Just For Fun

Cast Adrift

Image PeepSideshow Darkward11 Comments

Windblown_037 S

Quite often I will process more than one version of the photos I blog. When I am having trouble deciding which to use, I turn to my favourite adviser. He has an amazing knack for picking the best photo, which is borne out by Favorites on Flickr. I’m sure he cringes whenever I start a conversation with, “OK, which do you like best?” but he always humours me. Normally he has a definite preference but on occasion he equivocates and the ensuing discussion can be downright surreal.

I’m talking about my sweetheart, Grumper. I mention him occasionally on my blog, but I don’t really talk about him. But since I laughed so hard at this conversation I thought I would let him do the talking for himself.

PeepSideshow Darkward
ok, which do you like best?
Grumper
The first has lighting that looks relaxing and beautiful, the second is quite foreboding
What look are you going for?
PeepSideshow Darkward
Lol I was hoping you would tell me
PeepSideshow Darkward
I kind of like the second…I think the 1st one is a bit too bright
Grumper
Well the 2nd one is great for a jungle horror like king kong or a very alluring parfum advert
PeepSideshow Darkward
Lmaooooooooooo
Oh gawd
Grumper
The 1st is more novelised romance or a designer denim advert
PeepSideshow Darkward
I snorted
Bwahahahaha
Grumper
Looool well you asked
PeepSideshow Darkward
Lol I did
Grumper
So what is the blog about?
PeepSideshow Darkward
Lmao I have no idea
I was gonna call it “Cast Adrift”
But no clue what I’ll write
Grumper
Lol I love the first one but depends what you’re trying to convey in the blog
PeepSideshow Darkward
Lol I’ll go with the first and make it up as I go
Grumper
I think the 1st would work if you go for the happiness of loneliness kinda vibe
PeepSideshow Darkward
I’ll see what I can do
I was just shooting for dramatic lighting
Grumper
Lol the second is dramatic, but the first is in a different, more vibrant way
PeepSideshow Darkward
lol although I’m tempted to use the second one and steal your king kong parfum ad description
Grumper
Lol you should!!!
PeepSideshow Darkward
lol I’ll work it in and use the other
Grumper
Lol no make it all modernist Francais television or sumthun

And this is what a lot of our conversations are like. It is a wonder I manage to get any work done at all.

Since I have no clue how to make this “all modernist Francais television or sumthin” I’m just gonna leave it at this. Oh…and I guess I need to include the second photo so you can see what a horror movie, King Kong-inspired alluring parfum ad looks like. And I was cast adrift…in fits of laughter 😀

1 Windblown_037

Thank you, Cha Cha Ascot, for removing the loneliness from the happiness vibe ❤

Pretty stuff I'm showing off:

Top: Tee*fy Basic Tucked Tank Peach by Azure Electricteeth
Skirt: Tee*fy Emily Mini Flare Skirt Creme by Azure Electricteeth
Hair: Exile::Rain Dark Reds by Kavar Cleanslate (Gacha prize at The Arcade March ’14) THANK YOU, COUGAR ♥
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Cherry Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Eye Makeup: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Smokey Eyes by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Raft: Kuro – Into the blue by Luana Dawg

Pose: GLITTERATI – Headshot 2 – 2 by Katey Coppola (NLA)

Shot using the LumiPro HUD

The Joy Of The Happy Accident

Image PeepSideshow Darkward13 Comments

1 ColdLogic Photo Contest - Peep Sideshow

I can remember watching “The Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross on PBS with rapt fascination as he painted really amazing landscapes. No, he wasn’t a Van Gogh or a Rembrandt, but his calm joy in creating and teaching was infectious. I have never lifted brush to canvas myself, but it was the lessons that I learned from listening to him speak as he painted that were his gift to me.

One of those gifts was the joy of the “happy accident”. I found a clip of one of the times he used that phrase on youtube and it made me smile, once again. It is a short clip, really just of that quote, but it was exactly as I remember him speaking as he taught. You can click on the link if you want to see for yourself.

When I take photographs, I set up my subject, find my camera angle and then start playing around with Windlight settings. This is the same process I go through whether I am shooting myself, a landscape or a client. I may end up with 20 or more shots of the same image under different lighting conditions.

I do this for several reasons. What I see in my viewer doesn’t always translate to the still photograph. The shadows that look so wonderful in Second Life may end up looking like ugly blotches in the final picture. I also like to have different versions so I can play around in processing and a photo that may not be the best view in SL may end up giving me more freedom to experiment when working in Photoshop or PicMonkey. Plus, I like variety…depending on my mood, I might prefer a cooler or warmer tone when it is time to select a final version.

But mainly, I am looking for those happy accidents – when something pops out at me when I am reviewing my raw shots that I might have missed while shooting. And that is how I chose this photo.

I didn’t see the reflection in the sails while I was shooting. I was concentrating more on the lighting on my avatar and in the wider shot. But when I scrolled to this picture in review, I literally gasped. It didn’t have the dramatic lighting of some of the others, but when I saw the silhouette on the sails, the decision was easy. This was the happy accident that I love and so rarely find.

I processed this photo, but I didn’t touch that sail. How you see it is how I did when I first viewed the picture. I think I know what Windlight setting I was using (it is one of two of Jackson Redstar’s) but I doubt I could reproduce this.

And you know what? I’m OK with that. A happy accident should be appreciated for that moment that makes you smile, gives you wonder and takes your breath away.

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Dress: coldLogic dress – reynolds.may by coldLogic
Shoes: _CandyDoll_ Newell Heels for Slink High Feet by rebeca Dembo
Necklace: Cae :: Promise :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Ring: Cae :: Promise :: Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: Hair: Analog Dog – AD – yeah – dark reds by Queue Marlowe
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Please Me Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Eye Makeup: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Smokey Eyes by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: *PosESioN* Secret 10 by Dahriel (available at Kustom9)

A Happy Chain Reaction

Image PeepSideshow Darkward4 Comments

1 Crustimoney Proseedcake Day

I wasn’t going to blog today; I have had some serious issues with my brain lately taking photos, so I didn’t have anything to show you (unless you want to see me with three hands…long story!) But then, as I was reading my friend Cao’s blog today with my cup of coffee (my early morning ritual), I decided to create this little graphic to share.

You see, Cao has declared February 13th “Crustimoney Proseedcake Day“. Click over to her blog for the inspiration, but in short, on this day you are asked to create a note card in world with the words, “I want you to know I think you are…” and list three positive things. Then pass it out to as many friends as you choose (Cao suggests ten). Since it is already the 13th here on my side of the world I decided to put a little spin on this and share it on my blog where each and every one of you who stops by knows that I think you are fabulous, inspirational and amazing.

It is a simple message and a simple thing to do to brighten someone’s day. I hope that you decide to join in this happy chain reaction. Even if you don’t, I hope this made you smile 🙂