On How to Turn a Crappy Photographer into an Artistic One on a Wet Weekend.

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Problem
. Rogan is away for the day, playing his trumpet in a school wind band rehearsal.
. Maggie is in Dumfries visiting her parents.
. Meg is bored and I can’t face playing another game of "Pop to the Shops"
. It is too wet and cold to go out anywhere.

Solution
. Place chair near the window to try to use some natural daylight, even if it is dull and grey.
. Find a large piece of cardboard to use as a neutral background.
. Take 48 photographs of daughter with digital camera, with and without glasses, hair tied back and hair loose.





Select the only photo where she is not either out of focus, mid blink, or pulling a dodgy face.



Crop photo and blur background



Copy the image and place a new layer over the top of the original, then desaturate the copy to make it black and white.



Now use the eraser to rub out the black and white layer over the eyes and the shirt to allow the blue to show through.



Voilà! Print it off on glossy photo paper and stick it on the kitchen wall where it will immediately impress anyone who calls in for a coffee


(Click for larger image)
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