Friday, December 4, 2009

A Christmas Photo


From the first moment I saw Reese, the little white goat, I pictured her with a big red bow around her neck for Christmas. I would take her picture and make it into a Christmas card. The trouble is that any good picture I might happen to take is purely by chance. It is a miracle if I get it off my camera and on my computer and it still looks good.
I was determined to make a Christmas card with Reese on the front.
Now Reese is nearly as wild as Notty so after cornering her and putting a big red bow around her neck with Alice and Buttons helping with the positioning, I decided to tuck the blue plastic chain she had on under the bow. You will see how well that worked.

I snapped away as she frolicked around the pen and didn't get anything I am really crazy about and apparently I s_ _ _ at Photoshop. I do hate that word but there are times that it is the only one that fits.
Here are some of the outtakes.



After all that, I have nothing. I'm hoping the fog and clouds will part this weekend so I can torture myself one more time.
Or if you are really good at Photoshop, even marginally good, please feel free to play with any of these for me. I want to cut the goat out and put her in a more Christmassy background and get rid of the blue collar.
Anyone? Please?

16 comments:

Danni said...

Very cute pictures!! I don't do Photoshop, though, sorry.
You could simplify this, though. What if you left the background as-is (a natural farm setting, quite lovely) and turned the color of the chain collar to christmas tree green? Then she'd be wearing red and green - entirely holiday appropriate! And I'm betting you can do this in Photoshop! (just a thought) :-)

Marigold said...

Perhaps cropping? Well, I don't do cropping well unless it happens to include Peanuts or grass...that kind of cropping I am quite good at.

goatgirl said...

Darn it farmgirl...I thought if anyone could do it, it would be you. You may be right about just leaving the background. Beside that is what it looks like at Christmastime in the Northwest.

Danni said...

Really? Thanks! (I think)
I don't even own a copy...verrrrrry expensive. Maybe if someone BOUGHT me a copy, maybe for Christmas, maybe then I'd be really happy to do things like this for her. Just sayin...

Danni said...

Hey, you know what I was just noticing? I think Reese looks a lot like Lucy... :-)

Barbee' said...

I think Alice and Buttons want to eat it!

goatgirl said...

Farmgirl, Too bad you caught me on my homemade presents Christmas. Try again next year.
And yes she does look almost exactly like Lucy...but, thank goodness, with a goat personality.

Marigold, I took your advice and tried cropping one and it turned out pretty good. Maybe you will see it on my card. Do goats like to get Christmas cards?

Barbee', They did give a taste and then just started to mock her.

Anonymous said...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p81/mixk2rider/christmasgoat.jpg

I'm trying to play around more. I went to picnik.com

Hope this helps!

Beth

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Personally, I like the first, close-up photo...I mean look at those eyelashes...you can just picture them with snowflakes on them. Do you think I'll ever get on a Christmas card, like her?

Queen Quattra said...

The previous comment was from me
Queen Quattra but somehow it didn't show up. Hmmmm.

Holly said...

A few tips on photography. Taking photos in the early morning and evening gives you a warm golden light. The middle of the day blue tones. An overcast day gets rid of the shadows and bright light spots and is a perfect even light to shoot in.

When you want the goat to look short shoot from a standing position and squat to get a more engaging and appealing shot like your fifth one. Try putting treats on the ground for them to eat. Then squat or lie down a short distance away prepared for when the goats raise their heads between nibbles. Then click. Isolating the goat you want to photograph so there are no others to playfully shove it around helps.
My problem photographing my goats is they are too friendly and stick their faces literally in the camera's lens. I hope these tip help you.
easylivingthehardway.blogspot.com

goatgirl said...

Thanks Beth, What a great website. I had so much fun.

Queen Quattra, I bet if you go around and pose a lot you will get someone to take your picture and put it on a card. I have to say I also like the first one. A very artful photo.

Good goat photo hints Holly. I should have isolated Buttons. She kept jumping on me and my hands are shaky enough. I'm not complaining though as friendly goats are a good thing.

Anonymous said...

These are really super shots. Reese is such a cutie. You have some great card choices. :)

Rosie said...

I LOVE the last one! I seriously think that would make a good card. Give it a holly border or something, with a Merry Xmas in the bottom right!

Kimberly said...

I know it is too late for a Christmas card but I just saw your blog today. I like the first one, the close up. It really looks professional and neat.

Cute goats! I love goats but we don't have any anymore.