Sue Thomas

This is a shot I took on the 20th September this year. I live on their flight path, between Luck Lake and Lake Diefenbaker. Morning and evening, they will descend onto the vast stubble fields, to clean up what the combines have left behind. Over 6 million water birds will congregate on Luck Luck, stopping off for a while before continuing their migratory journey. As they fly over on mass they blacken the sky, and the sound is deafening. Sights like this isn't isolated either. At this time of year, where ever you travel, the fields are full of them. Sandhill cranes also flock in their thousands, soaring high in the sky. You'll have to pardon me if I don't get excited over the 20 you have on your patio.

I have a few ground squirrels that will come and take food out of my hand. It's a wonderful feeling, when they trust you enough to do so.

That is so kind of you Jannette, many thanks. Yes, the tri coloured bumble wasn't intended to be the star of the photo, but the flower. It just happened that the bumble came along in the Knick of time to be showcased too. That's the problem with sizing down from a very large file to 600 pixels. The image becomes very degraded. In 6 weeks I will be going home to fog, cold and rain. I really don't miss the British weather. Summer has gone, it has been replaced by Winter, with a week or so of Autumnal weather. Hard to believe a week last Thursday I was in shorts and T shirt cycling trails, and then kayaked last Sunday in glorious weather. The snow arrived on Wednesday. Woke to -10c this morning and more snow. I wish I could grow a nice thick winter coat like my horses do.

Using the selection tool to create journaling, is a quick and easy way, for a basic presentation on a layout. I would strongly recommend doing any journaling, using the selection tool or not on a separate page, using the size of page that you want to add to the layout. (Larger is better, as you can always size down). Using guides or the grid. I gave up a long time ago using the selection tool for any text work. It has far to many limitations for my liking. Making editing the text almost impossible on occasions. Don't get frustrated with yourself, as it's not you that is the problem, but the selection tool.

It's snowing here, once I did what I needed to do outside, I decided to participate in this challenge. I have included lifting all four corners in this layout. I lifted the lily out of the photo in order to frame it. I then lifted the top left corner of that photo, and the top right corner of the rose photo. Carole's corner punch, overlay of leaves on the punched out layer. I also made sure I had some shadow on the lily frame, of the lifted petal. My own wordart quote.

Corrie, there are also two very good masterclasses on perspective. ' A question of Perspective 1' and ' A question of perspective 2'

I'm having a similar conversation in the String of words, where I referred to a masterclass called Pop Up, on perspective and shadowing. Which covers how Anja, created a very realistic shadow on the stork. There are other masterclasses covering perspective and shadowing, in varying degrees of advancement, to cater for everyone, from newbies to seasoned PSPers.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I looked up which masterclass I was referring to. It's called Pop up. I thought it was a Christmas one, but it isn't, Carole uses a Christmas tree, to demonstrate perspective and shadowing.

I guessed that is how you created the multiple umbrellas. Carole, uses that technique in many of her tutorials. (eg flower petals) There is also a Xmas masterclass on creating a 3D effect, in it there is mat in the centre of the room demonstrated, similar to your puddle.

I would say it does. It's an awesome page, I love the rain effect, and what looks to me like a giant puddle.

We have had our first snowfall, and yes, I have been out shooting snow scenes. I totally agree, it does capture the winter vibe. I have to adjust my camera settings to accommodate the stark contrast of summer colours, to the brilliant white of the snow and browns of winter.

Something a little different, subway art, Autumnal equinox

Firstly, are we allowed to participate more than once? If so: I take Autumn and the next word is RAIN

Once you see the marching ants of your frame, open a new layer, or not, it's up to you. By creating the frame on a new layer, it gives you more flexibility in editing the frame to your liking, such as shadowing, inner bevel. Select the flood fill tool, which you have circled on the left tool bar, choose the colour you want, and flood fill inside the marching ants.

Should you ever get the opportunity, take it. For more detailed info on shooting, use the widest lens you have.(for better colour) For crisper shots of the sky, focus on something in the foreground, in manual. I have trees, or buildings around the yard. Use the lowest aperture number you have. For more crisp shots use 3-15 seconds shutter speed. It's important to remember that the night sky is moving at a fast rate, which the naked eye can not see. Keep your ISO as low as possible, by adjusting it. Adjust the settings to suit your camera. At this time of year, and on into winter, the sky has less debris, producing sharper images. I also recommend you wrap up warm, take extra batteries, as the cold weather drains batteries quickly, especially when it's 20 or 30 below. PS. Woke to a blanket of snow this morning. -8c Winter has arrived!

I have been to Rotterdam, only the once, over 40 yrs ago. I suspect it has change a lot since then. From what I can remember it's a beautiful city. I have also flown over the Netherlands countless times, at various times of year, to land at Schiphol airport, to catch the sky hopper for Caerdydd airport. My favourite time of year is when the rows and rows of every colour imaginable of Tulips are in flower, waiting to be harvested. It's certainly a spectacular splash of colour, looking down from above. I think I may be just a little to far north for you to pop in for a cuppa, when you are over next. We shall never say never will we meet in person one day.

You create delicate, fine pages, they are simply quite exquisite. You have rather a unique creative style.

Did someone mention Northern Lights!!!!!!! September and October is the best time of year to see the Northern lights, although they dance throughout the year. At this time of year they are overhead in my area. Only last night, I was out watching the lights. They weren't green, but white, still a mesmerizing sight to behold. Prior to moving here, I had only ever seen them on the telly. Photo taken 20th September , looking north, out back amongst the trees. It's a good idea to take shots with something in the foreground. Manual, F2.8, aperture mode, shutter speed varies, 1000 plus. It is imperative that you use a sturdy tripod, with weights, to maintain absolute stillness. Taking loads of shots, to get one half tidy one. Sounds like you live in a lovely area Michele, and happy where you are.

A delightful page. The plight of the hedgehog hangs in the balance. I would say road kill is the number one cause, then pesticides. At home there are now tunnels under roads for the hedgehogs to get from one side to the other in safety. I haven't seen one for several years. I have photos of my children when they were young feeding hedgehogs. At the bottom of our drive we had a cattle grid. Hedgehogs used to fall into it. Quite often the kids would rescue one or two, on their home from school, from the cattle grid. Giving them a feed before letting them go out in the hedgerows.

Not really, as the majority of the song birds fly south. When it does go silent when they are here, it means that a predator is at large. The nights are always noisy, between the Great Horned Owls, coyotes howling, and foxes barking, they make their presence known. Their sounds travel well in the night air. Susan you are only an hour and half flight away from me. Or a 6hr drive. You and anyone else will be made most welcome at anytime.

As you go through Carole's tutorials, you'll find that she often changes settings within tools, to achieve the desired effect. Which is probably what has happened. In those cases, it is then a good idea to reset to default. Once you have learnt how to use those settings through here tutorials, they can they be adopted in other projects that you are working on, as you will have a much better understanding of how those tools work.

You have perfected the art of studio lighting, your shots and layout is ineffable!

Although the bright lights of the city skyline is a beautiful sight. It does hide the beauty of the sky. Unfortunately, noise and light pollution goes hand in hand with city living. Without any exaggeration, I listen in awe to the silence, especially on days when there isn't a breath of wind or a bird sing. Do you have any parks close by, which enables you to escape the city to get back to nature?

I'm going to suggest to you that once you have finished with the inner bevel, restore it to default, like you do for the brush variance palette. Certainly for now anyway, until you are more familiar with it. Try lowering the elevation to 30, which is the default setting. I see the angle is slightly off, unless that is what you want. Again, the default is 315.

I haven't got a clue what it is like to live in a city, or any built up area. All I know is that I couldn't live in any urban area. I regard myself as being very lucky, that I was born into farming, married a farmer, and finally ended up here on a prairie farm. Both my children were born into farming, and still live in rural areas. My granddaughters were born into farming too. It's a wonderful lifestyle. It doesn't suit everyone though, thankfully we are all different.