Picture 365

So, I have had an interesting week.
I have to go against my plan though.

Last week, I planned the next three weeks of videos.
This week I was supposed to have the contest video done.
Since it is over.
However, it's not over just yet!
I'll get to that.
Then, I was going to upload the Monthly Update next week.
And then the BTS video for part one of the Walks in the Park.
However…..none of them are done.
Ha!
Well, the park stuff is.
It's not the end of the month, so the update isn't done.
I guess I could have ended it early and uploaded it now.
Oh well.
Then there was a delay in the contest video….because something happened…..
So, things are getting pushed back!
Except for the BTS video for this first round of Park pictures.
That is still next week when I upload the last one from Day One.
I can't wait!
It's just my Aunt and I walking around, but it's cool to see the actual making of the contest pictures.
The moments when I captured award winning pictures!
That's right!
This year was better than last year!
I got three awards!
Third place in the “Flora and Fauna” category.

Pods...

Honorable mention in the “Calendar Garden” category.

Heavenly Sunlight...

But that wasn't all in the category…..
I also got FIRST!

Mystery...

Woo!
There isn't any news about it yet.
They did call and ask for a digital version of Mystery to use in the news.
And the reason the video is delay was because I was waiting in the People's Choice Award.
The one I won last year.
However! We actually went to one of the seminars this time.
All week during the display, they do classes about certain things.
We saw “Five Elements to a Winning Photo” and had to go.
And there, we saw that the award was already given.
I didn't get it this time. :-/
The class was taught by a pro photographer Danny Graber.
Who was also a judge this year!
So, after the seminar, we walked up to him and asked why I didn't win.
We didn't say it like that, but in those lines.
Actually during the thing, he got to the talk about matting.
And he went over to my Mystery.
He like the picture….but the matting we used wasn't good.
Even though we thought it was complimenting it, he said it was distracting.
I can see that.
He said if it was doing in your home (which they are), then use a fancy mat.
But for contests, just use plain white.
We tried white and it looked terrible.
But, he has a point.
You'll focus more on the picture if the mat was boring.
Anyways, after the thing, he gave his we asked for his thoughts.
And he gave them.
Honestly.
He didn't frown upon any of them.
He told me that I was really good and show keep it up!
There were just these little details about them that needed improvement.
Like “maybe more zoomed out in this one” or “maybe a little closer”.
Just little things.
I talked about them better in the contest video.
I could have uploaded it.
I was waiting on the last award and I found out it was done on Monday.
I could have just made the final video saying I won and then be done.
But I still wanted to wait.
I wanted to finish the video with me picking up ribbons and pictures.
And then putting them on the wall.
There are some key cinematic moments in the video.
The wall part would be one of them.
But the catch is that they aren't available for pickup until February 5th.
That's a week and a half away.
The new plan is….
The Park1 video next week….
The Contest video next next week.
And I'll share the update video next next next week.
But it'll be uploaded right at the end of the month.
Ok?
Sound good!
Onto the picture!
When making the pictures for the contest, I didn't only make those.
I took the opportunity to make some with me in them! 
This one was made right after Week One’s picture.
By the way, here’s weeks Two, Three, and Four.
All the pictures look the same.
In the terms of brightness and contrast.
The only thing I played with was saturation.
I went with SUPER SATURATED again.
I wanted the flowers to stand out.
I still can't get a good look on my face.
That's why I'm always looking away!
I was trying to be in a Zen moment.
Just chillin’ with the flowers.
And it looks good!
Nothing really to comment on.
It was an easy picture to make.
I was debating on the color.
It was going be faded or even SUPER DUPER SATURATED!
I thought about mirroring it!
Maybe I should.
I'll try sometime.
The computer is way over there and I'm way over here in my bed.
And way over there is two feet away.
COMPARE!

Hover your mouse (the computer one :-P) over the original picture to see the after editing one.
If you're on a touchscreen device, just tap on the picture. You may have to tap more than once.

AMAZING!!
Let's try the Image Slider.
Here's how it works...
There's a blue bar in the middle of the picture.
That's the slider.
The slider will disappear when you move your mouse off of the image.
I did that so you can really see the split.
But, it'll come back when you hover over it again.
You can CLICK on it and DRAG it around to get our on split image.
Or, you can use these presets.
Before FULL, After FULL, 50/50, Before a QUARTER, or After a QUARTER.

Before

After

Ok! That's all.
Here's a slideshow of the pictures.
I forgot that I never uploaded them on here….oops.

See, aren't they good?
Overall, I'm happy!
I did better than last year!
I still won something in my first year last year.
Which was cool.
It confirms that my pictures are good and people aren't crazy.
But this year was cooler!
Even though I didn't get People’s Choice again, I learned so much more.
Next year is going to be even better!
…..I hope.
We are already planning.
COME BACK NEXT YEAR!
Oh…wait.
I mean…..
COME BACK NEXT WEEK!!!