tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23898380678767939082024-03-13T12:20:53.089-07:00More than you can shake a stick at...Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-71248424159468913812014-09-21T12:20:00.000-07:002014-09-21T13:19:07.960-07:00Vicky's paella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Russ & I attended a
delightful paella party hosted by our dear friend, Vicky. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">What makes a paella party a
party is the collaborative preparation activities. The careful
banking of the charcoal and then a sip of wine, the trimming of the bell
peppers and a sip of wine, the blending of the spices and aromatics & a sip
of wine.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">There is lots of laugher and
comparison of notes regarding the various national versions of
paella. Then the selection of the paella pan by the
hostess. This involves a nose count and careful calculation of the
pan circumference so that the depth of the ingredients is just right.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white;">Once the pan is selected, the
true artistry of a great paella starts. The placement of the
ingredients to make the perfect presentation of color and texture so that the
pan slow cooks the ingredients to a picture perfect result.</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients (for 6 persons)</span></div>
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Rice (2 cups)</div>
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Sausage (2-3 links)</div>
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Bell pepper (1 big bell pepper)</div>
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Chicken wings or drumsticks (1-2 per person)</div>
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Shrimp - 2 per person, the rest will be used as appetizers</div>
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Half of this package will be added to the base</div>
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About 1-2 cups</div>
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Half of this can was used to prepare the base.</div>
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The base can be cooked in advance.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paella pan</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">12" paella pan is enough for 6 servings. The level of water should be slightly above the rivet, we measured 8 cups of water to get to this level.</li>
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<li>Start the charcoal, it will take 1.5 -2 hours to get it to the right temperature, meanwhile the party goes on</li>
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<li><span style="text-align: left;">For the base you'll need half of an onion, diced, 1-2 cloves of garlic, half of crushed tomatoes can, salt, olive oil and a cube of fish stock. Saute all ingredients in a skillet. Add saffron when you are ready to start paella, You'll need 4-5 Tbsp of the base for paella</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Cut bell pepper and sausage</li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Season chicken and shrimp which will be used as appetizer with salt and pepper</li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Moving closer to the grill</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Pour some olive oil into the pan and level the grill</li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Start cooking seasoned shrimp and sausage, don't forget to sip your wine</li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Cooking bell peppers and chicken is the last step before we put everything together</li>
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<li>Now we combine in a pan the base, chicken, sausage, add 8 cups of water, and let everything simmer for about 20 min</li>
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<li>After 20 min season the broth, add some water if it is necessary to bring the level back to the rivet, add green peas, rice and stir everything together</li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Final touch</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Add raw unseasoned shrimp and cooked bell pepper and arrange all ingredients on the surface in an artistic way, because - IMPORTANT- after this you are not supposed to touch paella...</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NVv11rwjIk/VB8hI2PbhQI/AAAAAAAACPw/P_vJl-OgfB4/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NVv11rwjIk/VB8hI2PbhQI/AAAAAAAACPw/P_vJl-OgfB4/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>...until it turns into this delicious, flavorful, out of this world piece of culinary art</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMJOw_CU7C8/VB8hyZxaQzI/AAAAAAAACP8/-176ACihgHM/s1600/IMG_4782%2Bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMJOw_CU7C8/VB8hyZxaQzI/AAAAAAAACP8/-176ACihgHM/s1600/IMG_4782%2Bw.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Vicky! Cheers!</span></div>
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Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-71703031321323455492013-04-21T11:04:00.000-07:002013-04-21T16:44:30.556-07:00Bluebonnets<br />
<div class="yiv63933686msonormal" style="background: black; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Traditionally, the third week week of
April is peak blooming period for bluebonnets in Texas. This year, Elena and I had a little free time and
decided to visit the Ennis, Texas area renown for bluebonnet wild seeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="yiv63933686msonormal" style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; outline: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">About 9 miles north of Ennis, we started our search based on
an Internet lead for Sugar Ridge Rd, known for the fantastic hillsides and
fields covered in wildflowers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> What an adventure,
around every curve and crest of each hill, we found a vista filled with
bluebonnets and other wild flowers. Nearly all the
traffic encountered on the road was like minded folks, driving slow and
enjoying each stop along the road.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The day was perfect in temperature, sunshine and clean
fragrant air. As you can see, “photo ops” were
plentiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GK7s45Xm38/UXQoHaxi2iI/AAAAAAAACD0/iAyt7tzQ4nU/s1600/Cows+&+Bluebonnets+CRW_0682+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GK7s45Xm38/UXQoHaxi2iI/AAAAAAAACD0/iAyt7tzQ4nU/s320/Cows+&+Bluebonnets+CRW_0682+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cwOE7eLiuw/UXQoH7n16oI/AAAAAAAACEA/OGW0-_uU8oA/s1600/Keen+Curiousity+CRW_0681+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cwOE7eLiuw/UXQoH7n16oI/AAAAAAAACEA/OGW0-_uU8oA/s320/Keen+Curiousity+CRW_0681+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBOcRaFSJmU/UXQoHJyt0HI/AAAAAAAACDw/T_XeAa8NSJo/s1600/Pattern+&+Shadow+CRW_0692+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBOcRaFSJmU/UXQoHJyt0HI/AAAAAAAACDw/T_XeAa8NSJo/s320/Pattern+&+Shadow+CRW_0692+copy.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLUDlGlSZEY/UXQoLA4F_4I/AAAAAAAACEY/3V4tmTkAVG8/s1600/pony+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLUDlGlSZEY/UXQoLA4F_4I/AAAAAAAACEY/3V4tmTkAVG8/s320/pony+color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-74909965566466884642013-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:002013-04-14T11:32:34.052-07:00What's blooming?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today I took a closer look at inconspicuous plants
in my garden through the Macro lens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wonder what the neighbors think as they see me
crawling in the richly composted dirt with camera in hand?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UigBD-ZlcdM/UWrk_KWtYuI/AAAAAAAACC8/-ETKxxgrP4o/s1600/alyssum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UigBD-ZlcdM/UWrk_KWtYuI/AAAAAAAACC8/-ETKxxgrP4o/s320/alyssum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alyssum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vo6H5p2ILc/UWrnqLnlRDI/AAAAAAAACDM/y8ol3kiqRNU/s1600/oxalis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vo6H5p2ILc/UWrnqLnlRDI/AAAAAAAACDM/y8ol3kiqRNU/s320/oxalis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oxalis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-zWD5-6Lr8/UWr18W4KTQI/AAAAAAAACDc/dOfFx0CMdPE/s1600/columbine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-zWD5-6Lr8/UWr18W4KTQI/AAAAAAAACDc/dOfFx0CMdPE/s320/columbine.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Columbine<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I may look awkward,
getting on my hands and knees in the garden with my butt in the air, but the
resulting images are well worth the effort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-2449854563229354022013-04-07T10:14:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:16:02.960-07:00The image is sharp, it’s just not in focus.<br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These images were taken with a macro lens,
aperture f/2.5. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wide open aperture allows handholding with very
fast shutter speeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With macro lens you can
move so close to the object that harsh light, shadows and hot spots are no
longer a concern. On the contrary, you may discover an environment full of
surprises and unexpected results.</span><br />
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<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lXVNhBKgbA/UWGpEpO6YmI/AAAAAAAACCk/4f652ULXb98/s1600/hosta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lXVNhBKgbA/UWGpEpO6YmI/AAAAAAAACCk/4f652ULXb98/s320/hosta.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hosta leaf.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXC3CToP5yA/UWGpEqSTvTI/AAAAAAAACCo/COjgZbDPPRs/s1600/muscari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXC3CToP5yA/UWGpEqSTvTI/AAAAAAAACCo/COjgZbDPPRs/s320/muscari.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Muscari.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-18046689180083863772013-03-31T09:31:00.001-07:002013-03-31T09:42:58.167-07:00Balancing<br />
<div class="yiv693980883msonormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<div class="yiv693980883msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Shame on us! We have been remiss on keeping this blog going.
No excuses, we simply got busy on a variety of projects. For those of you who
check in from time to time, thanks for you loyalty. Hopefully our hiatus has
given us new creative points of view that we will share with you in the near
future.</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv693980883msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime, Happy Easter!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1mOGy2j9HEU/UVhkvd92YJI/AAAAAAAACCU/H_Qcx8P921E/s1600/balancing+eggs+IMG_1850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1mOGy2j9HEU/UVhkvd92YJI/AAAAAAAACCU/H_Qcx8P921E/s320/balancing+eggs+IMG_1850.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-80508077991340476802012-12-24T07:57:00.000-08:002012-12-24T07:57:26.223-08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfTxWwAMQhI/UNh66_aWnYI/AAAAAAAACBo/9Byhn41FNmQ/s1600/IMG_7686+1+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfTxWwAMQhI/UNh66_aWnYI/AAAAAAAACBo/9Byhn41FNmQ/s320/IMG_7686+1+web.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_135636391174667" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The holiday season is
here. A time where dear friends gather together to share faith and
companionship. A time of wonderful food and celebration.
We wish for you all the joy associated with the season.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1382914168MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_135636391174667" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May 2013 bring success and great art to you all!</span></div>
Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-63953304799034297212012-11-08T12:54:00.000-08:002012-11-08T12:55:37.197-08:00Celina hot air balloon festival (continued) <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In addition to my HDR
attempts, I managed to get a few images of flight crews and festival
attendees. Attendance was sparse…probably
due to the first chill in the air for this fall season. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4LotiGM9ZZo/UJwbMtPRgoI/AAAAAAAACAo/rGR1OD0tgHs/s1600/Celina+balloon+festival+attendee+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4LotiGM9ZZo/UJwbMtPRgoI/AAAAAAAACAo/rGR1OD0tgHs/s320/Celina+balloon+festival+attendee+1.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This young man was
having a great time and was dressed for the chill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbKOd7kCE4k/UJwbWwZAEuI/AAAAAAAACAw/HSnBiOBVVCg/s1600/Balloon+Crew+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbKOd7kCE4k/UJwbWwZAEuI/AAAAAAAACAw/HSnBiOBVVCg/s320/Balloon+Crew+1.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This ground crew
member was a study in efficiency. He
didn’t waste one motion in laying out the balloon and controlling the cold air
fill prior to the burner start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKsoaQjb5cQ/UJwblMJS6-I/AAAAAAAACA4/XKt161iMzxE/s1600/balloon+lift+off+burner+on+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKsoaQjb5cQ/UJwblMJS6-I/AAAAAAAACA4/XKt161iMzxE/s320/balloon+lift+off+burner+on+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Elena did such a fabulous
job of creating balloon images but I did manage to be in the right spot at the
right time to catch this one as it passed over my head with the burner full on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
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<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-61040691251378976072012-10-30T18:42:00.001-07:002012-10-30T18:42:19.757-07:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3iasAQzF4u0/UJCB4I_UP7I/AAAAAAAACAA/mZKpL5I6xVw/s1600/IMG_8727+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3iasAQzF4u0/UJCB4I_UP7I/AAAAAAAACAA/mZKpL5I6xVw/s320/IMG_8727+small.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-12692883664965726082012-10-29T20:40:00.000-07:002012-10-29T20:40:13.001-07:00Celina Balloon Festival<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This weekend, we attended the 7<sup>th</sup>
annual Celina Balloon Festival. Russ was
so excited; he felt the festival was a perfect example of a small town event
perfectly executed. Being from a rural
small town, the events brought back pleasant memories of his “puppy days” back
in Wisconsin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday, we were up and on the road to Celina
well before dawn. It wasn’t until we
were well on our way that we discovered the temperature was 34 degrees. Since we are expats from Russia and
Wisconsin, cold weather will not deter us.
Fortunately, we arrived just as the sun cleared the horizon and we were
confident that the warming rays of the sun will ensure our comfort…Not!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Volunteers directed us to the event parking lot, a
corn field, adjacent to the event.
Getting to the parking place was a fun ride in itself. Undulating through the corn field was
something that can’t be properly described, just experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We walked directly to the balloon staging area so
that Russ could set up to do some HDR images and I could do a walkabout within
the staging area. Unfortunately, it was
so cold that only the smallest balloons could get enough heated air to lift
off. In any case, we got great shots…as
they say…”Up close and personal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The festival was colorful and with such a variety
of events, so much photo opportunities. So; over the next few days, we will
post our images…Stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCI9MQ09jVM/UI9KeqsDkdI/AAAAAAAAB_A/1EUrbzOYjdI/s1600/_MG_2513+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCI9MQ09jVM/UI9KeqsDkdI/AAAAAAAAB_A/1EUrbzOYjdI/s320/_MG_2513+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside the hot air balloon.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gheuk4fwIw/UI9Kf0TOYxI/AAAAAAAAB_I/P5haRYJmW3g/s1600/_MG_2508+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gheuk4fwIw/UI9Kf0TOYxI/AAAAAAAAB_I/P5haRYJmW3g/s320/_MG_2508+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Captain is ready to take off.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMRleONNx4w/UI9KhGGnsMI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/zdIvAbJT4jc/s1600/_MG_2518+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMRleONNx4w/UI9KhGGnsMI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/zdIvAbJT4jc/s320/_MG_2518+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fire it up!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiHAc_oAEIo/UI9KiNWpzmI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/TkOjuMZLlXk/s1600/_MG_2536+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiHAc_oAEIo/UI9KiNWpzmI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/TkOjuMZLlXk/s320/_MG_2536+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This balloon was too large to fly in the cold.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-36515549185618335982012-10-14T15:41:00.000-07:002012-10-14T15:44:03.628-07:002012 White Rock Lake Studio Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We visited the “White Rock Lake Artists’ Studio
Tour” and had a marvelous time. It was
the 20<sup>th</sup> year for this event and our first time attending. First impressions were not great. The map that located the participating
studios was printed lavender on white.
Now it was a pretty map but when reduced to fit the web page, it became
nearly impossible to read or follow.
Also, this beautiful little neighborhood is located adjacent to the
Dallas Arboretum and with the parking issues associated with living close to a
popular destination, the signage was foreboding and confusing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QfTU3i3Y1U/UHs4C6U0T-I/AAAAAAAAB78/YA1caSms1bk/s1600/Strange+rules+for+an+art+community+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QfTU3i3Y1U/UHs4C6U0T-I/AAAAAAAAB78/YA1caSms1bk/s320/Strange+rules+for+an+art+community+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once you get past these initial hurdles, you are
in for a treat. This is a fantastic
neighborhood of older homes or cottages, lovingly updated and maintained. The studios were to die for and nirvana for
creative persons.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rh9nq3MQf-4/UHs4UmcAcfI/AAAAAAAAB8E/Un30wnnMw6U/s1600/_MG_2407+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rh9nq3MQf-4/UHs4UmcAcfI/AAAAAAAAB8E/Un30wnnMw6U/s320/_MG_2407+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zI_2TqyXIic/UHs4dmo_3oI/AAAAAAAAB8U/3BWTQgH22mM/s1600/Red+Door+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zI_2TqyXIic/UHs4dmo_3oI/AAAAAAAAB8U/3BWTQgH22mM/s320/Red+Door+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0wIampy6m8/UHs4hkrqPnI/AAAAAAAAB8c/JtVsmSWaXjo/s1600/Yellow+Door+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0wIampy6m8/UHs4hkrqPnI/AAAAAAAAB8c/JtVsmSWaXjo/s320/Yellow+Door+copy.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFL9tkYwVgw/UHs4lOdi7LI/AAAAAAAAB8k/b05zMDEqQcE/s1600/Studio+tour+sign+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFL9tkYwVgw/UHs4lOdi7LI/AAAAAAAAB8k/b05zMDEqQcE/s320/Studio+tour+sign+copy.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As mentioned before, the studios and creative
spaces were some of the finest we have ever seen. Without exception, we felt a sense of tranquility,
a sense of creativity and most importantly, a sense of joy that translates into
the diverse forms of art created.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knzX__f5mj0/UHs5HqgCD5I/AAAAAAAAB80/iPi38grBP64/s1600/_MG_2436+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knzX__f5mj0/UHs5HqgCD5I/AAAAAAAAB80/iPi38grBP64/s320/_MG_2436+as+Smart+Object-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The artists in residence, as a group, are
wonderful ambassadors of the creative process.
They delighted in answering questions, demonstrating processes and just
talking art as if we were neighbors “over for a cup of coffee.” As an individual often accused of having, “a
gift of gab,” I was in “hog heaven” talking to the artists, other visitors and
even had a conversation with a cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s talk about the cat. Walking the neighborhood, we spotted a home
with two giant dragonflies decorating an exterior wall. In the yard, a black cat was sitting
observing with typical feline bemusement, my machinations to get a camera
angle. When I noticed the cat, I meowed
to it for no other reason than it seemed “the right thing to do.” To my surprise, every time I meowed, the cat
responded in kind. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7EM2UmjsrM/UHs5hqo4lYI/AAAAAAAAB9E/ncB_LQ0KgN8/s1600/Dragonflies+&+Cat+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7EM2UmjsrM/UHs5hqo4lYI/AAAAAAAAB9E/ncB_LQ0KgN8/s320/Dragonflies+&+Cat+copy.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qlICbqh-CM/UHs5idlF1QI/AAAAAAAAB9M/u24PapBTk-c/s1600/Talking+Cat+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qlICbqh-CM/UHs5idlF1QI/AAAAAAAAB9M/u24PapBTk-c/s1600/Talking+Cat+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The AB<sub> </sub>Rockin Studio specializes in
the mosaics. Here we found mosaics and
glass fusion pieces that were unique and very original. Sissy & Lynn teach and have an open night
class most every Thursday evening. We
plan on stopping by with a bottle of wine plus our own bits & pieces to try
our hand at being creative some future Thursday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6aAUr7Pqxc/UHs6JjR6awI/AAAAAAAAB9U/QNaa04-fKwQ/s1600/Sissy+%2526+Lynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6aAUr7Pqxc/UHs6JjR6awI/AAAAAAAAB9U/QNaa04-fKwQ/s320/Sissy+%2526+Lynn.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sissy and Lynn: www.rockinartists.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another fun location was the studio of Laurie
McClurg. Laurie specializes in the
creation of cards and assemblage boxes.
Her creations are inventive, nostalgic and beautiful. I enjoyed our conversation about images from
the past being repurposed into art. We
also shared recollections and Mark Twain quotes about living in San Francisco.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwnYx4KS8z0/UHs7Aq56cAI/AAAAAAAAB9c/zIiW6tNV6BA/s1600/Laurie+McClurg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwnYx4KS8z0/UHs7Aq56cAI/AAAAAAAAB9c/zIiW6tNV6BA/s320/Laurie+McClurg.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laurie McClurg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All the previous studio visits were within walking
distance of a single parking space. Then
we drove a short distance to our final destination, the Whimsical Metal
Sculpture studio. There are at least
six other studios are within walking distance of this studio. We visited the studio of a print maker and
another of a photographer. We finished
at the Whimsical Metal Sculptures of Cynthia Daniel. Talk about a wonderful space to be
creative…this would be one of the ultimate spots. Cynthia repurposes familiar metal objects
into delightful art pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_SiMac96jFE/UHs9am4fCqI/AAAAAAAAB9s/ldUdPKQjqdY/s1600/Cynthia+Daniel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_SiMac96jFE/UHs9am4fCqI/AAAAAAAAB9s/ldUdPKQjqdY/s320/Cynthia+Daniel.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cynthia M. Daniel: www.cmdaniel.com</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGuu1qFvz6U/UHs9zAeLqgI/AAAAAAAAB98/mpFX_Pb6BwY/s1600/Railroad+spikes+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGuu1qFvz6U/UHs9zAeLqgI/AAAAAAAAB98/mpFX_Pb6BwY/s320/Railroad+spikes+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0zbxpd8B4QE/UHs4X5vQ-JI/AAAAAAAAB8M/jffUmpimae4/s1600/A+new+face+in+town+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0zbxpd8B4QE/UHs4X5vQ-JI/AAAAAAAAB8M/jffUmpimae4/s320/A+new+face+in+town+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We look forward to next year’s 21<sup>st</sup>
annual event.</span></div>
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Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-51280347785441093952012-09-29T16:42:00.003-07:002012-09-29T16:43:33.943-07:00Cyanotype<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Cyanotype - alternative photographic process</span> .<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Unlike dark room process, cyanotype images are developed in the sun; the process is simple but rather unpredictable, you have to experiment a lot, and,to me, this is the best part. I really enjoyed my first day of "cyanotyping".</span><br />
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<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-6013753835190662782012-08-27T20:00:00.000-07:002012-08-27T20:09:16.525-07:00What I did this summer<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> been missing for a while. You see, I went around the corner of the
learning curve and I got lost. It was an
awesome adventure…something akin to Gulliver’s Travels. Except instead of various worlds, I visited a
variety of image techniques. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> been busy chasing these bugs, i</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 27px;">nspired by Doug <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/Photomorphis">Landreth</a>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0NXk92a56c/UDwsoEQyvoI/AAAAAAAAB50/gOvee9m_wfU/s1600/_MG_2161+papilio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B0NXk92a56c/UDwsoEQyvoI/AAAAAAAAB50/gOvee9m_wfU/s320/_MG_2161+papilio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5zBjBb_Zms/UDwspU2vM1I/AAAAAAAAB58/ntOBO5vjnvg/s1600/_MG_2196+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5zBjBb_Zms/UDwspU2vM1I/AAAAAAAAB58/ntOBO5vjnvg/s320/_MG_2196+small.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Painting in Photoshop,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">turning photographs from this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXQjlYzilJI/UDwuTeAhUJI/AAAAAAAAB6E/m1wW8t0MTzY/s1600/IMG_8423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXQjlYzilJI/UDwuTeAhUJI/AAAAAAAAB6E/m1wW8t0MTzY/s320/IMG_8423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">to that:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euOjYGgpR10/UDwub-_1eRI/AAAAAAAAB6M/LqdELzpasuw/s1600/burger+collage+flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euOjYGgpR10/UDwub-_1eRI/AAAAAAAAB6M/LqdELzpasuw/s320/burger+collage+flat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Converting images to B&W:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMWp_3JtDts/UDwuojOziSI/AAAAAAAAB6U/Hswgs7EDSVQ/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMWp_3JtDts/UDwuojOziSI/AAAAAAAAB6U/Hswgs7EDSVQ/s320/before.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ftjFLSmv6fk/UDwuqO3-ZzI/AAAAAAAAB6c/_p0e9xdk4io/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ftjFLSmv6fk/UDwuqO3-ZzI/AAAAAAAAB6c/_p0e9xdk4io/s320/after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">I learned a lot about B&W conversion from the David Nightingale online <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/ChromasiaTrainingLtd">course</a>. The course is packed with information not only about B&W photography but also about Photoshop workflow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gluing papers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mNpb_nFkD7I/UDwwm8-igEI/AAAAAAAAB6k/5npOsoLjZ4c/s1600/IMG+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mNpb_nFkD7I/UDwwm8-igEI/AAAAAAAAB6k/5npOsoLjZ4c/s320/IMG+2.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And also cracked up everyone in the house by
producing self portrait using polaroid transfers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J4YvnWqwSz4/UDwxSzzoUVI/AAAAAAAAB6s/tSNxCaozxho/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J4YvnWqwSz4/UDwxSzzoUVI/AAAAAAAAB6s/tSNxCaozxho/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-76071859802290953872012-08-03T08:52:00.001-07:002012-08-03T08:55:24.500-07:00Russian diary - Peterhof.<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Near St. Petersburg, are the spectacular parks at
Peterhof. Representing nearly two
centuries of European aristocratic fashion that was built to the very highest
of standards, these parks are remarkable for the variety of style encompassed
in their layout and features.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One of the most amazing features of Peterhof parks
is the unique fountain system that requires no pumps. The fountains are supplied by a gravity fed
water system. The water follows a 22 kilometer
system feeding fountains along the way and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">skillfully placed to exploit the natural slope of
the terrain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Today, Peterhof with its 150 fountains and 4
cascades is known as “The Jewel of Russian Art”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlJ1phztdnk/UBvzCkDFHHI/AAAAAAAAB3o/T6xcWJItSMA/s1600/_MG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HlJ1phztdnk/UBvzCkDFHHI/AAAAAAAAB3o/T6xcWJItSMA/s320/_MG_0756.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUFFx_KUHrU/UBvzIDeyX6I/AAAAAAAAB4I/dbpplgORbuE/s1600/_MG_0778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUFFx_KUHrU/UBvzIDeyX6I/AAAAAAAAB4I/dbpplgORbuE/s320/_MG_0778.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgQFYDcKTlI/UBvzLZbk6nI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/6lbOJzIyuwc/s1600/_MG_0833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgQFYDcKTlI/UBvzLZbk6nI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/6lbOJzIyuwc/s320/_MG_0833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSrhNmmtERY/UBvzMWQacmI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/iyNrYkj-J4M/s1600/_MG_0859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSrhNmmtERY/UBvzMWQacmI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/iyNrYkj-J4M/s320/_MG_0859.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVAxQ_ez9VI/UBvzQA4YoqI/AAAAAAAAB4g/2DtVYBG3KiU/s1600/_MG_0864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xVAxQ_ez9VI/UBvzQA4YoqI/AAAAAAAAB4g/2DtVYBG3KiU/s320/_MG_0864.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOAWT347fSA/UBvzRvLNijI/AAAAAAAAB4o/A5_Gr8EpZzk/s1600/_MG_0868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOAWT347fSA/UBvzRvLNijI/AAAAAAAAB4o/A5_Gr8EpZzk/s320/_MG_0868.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0wfQpncO_Q/UBvzT0zNRuI/AAAAAAAAB4w/mKZXoiRu-uc/s1600/_MG_0875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w0wfQpncO_Q/UBvzT0zNRuI/AAAAAAAAB4w/mKZXoiRu-uc/s320/_MG_0875.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D99tBFYykm4/UBvzWk2CV0I/AAAAAAAAB44/EoTf0s7f2Sk/s1600/_MG_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D99tBFYykm4/UBvzWk2CV0I/AAAAAAAAB44/EoTf0s7f2Sk/s320/_MG_0887.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spS7KmOyUCQ/UBvzYY-ax7I/AAAAAAAAB5E/Df7AM5Ul--E/s1600/_MG_0890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spS7KmOyUCQ/UBvzYY-ax7I/AAAAAAAAB5E/Df7AM5Ul--E/s320/_MG_0890.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76DdTyiO8MM/UBvzaJUiqhI/AAAAAAAAB5M/akW8kwzpE1c/s1600/_MG_0893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76DdTyiO8MM/UBvzaJUiqhI/AAAAAAAAB5M/akW8kwzpE1c/s320/_MG_0893.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-76795627237650075132012-07-11T20:30:00.000-07:002012-07-27T08:14:45.657-07:00A new direction<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Painting in Photoshop
class gave me so many ideas about new directions I can explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">First, I started with
the revision of some of my old photomontages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Sometimes when you use different blending
modes to combine multiple layers the colors get out of control in a “not good”
way. Now, by using the painting
techniques (color mixing brushes, art history brushes) I have full control over
colors and textures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Also, when printing a
large size print you are limited with the original file resolution. Not
anymore, painting over the image allows you to enlarge it up to 500% with no
visible pixilation. Here are three of my old photomontages altered by painting in
Photoshop and a new one created with the same technique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQJCvYnE1ds/T_5DD6aGT9I/AAAAAAAAB2s/qYU0TBWWubQ/s1600/abstract+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQJCvYnE1ds/T_5DD6aGT9I/AAAAAAAAB2s/qYU0TBWWubQ/s320/abstract+1.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwEQycYyT10/T_5DGGeYZVI/AAAAAAAAB20/ybnzGSjqG9Q/s1600/edges1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jwEQycYyT10/T_5DGGeYZVI/AAAAAAAAB20/ybnzGSjqG9Q/s320/edges1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2sWD6mwmYI/T_5DHmVFdfI/AAAAAAAAB28/8PIGglB__Q4/s1600/transit+of+venus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2sWD6mwmYI/T_5DHmVFdfI/AAAAAAAAB28/8PIGglB__Q4/s320/transit+of+venus.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Transit of Venus"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odpcVhejof4/T_5DIlz2F0I/AAAAAAAAB3E/e9PUbaCZ9Ok/s1600/IMG_2485+4+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-odpcVhejof4/T_5DIlz2F0I/AAAAAAAAB3E/e9PUbaCZ9Ok/s320/IMG_2485+4+web.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">I also have a number
of photographs of old abandoned shacks, and I started to think about giving
them new life after visiting a photo exhibition “From Russia with love” where I
saw a series of photographs of old Russian “dachas”, masterly done but somewhat
depressing. I’m thinking about using the
shapes of the shacks and treating them with color. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAXwcPwPRWc/T_5DdtAlCyI/AAAAAAAAB3M/JpG9dRJ43fc/s1600/burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAXwcPwPRWc/T_5DdtAlCyI/AAAAAAAAB3M/JpG9dRJ43fc/s320/burger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Here is a rough example of
how I’m going to do this, and I already see how this concept may develop into a
more complex work. Cannot wait to get my hands over the Wacom tablet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-42890865742791137752012-07-08T20:12:00.000-07:002012-08-03T08:53:56.002-07:00Russian diary- Tsarskoe Selo.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the places I really wanted to visit
while staying in St. Petersburg was Tsarskoe Selo. I spent so much time there
with my parents, and after becoming a parent I spent time there with my kids.
But this was the first time when I was able to see the Amber room, one of the
wonders of Catherine Place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">The palaces and parks
at Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar Village) were established as a country retreat by
Catherine I, in 1717. Originally a modest two story building, later it was completely
redesigned on a scale to rival Versailles. The resultant palace, completed in
1756 is nearly 1 km in circumference, with elaborately decorated facades and
interiors which are no less spectacular.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpNIxRTrTP0/T_pJ3pT81dI/AAAAAAAAB1s/Ot6OVx1edZ4/s1600/IMG_9602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpNIxRTrTP0/T_pJ3pT81dI/AAAAAAAAB1s/Ot6OVx1edZ4/s320/IMG_9602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%;">The landscaped gardens, created in the late
18<sup>th</sup> century, were the first of their kind in Russia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ILZZ3WV_6o/T_pKFtJKtJI/AAAAAAAAB10/MEzoPhn8x4M/s1600/_MG_0449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ILZZ3WV_6o/T_pKFtJKtJI/AAAAAAAAB10/MEzoPhn8x4M/s320/_MG_0449.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkDBs6roo30/T_pKG2-Bh-I/AAAAAAAAB18/rkNDj5yNSMM/s1600/_MG_0457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkDBs6roo30/T_pKG2-Bh-I/AAAAAAAAB18/rkNDj5yNSMM/s320/_MG_0457.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">During World War II,
Tsarskoe Selo suffered extensive damage. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9ad82nndKU/T_pKTak-4PI/AAAAAAAAB2E/HkVelnZsHiU/s1600/tsarskoe+selo+war+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9ad82nndKU/T_pKTak-4PI/AAAAAAAAB2E/HkVelnZsHiU/s320/tsarskoe+selo+war+damage.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view of the Palace after Nazi occupation.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%;">The Amber room was dismantled by Nazis and to
date, its fate is unknown. The original Amber room was decorated with amber
mosaics panels, surrounded with gilded carving, mirrors, Florentine mosaics and
further mosaics of Ural and Caucasus gemstones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">The recreation of
Amber room took over 20 years, the restored room is a truly unique monument,
and a testament to the painstaking care of the craftsmen who worked on it.
Unfortunately photography is not allowed in the room. These, found on Google,
give you an idea of its grandeur.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0FKcDCxYoBo/T_pKfEr6W2I/AAAAAAAAB2M/nuCoTOP2sIo/s1600/amber+room+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0FKcDCxYoBo/T_pKfEr6W2I/AAAAAAAAB2M/nuCoTOP2sIo/s320/amber+room+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc-bZosLiOY/T_pKgw7MvvI/AAAAAAAAB2U/zuXt9cJxFDg/s1600/amber+room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jc-bZosLiOY/T_pKgw7MvvI/AAAAAAAAB2U/zuXt9cJxFDg/s320/amber+room+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 27px; line-height: 31px;">You may see more pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630488959140/">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-58999540880884598392012-07-04T07:10:00.000-07:002012-07-04T07:10:44.918-07:00Happy Birthday America!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJvctxhEbHA/T_ROyZo-jsI/AAAAAAAAByk/P4UAC8NTW6k/s1600/_MG_1957+4+July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJvctxhEbHA/T_ROyZo-jsI/AAAAAAAAByk/P4UAC8NTW6k/s320/_MG_1957+4+July.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-33380750508132539212012-06-10T19:59:00.000-07:002012-06-10T21:01:40.595-07:00Painting in Photoshop: week 4 and a bonus<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here it is - the end of Painting of Photoshop class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">During week four we used different color mixing brushes,Topaz filters and </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">HDR toning. As a bonus we had a project which combined Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop techniques. The amount of information I got from this class is incredable, and there are so many ways to use it in my projects. That is very exciting. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS1b0eFqDAU/T9Vc5VcEMHI/AAAAAAAABxY/-RGKzhksJVw/s1600/IMG_7270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS1b0eFqDAU/T9Vc5VcEMHI/AAAAAAAABxY/-RGKzhksJVw/s320/IMG_7270.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">HDR toning and color mixing brushes.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATvibou9rNY/T9Vc7Yb5BdI/AAAAAAAABxg/AmdCW-8pjNM/s1600/_MG_1331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATvibou9rNY/T9Vc7Yb5BdI/AAAAAAAABxg/AmdCW-8pjNM/s320/_MG_1331.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dori effect.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPOXTc6KgF0/T9Vc96Vq3gI/AAAAAAAABxo/JiGfqodotAM/s1600/Topaz+Play+Image++done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JPOXTc6KgF0/T9Vc96Vq3gI/AAAAAAAABxo/JiGfqodotAM/s320/Topaz+Play+Image++done.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Using Topaz Adjust filter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Image provided by Marie.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCCKxhap074/T9VtXa-_G9I/AAAAAAAAByI/To8rRSt40vE/s1600/week+4-abstract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCCKxhap074/T9VtXa-_G9I/AAAAAAAAByI/To8rRSt40vE/s320/week+4-abstract.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abstract - image from deviant art, background from Marie Otero.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARmucWl4gB0/T9VdC7MkqUI/AAAAAAAABxw/N8j37fputKw/s1600/Graffity+fish+2+done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARmucWl4gB0/T9VdC7MkqUI/AAAAAAAABxw/N8j37fputKw/s320/Graffity+fish+2+done.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Graffiti</span> fish - combination of Illustrator and Photoshop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Image provided By Marie.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-50074298662020707092012-06-10T14:48:00.000-07:002012-08-03T08:54:18.431-07:00Russian diary: Moscow- the Kremlin and Red Square<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Kremlin of Moscow is directly associated with
every major event in Russian history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kremlin sits in the center of the city, on
Borovitsky Hill above the Moscow River. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lyicq6e0b0/T9USUhacBRI/AAAAAAAABvI/NqI4_IXno0k/s1600/_MG_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lyicq6e0b0/T9USUhacBRI/AAAAAAAABvI/NqI4_IXno0k/s320/_MG_0126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since the beginning of its construction in 1156, it
has been the center of both temporal and spiritual power. In 1367-68, skilled
artists and architects from across Europe were employed to rebuild the Kremlin.
They shaped the site into roughly its modern form and appearance. The Kremlin’s
tower-studded, walled complex contains an ensemble of monuments of outstanding
beauty.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GpjEV2tTMlc/T9USibfgFWI/AAAAAAAABvQ/FLZ03IEpfxg/s1600/_MG_9856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GpjEV2tTMlc/T9USibfgFWI/AAAAAAAABvQ/FLZ03IEpfxg/s320/_MG_9856.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Arsenal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxHwRAa38pA/T9USnqT2kdI/AAAAAAAABvY/MSfmmTkK9bA/s1600/_MG_9876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxHwRAa38pA/T9USnqT2kdI/AAAAAAAABvY/MSfmmTkK9bA/s320/_MG_9876.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Assumption Cathedral</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcFF548xljA/T9USrqUB0dI/AAAAAAAABvg/ci27Jy2RXkQ/s1600/_MG_9894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcFF548xljA/T9USrqUB0dI/AAAAAAAABvg/ci27Jy2RXkQ/s320/_MG_9894.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTkeswT9JO8/T9USyNJDKXI/AAAAAAAABvo/xaQuWk4mK_c/s1600/_MG_9915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTkeswT9JO8/T9USyNJDKXI/AAAAAAAABvo/xaQuWk4mK_c/s320/_MG_9915.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVv2D5wGGP4/T9US9Qp7XpI/AAAAAAAABvw/c_GCYGFDzCo/s1600/_MG_9908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVv2D5wGGP4/T9US9Qp7XpI/AAAAAAAABvw/c_GCYGFDzCo/s320/_MG_9908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kremlin Guard</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6-xpex-b1w/T9UTAZssufI/AAAAAAAABv4/JWuAtf1-c78/s1600/_MG_9907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6-xpex-b1w/T9UTAZssufI/AAAAAAAABv4/JWuAtf1-c78/s320/_MG_9907.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bell tower Ivan the Great</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Red Square is closely associated with the
Kremlin, lying beneath its east wall.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span lang="EN">The square used to be a market square
adjoining the merchants area in Kitay Gorod (part of Moscow).It has always been
a place where occupants of the Kremlin chose to congregate, celebrate and
castigate for all the people to see.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">At its south end is the famous Cathedral of St Basil
the Blessed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3kxlQDYCe0/T9UTx-2JIiI/AAAAAAAABwA/wTZeIEJM-SE/s1600/_MG_9997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3kxlQDYCe0/T9UTx-2JIiI/AAAAAAAABwA/wTZeIEJM-SE/s320/_MG_9997.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The
Cathedral was ordered by Ivan the Terrible to mark the 1552 capture of Kazan
from Mongol forces. It was completed in 1560. Nothing is known about the
builders, Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, except their names and the dubious legend
that Ivan had them blinded so that they could not create anything to compare.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the
Soviet era, Red Square became a focal point for the new state. Military parades
take place here since 1919. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lenin’s Mausoleum
is the part of the square complex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Red Square is closed to
traffic and filled with tourists snapping photos and marveling at their
surroundings.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0KT_92mfEO0/T9UURbArLhI/AAAAAAAABwY/N1B3_CLaVI8/s1600/_MG_9754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0KT_92mfEO0/T9UURbArLhI/AAAAAAAABwY/N1B3_CLaVI8/s320/_MG_9754.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kremlin tower</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vIlWk0ioFg/T9UUSSYZ3hI/AAAAAAAABwg/PQvKcxnqdJ4/s1600/_MG_9780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vIlWk0ioFg/T9UUSSYZ3hI/AAAAAAAABwg/PQvKcxnqdJ4/s320/_MG_9780.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marshall Zhukov against Samsung</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxp0C7EAXkQ/T9UUUN-opCI/AAAAAAAABwo/Y7E6jNP_Jls/s1600/_MG_9829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sxp0C7EAXkQ/T9UUUN-opCI/AAAAAAAABwo/Y7E6jNP_Jls/s320/_MG_9829.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Square getting ready for the Victory day parade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhrfQvVinmQ/T9UUV4Tp_QI/AAAAAAAABww/mrWH8cr1Bng/s1600/_MG_9834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhrfQvVinmQ/T9UUV4Tp_QI/AAAAAAAABww/mrWH8cr1Bng/s320/_MG_9834.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">World's famous mummy home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZNr4deZz4Y/T9UUZSDpr1I/AAAAAAAABw4/I41eDWof9CM/s1600/_MG_9989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZNr4deZz4Y/T9UUZSDpr1I/AAAAAAAABw4/I41eDWof9CM/s320/_MG_9989.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hmmm... a competitor or a soul mate?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxHBF87yVAQ/T9UUgKOwzjI/AAAAAAAABxA/cI0Um269hvM/s1600/_MG_9835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxHBF87yVAQ/T9UUgKOwzjI/AAAAAAAABxA/cI0Um269hvM/s320/_MG_9835.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">History museum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">You may see more pictures here:</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630035809599/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630035809599/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-57548862330783251612012-06-03T21:08:00.000-07:002012-06-03T21:08:26.440-07:00Painting in Photoshop, week 3<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week we used mixer brushes to create painterly effect in landscapes and portraits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is amazing how many powerful tools there are in Photoshop, and it is so great finally to be able to use them.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXlsidB3dhU/T8wzobAIplI/AAAAAAAABuk/klEEHLETQaY/s1600/IMG_7118+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXlsidB3dhU/T8wzobAIplI/AAAAAAAABuk/klEEHLETQaY/s320/IMG_7118+1.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Astoria, Oregon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wI2P9s-caPc/T8wzrZn3BeI/AAAAAAAABus/-oCLswVnikA/s1600/_MG_0459+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wI2P9s-caPc/T8wzrZn3BeI/AAAAAAAABus/-oCLswVnikA/s320/_MG_0459+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Park in Puskin, suburbs of St Petersburg, Russia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5IYOkB8vzU/T8wzuiWBVmI/AAAAAAAABu0/fHXE6sYnzfc/s1600/_MG_0094+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5IYOkB8vzU/T8wzuiWBVmI/AAAAAAAABu0/fHXE6sYnzfc/s320/_MG_0094+2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took this photograph in Moscow, Russia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-59797718523800818622012-06-01T22:22:00.002-07:002012-08-03T08:54:36.052-07:00Russian diary: The Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">This marvelous Russian style church, built on the spot
where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded in March 1881. The church was
built between 1883 and 1907 and was officially called the Resurrection of Christ
church (a.k.a. The Church of our Savior in Spilled Blood).</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FapjUht-ZG0/T8mOzCh3SgI/AAAAAAAABsg/p_Jrx334CdY/s1600/_MG_0347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FapjUht-ZG0/T8mOzCh3SgI/AAAAAAAABsg/p_Jrx334CdY/s320/_MG_0347.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHMF-M9Ir3E/T8mO_JPY2KI/AAAAAAAABsw/C4rmmUGHHb8/s1600/_MG_0276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHMF-M9Ir3E/T8mO_JPY2KI/AAAAAAAABsw/C4rmmUGHHb8/s320/_MG_0276.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Architecturally,
the Cathedral differs from St. Petersburg's other structures. The city's
architecture is predominantly Baroque and Neoclassical, but the Savior on Blood
harks back to medieval Russian architecture. The church is only a block away
from Kazan cathedral which was built in traditions of <span class="googqs-tidbit">Classical architecture. </span>It is a western church in a
western city, and although the cathedral held Russian Orthodox ceremonies and
featured icons, it is still laid out much like a Catholic Cathedral.</span> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgELopVpKVM/T8mPLv541tI/AAAAAAAABs4/lR_N8tg4Mys/s1600/_MG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgELopVpKVM/T8mPLv541tI/AAAAAAAABs4/lR_N8tg4Mys/s320/_MG_0336.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kazan Cathedral</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a result, it becomes a symbol of the liberal
European influence, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">which Alexander III so despised and blamed for his father’s
death. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alexander III insisted that his church be line of sight to the Kazan </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">cathedral
to remind his citizens of the dangers of liberalization and </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">reform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The glazed brick and polychrome tiles are trimmed with
shining </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">marble.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnEtfHuKxb8/T8mP3rbWOCI/AAAAAAAABtA/rU9Ig3iD-vo/s1600/_MG_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnEtfHuKxb8/T8mP3rbWOCI/AAAAAAAABtA/rU9Ig3iD-vo/s320/_MG_0304.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqBUzB1c70s/T8mP7vzxPiI/AAAAAAAABtI/UmYp45DNZ_M/s1600/_MG_0298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqBUzB1c70s/T8mP7vzxPiI/AAAAAAAABtI/UmYp45DNZ_M/s320/_MG_0298.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">However, it is the mosaics that are the real treasure.
The </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">f</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">lamboyant exterior of the building is adorned with icons in a riot </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">of
color and becomes more mind boggling the closer you get. Inside </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">there is almost
7,000 sq. meters of Italian marble and over 20 </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">different Russian minerals, that
embellish the opulent mosaics </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">based on paintings by Nikolai Bruni, Mikhail
Nesterov, and other </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">religious artists of the late 19th century. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Christ and the Apostles are portrayed within the
cupola, while the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">walls and pillars are totally adorned with other Biblical
scenes or </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">images of saints. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mosaics fill
the niches, crevices and cornices and </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">no surface is left bare of embellishment.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">In the aftermath of the
Russian revolution the church was ransacked and looted of the fine wooden icons
and religious alter facades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Soviet
government closed the church in the early 1930s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the Second World War when many people starved
to death during the siege of Leningrad, the church was used as a temporary morgue
for those who died from combat, starvation and illness. It was hit by many German shells, at least one of which went through the roof, but failed to explode saving irreplaceable interior art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">After the war, it was
used as a warehouse for vegetables, leading to the sardonic name of <i>Savior
on Potatoes</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, it was used for many years as a storage space for a local opera company.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qezq2K2iwbc/T8mRWs7YvUI/AAAAAAAABt4/yftyAVi2Sic/s1600/_MG_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qezq2K2iwbc/T8mRWs7YvUI/AAAAAAAABt4/yftyAVi2Sic/s320/_MG_0635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1968, the church was recognized as a heritage asset. It was reopened in August 1977, after 27 years of restoration (it took more time to restore it, than to build), but has not been consecrated and functions as a Museum of Mosaics. Even before the Revolution ut never functioned as a public place of worship, having been dedicated exclusively to the memory of the assassinated tsar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">The Church is now one of the main tourist attractions in St. Petersburg. Not only does it look like what the rest of the world has become to expect fron the Russian Ortodox church, but does so in a breathtakingly beautiful and picturesque way.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECy3o8rubxE/T8mR3mrKYZI/AAAAAAAABuQ/cvrdbdnVN7o/s1600/_MG_0364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECy3o8rubxE/T8mR3mrKYZI/AAAAAAAABuQ/cvrdbdnVN7o/s320/_MG_0364.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p>You may see more pictures here : <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630006407322/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630006407322/</a></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-15784994659789933452012-05-29T21:57:00.003-07:002012-05-29T22:07:38.362-07:00Saturday walk on Dragon street.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three day weekends go so fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure why, maybe it is the expectation of
accomplishing something with the extra time, but occasionally you actually complete
your plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This memorial weekend was low
key for us, no over planning, no huge expectations, just rewind the creative
juices and do a little exploring of Dragon Street in Dallas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1COIuhfNYc0/T8WnqGFimjI/AAAAAAAABrI/S21m_ptUlL8/s1600/Dragon+Street+Mural+with+New+Bridge+in+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1COIuhfNYc0/T8WnqGFimjI/AAAAAAAABrI/S21m_ptUlL8/s320/Dragon+Street+Mural+with+New+Bridge+in+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whu2Snm6c_4/T8WntBgpJfI/AAAAAAAABrQ/1kbuJIHWIj4/s1600/J+Edgar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whu2Snm6c_4/T8WntBgpJfI/AAAAAAAABrQ/1kbuJIHWIj4/s320/J+Edgar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dragon St is the intersection of Design and Creativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not necessarily a unique concept but here the
execution is inching toward “spot on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We set out to visit the PDNB Gallery to view the “From Russia With Love”
photography exhibit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Featured are the
photographs of 7 Russian photographers including Mikhail Dashevsky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mikhail is a scientist, a PhD like Elena and
like Elena has seen more than a little historic change in the Moscow
scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited to see how this
experienced shaped his photographic vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you
live in Dallas, visit the PDNB Gallery and share the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay particular attention to “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Greetings to Mr. Bresson!, 1995,” a</span>
genuine slice of life at a farmers market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also study the faces of the folks at the bus stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really neat stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see these pictures at <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><a href="http://pdnbgallery.com/Site/HOME.html">pndb gallery</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every visit to Dragon Street results in a discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time we spotted items outside a gallery
that we learned were yarn sculpture (by artist K. Witta).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
we walked back down Dragon St. to check this out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a Hoot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You just have to see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are
a few pictures, but they don’t begin to do justice to this art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this is in front of and inside the
Mary Tomas Studio & Gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
inside the gallery are some very interesting fused glass pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUuKSBNGKzE/T8WoIWAHmPI/AAAAAAAABrg/X4nPbE9A8yM/s1600/_MG_1418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUuKSBNGKzE/T8WoIWAHmPI/AAAAAAAABrg/X4nPbE9A8yM/s320/_MG_1418.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fb-7OdrBv88/T8WoRJH0i1I/AAAAAAAABr4/FsTK28UBBo0/s1600/_MG_1429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fb-7OdrBv88/T8WoRJH0i1I/AAAAAAAABr4/FsTK28UBBo0/s320/_MG_1429.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cr5sL32jwVE/T8WoWpx-U6I/AAAAAAAABsI/gRvlm3I98yU/s1600/_MG_1437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cr5sL32jwVE/T8WoWpx-U6I/AAAAAAAABsI/gRvlm3I98yU/s320/_MG_1437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8YAR42e37M/T8WoY7ww0LI/AAAAAAAABsQ/-oNPJYfG3Co/s1600/_MG_1440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8YAR42e37M/T8WoY7ww0LI/AAAAAAAABsQ/-oNPJYfG3Co/s320/_MG_1440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all, Dragon St never disappoints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out, bring you camera and walk a
bit, and talk a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
friendliest street around.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-91909161924750580382012-05-22T21:40:00.001-07:002012-05-23T11:24:22.220-07:00Painting in photoshop - week 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week in Marie Otero class we used Art History brush, smudge tool and patterns.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0obcIsN-9Y/T7xoI0ftNzI/AAAAAAAABqM/WIWeME8bcMU/s1600/project+5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0obcIsN-9Y/T7xoI0ftNzI/AAAAAAAABqM/WIWeME8bcMU/s1600/project+5-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Art History brush, background texture provided by Marie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzvU5Yq6YXg/T7xoOYFXT6I/AAAAAAAABqU/uy1oyGc2FeY/s1600/week+2+project+5-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzvU5Yq6YXg/T7xoOYFXT6I/AAAAAAAABqU/uy1oyGc2FeY/s320/week+2+project+5-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Art History brush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M9RNhp3gfM/T7xobNZColI/AAAAAAAABqk/2vczQ1BZkpE/s1600/IMG_9466+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M9RNhp3gfM/T7xobNZColI/AAAAAAAABqk/2vczQ1BZkpE/s320/IMG_9466+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smudge tool.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1SDyVhur34/T7xocrJd9_I/AAAAAAAABqs/Lq9xeZ_on1k/s1600/IMG_4100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1SDyVhur34/T7xocrJd9_I/AAAAAAAABqs/Lq9xeZ_on1k/s320/IMG_4100.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smudge tool.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5PwEtTACO84/T7xodanRgaI/AAAAAAAABq0/w1NrmZD_prY/s1600/by_tragicalice-d50sqo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5PwEtTACO84/T7xodanRgaI/AAAAAAAABq0/w1NrmZD_prY/s320/by_tragicalice-d50sqo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Painting with patterns. Original image from DeviantArt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4eJ3mUTWdU/T7xoXCG2mVI/AAAAAAAABqc/6XzFJCaTjU0/s1600/1+by_rimthong-d4veg56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4eJ3mUTWdU/T7xoXCG2mVI/AAAAAAAABqc/6XzFJCaTjU0/s320/1+by_rimthong-d4veg56.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Art History brush, backgrounds modified with filters. Original image from DeviantArt.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-76013713803255536332012-05-20T18:12:00.003-07:002012-08-03T08:55:08.221-07:00Russian kaleidoscope<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’m back from visiting
Moscow & St. Petersburg, Russia. It feels like everything I saw and
experienced is still rotating in my mind creating a kaleidoscope of colorful recollections.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moscow: Construction
everywhere…cranes in all directions and huge pits where wonderful bits of
architecture previously existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
streets are dynamic, overcrowded with people and cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eclectic, a melting pot of Federation and
Western cultures. However, still a great mixture of old and new, people
drinking beer openly and in large quantities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crazy traffic and more crazy traffic – but whenever you step on the road
to cross the street everyone stops!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a huge paradigm shift – as recently as 3 years ago, crossing the road was an
equivalent of committing suicide!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fsyGcQfuo3Y/T7mQzJRBlzI/AAAAAAAABoQ/2zE8PCY_XnE/s1600/_MG_9803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fsyGcQfuo3Y/T7mQzJRBlzI/AAAAAAAABoQ/2zE8PCY_XnE/s320/_MG_9803.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Construction and traffic in Moscow.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4q9Ea5kS9Y/T7mRAKTb0eI/AAAAAAAABoY/GwTcAnD-024/s1600/_MG_9840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4q9Ea5kS9Y/T7mRAKTb0eI/AAAAAAAABoY/GwTcAnD-024/s320/_MG_9840.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A monument to <span class="hps">marshal Zhukov seems to be a part of traffic.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAgG3GM4Ovk/T7mRCIizQqI/AAAAAAAABog/hAYURXA1Hkw/s1600/_MG_9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hAgG3GM4Ovk/T7mRCIizQqI/AAAAAAAABog/hAYURXA1Hkw/s320/_MG_9811.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ivan Fyodorov established Moscow Print Yard in 1564, now a neighbor with Bently store.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lots of Georgian restaurants (even though Russia was at war with Georgia
several years ago), Georgian people are very friendly and hospitable, I talked
to one restaurant owner who said that now is the best time to visit Georgia -
best rates, best food, wonderful cities an exotic culture, I think I’ll give
this thought a try.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZJ0UX9KMbs/T7mRTnU6DkI/AAAAAAAABoo/KE5i3EzXamw/s1600/_MG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZJ0UX9KMbs/T7mRTnU6DkI/AAAAAAAABoo/KE5i3EzXamw/s320/_MG_0201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Georgian hinkali, to die for.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The best time to see Moscow is
Sunday morning at 6 am. Then you can really enjoy the center of the city, its
wide avenues and beautiful buildings without the human contamination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I have issues with humans, but
Moscow has really become a melting pot of nationalities retaining their
languages and customs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I lived
here, Moscow was a melting pot but everyone embraced the host language.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9qP9J1zEVI/T7mRm22U7SI/AAAAAAAABow/b8-UfpKYVfY/s1600/_MG_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9qP9J1zEVI/T7mRm22U7SI/AAAAAAAABow/b8-UfpKYVfY/s320/_MG_0063.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSi1b5g6SpA/T7mRpfinbMI/AAAAAAAABo4/M-XCgo0ZLgE/s1600/_MG_9941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rSi1b5g6SpA/T7mRpfinbMI/AAAAAAAABo4/M-XCgo0ZLgE/s320/_MG_9941.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kremlin Tower.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwWohcadQn0/T7mRtEmXddI/AAAAAAAABpA/TrzYcCrOGf0/s1600/_MG_9971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwWohcadQn0/T7mRtEmXddI/AAAAAAAABpA/TrzYcCrOGf0/s320/_MG_9971.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tsar canon, never shot a canon ball, just a decoration.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YykmsI-QQng/T7mRyBiIPZI/AAAAAAAABpI/L_BmnX9b1TI/s1600/_MG_9991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YykmsI-QQng/T7mRyBiIPZI/AAAAAAAABpI/L_BmnX9b1TI/s320/_MG_9991.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">During May Holidays Moscow gets decorated.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">St Petersburg: I lived in
this city for 28 years and I love it with all my heart, but I never saw it
looking as gorgeous as this time. The city was never built in a random way,
from the first days of its foundation by Peter the Great, every street was
designed as an architectural ensemble. And you can still see this, because St.
Petersburg was lucky enough to become a “province” and not to experience
reconstruction during the Soviet era. It was carefully preserved, and now it is
a truly European city – clean, fresh, stylish with its roots in our history.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr3bHzv37zI/T7mSFg8vNWI/AAAAAAAABpQ/BtyZ0-7MT3c/s1600/_MG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr3bHzv37zI/T7mSFg8vNWI/AAAAAAAABpQ/BtyZ0-7MT3c/s320/_MG_0215.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moika river.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zziH6_CNVJo/T7mSKwYnOHI/AAAAAAAABpY/VHN4I9-p6A4/s1600/_MG_0374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zziH6_CNVJo/T7mSKwYnOHI/AAAAAAAABpY/VHN4I9-p6A4/s320/_MG_0374.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moika river and Griboedov canal merge together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M93G3sdAWUA/T7mSRuYsiaI/AAAAAAAABpg/6ft8HA_3REU/s1600/_MG_0383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M93G3sdAWUA/T7mSRuYsiaI/AAAAAAAABpg/6ft8HA_3REU/s320/_MG_0383.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIOka15J5GA/T7mSXiBIAeI/AAAAAAAABpo/PpX_kwEXwy8/s1600/_MG_0510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIOka15J5GA/T7mSXiBIAeI/AAAAAAAABpo/PpX_kwEXwy8/s320/_MG_0510.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nikolsky cathedral.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0T0pya7jad8/T7mSdbJWsXI/AAAAAAAABpw/Lg0Ehia-Jd0/s1600/_MG_0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0T0pya7jad8/T7mSdbJWsXI/AAAAAAAABpw/Lg0Ehia-Jd0/s320/_MG_0673.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Briges and rivers are decorated with metal grates.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0c8nhNl2aQ/T7mSlRBSY_I/AAAAAAAABp4/WAvrrBpBBU8/s1600/_MG_0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0c8nhNl2aQ/T7mSlRBSY_I/AAAAAAAABp4/WAvrrBpBBU8/s320/_MG_0683.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">St. Isaac cathedral.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NC_luq5I6g/T7mSmhfKTtI/AAAAAAAABqA/2hKp_-v0JNM/s1600/_MG_1219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_NC_luq5I6g/T7mSmhfKTtI/AAAAAAAABqA/2hKp_-v0JNM/s320/_MG_1219.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He looks tired.</span></td></tr>
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</span>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-56869277105600422852012-04-24T05:13:00.001-07:002012-04-24T05:13:58.460-07:00You are Invited<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has been a busy time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Elena is off tomorrow to Russia for 3 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have pictures being hung for a gallery
show starting May 5<sup>th</sup>, participating in several classes and of
course picking up the camera and testing our thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now the details…We are excited to participate in the
Aperture 8 gallery show at the Art Centre of Plano gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theme is Reminiscence and it was fun
exploring the various meanings associated with our reminiscences. The show is
May 5 through June 8<sup>th</sup>.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVP2zRxiGh4/T5aY07Nos1I/AAAAAAAABoA/R-cSAuzy7EU/s1600/Front+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVP2zRxiGh4/T5aY07Nos1I/AAAAAAAABoA/R-cSAuzy7EU/s320/Front+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9mmGXi-ixo/T5aY13QR8hI/AAAAAAAABoI/yWdYV5WrvHM/s1600/back+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9mmGXi-ixo/T5aY13QR8hI/AAAAAAAABoI/yWdYV5WrvHM/s1600/back+041.jpg" /></a></div>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2389838067876793908.post-11177477209672998982012-04-23T07:55:00.000-07:002012-04-23T07:55:40.645-07:00Painting in photoshop - week1<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In week 1 of Marie class we covered filters, blending modes, layer styles, custom shapes and much more. And though I'm familiar with these tools the effects that were created are quite new to me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNwGn-MjUho/T5VqRNTNgNI/AAAAAAAABnQ/h5FEOer2VT4/s1600/cartoon_psychobounce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNwGn-MjUho/T5VqRNTNgNI/AAAAAAAABnQ/h5FEOer2VT4/s320/cartoon_psychobounce.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cartoon effect. Original image by<strong> phsychob</strong> from <strong>devianArt</strong>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g45RUK2wBL8/T5VqVL1XyPI/AAAAAAAABnY/AZzHt85HtEw/s1600/flowers+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g45RUK2wBL8/T5VqVL1XyPI/AAAAAAAABnY/AZzHt85HtEw/s320/flowers+sketch.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sketch effect.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vf8lTjAkRzQ/T5VqX4AFIdI/AAAAAAAABng/H24ttVmonpg/s1600/flowers+sketch+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vf8lTjAkRzQ/T5VqX4AFIdI/AAAAAAAABng/H24ttVmonpg/s320/flowers+sketch+2.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sketch effect with additional layers of textures.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zG3S5GQUo8/T5Vr99EDFUI/AAAAAAAABn4/4oleZ4kXJcE/s1600/rob+brown_Pierro_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zG3S5GQUo8/T5Vr99EDFUI/AAAAAAAABn4/4oleZ4kXJcE/s320/rob+brown_Pierro_.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sketch with color. Original image by <strong>Rob Brown</strong> from <strong>dphotography</strong></span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfiBCF6CE7Q/T5Vqe6CnCUI/AAAAAAAABnw/7RSqNhC3-Cs/s1600/Bubble_gum_by_sirlatrom+x4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfiBCF6CE7Q/T5Vqe6CnCUI/AAAAAAAABnw/7RSqNhC3-Cs/s320/Bubble_gum_by_sirlatrom+x4.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Warhol" effect. Original image by <strong>sirlatrom</strong> from <strong>devianArt</strong>. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Elena and Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148793083016700101noreply@blogger.com0