A Reflection of Me

This week's photo challenge at the paper mama is "self portrait" - I wasn't going to enter it but this past sunday, I went to Washington (NC) to take maternity portraits and a baby shower (same friend)!  Plus, I always avoid the camera (I love being behind it, not in front of it.)  

Emily wanted to do an urban setting for her maternity photos so we were walking through downtown Washington with her husband and son and I noticed how clean and reflective the windows were.  The lighting was just right.  I took my picture in several of the windows - this one you can see Emily's son peeking in the window to see what was in the store.  However, this one had a coke stand in the background.

We kept walking and then got to a clothing store.  I thought this was an interesting shot, too.  It's probably the closest i'll ever get to being a model!

and then last, we got to a clear window with no coke trucks in the back.  This one I am entering as my "self portrait" - by the way, it is hard to get a straight picture when you're holding the camera sideways AND not up to your eye.  But, I did not crop this one!  I kept shooting until I got it right!

black and white: photo challenge

this one is so hard for me.  i have such issues with converting a photo into black and white.  i have 3 actions that do it and hardly ever is it just right.  plus, my children look so good in color.  just a plain desaturation doesn't do it nor do any of the "convert to black and white" options that elements offers, and with all the adjustments in the world, i have a hard time getting just what i want.  guess it is one of those "everyone elses are better than mine" sort of deals...  and, i just need more practice.  that is why i rarely have black and white as a final product.  i'm never satisfied.

thepapermama has a rule with her photo challenges in which your child has to be in the picture:  any G-rated part of the child, it doesn't have to be the face.

for this picture, i am going to enter a picture of holly's hand.  i used one of MCP's actions for this black and white conversion - with a lot of tweeking - but i think the "jewels" are super shiny and holly's snow white skin doesn't appear to blown out. it was simply the best i could do...