tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) I loved the thread from last year, so wanted to start a new one for this year! I shared my picture from last year in this thread, including details on how I did it. I am really happy with how this year's picture turned out as well. I'm using this image as part of our Christmas card for this year! This year's picture: Last year's picture, for comparison :) Last year's thread: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230118&highlight=tree Edited December 10, 2011 by tammyw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 So precious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Our tree this year. :) Another view (we don't have a fireplace, so our stockings are hung from the window with care :lol:): Close up! (can you tell I'm proud of my tree?): We used both white (icicle) lights, and large clear colored lights on our tree this year, because I couldn't decide if I wanted to do all white lights or all colored lights, and when I discovered we didn't have enough strands to do all of one or the other anyway, I decided to combine them, and I am loving the effect! We have a hodge-podge of ornaments and garlands, so having a hodge-podge of lights seemed to just fit. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Here is ours. Dd decorated it.:001_smile: No ornaments, just ribbon, flowers, and berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Here is ours. Dd decorated it.:001_smile: No ornaments, just ribbon, flowers, and berries. That's super pretty! I am guessing that is a door that doesn't get used, hehe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Our tree this year. :)Another view (we don't have a fireplace, so our stockings are hung from the window with care :lol:): We have a hodge-podge of ornaments and garlands, so having a hodge-podge of lights seemed to just fit. :D I think a hodge-podge is nice. I feel like the family tree is something that stays pretty similar throughout the years, and that's one thing you imprint in your memory. As a child, ours did change over time - mostly we started with that big fuzzy garland that was common back then, and even some of that canned snow. Back then we also had those bubbly-oil lights. The ornaments were pretty consistent though, other than a few new ones each year. I always had great memories from that. Also, we have a fireplace but also a new kitty so I am WAY too scared to hang up our stockings. I just know the cat will have them down on her head (along with the stocking holder, which would kill the poor thing). So for now, they are sitting under the tree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 So pretty -- all of them. Tammy: I remember your photo from last year. This year's is doubly gorgeous! We will finish decorating the tree this week. We have a smaller tree n a different room as the house goes back ont he market right after Christmas and I needed the tree to be in a less conspicuous place for the taking down part. We did do something different this year -- outside I usually just put a wreath on the door and candles in the windows. A dear dear boy who was the 12 year old son of friends drowned three months ago in a dreadful accident. In memory of Jack, folks have had blue ribbons on trees in front of their homes. For Christmas (we started yesterday) dh and the kids are putting little blue lights on the shrubs in front of the house, blue lights on our 'narnia' lamp post, and a blue bow on our wreath in memory of Jack. Searching for blue lights only has slowed down the decorating of the tree inside, but then I remind myself that it is only the 5th of December. Oh, and this week, dd12 and I are going to set our village for the first time -- dh is on travel for the week so we expect to have some time in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 OP - your tree and photos look professional! I could barely get my two DS's to smile at the camera after we were done decorating.... they did help me docrate it - but the pictures showed more of a smirk than a smile.... teenagers.... Anyway - I think our tree is pretty, but it is such a mix of handmade ornaments from preschool, and the ornaments "Santa" brings to everyone every year (based on something they did or are interested in), there are only a few that actually match. I think it looks best at night, lit up, with my eyes squinty :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I loved the thread from last year, so wanted to start a new one for this year! I shared my picture from last year in this thread, including details on how I did it. I am really happy with how this year's picture turned out as well. I'm using this image as part of our Christmas card for this year! This year's picture: Last year's picture, for comparison :) Last year's thread: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230118&highlight=tree Tammy: Can I ask what kind of settings you use on your camera for this shot? tia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Tammy: Can I ask what kind of settings you use on your camera for this shot? tia Als0 - did you have lighting set up? Looks almost like you had one of those white umbrellas with soft light reflecting back at the kids..... Or you're just really good at those camera settings!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Als0 - did you have lighting set up? Looks almost like you had one of those white umbrellas with soft light reflecting back at the kids..... Or you're just really good at those camera settings!!!!! Of course I'm happy to share! Same settings as last year actually :) I only had two table lamps on in the room, closer to me where I was taking the photograph, just to provide a bit more ambient light. This is a combination of two shots actually. You need that to get the lights to twinkle. - 1st shot WITH KIDS - 1/25 sec, 4000 ISO (I have a good camera so I can do 4000 ISO, but may cameras would really struggle with this, so it just depends on the camera) 2.8 - 2nd shot NO KIDS (told them to get out of shot but I did NOT move my camera - I don't have a tripod, I just propped it on a stool - I also don't have a timer - I just pushed the button and let go) - 2.0 sec, 4000 ISO, f/20. Obviously on a 2.0 second shot, if you had kids in the image, they would just be one huge blur. Then I used the shot with the kids as the main image, but I overlayed the shot with the twinkly lights and just used masks in photoshop to show ONLY the tree/garland with the lights. Hope that helps! Oops, you also asked about the lights in their face - that's just the lights from the tree shining on their face. Those lights are pretty bright! If you look in last year's thread, I believe I provided SOOC shots, so you could see exactly what I did. Edited December 5, 2011 by tammyw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 So pretty -- all of them. Tammy: I remember your photo from last year. This year's is doubly gorgeous! We will finish decorating the tree this week. We have a smaller tree n a different room as the house goes back ont he market right after Christmas and I needed the tree to be in a less conspicuous place for the taking down part. We did do something different this year -- outside I usually just put a wreath on the door and candles in the windows. A dear dear boy who was the 12 year old son of friends drowned three months ago in a dreadful accident. In memory of Jack, folks have had blue ribbons on trees in front of their homes. For Christmas (we started yesterday) dh and the kids are putting little blue lights on the shrubs in front of the house, blue lights on our 'narnia' lamp post, and a blue bow on our wreath in memory of Jack. Searching for blue lights only has slowed down the decorating of the tree inside, but then I remind myself that it is only the 5th of December. Oh, and this week, dd12 and I are going to set our village for the first time -- dh is on travel for the week so we expect to have some time in the evening. Oh my, that is so sad. What a tragedy :( Can I ask how he drowned? We never think of a 12 year old drowning, but maybe if you tell his story, it can educate us that things like this can happen to older kids :( My heart truly goes out to that family. I cannot even imagine the heartbreak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Of course I'm happy to share! Same settings as last year actually :) I only had two table lamps on in the room, closer to me where I was taking the photograph, just to provide a bit more ambient light. This is a combination of two shots actually. You need that to get the lights to twinkle. - 1st shot WITH KIDS - 1/25 sec, 4000 ISO (I have a good camera so I can do 4000 ISO, but may cameras would really struggle with this, so it just depends on the camera) 2.8 - 2nd shot NO KIDS (told them to get out of shot but I did NOT move my camera - I don't have a tripod, I just propped it on a stool - I also don't have a timer - I just pushed the button and let go) - 2.0 sec, 4000 ISO, f/20. Obviously on a 2.0 second shot, if you had kids in the image, they would just be one huge blur. Then I used the shot with the kids as the main image, but I overlayed the shot with the twinkly lights and just used masks in photoshop to show ONLY the tree/garland with the lights. Hope that helps! Oops, you also asked about the lights in their face - that's just the lights from the tree shining on their face. Those lights are pretty bright! If you look in last year's thread, I believe I provided SOOC shots, so you could see exactly what I did. Ah! yes - I can see how that would work. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Oh my, that is so sad. What a tragedy :( Can I ask how he drowned? We never think of a 12 year old drowning, but maybe if you tell his story, it can educate us that things like this can happen to older kids :( My heart truly goes out to that family. I cannot even imagine the heartbreak. Me neither -- their pain is palpable -- the most wonderful, smartest, most polite, amazing boy anyone could ever hope to meet. Here is the link to mom's blog (which was started long before this happened) www.aninchofgray.blogspot.com The week after labor day when we had those flooding rains -- well, you bring up a good point when you ask what any of us can be mnade nore aware of, and yes.........excellent question. You know when we see those flash flood warnings, swollen creeks, etc and here in Va, I daresay not to many of us pay any attention to those warnings. He was with neighborhood friends watching a crappy little trickle of a creek in a backyard transform into a raging river that was pushing cars off the road a few hundred feet away. He slipped or fell and was swept away. It takes my breath away to even think about the nanosecond in which this happened. And, you are right, we don't think of 12 yr olds drowning -- when someone at classical conversations approached me a couple of days after it happened (and we had not heard about it - we don't have tv), and said to me: 'You must know the family whose son drowned - he went to the same private school your kids used to attend and he was in your dd12's class' well, I responded - 'NO! There are only 3 boys in that class - it would not happen to any of them.' When she told me his name, I literally collapsed and fell to the floor. It's a horror. I think that everyone of us holds our kids tighter after hearing about Jack and their beautiful little family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 [/color] Me neither -- their pain is palpable -- the most wonderful, smartest, most polite, amazing boy anyone could ever hope to meet. Here is the link to mom's blog (which was started long before this happened) www.aninchofgray.blogspot.com The week after labor day when we had those flooding rains -- well, you bring up a good point when you ask what any of us can be mnade nore aware of, and yes.........excellent question. You know when we see those flash flood warnings, swollen creeks, etc and here in Va, I daresay not to many of us pay any attention to those warnings. He was with neighborhood friends watching a crappy little trickle of a creek in a backyard transform into a raging river that was pushing cars off the road a few hundred feet away. He slipped or fell and was swept away. It takes my breath away to even think about the nanosecond in which this happened. And, you are right, we don't think of 12 yr olds drowning -- when someone at classical conversations approached me a couple of days after it happened (and we had not heard about it - we don't have tv), and said to me: 'You must know the family whose son drowned - he went to the same private school your kids used to attend and he was in your dd12's class' well, I responded - 'NO! There are only 3 boys in that class - it would not happen to any of them.' When she told me his name, I literally collapsed and fell to the floor. It's a horror. I think that everyone of us holds our kids tighter after hearing about Jack and their beautiful little family. Thank you for sharing that story. The picture of the little boy - oh my :( He looks so sweet - how could this happen to someone so sweet??? I can't imagine having to relive that over and over, yet I'm sure that family does it all the time. The thought of it has me wanting to hug and snuggle my babies close. I am very glad that family has a good support system, but I can't even begin to imagine what their needs are. Please give them extra love and support from all of us. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Thank you for sharing that story. The picture of the little boy - oh my :( He looks so sweet - how could this happen to someone so sweet??? I can't imagine having to relive that over and over, yet I'm sure that family does it all the time. The thought of it has me wanting to hug and snuggle my babies close. I am very glad that family has a good support system, but I can't even begin to imagine what their needs are. Please give them extra love and support from all of us. :grouphug: I hear you! When I hugged Anna at the Operation Christmas Child (a few weeks ago) event in memory of Jack, I told her I was praying for her. She responded in tears: "Don't stop." and I haven't -- I cannot begin to fathom their pain and grief. Jack was just the little boy we all hope our little boys will be -- I don't know any other way to put it. He had been in my group on field trips and I adored having him in my group -- dh had him in his group for a field day and dh loved it. He was THAT kind of kid. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 I don't know how to do this but to send you to Facebook. But if you like purple and horses, look here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2848725065642.156277.1484919377&type=1&l=59d48322c8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 I don't know how to do this but to send you to Facebook. But if you like purple and horses, look here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2848725065642.156277.1484919377&type=1&l=59d48322c8 Ooooh, I love your star! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Many4 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Oooohhh....I can finally share mine! :D Nothing compared to most of these though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Als0 - did you have lighting set up? Looks almost like you had one of those white umbrellas with soft light reflecting back at the kids..... Or you're just really good at those camera settings!!!!! :iagree: That picture is gorgeous. It looks like it could be in a Pottery Barn catalog or something! :D The lighting is amazing. We just started working on our tree and it might take a couple days to get it fully done here. We get real trees and I am NOT happy with our tree this year. The branches did "relax" after we brought it home. It's a very bunched up tree with the branches pointing up!? Annoying. DH says we should love it like a Charlie Brown tree. We'll see! I don't think we're going to get very many ornaments on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Oooohhh....I can finally share mine! :D Nothing compared to most of these though. I think it looks great! Very pretty :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 pic of our tree and our holiday card this year.... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 I just got my Christmas cards today - I'm thrilled with how they turned out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I just got my Christmas cards today - I'm thrilled with how they turned out! Ok, for real. Pictures are amazing. And I read the post about how you did it, and it was all foreign to me. :) :lol: There's a picture of mine on my blog, link below. I just don't really know how to post it on here... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Oooohhh....I can finally share mine! :D Nothing compared to most of these though. I love your tree and particularly noticed the ribbon that you used. I've used something similar for several years (actually looks identical), but my ribbon is gold. It was the compromise dh and I reached. I remember that fluffy silver garland from the 70s, and the ribbon was a more modern take on it. Okay, I'm ready for a Christmas tree smilie.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 So pretty -- all of them. Tammy: I remember your photo from last year. This year's is doubly gorgeous! We will finish decorating the tree this week. We have a smaller tree n a different room as the house goes back ont he market right after Christmas and I needed the tree to be in a less conspicuous place for the taking down part. We did do something different this year -- outside I usually just put a wreath on the door and candles in the windows. A dear dear boy who was the 12 year old son of friends drowned three months ago in a dreadful accident. In memory of Jack, folks have had blue ribbons on trees in front of their homes. For Christmas (we started yesterday) dh and the kids are putting little blue lights on the shrubs in front of the house, blue lights on our 'narnia' lamp post, and a blue bow on our wreath in memory of Jack. Searching for blue lights only has slowed down the decorating of the tree inside, but then I remind myself that it is only the 5th of December. Oh, and this week, dd12 and I are going to set our village for the first time -- dh is on travel for the week so we expect to have some time in the evening. omg I just read her blog. :crying: those poor people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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