My Right Brain

THE SEARCH: Tilt Shift Photoshop DIY & Tutorial

Tilt-shift photography is a photographic technique (created by a tilt shift lens) used to control the orientation of the plane of focus.  It is commonly used in commercial and architectural photography to correct perspective and bring the focal plane in line with the subject.  Selective focus via tilt, is often used to simulate a miniature scene, and basic digital post-processing techniques can give results similar results.

Now, I am not a photography expert, and I don't mean to bore you with the technical details, but doesn't it make you happy that this complicated technique is now easily accessible for the rest of us?  Google (our BFF) makes everything so convenient, just search: Tilt-shift photography tutorial and you will be on your way.  A lot of the online tutorials are for Photoshop users, and I realize not everyone has a need for software that is both expensive and challenging to maneuver, so thankfully there are less expensive options (that are just as good as Photoshop) and way less confusing.  I recommend, Picnik, Pixelmator, Acorn, or Photoshop Elements, all are really well built (and heavily supported) photo editing software alternatives, that will give you everything you need and more, for a fraction of the Photoshop cost. 

There are also free online apps that you can use like Tiltshiftmaker, that automate everything for you in three easy steps.  This might be the easiest way to go, especially if I just totally freaked you out with all with my photo editing talk.  I should point out, that some pictures do work better than others, so read the suggestions on how to choose a photo and you should be up and running in no time.

If you prefer a more mobile route, you can download an iphone (our other BFF) application.  TiltShift, and TiltShift Generator seem to be fairly popular and well reviewed in that world, but let me know if there are others I am missing.

With so many tilt-shift options, hopefully something motivates you to start looking at your pictures from a new perspective...for me, this technique never gets old.  It's a simple way you to magically reinvent a photo.  All photos below link back to their original sources, and were found in the flickr tilt shift set.

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

THE SEARCH: Dos Family Round Up, March 09 - February 10

I have been linking to Dos Family for months, but it wasn't till recently did I realize that I haven't properly introduced you to them (and they are so fab - what have I been thinking).  Created by two Swedish talents (decorator Isabelle Halling McAllister and photographer Jenny Brandt) Dos Family is a creative collaboration of DIY, family, and real house visits.  It's clean, always colorful, so very Swedish (in the best way ever) and is only getting better with time - what can't these woman do - such inspirations!  All images open up to the actual Dos Family article - so if you like anything you see, you can read more from the original source.

The Sleeved Blanket

Recently it has been brought to my attention, that I am 'cold' (as in I can't get warm) more often than 'normal people' (normal people, of course meaning KL, my husband).  He claims that because I was raised in a house that was pretty much freezing all of the time (which it was) it permanently ruined my internal thermostat, and now I crave an unnatural amount of warmth.  He literally says that the showers I take are abnormally hot (but I promise you they aren't), and that it could do long term damage to my skin and hair. If you ask me, I think his midnight runs to 7-11 might do more long term damage, but were not talking about him right now are we :)  Anyway, I bring this up to illustrate how over the top happy I am to have found this blanket.  I love reading in bed and this blanket proves that I am not the only one who sometimes get's cold arms.  We have it tough my people, and we will continue fighting onward, in the quest to be warm!
Via Woo Home

Google Before You Tweet

I still don't think I have gotten the whole Twitter thing down (not sure if I ever will), but this sure rings true nonetheless.  I Google before I do anything, do you?

Via Konrad Tumblr

HU2 - The Smart Vinyl Laboratory

HU2 Design is a really smart company out of London, who have awesome ideas when it comes to creative uses for vinyl.  I think my favorites are the more subtle choices they offer for the bathroom, or maybe the outlets (which are hilarious) they also do customized portraits as well (and everything is completely removable) which of course is the best part.  I love how vinyl wall decals have evolved over these last few years, and HU2 is really pushing in the right direction...I mean, how funny is that guy coming out of the toilet?

Via Ffffound