Shutterbug Sunday: Homemade Filter

This may just seem like it is not in focus...but the effect is intended to teach you a fun and free trick.  If you've watched Barbara Walters over the years, you may have noticed her lighting seems softer now.  There is a haze around her that smooths out blemishes and lines on the face.  If you want to add a fun and hazy effect to photos...you can grab a filter right out of your sock drawer.  Different shades of pantyhose offer different outcomes, some more subtle than others.  Just gently cover your lens with the fabric and take a photo.  I grabbed four shades of pantyhose to find out how they would each look on the same subject.  Here are the results.

NO FILTER:

NUDE:

OFF-WHITE:

NAVY:

BLACK:

Some of the results surprised me.  Of course...you want a spray of roses to be colorful.  But, the right set of circumstances may have you slipping your knee highs off your feet and onto your camera lens.  Try it out and let us know if you make any fun discoveries.

Shutterbug Sunday: Star Filters

This is a magical time of the year and why not have your pictures reflect that. A great way to create that feeling is by using a star filter. This is a filter that you can attach to your camera lens if you have one of the more fancy shmancy cameras- not a point and shoot digital camera.

Both Crafty Cat and I have Cannon Rebels. Her mom and dad got it for her on Black Friday last year and little did I know- that I would get the same camera on Christmas last year! Cannon really should pay us because we're such huge fans and we tell everyone to buy them.

If you have a camera like we do- look into buying a Star filter. You won't be disappointed! They are so fun to shoot pictures with. The lens has thin lines etched into it in a crisscross manner. When you take a picture of a light source portions of the light streak outward creating a star effect. I used my star filter for the above close-up, for this wide shot and for this shot in front of the Christmas tree.

They cost about $20-$25 dollars and would be a great stocking stuffer for someone who loves photography. If that's you-- there's still time to hint! Or better yet- just send them the link to this post! hehe-- hope you like this post!