SEPTEMBER 2024 Technique Challenge

Beth

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Hello – I’m excited to host this month’s Technique Challenge. Actually, it’s two techniques I’d like you to try and I think you’ll love the results!

Have you ever taken a photo thinking that it was going to be perfect, only to discover that it’s too dark, muddled or just doesn’t look good? I have and it’s so disappointing! It certainly doesn’t inspire me to scrap those “less than perfect”, (ok, just yucky) photos. Here’s a tutorial from Jen Yurko that explains, step-by-step, how to make adjustments to improve those photos.

For this Challenge, I’d like you to create a layout using a “less than perfect” photo and apply the principles in the above tutorial to that photo. Here’s a list of ‘rules’ I challenge you to:​
  1. Use your “less than perfect” photo 3 ways: A. in it’s original form; B. in it’s improved form after making your photo adjustments; and C. turning it to a black and white reproduction. Your page must show all three variations of your photo, displayed in a well composed layout.​
  2. Here’s the 2nd part of the Technique Challenge: Create your layout using a black and white monochromatic theme. Need inspiration? Read this tutorial
  3. Finally, you can add one color to your layout. That color choice is yours. And if you want to get a bit more creative, you can do some selective coloring in your b&w photo, as long as it’s the same color as the one you’ve chosen to feature.​
  4. To recap – use one photo 3 ways as described above; create a black and white monochromatic theme; include one color of your choice in your layout.​
As you can see, the adjustments I made to my photo improved it tremendously. I’m so happy with how it turned out. My original photo is in the middle; improved photo in front and I chose to mask my black and white photo with a bit of selective coloring. My color choice was aqua.

I used Fayette Designs, Kindness Counts. I hope you have fun and I’m looking forward to seeing your layouts.
fayette_bdl_kindc.jpg
Sample Layout:
fayette_kindnesscounts-copy.jpg
 
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Bubby

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  • Thank you Beth for the Technique Challenge – the photo was terrible still not the greatest, but I had some fun playing with it. I decided to go with a grey and black instead of white, just didn’t like the white hope that is ok, with pink as the spot color the dress was a pretty pink. Everything is from This Makes Me Smile – Lorie M Designs – Photo – mine – Fonts – Kanit – Sonsie
 

Beth

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  • Thank you Beth for the Technique Challenge – the photo was terrible still not the greatest, but I had some fun playing with it. I decided to go with a grey and black instead of white, just didn’t like the white hope that is ok, with pink as the spot color the dress was a pretty pink. Everything is from This Makes Me Smile – Lorie M Designs – Photo – mine – Fonts – Kanit – Sonsie
Gray and black work @Bubby... I think the photo is much better and I love how creative you were in displaying your series of photos. Thanks for joining in this month!!
 

AJsRandom

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Here's mine- the original is on top, the corrected one on the left, and the b&w on the right. My color pop is teal.

 

wvsandytoo

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Thanks for the challenge and tutorial. I tried the RAW correction. Then I extracted the subject and blurred the background a little.
 

Mary-Lynne

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Thanks for the challenge! This was a truly bad photo, in a dark movie theater, but I needed it! Used some of Jen's techniques and a few of my own

 
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