24.8.11

Painting without Paint

I love paintings especially watercolor paintings.
I have been dreaming of doing some painting of my own ...



I have also been dreaming of clicking on some unsophisticated software  to convert some my photos to more painting-like.


Then I had some accidental discoveries. For the photo above, all I did was to focus on the tree trunk.
The background automatically has that soft watercolor effect that I just love.
When we focus on something in the foreground, somehow something magical happens in the background. Actually, there isn't even a need for any software to produce that look.


Leaves were falling and I wanted to show you 'fall' in a small tropical country. 
Yes, I know we don't have fall but sometimes leaves dropped abundantly.
I attempted to focus on the falling leaves, quite unsuccessfully as you can see in the first two photos. (I hope you notice a few falling yellow leaves.)
As I couldn't get the fall effect that I intended, I clicked on "Saturation' and 'Warmify' with Picasa.
I thought the end result has some oil painting touch. I didn't do much with the third photo except for cropping and clicking "I'm Feeling Lucky". I added 'Film Grain' on the wasp photo to achieve the grainy appearance.
I am sharing this in case you may want to experiment with taking some 'out-of-focus' photos and dabbling with Picasa.

Have fun with Painting without Paint.

37 comments:

  1. I like what you have done with your photos. I have just started experimenting with the features in Picasa.

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  2. Your lovely out of focus area is called bokeh. Picasa is a great free way to experiment with photos as you've just found out!

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  3. Good discovery One. I also always love that effect, but including the focus. In your first 2 photos you cropped the focal point. Earlier, i also asked someone here the meaning of bokeh and i learned technically that is due to DOF or depth of field. And i love that wasp, it looks unreal, is it? It's like an ornamental ant!

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  4. I am glad you have the painting 'bug'. You are going to have so much fun editing your photos with filters. When you tire of Picasa, do try Photoshop Elements. It is inexpensive and not hard to learn. Here is the free trial link from Adobe. Give it a try for 30 days. You will be hooked.
    https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=en_us

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  5. Nice sharing. Have not tried 'Saturation' and 'Warmify' with Picasa no idea what yet. Anyway will have a go. tQ.

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  6. We left fall months ago and now we are about to leave winter behind too. Editing is fun but I don't have time at the moment to do it yet. So thank you for sharing your fun with us. Look very pretty.

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  7. I never know that picasa can do that kind of things. I will try it later with some of my photos collection.

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  8. These are such fun I must try and find the time to do some experimenting with Picasa

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  9. That last photo is fabulous. I love it. Good work!
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  10. I've noticed that effect too. I can't get short & long distance in focus at the same time with my (relatively cheap) camera.

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  11. You have good findings through all these trials and errors.

    And there are more surprises awaiting for you.

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  12. You are learning some amazing techniques. The digital cameras make picture taking so much fun that you can experiment and waste a lot of film. I like experimenting with depth of field. Try the reverse: focus on distance and blur what is closest to lens. Great photos.

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  13. Interesting effects! You can achieve that grainy quality sooc (straight out of camera) by bumping up your ISO setting too. Enjoyed your play with 'paint'!

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  14. When I am normal, I shall not think too much, especially during hiking.

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  15. That's beautiful pictures! They do look like painting!

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  16. I like this painting without paints!

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  17. I love watercolors too. And the focus trick is a good tip. Thank you

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  18. Beautiful photos! You should frame them.
    -Lynn

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  19. Gorgeous idea for a photo! thank you for sharing at Cottage Flora Thursday's! Hoping you have a fabulous weekend! xoox, tracie

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  20. it is great fun experiencing all the great effects now available for novice photographers like myself! Larry

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  21. Thank goodness you're just playing with your camera's focus. When I opened your blog and saw the first two pictures I thought I'm in need of a new pair of glasses... LOL

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  22. Loveee that last shot! Gorgeous :)

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  23. Love the bokeh you go in the third shot! Wide aperture (low number) and narrow depth of field is what you're doing, I love this effect!

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  24. I love the OOF area in the third shot. Gorgeous!

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  25. Looking at your gorgeous "paintings", I think I should be spending more time with Picasa. Love the effects you've created.

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  26. Isn't bokeh fun! you've done some wonderful work here!

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  27. I'm a big Picasa fan!!! I like photoshop but it is so time consuming and Picasa is quick and easy...love your shots!!!

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  28. So so beautiful, love your editing in these. Love the bokeh!

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  29. What a beautiful animal is sitting there on the flower! Great shot! :)

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  30. I love your painting without painting photos! There are so many fun gadgets out there and I could spend hours experimenting. There is always something new to learn, isn't there?

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  31. I like the second to last shot!

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  32. This was a beautiful surprise! My favorite is the last one...just stunning!

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  33. I love the watercolor effect, too! The last photo is mesmerizing, but I am wondering is that yellow/orange/black thing a bug?

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  34. Beautiful! (I love Picasa...) :)

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  35. I love bokeh in macros. Most of mine are SOOC bokehs...like you said, focus on the foreground, and the background comes up blurry.
    Your tree trunk image is great.
    Rosie

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  36. These pictures are really cool! The tree trunk photo is my favorite. Thanks for adding the directions to create photos like these.

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  37. Really neat stuff here!
    I really like the result.

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