Photo Heart Connection February

It's time to join in with Kat Sloma's Photo Heart Connection for February.

I have been severely challenged in taking photos this month due to a combination of the appalling weather conditions and the fact that I've been very busy at work so when we have had good weather when I've been working, I haven't been able to get out. 

I could of course have set up some shots to take indoors using props but although I really like the results when others do it, It doesn't appeal to me as an activity.

So as you can see I was a little stumped by what to choose as my photo heart connection, until Thursday that is, when I looked up from my desk to notice the light and reflections of a string of metal leaves I have hung up in the window - everything changed!

I took a number of pictures zooming in and out and was  surprised when I found I had a triple reflection which I had not noticed just looking at the leaf

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one of the original images with just a bit of touching up in lightroom

I thought it would be good to pop across to Photoshop and experiment with blend modes and textures - these are some of the results 

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I have also just started Kelly Rae Roberts Hello Soul Hello Mixed-Media Mantra's course, which is about painting rather than photography, but the first part of the course is about coming up with mantras which are personal to us - so of course I couldn't resist including some of them on these pictures which seemed the perfect vehicle for them.

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Experimenting was really fun

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and it's hard to choose a favourite

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But I think this is the one that most makes my heart sing and therefore is my Photo Heart Connection for February

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I think what I really love about this one is the way the original leaf shines out in silver with the lacy reflections behind. 

I'd love to know which is your favourite!

This post is part of Photo Heart Connection - click on the icon below to check out more fabulous photos with a connection to the heart

Sparkles to Share

Family

This has been a very family orientated week with my niece's baby shower on Sunday and my son's graduation from the University of York on Wednesday ( if the chancellor looks familiar its Greg Dyke). Both were lovely occasions and really made me count my blessings.

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Books

A book that I have been reading off and on for a while, and have just finished,  is 'Steal Like an Artist' by Austin Kleon. Lots of good stuff here and I have decided to keep a log book as suggested by Austin. This is not a journal but rather 'a little book in which you list the things you do every day'. I kept a gratitude diary for over a year so am hoping to combine the log book idea with this and make sure I capture the 'sparkling moments' in my log book, or in my case log app as I hate writing!

Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told Me About the Creative Life

By Austin Kleon

Discovery

This week I signed up for anew e-course, the Renaissance Woman's  Tool Box. I spotted  the link on Kelly Rae Roberts sponsor page and before I knew it had signed on the dotted line. I have been majoring on art and photography courses this year so this is something a little different. Starts next week - very exciting!

Photography

I am lucky enough to either run courses or attend events at Hilliers Gardens where as well as displays of plants and shrubs, they also often have 'Art in the Garden'  exhibitions. I only had about 15 minutes to nip out and take photographs on Monday but it was well worth it.

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I really love delphiniums, but they are a flower you don't see a lot of so I was thrilled to see this display.

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Even without the 'geraniums red' they bought this poem to mind  - this is just an extract

“There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he’d a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

— A A Milne

See you next week, and in the meantime do share your own sparkling moments in the comments section.