Photo Editing Exercise: My Fascination with Old Timey Photographs

There are only two weeks to go before I leave for London, which means the mad dash preparations are in full swing. One of those preparations is the multimedia Foundation Exercises. These exercises have included downloading photo and video editing software, and setting up various online accounts.
For photo editing, I have decided to go with FotoFlexer. The program is very straightforward, easy to use and offers a variety of effects that I can apply to pictures. This photo editing exercise asked us to take a photo with our digital camera, upload it to the photo editor of our choice, and post them to our blog noting the effects used.

Original image: Palouse Falls State Park.
It's a LONG way down.

This is a photo I took on a recent trip to Palouse Falls State Park in Washington. This was only the second time I had really used my camera, and I managed to get some really awesome pictures. So awesome in fact, the Washington State Parks recreational and storytelling blog, Adventure Awaits, used my story and a couple of my
pictures!

My attempt at "old timey"

I decided to crop the picture to make the waterfall more of a focus. I then played around with the effects until I settled on an effect called “old photo” which gave the picture an aged appearance. I also added the effect “retro” which rounded the edges and aged the picture a little further. After playing with the saturation and contrast, I ended up with what I would call an “old timey picture.” I love old photographs (and I love any opportunity to use phrase “old timey”). The history you can get from a single picture is really incredible. I wanted my picture to look like it was taken in the early 1900’s and had been stashed in a box, waiting to be discovered. I hope I captured a little bit of that feeling with this.

Zen and the Art of (over)Packing

When my best friend went to Spain for her honeymoon a few years ago, she took a carryon bag and a backpack. She took only a carryon bag and a backpack for her entire two and a half week trip. To say that I was impressed is a disgusting understatement. I was in awe and wanted to worship at her altar of simplicity. I suck at packing. Let’s just put that out there. I have a terrible habit of wanting “options” when I travel. Couple this desire with heavy toiletries (seriously, how is this stuff so heavy?? Even when I downsize my products??) and I may as well resolve myself to the fact that I will be paying the extra fee for “heavy baggage.” I do better on shorter trips. Overnight, or two nights, I can manage splendidly. It’s when the trips range into 3+ days territory when I panic. This trip is 21 days. Now, we do have access to laundry facilities, so hopefully this will curb my compulsion to pack (at least) 21 pairs of underwear. My real source of anxiety comes from the fact that I have NO IDEA what the weather has in store for me in London. Truthfully, I have NO IDEA what LONDON has in store for me. I think we’ve hit a breakthrough, people, and the root of my stress. Even though I am looking forward to this trip, I’m finding my need to plan is constantly at odds with my need to just run. I have an itinerary, and that’s great, but I also need to have those times where nothing is planned, and I can just walk out the door, and go wherever my feet decide to take me. How does this relate to packing, you might ask? Well, how much of my “baggage” do I want to take with me to London? How much of my over-planning, borderline OCD-ness do I want to have? On the other hand, how much of that ‘need to run with no limits’ side of myself belongs in the bag? This is where the Zen and the balance come in to play. I know I’ll need both of those sides, in moderation, working in harmony, in order to get the most out of this trip. Hopefully I will have success discovering this balance.

In case you were curious… I have decided to go with the layering approach: mostly jeans, some capris, and tops that can be layered. Tank tops, tees, sweaters, light jacket. Maybe I’ll go with the layering approach to myself as well. I will probably still have to pay the extra fee though.

24 days to go...

30 Days and Counting

Yes, I have a countdown on my phone.
I'm excited, can you tell?

30 days.. That’s all I have left. In 30 days I will be getting on a plane with my first passport and traveling to London, England. There I will begin a three week stay for my library and information science multimedia design and production courses. I keep reviewing the itinerary for the trip and I think I am still in a state of disbelief. British Museum? Check. Tower of London? Check. Abbey Road? Bodleian Library? Hyde Park? Buckingham Palace? THE GLOBE THEATRE? Check, check, check, check, and holy crap, CHECK. These are places I have only read about. They’ve been settings in beloved stories and subjects of fascinating documentaries, but they’ve always seemed out of reach to me. It’s been a dream, a fantasy even, to travel and step inside these places and experience a country steeped in such history. It’s overwhelming to think about, honestly. I have to admit that the immensity of the trip also makes me incredibly excited. I am essentially doing this on my own. I have never traveled internationally, so I am also looking forward to discovering more about myself as I step out of my comfort zone, take some risks, and meet some great people. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and there is no way I am going to waste a minute of it.

I have also been reviewing the academic requirements of the trip as well. This is my first foray into blogging, and I’m really looking forward to chronicling my trip in this way. I think it will be a great outlet to describe my experiences. I am also looking forward to the photography assignments. Each day we have a new “Photography Focus.” I have always enjoyed taking pictures, especially pictures of the world around me – buildings, water, and unique perspectives. These assignments will really help me grow in my photography and allow me to tap into a creative side of myself that I have feared has been lost. Well, maybe not lost, just buried deep under layers of graduate school stress.

This trip is really the ultimate culmination of my library school experience. I plan on absorbing as much as possible in order to develop new skills to bring back to my professional life. I know this trip will be eye-opening in the best way and I hope you enjoy sharing this journey with me!