The 2012 Guru Award Submissions

I'm at it again! When my school said yes to sending me to Las Vegas' Photoshop World Conference last September, with all expenses paid, I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Turns out they just think it's a fabulous opportunity and are sending me again this year! Plus they like what students create for the school and are working on raising more awareness for the arts. (Digital art in this case) I was a rookie at PSW last year and was floored when 2 of my 3 submissions were finalists in the prestigious Guru Award Photo Retouching contest. And then, this happened...



I got an iPad 2 with my award money and happily bring my Guru to class on Photo Retouching day every quarter. Needless to say, I'm competing again. I sent in 3 submissions (the max) all to the Photo Retouching category (surprise surprise) just yesterday! And here's the line up!

New Ink

My Deck the Classroom Collection at Etsy is now comprised of 17 posters featuring great words and mugshots of infamous people who made something of themselves in society. My latest posters have a lot more elements, texture, and color accents than my firsts (like Mark Twain) but the collection as a whole has been favorited and very well received. I currently do not charge extra for custom orders, meaning shoppers can send me a name and quote they'd like to see as a 16x20 poster. CS Lewis, Maya Angelou, Winston Churchill, and John Lennon have all been requests made, published, ordered and shipped! 

And my latest contribution to the collection is Theodor Geisel, or better put Dr. Seuss. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: All posters are sized at 16x20 with a glossy finish. Angelou and Lennon just went live today! 

Those Stand-Out Students I Taught...

...That were really outstanding. (I get it now!) Yesterday I started a new school year. Student won't be here for another month, but as a school administrator I only have 3 weeks off, since my job is more about preparing and helping with teachers' return. Anyway, I believe 2 months ago I teased you with this:

What a tease that was...now that you're actually going to get to see the best student work from Digital Photography and Advanced Photoshop. Roll it!

[ THE BEST OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY ]

[ THE BEST OF ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP ]

EDITOR'S NOTE: My favorite part of teaching this is watching a student realize they have talent. They begin creating and tilt their screen in my direction for approval, as if to say "I can't believe I just made this!" Or when they're browsing through pictures on their LCD and turn it around and say "Look at this SHOT!" The end of year Photography/Design exhibit will now officially be an annual thing. My ever supportive school ordered the mattes, artist's tape, and paid for all the prints, which varied between 11x14s and 8x10s. After school Photography Club is in full swing for this coming year as well, with 2nd semester being exclusively for DSLR users! 

Which is your "Best in Show"?

The Alter-Ego Self Portraits

Alter-ego: n. A person's secondary or alternative personality.

If I hadn't decided at the age of 12 to be "classy chic," I could have been ghetto fabulous in another life. I've loved the hip-hop, rap culture since I was the only white girl in my Kindergarten class. 2 weeks ago I was at a red light boppin' to Kelis and saw a self portrait shoot play out in my mind. What started as 1 look to create, turned into 3. 


Turn it up, lets get cray cray. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each portrait took an average of 4 hours to complete. And you better believe I have the before shots that will have you tripppppin'! Keep it locked! 

Jenn & Victoria | The Wedding

This post is so personally monumental I knew it would have to wait to be properly published until I was on summer break. It is the biggest spread of pictures I have laid out for a single post: 20. And for that very reason, plus this is my SISTER'S wedding weekend post...it gets a soundtrack: Turn it up and read on!







































EDITOR'S NOTE: My official bridesmaid duty was "dinner & dance playlist" (!!!) for the Pittsburgh reception. I had the best time putting together four hours worth of Vic and Jenn's favorites, guest requests, and a smooth mix of songs to make you swoon and songs to make you MOVE! In the process of wearing the DJ hat I found some new artists I featured in the "Wedding Dinner" playlist. Here are my favorite finds:


"Emmylou" by First Aid Kit
"Dance Me to the End of Love" by The Civil Wars
"Take on Me" by Anni B Sweet
"There is No Greater Love" by Amy Winehouse
"Teenage Dream" by The Rescues