A Very Merry Christmas Link Up

I am linking up at Sereina Charise Photography for her, "A Very Merry Christmas Link Up"!This week was Christmas decorations. I decided to go and take a picture instead of finding an old one. I finally took a good enough one, so here is the one I am linking up. 
I did edit it a bit. But that is only because it didn't look as pretty before.

REMINDER: I DIDN'T BLINK ENDS THURSDAY!
CLICK HERE


Thanks for looking! I hope you link up.
~Iona

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I Didn't Blink: Weekly Photography Contest {Week 7}

EDIT SOOO SORRY! I forgot the linky! It is there now!
I am ready to listen to Christmas songs, aren't you? I am ready for Christmas tree's, lights, and outfits! I absolutely love Christmas. This weeks contest, you probably have guessed, has to do with Christmas.

First time? Never heard of I Didn't Blink? Don't worry! CLICK HERE for the rules page.
The subject is.........................

My Favorite Thing About December

What is your favorite thing about December? The cold weather? Christmas trees, songs, decor? How about family? You chose!

I can't chose a favorite thing, but I really love snow, and lights! This was taken of me, last year with a very bad quality camera (as you can see). But I like it!

So be SUPER creative. I hope you all find this subject interesting.

The deadline is Thursday, December 2nd.

You must include one of these buttons in your post to qualify.

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A4SjaEepVU7co_XRDIuJsh_A-KbehEz4nSx_AvhCpf00f3cSURYROX7xjzQnyFxRSGqCmDYSVuQUBjIEBifNPEorSeakYUsSTfbJyJCZXI-cIaJ0hCGfXDcN3c2M_4uR4if7CScslQs/s200/I+Didn't+Blink+Button.jpg" /></a></center>

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0HU-QfOZKGNrRlo4KSZPZ_Z2Pu7vUx0HwnB_7-B-qRAOtaHpoFtzaQBgCayDdem5CroWCgxFr3mR88FsnA0O-Tahtqh7a0yhzcs4s0juWjhoefQw52rYlWHjE5uDn4ObbR0C3N8C-Ko/s200/IDidn'tBlink.jpg" /></a></center>After you enter, please blog hop a bit to the other entries!
Happy Almost-December!
~Iona

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I Didn't Blink: {Week 6} Winners!

Sorry for the long delay of the winners, this week.

I am really upset to say that Chazak's entry picture, would not show up on her blog. :( So I had to disqualify her. The other three entries were really good! Well, today I am going to start with third place instead of first, I thought it might make more suspense.

So third place is.......

Unashamed!

All the fluffy clouds made this picture really amazing, and the blue on the top added the little bit of bright color that the picture needed.

Grab your button!

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh0wX1bNsLEIAzTGGm8AXXcj-GLKJyFlYCST_vDsPDABpkvjaHIJo1WyW86XjC15aR4Uba_7svUz5hCD9J1jkp_FLL_pZmq8OgLZ5VvJzVMsnf4BNMIdvPWQ5Y8ui8PpofASujKYTRdc/s200/thirdplaceididn%2527tblink.png" /></a></center>Great job!
And the second place goes to.....
Random Geeks!

The first thing that caught my eye, was the sun-flare. Sun-flare get's the every time. The silhouetted tree, all the way down to the beautiful, lightly colored sky, is what made this picture, get second place.
Grab your button! <center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPNDl6eokIVd06iJIZO_uMNGB1RiVc29pxD4uzRE2SoZp4xBObhnap7rqo-7C7Bnjbb4U258yPJdzJW4it6YcdyUTuQB3edhLSiBtH1HT7ZgPjTrB1tWdqKx9cm3n-v8OOCSPQ0cys5o/s200/secondplaceididn%2527tblink.png" /></a></center>Nicely done!
Which makes the first place winner...
Rachel Shoots!

Why was this my favorite picture? Oh, so many reasons. The orange sun peeking through the blue tinted clouds, just the way she captured it, brought it all together.
Grab your button!

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWphxYMPhirVk660UNH7Bs1kzkuD_UAHHltHD67HZ1jVEQk6-qX-q2_lbUcQTaAT5XM2xlqkzY2ymf2-MA2JlFNAL5gS69rO_7XIID0jLuAP2VJnD1caI5KbxmF1rdyfxIBPPebGHtv0/s200/firstplaceididn%2527tblink.png" /></a></center>Wonderful picture!(I had to crop it a bit for your button.)

Thank you all for entering this week, I hope you all enter tomorrows!

Have a great night.

~Iona

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Picnik Recipes

I was inspired by Hannah M's picnik recipes, that I HAD to make a few. Unlike Hannah, I don't have a premium account, but I managed to make a few that were OKAY. I will share them, after I share a picture that I tried with some of Hannah's actions!

Vivid Sunlight

Black, White and Wonderful (Improved version)

Burst of Bright

Now do you want to see the ones, I attempted to make up?

I need help naming this one. Comment at the bottom of this post if you have any ideas.

Not the most creative with names, I know.

I hope you enjoy them. If you know where everything is on picnik.com, then these should be easy, if you don't, it could take some playing around with to figure out where everything is.

Please comment on what you think the first one should be called!

~Iona

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ABC's of Thanks

First off, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Today is a day to give thanks for everything you have.

Over at Finding Joy, she is having a thing where you post things your are thankful for. Each letter has it's own thing that you are giving thanks for. I sometimes have trouble being thankful for everything. I think everyone struggles a little, with being thankful for what you have and not take it for granted.







{I thought it was a great idea to do what Hannah did, so I am going to do the same thing with the different fonts}

I am thankful for so much more, but these....These are just the ABC's...

What do you have to be thankful for?

~Iona

Touch, Shot, Love, Tuesday

(AKA, Touch Up Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, and Shutter Love Tuesday.)
Before I start, please tell me if you like my new design. I know it's sort of, not colorful, but I think it brings your attention away from the background and design, and let's you read the posts. If there is any way you think I can improve it, PLEASE let me know.
Someone asked how I got the header as a slideshow, well there is a tutorial HERE.


Touch Up Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, and Shutter Love Tuesday.

SOOC:

This is a pretty old picture, so it has my old watermark, but I love this picture.

MY EDIT:

What I Did-

Brightness and Contrast-

Brightness-3

Contrast-10

Color Balance-

Yellow/Blue- -14

Magenta/Green- -2

Cyan/Red- 8

Hue/Saturation/Lightness-

Hue-0

Saturation-16

Lightness-0

Gamma Correction-

I don't remember what I did :P

Hope you guys like it!

~Iona

REMINDER: I DIDN'T BLINK WEEK 6 ENDS THURSDAY!

CLICK HERE!

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I Didn't Blink: Weekly Photography Contest {Week 6}

Hello everyone, and do you all know what today is? Ding ding! I Didn't Blink is today. I had 13 entries last week, let's keep this kind of pace up.

New here? Check out the rules for I Didn't Blink. CLICK HERE.
I hope everyone has fun and is creative for this weeks subject.

News: Congrats to last week's winners on the subject, weather.
I added a new rule to the page:
"Can I enter the same photo for two different subjects?

The reason I will not allow this is because I want creativity, you don't use any creativity when you pull up a picture you have already entered before."

The subject this week is...

sunsets

Why sunsets? I love sunsets.

Lately, I have been inspired by sunsets.

Sunset pictures I love:

Allie Photography

Life In My Eyes {My main blog}

Sunsets are some things created that have color, texture and beauty. I am amazed at how wonderful a simple sky with colors can be. I think everyone has seen at least one sunset in their life and should agree with me. If you absolutely CAN'T get a picture of a sunset, then I will allow a picture of something that reminds you of one, or a drawing.

The deadline is the Thursday, November 25th 12:00 AM (Midnight) MTN Time.

And lastly, you must include one of these buttons (below) in your post:

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A4SjaEepVU7co_XRDIuJsh_A-KbehEz4nSx_AvhCpf00f3cSURYROX7xjzQnyFxRSGqCmDYSVuQUBjIEBifNPEorSeakYUsSTfbJyJCZXI-cIaJ0hCGfXDcN3c2M_4uR4if7CScslQs/s200/I+Didn't+Blink+Button.jpg" /></a></center>

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0HU-QfOZKGNrRlo4KSZPZ_Z2Pu7vUx0HwnB_7-B-qRAOtaHpoFtzaQBgCayDdem5CroWCgxFr3mR88FsnA0O-Tahtqh7a0yhzcs4s0juWjhoefQw52rYlWHjE5uDn4ObbR0C3N8C-Ko/s200/IDidn'tBlink.jpg" /></a></center>

And after you enter your link, why don't you do some blog hopping?

~Iona

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Last day of riding...

Where have the days gone? Sorry about not posting.

A few weeks ago was our last day of riding scooters. Because it started to snow the next day later. And then each day when it didn't snow, it has been freezing.The last pictures of scooter-ing...are below...

Goodbye scooters and bikes...'till next year!

Which do you like the best?

~Iona

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Winners of I Didn't Blink {Week 5}

Oh wow....Everybody's entries amazed me. It was so hard to chose the winners. You guys were so creative with the weather entries. This is the most entries I have gotten in one week and I practically screamed. I was so excited, you should have seen me. But there can only be 3 winners.....The winner of 1st place is.....................

The Huchette Crew!

I loved how you could tell what the weather was. 100%. The grey sky was captured, along with the water droplets, you can tell the weather should be that way with the single leaf hanging, and the angle just brought it all together.

Grab your button!

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFLLcMEbqY-cg_Ux4x7RWiu44iWOUUzZfMVxQJ5UXE0UMoKmfNL4WTpmDVkQe5MyuINEztcZ9zv8JBrhHTtKGt2CM_JKs4WdkMfcqBAU7U4VptSX9x60NzpeWKOQdb75VuuvcQB1U90A/s320/Ididntblink_week5_1stplace.jpg" /></a></center>
And the 2nd place winner is........................................................
Allie Photography!

I loved how all the clouds made it look like a storm was just ending and the after beauty of the storm, was the sunset. The vivid colors with the clouds made it look like a painting. That's why you got 2nd.

Grab your button!

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYHpCWXF4qvlrGLMhNgauqrOPKfifHoTes21lEHYBuAFiOFmk_Hl2F8jQhzELlGXdTHnStLMTNKUC1suvSehyphenhyphenccoMUjBvqy8JOMJXI1k4s52csMDTk_ynvMx0_BzOeRSPzpAF-oUP2ss/s200/Ididntblink_week5_2ndplace.jpg" /></a></center>
And the final winner..................................
Our Adventures of 2010!

This one also showed the beauty that may come after a storm with the sun peeking through the clouds made it look like the storm was ending and the clouds were opening to show how beautiful a storm can be after it's over.

Grab your button!

<center><a href="http://ionasphotos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOCighZhc4QZDKcWZBRHqbROPZZfGxjV_VVNwWf0YjPnefCQFbAWpFPQYEibrsRJR1xgHB3Syn1A_W83A612mx-tlV2GN5mZDS8sua8kHPC1UiCdPuiNIwfcqh9ewuG6rmywMki2-_Is/s200/Ididntblink_week5_3rdplace.jpg" /></a></center>

Thank you all for entering! Stay tuned, this Sunday the next subject, will be announced.

~Iona

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Clicked and Captured: First Photography Contest!

Hannah over at Clicked and Captured is having her very first photography contest! Woo hoo!
The subject was "emotion". I have plenty of pictures that scream, "EMOTION!" but the one below, stood out to me the most.

Excited. That is my emotion. You can tell this girl is excited and entergetic, just by looking at her, falling out buns, her excited face.

Go on and enter! It's almost over!

~Iona
{I Didn't Blink: Week 5 winners announced tomorrow!}

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Tuesday Link-Ups!

First off, I am changing the deadline for my weekly contest, (I'll change the page too) every week it will end on Thursday, so you have more than 3 days to enter.
Onto the pictures!

SOOC (with exceptional added watermark):

My Edit:

Touch Up Tuesday @ Paper Heart Camera

All I did was add my watermark (to both, I know it's not really SOOC but I didn't want anyone to steal my picture!) and to the edit, I bumped up the contrast. That's it. Just in case you are wondering, these are pictures of our Christmas tree lights! We put up our tree yesterday and this is my first successful "only-bokeh" picture.

Go check out more touch up's!

Sweet Shot Tuesday @ My 3 Boybarians

Shutter Love Tuesday--Birthdays @ Trendy Treehouse

I know, nothing to do with lights, but the subject is Birthdays!

REMINDER:I Didn't Blink: Weekly Photography Contest {Week 5} Ends: Thursday, November 18th 12:00 AM (Midnight) MTN Time Zone.CLICK HERE to enter.

~Iona
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I-Heart-Faces--Silhouette

This picture was taken awhile ago. It is of my brothers and my cousin. And with a little editing, it turned out pretty well!

So that's why I'm entering this picture the silhouette round of "iheartfaces"! Please go check out more silhouette's at iheartfaces.



BUT before you do, check out I Didn't Blink {Week 5} CLICK HERE!

Have a great day!

~Iona

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