Birthday Ocean Photos :)

Hi All :)

I truly hope you are all doing well and enjoying life wherever you are :)

So, I keep promising myself that I will blog more and then that "life" thingy just keeps getting in the way, lol :) I know you haven't heard from me much recently but I will get around to telling you all about the "WHY" a little later on in the year (I know it all sounds so mysterious, doesn't it :)

Well, anyway, as some of you know I LOVE to go to Sunny San Diego every year to get away from the Dark, Cold, Windy and Rainy Pacific Northwest Winter and usually this trip takes place around my B.Day at the beginning of March. :)

Well, this year was no exception and I went to San Diego to soak up some much needed sunshine, the only problem was it was Dark, Cold, Windy and Rainy in San Diego on my B.Day :(

I have never seen this Beach and Ocean deserted esp. on a Saturday, there are usually lots of happy people on the beach and lots of surfers in the Ocean, yep the weather was that bad. No a person in sight.

Of course the view was still gorgeous to look at and reminded me so much of the Pacific Northwest (which, BTW, I love too :)

So, I was going to show you my photos of the huge and crazy waves crashing across the beach but they are all so gloomy and dark. Then I had an idea, why didn't I show you just one shot and how I quickly worked on it to make it a "Happier" photo :)

Here goes :)

Click on photos to see larger images :)

Here is the Original Shot :) 

Now, I was out shooting this with my "big" lens and no tripod in what felt like a gale, so a little shaky image but.........

Next, I very slightly brightened the image by 5% and contrasted by 25% to enhance the definition of waves, spray and foam :) 

I then enhanced slightly with an auto "cool" setting which added a much needed blue tone to the Ocean and Sky :)

Then I added this layer from my collection that I have created over the years :)

I laid the layer on top of the photo and put it to about 68% opacity :)

So, I feel I got my Sunshine at the beach on my B.Day after all :)

What do you think? :)

Have a wonderful Tuesday :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

Birthday Trip to San Diego :)

Hi All :)

I hope the world is being kind to you and you are all doing well :)

Last week my Hubby and I spent the week in Sunny San Diego, celebrating our B.Days together, which was wonderful and to have all that time together, amazing. :)

 It was wonderful to see sunshine everyday, spend time outside, walking or swimming everyday or just lying by the pool or sitting casually outside dining and also, visiting with Friends. :)

Of course we came home to rain and more rain but I still have my photos to keep me mentally in the San Diego Sunshine :)

I didn't take many photos this year ( a 1/3 of what I took on our last trip to San Diego) I was really there for some much needed 

R. & R. :)

But, of course, I did take a few photos, Hope you like them :)

(Sorry, for the repeats for those who have seen some of them on FB, already)

ENJOY! :)

Click on photos for larger images :)

1st photo taken on the day we arrived, 2nd on the day we left, I love taking shots of planes landing in San Diego because the airport is so close to town the planes fly low over the buildings coming into land, it is so amazing to experience for me, I am a huge plane fan :)

It has become a tradition of sorts that I get a pedicure in the Hillcrest neighbourhood when I get to San Diego, it is a fun area, lots of great food and we pop into our fav. Greek restaurant too! :)

Oops!!! Surfer Down (he got back up really quickly :)

Palm Trees in the Sunset :)

Awesome surfing waves (alas, not for me but I do wish I had had the opportunity to learn, maybe when I am 80 :)

Beautiful Big Bow on the Hotel Del Coronado as they celebrate 125 years :)

The Chandelier in the foyer of the Hotel Del :)

Lots of people leisurely riding around on bikes :)

Some of them really shouldn't have been; it was quite comical watching people who obviously hadn't ridden a bike recently trying to come to a wobbly stop for a speeding car or pedestrians

(I know I am cruel but it was hilarious :)

There were some beautiful waves in the Sunshine :)

Picnickers on the Beach :)

I never usually get focused dusk shots (that look like picture postcards) as I tend to go for the abstract; I do not use flash and with a 300 mm lens (heavy) and I won't use a tripod either (I want to do my own photography, not do what everyone else does, LOL!!! ) But here is one I am quite proud of, (He! He!)

Sunset and Reflection :)

I LOVE these 2 :)

The Sunset reflecting on the Ocean makes them look like paintings :)

I hope you enjoyed these :)

Let me know what you think :)

Have a lovely Weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.