Friday, March 22, 2013

Daring Exposé

C'est moi, captured with my laptop's webcam, altered online with
Perfect Effects 4 (free download)
to participate in Bonnie's photo art self-portrait challenge at Pixel Dust Photo Art



If you want to experiment with different effects for your photos, these sites are each a fun place to play.  They won't replace Photoshop for me, or the subtlety of adjusting layers of textures and blending modes, but they're a good outlet for some whooping and hollering with pixels.
(and are less costly and invasive than a facelift)

(PS. I chickened out and took this post down last night, but Christine of Mystic Meandering caught me out and encouraged me with kind words, so I'm sucking it up and sticking my face back on top of my Décolleté.)

36 comments:

  1. I Say !!! What a wonderful picture of your!! You done a great job with it and beside you are looking good (says a former portraitphotographer) - Glad you shared with us

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, thank you. I feel somewhat reassured by your kind encouragement, especially coming from a former portrait photog!

      Delete
  2. How delightful to see the eyes that capture and create so much art that stirs my soul. Thrilled you thought twice. It's kind of nice to put a face to the artist. (I'll have one of those facelifts please!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The eyes are a little blurry these days, I'm afraid. Maybe that's why I like playing around with textures so much. I do wish I had a make-up brush that could give more or less the same effect as the overlays in this self-portrait. What a lovely comment you make, about my art stirring your soul. Thanks so much, Bonnie.

      Delete
  3. It's such fun to see the face behind the blogging, Lynne, and yours is such a sweet and beautiful one! So glad you didn't chicken out.

    I have my hands over-full trying to deal with Photoshop (I'm a Luddite by nature), so I could not even bear to download NEW effects!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For me these new downloadables and online effects are like shortcuts and experiments. But just like geographic shortcuts in real life, it often takes a heck of a long ride to get to the desired end. You're right, though: Photoshop could take a lifetime to come to terms with. Thanks for your kind words about me plastering my face with pixels and posting it here.

      Delete
  4. You look very beautiful and peaceful! wonderful self-portrait!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nicely done. Those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing you in person can assure your blog friends that this is the real Lynne. Now if you have a passport photo that needs endorsement . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your face is lovely. I think we are all way too critical of ourselves. You have a serene look here and a beautiful smile!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! You are so right about how we're all so critical of ourselves. It's funny, I'm not at all shy about showing my art work or photos...which are really just other forms of self-portraits.

      Delete
  7. Beautiful you! I'm so happy to see your face. I understand and share your reluctance to unveil (though in your little avatar photo, you've clearly unveiled too much) but I love being able to put a face to the character and in both cases, yours is lovely.

    So.. Photoshop.. Pixlr-O-Matic.. Pic Monkey.. Perfect Effects.. and even Pixel Dust... do you ever dabble in anything that doesn't begin with the letter P? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. but why would you chicken out?!!! it is such a beautiful portrait and you are beautiful, glowing from within with warmth and a special light, calmness, sweetness... i love the glasses too!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know...it just sort of makes me feel exposed...Although, I must admit, it is a rather flattering shot. My own form of airbrushing! I am very fond of my glasses so I'm glad you like them. The arms are a red filigree with little diamanté sparkles inset here and there. Bordering on tacky, but erring on just this side of playful and arty, I like to think.

      Delete
  9. this is just a wondrous post and I love how bold and brave you are!! it is a great gift to see the YOU BEhind the work I enJOY so much.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Bold and brave"--how little these words normally apply to me and how much I would love to incorporate them into my approach to life! Thank you for this great encouragement and show of appreciation. It's gratifying to be meeting with you, and others who visit this humble and obscure little blog, face-to-face...at least virtually.

      Delete
  10. Talk about beautiful image -- I see it in this self portrait - look at those eyes and the skin color beautiful -- the right amount of softness and the background is cool - you did a terrific job editing your self portrait ..
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  11. See :) lol Am so glad you reposted! I'll say it again: You are a beautiful soul with wise eyes... And we all love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, mystically meandering Christine! Your little prod made me jump in with my eyes wide open and I have loved seeing all the kind and accepting and encouraging comments that have come my way as a result. Thanks for giving me a boot in the...nether region.
      :-D
      xo

      Delete
  12. This is just lovely and so glad you UNCHICKENED OUT. Love the work that you have done on this ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I love how you put it: "unchickening out." I spent quite a lot of time dickering about with various effects and having a lot of fun experimenting, so it's really good to be able to share the results rather than hiding them away.

      Delete
  13. Love the idea of Photoshop as a facelift!! Love the picture, too. I'm glad you put it back up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Too bad they don't sell that Photoshop magic cream in a jar for an affordable price at Shoppers!

      Delete
  14. Visiting a bit late but I'm glad you put this back up. I think you look wonderful and your edit is so lovely. It's hard sometimes to expose ourselves (I hate photos of myself most of the time) but it was good to see so many embrace this challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was a challenging challenge, wasn't it. I usually find photos of me are not so great, either, so it was gratifying to have some control over the situation. And it is fun to see the faces behind the artwork that appears over at Bonnie's, including your own!

      Delete
  15. T'es belle!


    Renée

    ReplyDelete
  16. Photoshop/face lift brilliant! When I look at your portrait I see a beautiful woman. Yes we are far too critical of ourselves. Bonnie has a lovely post about this today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, so many of us self-critical rather than self-accepting; carrying around some inner ideal of how we "should" look. But compared to what/who/and why I suppose are the questions to answer.

      Delete
  17. still hot... after all these years.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such a fresh and charming self portrait - the textures give a warm and playfulll effect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nina. "Warm, playful, charming" are rather wonderful words to have applied to one's self-portrait!

      Delete