Photo blog redesign

I've redesigned my my photo blog at mikeleonen.com. Three reasons:

1. I had nothing else to do
2. I drank too much coffee and can't sleep
3. I wanted to focus on sharing photography and Photoshop tips and tutorials.

I start by sharing 12 Photo Ideas To Try This Summer. I post (or share a new photo idea) Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you have the time to try any of the ideas I've listed or will be listing, let me know by posting a link to your photo in my photo blog's comment section. If you have a photography- or Photoshop-related question, send me an email.

► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Send me an email
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers ClickStart My First Computer

Show and tell

Want to see a Photoshop show-and-tell? Visit my photo blog, mikeleonen.com. Comments are appreciated.

► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Send me an email
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers ClickStart My First Computer

Valentine's

Heart. Photo illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2008 mike f leonen. All rights reserved. No use, copy or distribution without prior permission.

What do you think is the boy saying to the girl?

Photo Challenge, Anyone? Visit my photo blog, mikeleonen.com, and read about joining the photo challenge this week.

Purchase Availability. This photo illustration is available for purchase. $18 for personal use. To purchase, please send me an email.

► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Send me an email
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers ClickStart My First Computer

Over the moon

Over the Moon. Photo illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2008 mike f leonen. All rights reserved. No use, copy or distribution without prior permission.

Let me know what you think. If you are interested, come back Tuesday and I'll show you how I created this image.

"Wow, Daddy," my 4-year old said after I showed him the image. "I like it."

"Thanks," I said.

"You know what I like about the picture?" my 4-year old asked.

"What?"

"The dog," he said.

Hmp. That was supposed to be a cow.

Photo Challenge, Anyone? Visit my photo blog, mikeleonen.com, and read about joining the photo challenge this week.

► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Send me an email
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers ClickStart My First Computer

Is it Halloween yet?

Is It Halloween Yet?. Photo illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2007 mike f leonen.

► Looking for gift ideas this holiday season? Visit my photo blog
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera

The Great Pumpkin

The Great Pumpkin. Photo illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2007 mike f leonen.

Any parenting advice this pumpkin-carving season? I have one—

Never tell your kid the biggest pumpkin is the greatest pumpkin, especially if you've been designated to pick and carry that pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

► Looking for gift ideas this holiday season? Visit my photo blog
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera

Awaiting inspiration

Awaiting Inspiration. Photo illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2007 mike f leonen.

► Looking for gift ideas this holiday season? Visit my photo blog
► Helping kids learn left from right Read my tip and share yours
► Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera

Writing a children's story

Reading, too. Digital Watercolor by Mike F Leonen. ©2007 mike f leonen.

I’m obsessed with fulfilling one of my childhood dreams—to write a children’s story. I’ve been that way since I tried sending a story to Hans Christian Anderson.

I was 8 years old then. Nobody told me Anderson was not accepting manuscripts.

Thirty-something years later, my children’s story is—so far—three words long.

So I do the next best thing. I ask my 4-year old for advice.

“It’s easy, Daddy,” my 4-year old says during lunch. “You get lots of paper and write. Then you get a stapler, staple them together and that’s it.”

Hmm.

It’s not that easy, I tell my 4-year old. I tell him about character and character development. I tell him about plots and sceneries. I tell him about leads and false leads. I tell him about twists and surprise endings.

My 4-year old looks at me. I look at him.

I wait. He waits.

“Well,” my 4-year old finally says. “I have to tell you this. Just do it.”

About the Image. Besides writing a children's story, I'm also obsessed with painting in watercolors. There is something about it. I should know. When I was in pre-school, my mother hired a tutor to teach me and my brothers and sisters to paint. My brothers and sisters advanced to oil. I was stuck in watercolor.

This is one of my attempts to imitate watercolor digitally. For another example, please visit my photo blog, mikeleonen.com. I’d appreciate your comments.

► How to pick the right watermelon Read my answer
► Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera

Summer photo challenge

Need creative ideas for your summer photos? Starting today to September 23 at my photo blog—mikeleonen.com—I’ll occasionally be posting simple but creative tips to present or enhance summer photos using Photoshop.

Join me by either:

1. Posting your own tips, either related to Photoshop or photography in general

2. Following the tips I or others post in your summer photos—and posting an online version in your blog.

If you'd like me to enhance your summer photos, send me an email. I charge a minimal fee—for a reason.

“You know what, Daddy?” my 4-year old recently asked me. “I go to the office, too. Everyday.”

“Office?” I asked. “What do you do in your office?”

“I computer.”

Hmm.

“Do you get paid to computer in your office?” I asked.

“I do,” my 4-year old said.

“How much?”

“One dollar,” my 4-year old said, a little proud.

“One dollar?” I asked. “Is that per minute?”

“Nope,” my 4-year old said. “It’s per year.”

And that’s why I have to charge for any photo I enhance myself.

► How to pick the right watermelon Read my answer
► Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera

Photoshop me: Textured and framed

Photo by Mike F Leonen. ©2007 mike f leonen. Click for a larger view.

I'm usually satisfied with the photos I take. But I sometimes like to spend the night to do Photoshop work on a photo—creating textures in the background and framing the image with child-like drawings, like the photo you see.

I do this to impress my wife. I have to. Adobe has released a new version of Photoshop. I need to give her a reason why I need the upgrade.

Tricky me, don't you think?

Hmm.

If you like one done for your child, let me know at mike@mikeleonen.com. You send me a favorite photo. I send you, in a day or two, the textured and framed image in a digital file, something you can print yourself (or have a print center print for you).

I charge a minimal amount—$18. You pay only when satisfied. Payments are made through PayPal.

Recommended for Toddlers Kid-Tough(tm) Digital Camera