show {off} your shot - photo share

Welcome back, friends!

My favorite photo from last week's show {off} is from alaina at misc.alain.eous.

I found her blog not too long ago and I swear I am in love with every single one of her photos.  If you haven't been there yet, head on over and check it out.  Now.

I just love the lighting in this photo, and the super awesome cute babe.  Congratulations, Alaina, here is your winner button, flaunt it if you want it, lady!:

<center><a href="http://andthenshesnapped.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="and then, she {snapped}" src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/drexgal/winbutton.jpg" /></a></center>

We are up to week TWELVE.  (That's a whole dozen for those of you keeping track)!

This week I am sharing a little secret with you, for those days when you don't get as much sleep as you need, and your undereyes are there to prove it for all eternity.  Or maybe it's just MY undereyes? 

Anyway, here's me SOOC.  I really like this picture, except I look like I haven't slept in two weeks.  Which is probably partly true, but also, genetics gave me those gorgeous generous dark circles.

So, I want to minimize the darkness, but I don't want it to LOOK like I did anything, because I'm not in the habit of showing you how bad I look SOOC.  Open up your photo (I'm using Elements 8) and create a duplicate layer.  You are going to make your edit on the duplicate because you want to be able to scrap the whole thing if it looks bad.

I use the clone tool, set to "lighten" at reduced opacity (say around 50% to start).  Alt-click to define your source point somewhere with similar skin tone, and in similar light.  I like to choose a spot on the forehead.  Then just paint (with a soft brush) over the dark areas.  Once it looks decent you can adjust the opacity of the duplicate layer to make sure your edit looks very natural.

Also, I almost forgot!  Curious about how to create a watermark?  My daughter, Grace, did a tutorial this week on her other blog, Gracely Designs, head on over and check it out if that's something you've been wanting to learn.

What tip can you share this week?  Anything?  Please link up to your blog and share something about how you set up or took the photo, or how you edited it.  I really want to know, so please don't skip this part!  Then add my button so others can play along!  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week!

<center><a href="http://andthenshesnapped.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="and then, she {snapped}" src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/drexgal/101014_2456_centuryfont.jpg" /></a></center>