So, I had a bunch of my photos printed today. They came out very dark and I'm not very happy with them. I calibrated my monitor,thinking this would be helpful but they came out worse than ever. I'm kind of bummed out about it. I have to take them back tomorrow and ask them to re-do a bunch and I HATE doing that because I don't like to be a person who likes to complain about stuff!
How do you handle this?
I'm bored. I'm bored with my style. I need to shake things up a bit but I'm not really sure how to go about doing that. I don't really have the confidence to shoot people and I just find myself blanking out when I try to think of other things to shoot! Maybe I need some sort of inspiration or a list of "tasks". Any ideas?
So, there are so many people around me who are sick right now. It's so sad. All sorts of maladies that are just so heartbreaking and I just feel so helpless to do any thing for these people.
On Tuesday I went for a test of my own - a Endoscopy, or Gastroscopy. (sp?) I opted for the sedation (I felt like breaking out in a chorus of "I Want To Be Sedated!!" but I thought they might sedate and commit me) but you know, I remember bits and pieces of it and it was terrible.
First they put an iv in for the sedation and she had a hard time finding a vein and then when she found it, it was better than she thought and she did something wrong and blood came spurting out of me, flowing down my hand and puddling on the floor. So I'm lying there wondering "hmmmm...... why does my hand suddenly feel so wet??"
So then they froze my mouth and throat. I knew they were going to do that - but I thought it would be a little spray like when you have a sore throat and use that spray stuff at home. Well, holy shit! they sprayed my whole mouth, tongue, teeth, cheeks and throat with this crap without warning me. Then she tells me to gargle IF I CAN and then swallow it! And OH YEAH - it tastes bad like Buckleys. Ok - have you ever taken Buckleys?? - you know the commercials - "it tastes bad..... but it works!!" Well, the slogan is true - it not only tastes bad, but it tastes like you gnawed on a pine tree and then sucked the sap out of it and threw in a bottle of 100 proof alcohol along with it.
So, anyways, I've got a mouth FULL of this crap and I probably only gargled for about 1 second before my throat failed me and it went down the tube - and holy crap! It took my breath away! I hate, HATE that feeling of a numb throat - it makes me feel like I'm choking and I can't breathe or swallow. So I shot up in my bed in a panic and the nurse had to talk me back down. So finally I lied back down and the doctor came in and started asking me questions and I had a hard time answering him because.... you guessed it - my vocal cords felt like they fell asleep!!
So then they start talking about Celiac's disease - ok - this is the first I've heard anyone mention that possibility to me so I'm confused. I have no glasses on so I'm blind as a bat, I'm slurring my words with my frozen tongue and vocal cords and I'm freaked out.
So, anyways, they finally gave me the sedative and I fell asleep, but I still remember stuff. I remember gagging or retching and the nurse telling me that I'm "doing just fine". I remember them pulling it out of my throat and then I blissfully fell asleep.
So, now I wait for 5 weeks and go visit the doctor and see what they've found, or didn't find. They did 3 biopsies so I don't know if that means they found something strange or if it's the norm. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
So, in other news, last weekend was something else. You see, some drunk idiot decided he was going to try to steal my son's car..... while he and his GF were still in it!!! Luckily for them, they had the doors locked when he approached the door and tried the handle. The windows are tinted dark so I think that at first he probably didn't realize they were even in there. When the door wouldn't open, he started smashing on the lock with a knife and at this point DS tried to drive away which enraged him even more and he proceeded to smash the windshield with the butt of the knife and broke the windshield. They managed to drive away and phoned the police, who later picked the guy up and charged him. It turns out he's a soldier who is on leave and out causing trouble.
What a night - he called to let us know he was going to be late and we waited up for him, the whole time feeling like I was going to throw up. It was very scary and I just kept thinking how lucky it was that the door was locked. Who knows what would have happened if he'd gotten in with his knife. We could have been getting a very different phone call that night. As parents we want to protect our babies from all the bad in this world but at some point we have to let them spread their wings and it is SO DAMNED SCARY. I am so thankful that they came away from this unscathed with only a broken windshield. It could have been so much worse
So, now that I've purged my worries and such, I will further entertain you with some amazing works that have crossed my monitor this last while, and I wish you all health, happiness and safety
:thumb198497678:
:thumb197880821:
::Useful Links::
A List of Links for tutorials/info that I've found to be useful!
Basics of Pen Tool [link]
Making Photoshop Brushes [link]
Adding Borders in PS [link]
Depth of Field [link]
PS Borders [link]
The Pen Tool [link]
Watermarks [link]
Making Textures [link]
Layer Masks and Colour Gradients [link]
GavTrain Photo Training [link]
Manual HDR [link]
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::Special Works for Me!::
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
Sta.sh
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Watch me IF you like my art~ ;v;
.......... The design MUST HAVE ONLY 2 COLORS; BLACK AND WHITE
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this journal 
Sweet 
I know the feeling about being in a creative rut (and I am just starting this photography thing - lol). I'm not sure if dA is more inspirational or discouraging when you are trying to figure out some new and original ideas - especially when you're limited to a certain area. Seems like everything has already been done.
That sounds so scary about your son! Glad they caught the guy! I wish I could keep my teenage daughters under lock and key to keep them safe.... it is definitely nerve-wracking to let them out into the big bad world.
When you doctor says "we just need to check to make sure it's not cancer" and then you find out they did 3 biopsies..... it can be a bit nerve wracking. I'm sure it's not that, and I'm not spending a lot of time thinking about it or I'll be a fruit cake by the time I go for my appointment. It can be frustrating.....
I know what you mean about DA and not knowing if it's inspirational or not. Sometimes you can be so blown away with other people's work it makes you want to give up because you can't do it like them, or it can make you work harder to get there. I guess it depends on the mood you're in that day.
Last night there was a stabbing in an apartment building in town and the guy was stabbed in the upper right region of the chest (according to police reports). His only mistake was opening the door to see what the ruckus in the hall was. I read this this morning and I thought "my God - we are SO lucky that what happened to our son last weekend was not as bad as that." What is this world coming to? This used to be the kind of place where you could walk alone at night and not worry about your doors being locked all day and night. Not anymore. It's so sad......
I went through a similar situation after a mammogram - I received a letter "we found something suspicious and would like you to return for another - in 3 WEEKS" Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my nerves are going nuts! It turned out to be nothing, but those 3 weeks of waiting are kindof a fog lol And the fact that they had immediate results after the second one makes me wonder why they didn't have them available the first time
Watching the news anymore is so frightening - the things that happen everywhere... especially in the schools! Back in the day, the worst thing that happened at school was a good old-fashioned fist fight. Now? Anything goes, it seems.
When our second son was born we went for a checkup and the doctor thought his head had grown too much. He was worried about Hydrocephalus. We had to wait 3 months for the next measurement and those 3 months were the absolute worst of my life. Turned out he just had a big head like his father........ But what an ordeal!!
I don't even watch the news anymore. It's too damn depressing. Get depressed then go to bed... hmmmm....... not a good idea in my books!!! But even if you don't watch it, you know it's still out there happening.
As for the artist's block -- that has been going on around DA a lot lately. I don't know if it's the time of year, or just the endless stress everyone has been feeling (when you get the feeling that the best news you can get is that it isn't quite as bad as it could be!). If you want inspiration for photographs, though, check out