Pixelmator: Headswapping, backgrounds, gloom effect, and more

I've been getting a lot better at photo editing.  Just wanted to show you some of what I've been working on for my mom's Tapestry website.

I'm most proud of this one, in which I swapped my mom's head.  The other stuff is fairly commonplace - removing background, smoothing skin tone, etc.

The group really liked this picture but as you can see it's a tad overexposed.  This was a lot of fun too because you can see that I removed the car on the left side of the picture.  I also think I did a fairly good job of fixing the exposure and the levels.  I got defeated by that lens glare in that lady's hair in the background... I'm still learning.

This stuff is a lot of fun, and I'm getting faster at it - learning all the shortcuts and such.  Recently, I've discovered that a lot of my photo edits are ending up on Facebook as profile pictures.  I wouldn't know, since I deleted my account months ago.

glad I saw this before I had a kid.

A Sabbatical

Guys, I really don't feel like blogging anymore.  I'll probably lapse into a long silence.  Not anybody (including myself) will really be broken up about it.  Just thought it would be the responsible thing to do, to warn you.  Happy Halloween!

More Graphic Design

Did I ever tell you that my mom is in a band?  Yep.  My mom is super cool.

She sings in a double-trio of women called "Tapestry," and recently they've decided to go modern and build a website.  They asked me to design a header for their site using the frilly bits I employed in my recent JBB graphic.  This is what I came up with:

 This is the my first design - this time around, I discovered some cool ways to make a drop shadow, which gives the frilly bits a nice 3-D effect.  The tutorials online have been a great help.

This is how I changed the image after some suggestions and requests from my mom.  I think it's so cool that she's in a band!  Go mom.

AMCAS, Med School, Primaries, Secondaries

Ran across this on a friend's blog and just had to share, because it makes me laugh out loud:

I am completing my last secondary application today, which is to Duke.  I am excited to be done!  It has been a long and rigorous process, which I probably made harder on myself by procrastinating.  Don't procrastinate your medical school applications!

In other news, the fall weather is BEAUTIFUL.  Each day I have set myself next to an open window and breathed the crisp autumn air, which is probably giving me a cold, so now I simply bask in the sunshine that filters through the windows.

Starting today, I will no longer need to (only) bask in the sunshine, for I will be out playing in it!  And while we're on the subject, the moon is quite full: perfect for some midnight adventures.  Go crazy, folks.

The World Needs This Video

I am a child at heart.  I salute these video makers!

Vacation - Rochester, NY

Rochester is a beautiful part of upstate New York.  Settled right on the coast of Lake Ontario, this city is home to University of Rochester School of Medicine, where I attended a medical school interview.  The entire stay was wonderful and I had a great time interviewing as well!

Big, big sky somewhere over Iowa (hello missionaries!).

Ben and Celeste were ideal hosts, and cooked for us every night.

My friend Dave and I interviewed one day apart from each other, so we decided to spend the weekend there together.  While Dave was in his interviews, I wandered around in downtown Rochester, eating at the delicious Dinosaur Grill, visiting the Eastman School of Music, and photographing interesting architecture.

The colors in this photo are my favorite.  Also I enjoy the rhythm of the windows and staircases.

Ugliest building in Rochester.  Like a car accident, I just couldn't tear my eyes away from it.  It says "Times Square" above its gloomy double doors.

Rochester used to have a subway system, which has been abandoned, leaving behind some cool looking bridges.  I saw some amazing graffiti in there but was too afraid of getting mugged to photograph it.

Construction scaffolding at the Manhattan Park (even though Long Island is 6 hrs away from Rochester)

Dave and I both had a great experience in our interviews, and would be very happy to attend Rochester for medical school.  After Dave finished up his interviews, we rented a car together and did a little sight-seeing!  First, we drove out to Niagra Falls, then doubled back through Rochester to visit Palmyra, where the LDS Church has its roots.  We spent time in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith's home, and at the Hill Cumorah.

Niagra Falls!  There's Canada in the background.  We rode the Maid of the Mist, but naturally I kept my camera well-covered.

The Sacred Grove in Palmyra.  I was surprised to see how close it is to the Smith Family Farm.  You can tell you walk upon hallowed ground amongst those trees.

That's the Palmyra Temple you see through the trees.  They had to cut out a hole in the foliage so we could see it from where I'm standing on the Smith Family property.

Dave and I on our way home in our SWEET rental car!  Thanks Hertz!