Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Before and After...My Ballerina


If you haven't met Monica at Pixel Perfect...I think you should. She has this fun little Before and After blog hop. If you like photography..you'll love Pixel Perfect.

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The sweetest little girl in my life has been visiting a small dance studio on a weekly basis.
She can't wait to flit and float and fleetly flee and fly.
She is a natural.
Gazelle like.
This beautiful creature that emerges is completely opposite of the little "pirate/ninja" character which visits our home frequently.


Recently, while playing with her Gran, S-girl played the pirate and Gran was the princess.


Gran presented an idea to the little sword wielding pirate.


"Why don't you be the princess for awhile? In fact, we can both be princesses."


Adamantly, S-girl declined the offer.


"No way, princesses don't know how to fight with swords. Arghh."


Gran seized the opportunity to introduce her little pirate of a grand-daughter to Joan of Arc. Only then did S-girl warm to the idea of "playing" a girl. 


Have I mentioned she's "in like Flynn" with her brothers?
They truly are "thick as thieves"!


So, to see her gracefully float across the wooden floor, admiring herself ever so often in the mirror, warms and swells this mama's heart.
And despite the occasional Kung Fu like kick and karate chop through the air, her moves are smooth like butter.


Dare I believe a tiny ballerina is emerging?


Here is the photo before the bells and whistles were applied.

009

Here is the after...belled and whistled.
Ah, first position...the beauty of it.
ballet feet

Now..jate` on over to Pixel Perfect for more photo browsing fun.

I also wanted to mention that the Greensheen Blogger is holding a little photography competition for the month of June.  I told her I'd gladly pass along the info.  Go check it out. 


**I have been "grunging up" my pictures as of late. I desaturated the color with the levels using a levels adjustment layer and the hue/saturation adjustment layer..until it's just right.  I always add a high pass filter...with the grunge look...it needs to be sharpened  A LOT.  I bump the contrast way up by adding a "brightness/contrast" adjustment layer.  Finally I added a layer from Shadow House Creations called Aged Wood and set it to lighten...which helps brighten some of the darkness that the high contrast caused. Then I added a vignette and an edge burn.

This was edited in Photoshop Elements.

45 comments:

Dana said...

That is really cool!! I was just trying to figure out what photo to use for tomorrow. Aren't you "Johnny on the spot."

Heidi said...

Im in love. and I feel quite special to be no# 2 in your comments! beautiful edit.
hugs to all your littleones-
Heidi & Jack.

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

It turned out gorgeous. The girl in Pirates of the Caribbean fought with a sword in case you're looking for role models!

Katharine said...

Wonderful! Wow...you did what to the what, to the what???(I'm just learning how to use a my photo shop program) You did a great job, it looks awesome.

Love Letters To China said...

Oh how I love a little girl in ballet shoes... they are so adorable! I love your post-processing. Looks amazing!

Carrie said...

YEA! I just emailed yesterday with a lady about signing up my princess for ballet camp this summer and Baby Ballet this fall!! Your picture gets me excited! ;)

Courtney said...

Love the shot and the story behind it makes it even better. The edit is perfect. Beautiful!

Heather said...

This is a very cool photo and I love the edit!

Anonymous said...

I miss participating in the photo stuff this week! We're at the beach and I'm borrowing one of those microscopic laptops from my oldest. The one I want to buy isn't in stock, hopefully this weekend. I don't want to miss out on too much!

I love what you did with this one! You do know she'll be the coolest girl ever. The ones that can hang with the boys always are! And to think she'll have some sweet girlie stuff to top it off! Watch out mama, her brothers are going to be chasing the boys off!

Foot week at the Peanut Gallery is a good time!

Alexandra said...

Ack! you photographers are all so creative. Is there hope for me? Is it possible to start from ground zero?

Colton's Mommy said...

I was always a "tom-boy" as well. My older did dance and when my parents tried to take me as well, all I wanted to do was swing on the bars--so they enrolled me in gymnastics instead!!

Tara said...

I love this!! This adds so much more feeling to the picture!

Bethany said...

How fun for you to get to see her transform into a beautiful young woman! Can you imagine her at twelve? It's not far off!

Unknown said...

Simple perfection! Love it!

Donna said...

I have a couple of pirate/ninja/princesses in my house too!

I love the grunged up but sweetly soft edit and the position of her feet are perfect. Love the dirty slippers too!

Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!

Courtney said...

Beautiful edit!! It really gives it life and looks like it has a story behind it.

Sarah Andrews said...

I love how you pulled out the texture of the leather of her slippers! Brings me back to my dancing days. Can't wait for my daughter to start. Lovely capture!

Tricia said...

This is just precious! Blow it up big for her room. =)
Great edit!!!

A said...

OMG she sounds sooo precious!!! I love your edited photo -and thanks for putting down your edit steps :)

Tracy said...

You never disappoint. This may be one of my favorite edits of yours!!!

Seizing My Day said...

I really really NEED photoshop! =) picasa just doesn't cut it! sniff... sob... sob... =) my birthday isn't until Dec.... oh but my anniversary is Aug... =)

LOVE your picture ~ in the grunge look!
is that what you called it?

Stefanie said...

Fantastic job, Julie! Wow!!

Sonora said...

LOL! The occasional kung fu and karate chop. That is so cute. How fun that she is finding another side of herself. She is learning that there are many different and great parts of being a girl. The edit is great. I also love how you focused on the feet with the skirt slightly out of focus. Well done!

Alisha said...

I love it! I used to dance too, until my early 20's, so this has a special place in my heart! You did a fantastic job =)

O n T Schrock said...

Excellent Edit - Very Nicely done!

liz said...

i love, love, LOVE that timeless, vintage look! perfect, julie! really, do you ever submit your photos anywhere?

alicia said...

Aw, so sweet. Hoping I'll learn a few tricks along the way. Beautiful.

beingzaraandzidan said...

oo thats pretty. i love both the pics. great job!
i have joined in too
plz do visit

Snapshotsofhappiness said...

What a sweet photo! You have a very cute ninja ballerina. :)

Brianna said...

Lovely! So antique-y looking!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing picture! I love it!

Pixel Perfect said...

Absolutely love this! You are a pro at all things vintage!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

oh how pretty, pics of ballerina
kim

Feris said...

OMG your picture is great and your edit is just perfect! I love it, I really love it

Shannon K. said...

Steps included or not, I could never replicate such exquisite works of art. You're the master! The Kung Fu Master of photography. Hi-Yah! That's me giving you the karate high five!

Hannah said...

Awesome! Thanks for putting your steps too...that really helps. I stink at processing so I love when others share how they do it!

Laura said...

That's beautiful! I love the edit... it's so crisp and lovely! :)

Katie said...

I love your edit! LOVE it LOVE it!!!

Stacey said...

Very very cool. And I love that she won't play princess. She reminds me a little of my oldest girl!

Unknown said...

really cool excellent edit.

Christy said...

Beautiful as always, Julie. I'll never forget first position. Or 7 year old toes crammed into ballet slippers. This photo made me smile.

Christy
www.livinglifeasmum.com

Natalie said...

You know I know nothing about photography...but that second picture?! I'd frame it and hang it in my girls room - I love it!!

He & Me + 3 said...

I love both pictures...but the edited one has flare. Great job.

Claudia said...

so beautiful - love the color of the edited pic

Jb said...

Me thinks she ist having too much fun! (And is making me jealous!)
Nice job with the pics!

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