A Bit of Knowledge: Home Decor

Today we got 6 inches of snow, and more is coming down. Spring has got to show up soon. Easter is almost here, and I need to do my own Easter cards. I may try something different, cropping and framing. And then Easter baking. Yes, I have been baking for two months now. I am in training, but so far, so good, or should I say great? Chocolate is my main ingredient.

From this:
To this:
"There is no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps." ~ by Peter A. Cohen

~ Anna

Comments

beanow said…
Anna, wonderful photos! Great, that you experiment and do this magnificently...
Unknown said…
That's a neat composition and photo print Anna. The result speaks for itself...Thomas
kRiZcPEc said…
thanks for sharing~~
I agree, there is nothing wrong with cropping an image. I often look at cropping as another way to express creativity since it is a decision in the whole process that effects composition. Photography purists will often disagree, but they are no fun anyway.
Anna, what a great post and photos!!! I love spending time in my photo editor. It's hypnotizing. :D

Happy Easter!!! I bet Matthew will have fun finding his Easter basket. :D

Hugs, JJ
Hey Anna, I'm okay, thanks for asking. I'm just in a very strange mood...I don't feel the camera "calling" for me anymore and that makes me a bit sad...It's just a lack of creativity I presume but I just hope it doesn't take too long:)
kml said…
A great tip for cropping Anna - but I am really yearning for some of that chocolate you mentioned. What are you making, candy, cookies, cakes?

Hope you all have a great Easter!

Take care,
Kathy
skywind said…
Beautiful picture, beautiful flower. Different approach, different results. :)
Health information
Humor & Fun World
Anonymous said…
With flower photos like this, you must be certainly compelling the spirit of spring to make its appearance soon. And then if you offer it chocolate too, then it would be sure to stay for a while.
Marvin said…
What a great idea! I like your 3-shot color-spread.
Livingsword said…
Hi Anna....

Thanks for the tips...I like how you used the colours! Very pretty...

Well I have to go back into the hot sun here and prune the palm trees and cactuses after some surfing and sun bathing...thankfully we have air conditioning...
Bergson said…
I prefer the 3 th choice
MedaM said…
Hi Anna, your post is great and informative again with lovely photos. Thanks for sharing your experiments and useful lessons with us.
Hope you all have a great Easter filled with hope, joy and warmth! :-))
Anonymous said…
Most interesting post.

All of my photos either bought for printing or used for printing with stories have to be 300 dpi resolution and 100% in size. So I always work from 100% at 300 if it goes with a story. It takes that to get the best printed results.
Swubird said…
Anna:

I'm a cropping maniac. I've always been one. Even back in the days of film and prints, I cropped everything for emphasis. It's a great tool. So thanks a million for the handy tips. It's nice to have the advice of an expert.

Happy trails.
Ren said…
Hi Anna,

Just curious. Do you call the flower orchid or do you call it another name over at your side?
Anna, I look forward to your posts! I had no idea cropping was such an art. I will keep coming back to your words, and absorb them, little by little.

So sorry about the snow. We had much more than usual this year in Vancouver, and I really know that feeling of, "No more, please!" But as you say, Spring is coming! Hang in there:) Happy Easter to you!
Piękne kolory zdjęć.
Moi dziadkowie też chodzili do Stoczka na pielgrzymki:)

Pozdrawiam.
Bob Johnson said…
Great stuff Anna, I'm learning lots here. I crop all the time, to focus in on what I want, more dramatic. Hey we are loosing snow here, won't be long and I will be hunting for the Saskatchewan Meteorite with the University of Calgary up in Northern Saskatchewan.
Max Coutinho said…
Hey Anna,

My, my, my....you have been baking, eh? What a baby does to women lol ;D! I know, because the day I decided I'd be a mom, I began to cook and bake as well! I was 17 years old...and since I had decided (at the time) that I would not get married (since no man was good enough for me LOL LOL *sigh* teenagers) but would have lots of babies, I had to learn how to cook and bake for them! lol...

About your cropping lessons: thank you so much! I learned a thing or two, and I will come back to re-read it again, for I must do it with the image editing program opened! :D

I wish you a Happy Easter (is the orthodox one this weekend also?) - I know your husband is Roman Catholic!!!

Cheers
roentare said…
I really love the transformation of your blog. Your writing is so educational with insight and perspective into photography

Great techniques
John Maslowski said…
Great tutorial Anna, thanks for the info. Hope you and your family have a great Easter Holiday. I'm sure the little one is going to have fun with his Easter basket.
Purple Cat said…
Spring is in your heart and art, even if there is still snow out there! Great Post!
Take care and enjoy the day!
XX Purple Cat
Unknown said…
That dpi always throws me off. I really like what you did with the three images framed together.

As far as spring goes, it is finally here. I can't believe you are still getting snow. By the time summer arrives up there, it must be time for fall? Can you vegetable garden? Is your summer season long enough for tomatoes or peppers or winter squash?
Lynda Lehmann said…
I crop all the time, Anna, and love to find the essence of something by chopping off any sections that don't add to the overall effect. Once in awhile I get a few shots that don't need much cropping at all.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. You did a great job on your colorful floral "triptych."

Don't forget to take some photos of Matthew trying out his first chocolates, to share with us!

Blessings to you and your family.
Maciek said…
Nice blog. I´m from Poland as well. Keep up a good work !

http://photoandtravels.blogspot.com/
Robyn McMaster said…
Hi Anna, these tips are good to know. I like jpg. and now I know why.

Just stopped by to say, Happy Easter to you and your family.
I wish we could spend more time learning about being a real photographer.....I am always so busy. Maybe when I retire? lol
Hope you are having a wonderful Easter Sunday!
Deb (JB's mom)
I hope you had a wonderful Easter despite the delay in Spring's arrival in your part of the world. I'm sending lots of warm and sunny thoughts to you right now.

Hugs,
Cindy
Nina said…
Woooooooooow Anna!! That is really useful post ^__^ I learned a lot from it. I always wonder how to print a photo? what is the right size?... etc. but you give the answers inyour post ^__^
And yes, there is nothing wrong with corping, I do it in most of my photo ^__^

Thank you dear.
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks beanow. Experimenting is fun. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thomas thanks so much. Nature has always so much to offer for us to work with. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks kriz, no problem. Anna :)
I rather take a shot a bit wider and crop later than zoom in too much and regret later that I lost flexibility in my composition....
Diane AZ said…
I always find it fascinating how cropping can change an image. Some great ideas here, thanks!
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you Frames for Cheap. I have so many photographs, that I have to do something with it - it is all art on the end, digital or not digital. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks JJ. You are so right it so hypnotizing, just so much we can do with it. Yes Matthew had his first cake this Easter made by great grandmother, and a bit of caneloni from grandmother. Made them both happy! Happy Belated Easter JJ, all the best to you and your family. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Iv thanks for letting me know. I hope you get better. I was like that to once, I couldn't even look at my camera, lol, it is scary thought. So it is better to take a break than force it. Thanks again, Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks David. BTW the bear story was funny. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Kathy. Oh this Easter I decided to make my own treats for everyone. I made over 200 cookies of many kinds: peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, multigrain bars, peanut butter multigrain bars, coconut macaroons, macaroons, chocolate macaroons, chocolate coated almonds - all of them coated with semi-sweet chocolate. Kathy I didn't know that baking was so much fun...- parenthood is really fun. Next I have to make some chocolate fudge, lol. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you skywind. I like that 'different approach, different result'. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Natural Moments, yes you are right. I did offer chocolate this Easter, but boy it is still cold outside. Hopefully soon the spring will bloom here as on my pictures. Thanks for commenting. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you Marvin. I am thinking to do something like that for my wall, just haven't decided on the object in the picture. Thanks for visiting, it is always to have someone from another planet, lol, kidding aside, nice to have you here. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks LS, wow you got prunes and cactuses, where do you live??? Yes I been hearing about beautiful weather you guys having in BC. Send some over, lol. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you Bergson. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hi Medam, glad you liked it my tips, and thank you so much for your kind easter wishes, wishing you the same, a bit late. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you Abe. You are right 300 dpi or ppi, is a good resolution, but I have compared that 200 was almost good, and less file size, and since I buy my prints on line, it make is a bit faster to upload them. Thanks again for the tip, Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Lol Swubird, cropping maniac, lol. Even back to the film. You know I never new that lot of photographers did this, until I saw my wedding photographer doing. Thanks for the confirmation then....Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hi Ren, I don't know if I can call it an orchid. This is some wild flower I snapped in the fields, and I think it is closer to the iris family, but I could be 'totally' wrong. I don't know much about flowers, but they do sure look nice on the photos. BTW nice to see you back. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Carol thank you so much, and I am glad that you enjoy my posts. Yes no spring yet, the snow is still melting and still a bit cold. Yes yes I heard about your unusual weather in BC. Happy belated Easter to you too. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Dziękujemy Drugi krok w chumrach. Może w jeden dzień ja odwiedzę miejsca te kture masz na twojim blogu. Nie byłam w Polsce sinc 1985 roku. Moi rodzice będą jechac w tym roku. Anna:)
myonlyphoto said…
Yes Max, You are right, baby does wonders to me, lol. I want to come up with some brand cookies of mine for Matthew, unfortunately he only smells them for now, and my husbands enjoys them because most of them are with chocolate, lol.

Max you said: 'I know, because the day I decided I'd be a mom, I began to cook and bake as well! I was 17 years old...and since I had decided (at the time) that I would not get married (since no man was good enough for me LOL LOL *sigh* teenagers) but would have lots of babies, I had to learn how to cook and bake for them! lol... - you are funny Max, and how in the world were you going to have babies without man, lol...Max baking is so much fun, you know when you are going to be mom one day, you will see. I used to say I know I know, but when Matthew came, then I knew really knew how wonderful it is to be a parent.

Max thanks again my friend, and thanks for the wishes. Yes Dom's Easter was this weekend, and mine is next weekend. I will be probably doing another round of baking, giving out baking treats, lol...Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you roentarre. I like it to, because when I write something I actually learn even more. Thanks again for the encouragement. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks John, and thank you so much for the wishes. Yes Matthew really enjoyed this Easter, as a matter of fact he had his first sponge cake, and some canelloni, lol. I think he prefers salty stuff over sweet, but that may change. Thanks again for your wishes, and wishing you the same, a bit late. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thank you Purple Cat, yes I have spring in my heart, and like you said is showing up in my art, lol. Hopefully soon, thanks again. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hey Will, thanks. Yes the resolution is tricky, but anything above even 150 should give you good result as long as you crop no less than one third of your total photo area.

Yes still snow on the ground. Just too cold for it to melt, and where I live is the colder area. But I only live 30 min from Toronto, and they got no snow, I guess north is north, lol.

No not really, the vegetable garden wouldn't do good, unless I put stuff in the puts. Just the ground is slopped, and everything probably be washed away everytime it rains... But I have few herbs in the pots though...

Yes if it is right weather, tomatoes, squash are grow just fine, I used to have tomatoes on the front lawn...

Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Lynda. I guess if you take some close up images, you don't need cropping. Your photo art Lynda always amazed me, you really have a good eye. Matthew and chocolate, may be next year, but he had his first cake this year. He sure made his Great Grandmother very happy! Happy belated Easter Lynda, Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Maciek, nice to meet you too. So you live in Portugal, wow nice place to live. Your photos are stunning. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Robyn thank you so much for your wishes. It is always nice to see you come back. I will be visiting your shortly. Happy Belated Easter to you too. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Deb (JB), me too may be when I retire too. I have very limited time now, and I know it will be for a long time. There so much out there. Hope you are doing well. I can see that you are keeping busy...Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Cindy all your wishes are now received, I feel much better despite the cold outside. You know I think it will come soon...Thanks again my friend, another great Easter to see you here. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Bob a lot. Hey you said: 'Hey we are loosing snow here, won't be long and I will be hunting for the Saskatchewan Meteorite with the University of Calgary up in Northern Saskatchewan.' - wow Bob you are full of surprises, I guess no more spoon work for you lol, you will need big tools now. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Nina my dear friend it is so nice to see you here. Glad you enjoyed my post. Thank you so much for your kind comment, Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Wolfgang thank for the confirmation. You know I like zooming too, but when not zoomed there is more light, thus the images are much better result. BTW welcome to my blog. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hey Diane C. welcome to my blog and thank you for commenting. You are right, cropping can give you totally different effect. Thanks again, Anna :)
Max Coutinho said…
Hi Anna,

"I want to come up with some brand cookies of mine for Matthew, unfortunately he only smells them for now, and my husbands enjoys them because most of them are with chocolate, lol."

Soon he will be eating them, you will see :D! Chocolate cookies? Mmmmmmmmmmm....

"you are funny Max, and how in the world were you going to have babies without man, lol...Max baking is so much fun, you know when you are going to be mom one day, you will see. I used to say I know I know, but when Matthew came, then I knew really knew how wonderful it is to be a parent."

LOL thanks *High five*! LOL girl, I was planning to make babies with a friend of mine, only with no marriage involved LOL (don't ask) *nodding*! The day I become a parent I will let you know what I think of it :D!

"Max thanks again my friend, and thanks for the wishes. Yes Dom's Easter was this weekend, and mine is next weekend. I will be probably doing another round of baking, giving out baking treats, lol..."

You are welcome, girl! Next weekend? Let me write it down...done :D! LOL LOL bake, girl...just bake :D!

Cheers
Dick said…
Thanks Anna.
I hope spring will arrive soon at your place, as long it isn't continue the chocolate baking, mmmmmm, I think I like it. lol
Bram Antareja said…
A good knowledge. Indeed, the composition is important in photography // The composition can be played with the view on the viewfinder // Even in a composition can play with the cropping // Thanks Anna, for your sharing // regards from Yogyakarta City, Indonesia //
Peter said…
"That's one small step for anna; one giant leap for the rest of us." ~ by Peter J. McCartney

Two months of baking! You must have fed an army on that lot!

If there is anything left (I doubt it!) you know where to send the doggy bag. I'll even pay for the postage!

Take Care,
Peter
Amanda said…
Thanks you so much for this lovely idea!! I just love to capture beautiful images... I will try to make them a good home decor stuff!! Happy Easter :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Max, and thanks for your wishes in the email. You are the best!

Max you said: 'LOL thanks *High five*! LOL girl, I was planning to make babies with a friend of mine, only with no marriage involved LOL (don't ask) *nodding*! The day I become a parent I will let you know what I think of it :D!' - I will not ask then, lol, but I can only see you making all these plans that time, that is really funny you know. For myself I never really thought of being parent in my twenties, when I hit mid thirties then something sparked - it almost like I needed to mature, lol, and you know I am glad that I have Matthew now, because I feel like I know that I am giving him 100% plus care.

Thanks Max again, you are cool girl!

Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hey Dick thanks. I think all the chocolate baking brought finally spring to my area. We been having really nice weather past two days, just in time for Ukrainian Easter this weekend. Finally my gooseberry bush is getting greener by the day. Thanks for visiting, appreciated. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Bram you have really good point in here. I will keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing, regards to you too. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hey Peter check out the left column under MY FAVORITE QUOTES, you made the cut!

Yes two months of training in baking. The previous very little baking I did was from premixes, now I am doing from scratch. Well today I broke the rule and I am inventing my own stuff, so far so good....

Thanks Peter for the interest in my cookies, but you know they are so simple, that is probably better to make them yourself, otherwise, it would probably cost you an arm and the leg. And you are right, they are all gone...another big batch will be made for this weekend Easter.

Thanks Peter for your always entertaining comments. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Amenda, nice that you got some good ideas from here. All the best, thanks for the coupon links, unfortunately I may not be able to use it as it is for US mostly. Thanks again, Anna :)
RW said…
Teach me teach me Anna! I love your tutorials!
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks Roger!!! Hey your stuff is great too! Anna :)
Thanks for the tips! it looks good!
thanks for sharing them.
Max Coutinho said…
Hi Anna,

You are welcome, darling :D! Aaah, kindness...kindness...

"I will not ask then, lol, but I can only see you making all these plans that time, that is really funny you know."

LOL I was an odd teenager LOL...

"For myself I never really thought of being parent in my twenties, when I hit mid thirties then something sparked - it almost like I needed to mature, lol, and you know I am glad that I have Matthew now, because I feel like I know that I am giving him 100% plus care."

Awww, that is so sweet! I am sure you are a superb mom, Anna :D! God Bless you!

"Thanks Max again, you are cool girl!"

Don't mention it...so are you, girl! So, are you :D!

Cheers
myonlyphoto said…
Thanks loan modification. Your visit is appreciated. Anna :)
myonlyphoto said…
Hey Max you said: 'LOL I was an odd teenager LOL...' - hey its fun to be odd one, and to reflect on it later in life.

Thanks for all Max!
Anna :)