world.   It is thrilling meeting bloggers in person, too!

Having a blog makes a person look at life differently, don't you think?  An art form that can stretch your mind with endless possibility.

Capturing snippets of time through a lens ~

 

 Expressing ideas using words as a tool,  my biggest challenge~

A simple sentence or photograph, has the power to touch, heal or change a person.  Love finds it's way in many colors and forms.

There is courage and strength to be found here !

  I'm still playing Rochambeau , discovering little heart shaped rocks, running with scissors and strolling around with my paper parasol!

Love to you,

Thank you for listening & for sharing your kindness!

Constance

Solarizing with Debbie Egizio

 Debbie Egizio and I got together and had a Photoshop play~date today.  She and I met in Blog Land last year at Vanessa's Mad Tea party, via Somepinkflowers and today, we actually spoke on the telephone to one another!

This is a technique Debbie taught me called Solarizing a photo.  As many of you know, I am a Photoshop Elements 6, beginner, therefore trying to soak up each and every new dog and pony trick I can!

 

Solarizing is so cool!  I could live in a solarized world, I think........well at least for a day!

Thank you Debbie E.!

Sweet Re~Creations

 

 

Combination of desserts I've made, plus one candy chair (that was in an art show in L.A.),  RE~CREATED with things, learned in Photoshop Elements. 

Are you interested in getting Photoshop?   Susan Tuttle told me about Amazon having an amazing deal for Photoshop Elements here  and I'm glad she did! If you have a mac you need Elements 6, or for a pc Elements 7.  Elements is the easy version of Photoshop. Maybe you'll want to try too~

Still Life

Looking around Noëlle's house~



While everyone was napping.



Entertaining myself ~



Looking at my friend's life now and remembering back many years.  Thinking about before we were married,  how life has changed and moved forward, yet our friendship remains stronger for all we have shared together.



Noticing the silent details
that speak of her essence~



One's that have made Noëlle's house
 truly a home for her family~



How beautiful~
Friendship!




Happy Birthday Noëlle!
Love,
Constance

Fiddling with Photoshop

Yesterday, I had my first Photoshop
layering experience. 



Can I tell you how Happy I am?
 It's more accurate to say:
Ecstatic, Overjoyed, Thrilled &
 Doin' the Jig with my JPG's!
 I am finally on board!



Photoshop~
 is one of the most delicious toys I've
ever had (besides my Apple), of course.
And I mean this sincerely!!!




I think I'm seeing flying bonbons !

Le Divan Fumoir Bohémian

Have you met Florizelle in Paris?
We met through Ulla a few years ago.




Le Divan Fumoir Bohémien, her site
 is filled to the brim
with interesting artworks.



Florizelle has an keen eye for the unusual,
and sometimes the quirky.



She has a special reverence for
 the past, finding and
sharing forgotten treasures.



On her site you will discover wonderful
 places and fabulous photographs.....



divine fabrics....



& intriguing artwork!




If you've never visited
Le Divan Fumoir Bohémiain before,
you should take a ride over....



to her place in
Paris~


Drink in the ambiance of
 artists and artisans
from the past and present.



Check out whatever fancies you
by paroozing the archives
cataloged on the left of her site.
~

Playing with Photography

While sitting in the hospital waiting for my
mom to have a test, I began paroozing
through a photography magazine
since the picking were slim.

To my great surprise it made me motivated to
experiment with Photoshop. Later back
at my mom's I became less intimidated and
started to fiddle around by pushing buttons.

 

(Photo above:  Full Edit / filter~distort~wave)

 

I'm forced to use Photoshop Elements here,
while at home I use I~photo. Thanks to my friend
Carrie, I also have Photoshop Elements, but
until now I've been too scared to use it.

(photo above : Full Edit / Filter~texture~mosaic tiles)

Maybe Photoshop and I can become friends!

(don't remember what I did here above, except
the colors are reversed on the color wheel)

 

Another article I read in the same magazine
was about shooting portraits in candlelight. 
Tonight we gave it a try.
Here's how with a digital camera:

(Go to  Menu ~ select White Balance ~set to Daylight. Make sure to turn off your flash).  Add more candles for more light. Use a tripod, or steady camera while taking photos.

~~~~~~~