I was so excited to open up a big box from Magnolia Market on Christmas morning! I have been a Fixer Upper fan for years and this was just as good as finding my Rainbow Care Bear under the Christmas tree when I was a little girl. The great big box was filled these beautiful cotton stems, a subscription to their new magazine The Magnolia Journal, and few other surprises I'll be creating with too! 

As any Midwestern knows winter light is quite sparing and quite blue. Hmm... I wonder if that's why is called "The Winter Blues"? Anyhow, I loved these cotton stems in my cream and white ceramic pitchers, so I simply had to save these still life shots. Check out my Before and After below to see what a difference a light texture on a brightening blending mode can do! Then share your texture natural or enhanced in this week's Texture Twist.

Before and After Photoshop Tutorial

Dust Cloud Texture / Soft Light Blending Mode / 35% Opacity

Add a Layer Mask and brush texture away from subject with a soft brush at 70% opacity

THE SEASONS

An InLinkz Link-up

 
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Winter Thistle

This beautiful thistle stands in the prairie just beyond our gate and little wooden bridge into the woodlands. I love wildflowers like these that retain their beauty throughout the seasons. You can see it in summer here with it's soft lavender hue.

I am so excited to announce the Life-n-Reflection's new weekly Photography Meme... SEASONS!! It's been a long time coming. I live and create a life connected to the seasons. Cooking with seasonal fresh produce, creating with in-season herbs and fragrances, filling our home with seasonal color, and wandlerlusting (yes, I just made up that word) with my camera in tow every season. I am still inspired by textures natural and enhanced. I will continue to share photography editing tips and tutorials without the weekly Texture Twist. The Seasons meme requires no texture. Seasonal photography, stories, and projects are welcome! The link up is open Monday through Friday each week and will be shared across Instagram too for those with or without a blog! Phew... now let's get this started!!

Enhanced with the Lavender Lush Overlays

 

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SEASONS Photo Challenge

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Texture Twist: Happy Holidays

Great Tidings of PEACE, LOVE, and JOY to you and yours this holiday season.

 

Photoshop Tutorial

Hazel Overlay #4 / Overlay Blending Mode/ 100% Opacity

Optional: Add a text layer in a white font over your photo to write a greeting or message 

 

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The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Barn Red: Texture Twist

Who doesn't love a classic red barn in any season? This handsome gem "Had me at Hello" with the lush vine growing along the side. Tucked between a grove of trees and a field of harvested corn the striking bold red contrasts against the empty blue sky. 

 

Bring back a blown out or empty sky by adding depth with a classic vignette and texture.

Photoshop Tutorial:

Optional: Apply a vignette or edge burn
Sparks Cool Texture / Multiply Blending Mode / 65%

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The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Texture Twist: Bittersweet Autumn

As the calendar turns from November to December so does the seasons turn. Autumn is the season I hold onto to the most, being that it's my favorite. Every day is filled with bittersweet memories, pastimes, and traditions. Are you feeling the same? What's your favorite season?

 

Photoshop Tutorial

Champagne Overlay #1 / Multiply / 100%

Champagne Overlay #4 / Multiply / 100%

 

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The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Texture Twist: November Woodlands

Each season brings beauty to the woodlands surrounding our home. In Autumn the treetops dazzle in the sunlight with golden and crimson leaves. Each leaf falls to the woodland floor as if has a story to tell of success at last, similar to that of graduation. The Autumn sunsets are more bright and beautiful as the days inches closer to winter, encouraging thoughts of gratitude. What has caught your eye this season? 

 

Photoshop Tutorial

Cremebrulee Overlay #1 / Darker Color / 15%

Duplicate the overlay / Overlay / 25%

 

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The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Fall Farmers Market: Photoshop Before and After

Farmers markets in the Fall bewitch me! I could stare into a buckets of crisp apples or curvy squash long enough to make any farmer nervous. Piles of pumpkins and dried sunflower heads call out to me. Luckily I always bring at least two cameras along, so I can savor their enchanted. 

 

Reduce harsh sunlight and apply a vintage photo finish with texture.

Before and After Photoshop Tutorial:

Apply an Exposure layer adjustment to reduce the exposure
Antique Warm Texture / Multiply Blending Mode / 20%

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The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

The Country: On the Outskirts

I discovered this weathered American beauty on road trip. It was just on the outskirts of rural town near border of Illinois and Missouri. Half way hidden by corn stalks yet a contrast to the bright blue skies. Try the Photoshop tutorial below to boost contrast and depth in your next landscape photograph.

Photoshop Tutorial:

Aging Estates Texture / Soft Light Blending Mode / 50%
Buttercup Overlay #4 / Color Burn Blending Mode / 40%

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 Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up