Creepy Finale & Recap

Happy Halloween!

Here is a movie of all of the past 17 days of creepiness leading up to Halloween.  I hope you liked it as much as I liked making it.  Thanks to everyone for the sweet comments as it was helpful in keeping me on task!  If you are celebrating this evening please be safe and enjoy some tasty treats!  I will be in my nice cozy house, watching Army of Darkness and laughing hysterically.  Below are a few more creepy morsels from the Zombie Walk, enjoy!

I may try to make one or two of these images into postcards.  I am curious what your favorite image is from the series if you have one...  I think I like the Pyramid (#3)...or the sweet, little, faceless girl (#16).

(Links for all the CC posts)

Creepy Countdown 17

Creepy Countdown 16

Creepy Countdown 15

Creepy Countdown 14

Creepy Countdown 13

Creepy Countdown 12

Creepy Countdown 11

Creepy Countdown 10

Creepy Countdown 9

Creepy Countdown 8

Creepy Countdown 7

Creepy Countdown 6

Creepy Countdown 5

Creepy Countdown 4

Creepy Countdown 3

Creepy Countdown 2

Creepy Countdown 1

These were two more of my favorites from the Walk.  I left them unedited so you could see the crowd and get an idea of what I saw.  I think that guy with the bike is a riot!

Creepy Countdown 1

The place that comes to mind when I think of creepy is the hospital my dad was visiting while he was ill.  I wrote about this hospital before after my first visit there should you care to read a bit more about the place or the day.  The care he received was wonderful and the doctors were top notch but the facility was one of the oldest hospitals in Chile and well, I have seen too many movies.

The hospital, although top notch, was not the epitome of future forward technology.  Frankly, it didn't seem like a sound building.  There were pieces missing from the ceiling, the same old floor that was there from the early 50s.  Really, not many updates to any part of the building probably since it was built...  One night, after we had been in the blood bank for over 8 hours we left the hospital.  We had to walk through the main area, down a few corridors, and into the parking lot.  This was the time that I remember thinking, "Why hasn't Hollywood found this place?"  It was perfect.  If I had been alone in these halls I would have had an anxiety attack.

The fluorescent tube lighting was hanging crooked from the ceiling while it flickered.  You could hear it buzzing.  It was absolutely freezing inside.  What really set the mood was the gurney that was in the distance approaching us.  You could here the high pitched metal wheels go round and round as it echoed through the halls...coming closer and closer.  When we were at our car in the parking lot I could see the gurney being pushed by someone in the dim lighting...chills.  I don't want to make any negative connotations to this place as it those inside took excellent care of my father when he was there.  But being one of the handful of people there at night with the sounds and lighting, well, it was frightening.  And when I think of creepy, well...this is real-life creepy.

The photo of the skull above is from a sculpture in the hospital garden.  The sculpture had been defaced but parts like this detail remained.  These two photos here are of the same place-the left image is from the day and the right from when we left that night.  Notice, no lights, echo-y halls...can't you hear the clicking of footsteps approach, the wheels of the gurney in the distance, the flickering bulb about to burn out??  Creepy.

Please come back tomorrow when I will re-cap the Countdown as well as give you one final creepy photo to enjoy.  This has been a lot of fun for me and I am not sure what I will do with all my creepy images of the future.  Hmmmmm....

Creepy Countdown 2

Hungry Zombette

One of the crazed zombies that came upon downtown the other day.  (Still look forward to writing all about that!)  I suppose I shouldn't have told her how tasty my fresh brain is.

Look forward to tomorrow when I tell you about a truly creepy place.  Oooo-oo-ahahaha... 

Creepy Countdown 3

The Believers knew that their day had finally come.

Four hundred years of searching and fighting had brought them to this moment.

All that was left to do was wait...

---

Man, it's hard being creepy this many days in a row!  Who would've thought?? 

I have not had much time on the computer today and am hoping to have some time tomorrow (so far looks unlikely) to do some catching up reading and writing.  Thanks to everyone who's stopping by and leaving sweet comments about the creepiness!

Have a good Friday!

Creepy Countdown 4

Brothers in Fear

Phonography #10

Thanks to Urban Muser last week I don't have to rename the Phonography link-up to "RMontalban and Anika's Phonography"!   Juuuust kidding...  like I said before, I am happy to just post my phone photo to share.  But I do love having the link up to see what others are up to, it's inspiring.  So please feel free to join in and share your favorite phone photo(s).  The link up is below and so is the button.  You can use the button or just a hyperlink to link back so we can all share in all the submissions.  The link will be open until midnight Thursday.

Happy shooting wherever you may be!

<br /> <br /> <a border="0" href="http://anikatoro.blogspot.com/2010/10/phonography-10.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab46/anikatoro/smallphotography.jpg"/></a><br /> <br /> 

Creepy Countdown 5

What They Came to Tell Us

Touch Up Tuesday #4

This morning when I was thinking about Touch Up Tuesday I thought I would attempt my first layer mask.

First, I tried to minimize my shadow in the foreground.  (I knew it was there and don't know why I didn't do anything about it when I shot the picture.  Maybe I was wanting to make more editing for myself!)  I did this using the clone and also the dodge tool.  I adjusted the contrast and brightness a bit, added some textures and then used the layer mask I found via Shadowhouse Creations. (Love that place.)

This is what I ended up with.  I think I like using layer masks...although I still want to work with them a bit more to understand all these new buttons and options I am using for the first time.  So many possibilities!

Creepy Countdown 6

I guess this isn't as creepy a post as it could be but I wanted to write a bit about this "antique" shop close by.  And to me, this is one creeeeepy place.  From the outside it looks ok...interesting even.  There are framed photos of old time movie-stars and furniture, an old baby carriage, and some other eye-catchers.  So the other day I went inside to look around.  My first thought was "Is my cell on in case I need to call for help?".  My second thought was "Ohhh, silly me, I thought the whole purpose of having a store was to sell things".  This was followed by my third thought which I may or may not have let escape my mouth audibly, "Holy S***".  I was with a friend at the time, good thing because I don't think I would have felt safe to stay and "shop" by myself.  Ok, picture time.

There were mounds of what appeared to be useless items, aka "crap".  I'm talking MOUNDS of it.  And there were broken items around too mixed with things that surely nobody would want or buy.

Like dolls with missing arms.  (What's up with that?!)  There were creepy dolls just sitting on shelves collecting dust or nestled closely with another doll or dirty stuffed animal.

The walls are dirty and not just a scuff here and there but water stains and other I-don't-want-to-imagine-how-they-got-there stains.  I would have thought this would be bad for business but I don't think that's at the top of their list for some reason- the walls nor the business.  It's confusing. (I may go back if I ever need a photo though.  Is it sad to torture myself like that for a photo?)

I was followed the entire time in the store.  However, I guess since I was taking photos that is understandable.  So, I know that this is a different kind of creepy but isn't reality sometimes the most creepy of all?? 

Question:  How does this place make enough money for rent?
Question:  Is this building safe to enter?
Question:  Creepy enough for you?

Day 55

I just caught up in posting my 365 project.  This is one of my favorites from the last week...although the zombie collage was stiff competition.  I like this one because it's simple and each image has a detailed image to fill in the whole story.

Creepy Countdown 7

Just 7 more days until Halloween and so the Creeeeepy Countdown continues.  I'm going to warn you, this is a creepy one and taken with my DSLR rather than the phone...it's creepy.  Oh, and it's gory.  I have left the gore out of the Creepy Countdown thus far but I guess it is getting a bit closer to Hallows Eve.  Remember, I warned you.

I plan on writing a post about the Zombie walk this week but let me say it was awesome and I love my town just a little bit more for having put this together.  I heard they were also going for a new record of the most zombies to re-enact Thriller!  (Which was also quite impressive.  I have video.  If it turned out I will be sharing.)  Many keeper shots but this was the one I worked on first.  Enjoy, a Tennessee Zombie, and child.  Is there anything scarier than a child zombie??? 

Hope I have not scared you from coming back tomorrow for the next creepy installment of the Creepy Countdown.  Oo-oo-ah-ah-ahhhhh...

Sunday Challenges

Linking up for the first time with the SOOC challenge at Murrieta 365 (I couldn't find a button to copy so you can click here to see the other entries or post one of your own).  I love the idea for this challenge because so often I can get bogged down on editing a photo.  For this image I would like to pop some contrast and add a little light to her face.  But, it's nice sometimes to appreciate the what is of the photo, and sometimes it's just as nice.

I did want to fiddle a bit with the image after seeing that Paper Mama is hosting a Black and White challenge.  She did say to keep it creative so I left her face with a bit of color and made everything else black and white...there is a hint of sepia in the corners too.  If you would like to join in Paper Mama's challenge you can click on the button below.

 

Happy Sunday!  

ACoLab News - Deadlines postponed

The calendar filled up quite a bit for the next few weeks and I will be away from my computer for a few days here and there so...  Deadlines have been postponed.  Please feel free to submit early if you would like.  Thanks so much for participating and/or visiting the Lab.

Creepy Countdown 8

I didn't know I had such a full day until I looked at the time, it's 6pm!  I still haven't posted any spookiness!!  Where did the day go?  It went with the zombies!  It was awesome.  You can look forward to tomorrow's post as today was the Zombie walk downtown.  A bit over 100 zombies walked the town for our enjoyment...I leave in a half an hour to watch them re-enact Thriller!  So, will share tomorrow.  But today brings you a ghostly spooky image to enjoy.  Only 8 more days!!

Oh, and thanks so much to all of you who are leaving such sweet comments.  It really keeps me motivated to find more spookiness!  And puts a smile on my face.  Have a good weekend!

Creepy Countdown 9

The Seer 

When the sun goes to sleep and the moon appears, strange noises can be heard from the other side of Trembleton Castle. 

Inside resides a mysterious man with only one eye.  He rarely leaves the castle walls but when he does it's only at night.  

It is rumored he can read your thoughts, make you do his bidding.  He has power.  

His two servants,identical twins, have eyes that glow the deepest black imaginable.  They can read each others minds with a glance but have never spoke a word. 

The Seer wears two rings which are said to control the weather, the creatures of the night, the whispers you hear through the fog.

The townspeople went to investigate if these crazy rumors could in fact be truth, but the wolves prevented them from entering.  It seems they are powerless against the man they call "The Seer".

Cheesy?  Yes.  But this is like a fun little campfire tale with creepy images and well, for me, that pretty much what this Creepy Countdown is all about.  Thanks for taking a look at today's edition.  Hope to see you back for tomorrow's installment! 

What Fell in the Fall

This great weather we have had lately has afforded us nice evening strolls around the neighborhood.  I  was reminded of the great differences of walking in the South as opposed to walking around in California.  (And mind you, it's been like 14 years so things could have changed.)   But an example: Here in Tennessee, Twila walks onto someone's porch to pet a kitty or smell a flower and nothing happens or a variety of characters come out to chat with her.  In CA, you don't walk onto a stranger's porch...it's just not something that's readily accepted.  This privacy always struck me as funny because in the movies and on TV it's always the people on the West Coast who are so happy, mellow, inviting...  It's the "Southerners" who sit on the porch with their gun and their "No Trespassing" signs while cleaning their fingernails with a hunting knife or something like that.  But I have never found such friendly people as in East TN.  (Mind you, as parents, we are aware of boundaries...just want to put that out there for any concerned readers) When I first moved here it was a bit confusing and strange, to some of my friends who visit it's even off putting!  When my relatives from Chile would visit they'd always comment on how nice it is to say "hi" when you pass someone on the street or exchange pleasantries in the market.  My mom visited years ago after I had only been here a short time.  She was staying at a hotel and went down in the morning to get her usual breakfast of plain tea and toast.  (I love my mom.)  The lady looked up at her with sad eyes and said, "Awwohhh, huuney...you not feeling too good this mornin'??"  My mom said her initial reaction in her mind was a sort of "Is she making fun of my order?  Why is she giving me a hard time, just gimme my toast!"  It took some convincing to let my mom know that in fact she probably really felt bad for her.  In her subsequent visits she has noticed that people don't want anything from her when they pay her a compliment, that when people bring up the weather they really do want to talk about the weather, that (unfortunately) in some grocery stores the checker and bagger will actually comment on or question your purchases (I still think this is inappropriate and makes me shop elsewhere when I am not in a oh-that's-so-endering mood), and people are helpful and want to chat because that's how it is."  Like I said, it took years to break down that protective shell but now that it's loosened a bit I just love it here.  It's friendly, and that makes me happy.

So, back to these evening walks I was talking about...  There are the usual things she likes to do on her walks-sniffing leaves and flowers, climbing EVERYTHING, and walking up hills.  But she seems to also be loving the new fall sights.  I imagine this is a whole new world for her!

Even though it's the same streets she walks all the time, Fall has brought so many new things to see and experience.  There's the kitten that follows her down the street running in between her legs, tiny little acorns, squirrels running around scampering and foraging, all kind of birds singing everywhere, happy people sweeping their porches... Fall seems to make people happy.

Long story short (too late) here is my Macro Friday image/Photo of the week.  If you would like to see any of the other images or submit your own just use the buttons below.  This is also my first link up with Photo Story Friday.  Beautiful tales await you should you like to visit the rest of the entries. Really, they will make you smile.

Happy Friday!

Pampelmuse and me and ME!

If you haven't visited  Pampelmuse and me yet I definitely think you should check it out...that is if you love great photos, interesting writing, and getting to know a very talented woman named Clare. 

Today however she decided to write about me and my art! (Blush blush)  I have mentioned before how nice positive affirmation is.  I love it!  Who doesn't?!  I think what she wrote was so lovely...you can read what she wrote here if you'd like.  Thank you Clare for all your sweetness and for making me feel so happy!

Creepy Countdown 10 (with the show-how)

For this special 10 days left countdown I have included a little tutorial, my first, so bear with me.

When I was introduced to the iPhone app "Picture Show" I quickly became addicted to editing my cell images in all sorts of ways.  I loved the effect that it gave my photos and I wanted to learn how to do that with my DSLR camera and other 35mm photographs.  So, after examining the edited images and seeing what was flipped and joined and how things were pieced together, I tried to replicate the photos in Photoshop in order to teach myself the trick.  So if you have an iPhone, download Picture Show.  If you want to know how to edit other photos this way or don't have an iPhone please read on.

Let's take this photo as an example.  Not at all creepy right?  (well unless you find baby hands or acorns scary, then it's petrifying!)

Editing before or after manipulating the image is really up to you.  The cool thing about these mirrored images is that often the end result is a happy surprise.  (I think that's why they have me so addicted!)  But using the SOOC image can be all you need in the end to have your final masterpiece.




I will show you how the app worked it's magic in Photoshop (although you could use any photo editing software) and then show you some other ways to experiment.  Okay, what I figured out from the app was basically the following. And remember, first tutorial...

Step 1

• Create a new image canvas using File>New>
• Size the canvas to be the same as the original image you are using.  For example, I created a blank 4x6 canvas to match the full 4x6 image.

Step 2

• In Photoshop, using the "Rectangular Marquee Tool" (in "Tools"), select the left half of your image. Just split it in half.  You can really take any portion of the image and it doesn't even have to be equal.  But for sake of this lesson split the image down the middle.  The Picture Show app only takes from the left side of the image.  So for now, let's just do that.
• I like to make a duplicate of this layer now to use in step 5.  However, deselect it until then.  You can also wait until step 5 to create the duplicate but it will add a step or two...no biggy. 

Step 3

• Flip the selection.  

In Photoshop, I "transformed" the image using CTRL + T (which highlights the selection), then stretched it over to the other side.  Many photo editing programs will just let you flip an image so that would work too.

Step 4

• Move that piece of the puzzle over to its original side

Step Five

• If you already duplicated your layer as mentioned in Step 2 select it now to be visible.
• If you did not duplicate your layer/first half of the puzzle yet do so now.  You will have to repeat Step 3 for this layer.  (Flip it)

If I were to end here I would do my final editing.  For this image, I removed the seam down the middle using the clone tool.

Incidentally, this is what the Picture Show app came up with when I inputted this image into my phone.  It's a little odd but not really spooky.

I decided to play around a bit more to try and achieve something more compelling.

For this image all I did was flip both sides to join into one another.  It's strange but not what I think I can get from it.

Here we go...creepy!  And it makes me look a little longer to get the whole story.

This was created by doing the steps above but instead of using the left side of the image I used the right side.  I then edited the seams and removed some of the texture from one side so it didn't look too matchy-matchy... I mean, so it didn't look more matchy-matchy.


So, for you iPhoners, playing around a bit more in Photoshop can lead to the same feel and effect with images that Picture Show offers.  I think I may have over explained things but if you have any questions please just contact me and I'd be happy to try and answer them.  I look forward to seeing what you create.  If you do create something interesting please send me a link as I would love to see it!

There you have it, Creepy Countdown number 10!  Hope to see you tomorrow!