What is about the first snowfall that makes the world seem magical? Is it the lack of color? The contrasting dark silhouettes against the white? No, I think it must be the stillness that a soft blanket of snow can only bring. A humbling stillness that brings one to stop all the hustle and bustle of modern life. 

What does the first snowfall mean to you? P.S. Don't forget to share your captures this Season below! In case you missed it, find my 5 tips for creating a Photography Planner. P.P.S. Come take a sneak peek at my new website, it's almost ready. I'll be hosting LNRseasons there next week!!

 

mag·i·cal

adjective

adjective: magical. 

 

Beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.

 

 

1. "it was a magical evening of pure nostalgia"

   
   

   synonyms:

   extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional, outstanding, incredible, phenomenal, unbelievable, amazing, astonishing, astounding, stunning, staggering, marvelous, magnificent, wonderful, sensational, breathtaking, miraculous; More informalfantastic, fabulous, stupendous, out of this world, terrific, tremendous, brilliant, mind-boggling, mind-blowing, awesome; literarywondrous "the news had a magical effect" enchanting, entrancing, spellbinding, bewitching, beguiling, fascinating, captivating, alluring, enthralling, charming, attractive, lovely, delightful, beautiful; informaldreamy, heavenly, divine, gorgeous "this magical place"

 

LIFE-N-REFLECTION SEASONS

An InLinkz Link-up

Join me Kristy, Life-n-Reflection and Lisa, Simply Living for the Shades of Winter Photography Challenge! Weekly February 6th through March 3rd.

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories:  Image-in-ing / Pictorial Tues / Our World Tues  Communal Global / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday / Today’s Flowers

Colors of Autumn: Indigo

Join me Kristy, Life-n-Reflection and Lisa, Simply Living for a Colors of Autumn Photography Challenge! Weekly Oct 3rd thorough Oct 28th. 

In the Midwest Autumn is often accompanied by rain showers, heavy fog, and gray mornings. When the leaves begin to turn a burnt crimson and the day is sunny the Autumn sky takes on a rich indigo blue. And then I can't help but stare! What's caught your eye lately?

Get inspired with 20 Prompts for Autumn Photography in a pin-able, printable checklist! Head on over to Simply Living for in-depth tips to vividly capture Autumn's color in camera.


Share your Autumn captures below, link open Mon - Thu. And enter win fun photography prizes in the Colors of Autumn Photography Giveaway!! Weekly features and Winners Announced Monday Oct 31st on All Hollow’s Eve!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories:  Image-in-ing / Our World Tues  Communal Global / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday / Today’s Flowers

The Seasons: Midsummer's Dream

Apple Blossoms... "You had me at Hello"

You may just see more of these here next month. I don't want to rush through my apple blossom captures. When everything turns green in summer, I dream of apple blossoms, red buds, and lilacs from spring.

Photoshop Tutorial:

Hazel #4 Overlay / Overlay / 60% Opacity

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories: I Heart Macro / Image-in-ing / Communal Global / Our World Tues / Garden Tues / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens / Maple Hill Hop / Little Things /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday /

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

The Journey: Migratory Sunshine

As the days spread into weeks and weeks into months; the days of sunshine migrate across the calendar. 

Here we are half way into the year. Reflecting on the year thus far,  I think of happy days as sunshine in our lives. Although, some days we have to make our sunshine it's still certainly been a sunny year.

 

"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows." 
- Helen Keller

Photo Before and After: 

Enhanced with Hazel #3 Overlay and Seventeen Cool Texture from Texture Masters Collection Vol 1

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories: I Heart Macro / Image-in-ing / Communal Global / Our World Tues / Garden Tues / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens / Maple Hill Hop / Little Things /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday /

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Country: Daylight

OK, I promise these are the last magnolias this Spring... 

I just love way the light bounces around and the sky turns golden as daylight reaching the blooming white magnolias.

Enhanced with Pearl Cove Overlay (It's a free Life-n-Reflection Texture Overlay Sample) and Cinnamon Texture from Artist Texture Collection Vol 9

Join me in photo challenge: I Heart Macro / Our World Tues / Life Thru the Lens / Image-in-ing / Little Things / Wed Around the World / Through My Lens / Photo Journal /

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Forgotten December

There's just something about finding a barn hidden in the country.  I'm pretty sure this beauty is only seen in winter. 

Titled: Forgotten December

Turn your images into a dream!

1. Open the filters tab choose Distort- Diffuse Glow adjust the settings to the glow amount you prefer
2. Add warm glow with the linear gradient tool (Use the screencast to select the color I choose), change the blending mode to color and and the lower the opacity to 35%
3. Add the NEW Forgotten texture on a blending mode of multiply at around half the opacity

Up for a Photo Challenge:

Paper Heart Camera: Touch up Tuesday

Simplicity: Happiness

Leigh vs Laundry: The Happiness Project

Trendy Treehouse: Shutter Love Tuesday: Tints

My3BoyBarians: Sweet Shot Tuesday

Photo 101: Silhouettes

Want to know how to take great silhouettes? Follow these simple steps!

Step 1. Choose a Bold Subject - choose a strong recognizable shape 

Step 2. Turn OFF your Flash - you want minimal light on the front of the subject

Step 3. Light it up Right - have the strongest light coming from behind your subject ( Inside tip: a bright cloudless sky is best for your background)

Step 4. Keep it uncluttered - if you have more than one subject, keep them apart ( if you don't - they'll become one big blob!)