With reference to the Photography Course, I have just completed week 4 – almost half way through. I am finding it to be quite a roller-coaster ride.
My mind is saying: “Who do you think you are. You’re not clever enough for this. You won’t be able to do it.” I have felt the fear rising. I almost believed it.
But my heart spoke to me, and I listened. It speaks much louder than my mind and it tells me: “Don’t listen. You can do anything you want to do. There are no limitations. And it’s never too late.” I believe it.
And so, this week, I thought I would post some of my experiments in the Digital Darkroom. The Course uses Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 and I’m learning a great deal, although still at the novice stage. All of the images below have had various editing techniques applied to them.
Taken from the Bernina Express, high up in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy
The Monochrome Version
View of the Swiss Alps from the Bernina Express
Lake Como, Northern Italy
Chapel Bridge, Lucerne, Switzerland
The Sacre Coeur [Church of the Sacred Heart], Montmartre, Paris
A Duck on the River Dee, Llangollen
Ducks on Llangollen Canal
Along the Riverbank in Llangollen
Foliage along the Riverbank
Forestry Commission Working in N W Wales. Notice the slates in the foreground reflecting pale-blue in the sunlight
A Gorgeous Secluded Bay in Ynys Mon, N Wales. I was experimenting here with the gradient tool, trying to apply a gradual lilac tint to the upper image.
“May I have the courage, today, to live the life that I would love,
to postpone my dream no longer, but do at last what I came here for,
and waste my heart on fear no more.”
John O’Donohue
Encouraging blog. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration that you share through your message and pictures. Thanks so much for stopping by My Journal of Praise and liking posts. I look forward to more of your inspiration. God Bless,
That’s lovely of you. Thank you. I am so happy to meet you, and I love your articles. Bless you.
Great shots! I love the Swiss Alps!
Thank you again. Yes, the Alps are stunning. I loved it there. I hope for a return visit before too long.
Beautiful pictures…. I especially love the one of northern Italy.
Thank you, Eve. Blessings.
Don’t listen to that voice… You are amazing!
Thank you for the encouraging comment. I am learning to listen to my heart now, rather than my censorious mind. The perfect answer, of course, would be to balance heart and mind. I’m getting there slowly.
Nice
Thank you, Adriano. Blessings.
The world at my doorstep, that’s how I felt on your those lovely photos you took, especially the church picture in Paris. Well done!
Thank you so much. That’s very nice of you. Blessings.
Thank you too, sorry for the typos. Cheers!
Pues sigue pensando que puedes con todo, porque te han quedado unas imágenes preciosas, mi preferida la primera, es de postal, besos
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Blessings.
Really nice work, Lizzie. Keep at it and don’t doubt yourself! Have a great weekend, and be sure to have your camera with you.
Thank you so much for your encouragement. It is most appreciated. Bless you.
You have a good eye, Lizzie. So the new skills you acquire will only add to your gifts. Trust it!
Freitag Greetings LizzieJ Hoping you have a lovely weekend and that you are able to get to know your way round your camera even more and perhaps able to take a few pictures to work on .
Maybe you will do another little ‘reveal’ next week if you have time
x
Thank you, Poppy, for the good wishes. Yes, I am starting to find my way around my camera, which makes it easier all round. I will try and do a short update soon. I have this week’s assignment to do first
and then a mid term assessment next week, as well as the usual work. This course has taken over my life and I will be glad when then 10th December arrives, and I get my life back!!!
* High 5 *
… as an aside i think i am *blogged* down with Challenges .. my own fault :-/ …..
I don’t do any of those at the moment, although I may do so at some point. Never say never. I try only to do those things that inflame my inner passions now. If I find something a chore, I tend to leave it out. Blessings.
You are right LizzieJ .
The thing is I love it all ! I’m really really taken with photography recently but it’s hard to juggle getting the knowledge/practising /and doing the lovely challenges all at once
I’m a butterfly …
Glad to hear you fly free as a butterfly. It is much better than being a caterpillar stuck in a cocoon of its own making!! Blessings and have a lovely weekend.
Well done, Lizzie. That pic of Sacre Coeur looks fabulous. Thanks for your “Like” on my blog.
Good morning! And thank you for your nice comment. I enjoyed your tour around Lisbon. I was there several years ago. It is a beautiful city. Blessings.
Well done Lizzie!!! Great work! You can do anything you set your mind to
Thank you, Calee. I’m determined to last the course. I have summoned up my inner strength and I will get there!! Bless you.
Das sind gute Fotos.
Danke für Deinen Besuch bei uns.
Freundliche Grüße, Wolfgang
Thank you, Wolfgang. That’s very nice of you. Bless you.
Hi Lizzie
You kindly said that I could share one of your lovely photographs at the next soulsnet post and I am posting today. I have chosen the “Secluded bay in Ynys Mon, North Wales” which is beautiful and have also included one of my own not so beautiful of the beach at Tenby West Wales, so readers will get a taste of our lovely country.
The post is about unfinished business and I love the title of this post which is “To Waste my Heart on Fear No More”. I will of course link back and credit you.
Looking forward to staying in touch.
Thanks
Corinne
Many thanks for the mention – very nicely done. An interesting article of yours too – much to think about. Bless you.
Hi Lizzie
Glad you visited and enjoyed the post. It’s lovely to make contact with you. I am off to France tomorrow for 10 days so shall have a chance to practice the lingo. I look on France as a bit of a retreat so I shall be taking some books to read and try to do some writing too. It’s funny really, whenever it’s time to go to France seems to be the time when I need to take a bit of time and space and get back on track.
Amities et bonne journee a toi.
Corinne
It is lovely to connect with you too. Let’s build on what we have. Hope you have a great time in France. I’ve seen a little of it but I’d love to go and spend a couple of weeks there – maybe do a tour of the whole country. I’ve been to Paris a few times, which I love. Enjoy the rest and recuperation. We all need that space. I envy you.!! Blessings.
Seeing your photo of Lake Como, I can understand why people rave about the landscape! Enjoyed your “progress report”! ~ Kat
Thank you, Kat. That’s really nice of you, and so encouraging. Bless you.
Stunning photos!!!!!!Good on ya Lizzie!
Thank you, my friend. Your support is highly valued. Bless you.
Hi Lizzie
I followed you from Michael Lai’s wonderful blog and I am so glad that I found you. What a fantastic suite of photographs you have here. I particularly enjoyed the tour of the Holy Land through your lens. I have never visited although I hope to one day, so your photographs gave me a real taster.
I was also struck by your determination to overcome your misgivings and live your dream. Good for you.
I write a daily inspiration blog at soulsnet.com and I always use one of my own amateurish snaps and then like to share a really lovely photograph from another photographer.
Would it be alright with you if I shared one of yours from time to time? I would always let you know when I was posting and link back and credit you of course.
I live in South Wales in Sully, a small village between Cardiff and Barry so it’s nice to meet up with someone else from Wales, even if I had to meet you via Michael in Hong Kong.
Warm regards
Corinne
Thank you, Corinne. That’s really nice of you. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the tour of the Holy Land. It is an amazing place and I so want to return there. I do hope you manage to make the trip. You will love it. Blessings.
Thanks Lizzie. I’ll let you know when I am posting and hopefully you will come and visit and enjoy.
Corinne
Goodmorinig…Orofiorentino
Good morning. I have only just seen your message. So sorry for the delay in replying. Blessings to you. Have a lovely day.
Amazing views and pictures!
Thank you. That’s kind of you, and very welcome. Bless you.
My heart pumped harder at every photograph I viewed. They are simply awesome. Great work. I also loved your writeup. Thanks for sharing.
What a lovely comment. Thank you so much for your support. It is truly valued. Bless you.
thnx..they r really awesome ..loved each one of them.
Not only are you very talented, you are very modest with it.
Ronnie.
That’s nice of you, Ronnie. Bless you.
Your photos are amazing. Not just on this post, but on others. I think you are going to be an expert in no time if this is your early-learning work. I was trying to pick a favorite, but I don’t think I can. Although the Autumn tree and foliage (next post down I believe?) has captured my heart.
Oops, forgot to say. love the Joh O’ Donohue quote. I’m going to copy that if you don’t mind?
By all means go ahead. I’ve got a massive file of quotes now and I love to share them when appropriate. Blessings.
Thank you, Elizabeth. That’s a lovely thing to say. It’s early days for me yet, but I plan on enjoying the journey. My heart tells me that a firm foundation is vital with every project I undertake. It reminds me of the story Jesus told about building your house on the rock, rather than the sand. Very wise!!
magic photos…wonderful.
What a lovely thing to say. Bless you.
Excellent shots..:-)
Thank you so much, Ed. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Bless you.
beautiful work
Thank you, Ray. That’s so kind of you. Bless you.
Wow . . your pictures are great Lizzie. Good for you that you listen to your heart.
Thank you, Chris. That’s very nice of you. Bless you.
Sigh. So beautiful photos. They cause me want to travel again.
You’re very kind. Thank you for your encouragement and support. Blessings.
ah Llangollen…my favourite place just about anywhere. you have a lovely site.
Thank you so much for the nice comment. Llangollen is beautiful, isn’t it. Very photogenic, too. Blessings.
Beautiful photos Lizzie; looks like you’re getting a lot from the course. Keep it up!!
Thank you, Ed, for the encouragement. It’s most appreciated.
I like what your heart says! You are doing great, wonderful pictures again!
Thank you. My heart speaks silently, and yet so loudly!! I cant fail to hear.
I think your photos are truly beautiful.
That’s really kind of you. Thank you.
The view of the Swiss Alps is breathtaking and the Church looks so majestic!
Thank you. So glad you liked them. Bless you.
Such wonderful subjects to work with and you well on the way to becoming a wonderful photographer ! Congrats on learning Lightroom, it’s so much fun once you get a handle on it.
Thank you, my friend. It’s a great learning curve for me – a major step in my goal of laying a firm foundation for my future photography work. Blessings.
Breathtaking photos! You should believe in yourself more, we all have that defeatist voice at the back but our duty is to not let it take a too big place and let our passion win over
Those are very wise words. Thank you. Yes – passion must win out in the end!! Blessings.
Lizzie, these photos are stunning! Sharon
You are so kind, Sharon. Bless you.
I think you are doing really well, you know we all start off as novices, I hope to be one for a very long time, that would mean I am always willing to learn. Your photos are looking fantastic, love the first two.
Thank you, Leanne. It’s really nice of you to take the time to encourage my efforts. Bless you.
Tremendous series of images!
Thank you, Phil, for the really nice comment. I really appreciate it.
Well, it seems that your mind forgot that the strength of your heart comes from courage and hope. And with those two on your side, everything is possible!! Well done!!!
Too true, Rebecca!! I really have come to believe that nothing is impossible if we believe strongly enough. It is that belief that will ultimately lead to the manifestation of our dreams. Bless you.
Congratulations, Lizzie. Your pics are really good.
Thank you. That’s so nice of you to say so. Blessings.
These are all beautiful! Glad you listen to your heart
Thank you so much. I appreciate your encouragement. Bless you.
Oh my! You are certainly growing with each day. These are so breathtaking. The course serves you well. Keep it up my friend. Look forward to more.
Thank you, my friend. Life is all about growth, of course. I think the less we fight it, the easier it becomes. Blessings.
The more you try (experiment) the better you’ll get. The photo’s are wonderful, keep them coming. bill
Thank you, Bill. I’m just beginning to get my head around the theory, but it is the practice I need now. Blessings.
Good for you – we all need to learn to reject those negative messages and seize the ones we are meant to actually live by! Looks like you are having lots of fun – and success – so carry on. No fear!
“Look fear in the face!” That’s my motto for now on. Heart-led is God-led, and no amount of fear can stand against Him. Thank you, Melody. Bless you.
Wonderful images!
Thank you, Mike. I appreciate your encouragement. Bless you.
What a delightful feast of photos! And I love what you wrote and that you are living out the quote you ended with…
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thank you, Wendy. You are so supportive. I really appreciate it. Bless you.
great shots, and good for you for not listening to those crappy lying messages!!
Thank you, my friend. My mental censor takes over some times, but then my heart speaks out and puts it firmly in its place. Of course, what I really need is mind-heart balance, where my mind supports my heart. That day will come!!
yes i believe it will come not easy but possible!!
Great to get an update Lizzie. Thank you. I was thinking about you earlier this week, wondering how you were getting on. These photos look great. There is a lot of good stuff in Adobe Lightroom.
Thank you, Chillbrook, for your thoughtfulness. And for your very welcome encouragement and support. Bless you.
You must be learning a lot – these pictures are just beautiful!
Thank you, Meg. That’s nice of you to say so. I certainly feel as if I’m heading in the right direction, reference laying the firm foundation that I need. And so, it’s onwards and upwards!!
LizzieJ ! So nice to see some of your work . I can your use of the Adobe Photoshop LRoom is paying off ! You are right to carry on and believe you can finish the course and reap the rewards . [I hesitate to tell how much time I spend trying things out and then hoping I can get the effect again - it's very much trial and error .]
Do enjoy your weekend.
Good morning, Poppy, and thank you for your constant support. I am blessed with so many supportive friends in the blogosphere. Have a wonderful weekend yourself. Bless you.
Gorgeous Lizzie. Congratulations on your exciting progress!
Thank you, Vivien. Your support is so very much appreciated. Bless you.