Independence Day

May your day be special and full of joy.

Week In Photos

I have been experiencing a rather gripping bout of lethargy, most likely a direct result of the heat wave that has assaulted the US the last few weeks. Almost every day there were warnings to stay indoors or use extreme caution as the combination of high heat and humidity was at dangerous levels.  We did try to fight fire with water and set up the pool. Unfortunately the only spot to set the pool up is in direct sunlight until late afternoon. During the early hours of the day the pool became more of a sauna than a nice source for cooling down.

The 4th was a quiet day around our home due to the extreme heat. With both kids being very sensitive to both heat and loud noise they stayed home while I went to the fireworks display in down town Norfolk, VA. With of course a promise to take lots of pictures so they could see the fireworks. 

The next afternoon we braved the heat and headed to the beach in the late afternoon.

We had a great deal of fun swimming, building castles, finding sea shells and even a crab or two. But we were so wiped out by the heat the rest of the week was spent indoors. 

Hopefully this heat wave will end soon and we can get back to a more typical summer. 

Have a beautiful week everyone!

Linking up with:

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

I would like to wish all a very safe and happy 4th of July!

I created the following composite photographic art piece as a tribute to the spirit of America.

May we always strive to provide for those who have little.

This artwork titled "Freedom" is available in print form as an 8x10 or 11x14 through Artistix Network L.L.C.

July 4th Celebrations

One of my favorite celebrations of year is the 4th of July. There are so many fun things going on. With the pick-nicks, parades, family get-to-gathers and the fireworks it is a very special time.

I love seeing the look on the kids faces as they watch the parades and the fireworks. Of course try to keep my camera at the ready so that I can capturing their excitement and joy.

By the end of the day the film is all used or now that I have gone digital my memory cards are all full.

It use to make me kind of sad when all the photos of such a joyful time wound up in the box of old photos or hidden away and forgotten in one of the many photo albums.

Another thing that would frustrate me is when I would go to put the photos in one of the kids scrapbooks and there was only enough room for a few photos on the page.

There was always enough photos that I probably could have filled up a twenty page scrapbook for every holiday.

Take for example these few photos on the left of some fireworks and my Granddaughter at her first 4th of July parade.

And to think photos like these probably would have wound up in the box with all the photos that wouldn't fit in her photo album.








Now it is so much easier, I can go through the photos and pick out up to twenty five of my favorite photos and make a single 8x10 memory photo to frame and display around the house or put in their scrapbook.

Here are two different memory photos using the same eight photographs.

 Personally I like this next one best. I love the combination of the composite background with the three firework photographs blended together to create one background and the scrapbook style framing around the remaining five photographs, which gives it almost a three dimensional look.

Not only am I now able to show off more of the fun photos but I am able to do so with professional quality photographs instead of low resolution quick lab prints. At Artistix Network L.L.C., unless otherwise requested we have the lab print all our high resolution memory photos on metallic paper. The metallic photo paper adds an amazing affect to the photo. Seeing them on the computer is one thing but seeing them in person always excites me even when the photo is for a client because when the light hits the metallic paper all the colors just pop adding to the three dimensional look of the photograph.

This year it looks like we will have all our children and most of our grand children home for the 4th of July. If the weather co-operates we plan on having a BBQ and of course taking lots of pictures. How do you like to celebrate the fourth of July, or your national independence day if you are not in the USA?