Thursday, December 4, 2008

Sepia Scenes: The Bank Bench

This little bench sits outside a local bank. I love how worn and weathered it is.



I used Photobucket editing for the first time thanks to Mary's suggestions.

I cropped as close as I could but then decided to blur the edges since the AC unit and the bank wall detracted from the bench


Then I converted to Sepia and used the 'Old Photo' effect.

You can see more Sepia Scenes HERE

34 comments:

Raven said...

Nicely done. I love benches. A bench for my back porch is on my wish list...

Carletta said...

I love this Dianne!
It really has that timeless feel. The wrought iron of the bench and its ornate lines was perfect to show in sepia.

Leora said...

I love old benches. Good for you for using the editing in Photobucket. Photoshop is just 1000 tools, instead of the 10 or so you might get with the online free ones. Sort of like learning the ABCs before reading Kafka.

ellen b. said...

Hi Dianne,
I like your sepia bank bench :0)
Thanks for visiting my sepia and have a wonderful weekend...

Mojo said...

Ah! That's better! I can comment now!

I'd wondered how you did the "dream filter effect"... mystery solved!

I'm betting this shot didn't look nearly so compelling in color. Am I right?

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Hi Dianne! This beach looks so inviting. I could sit there and people all day. Lisa

Anonymous said...

A rally timeless finish. Great job!

Cherie said...

What a great vintage look. Really has that old-timey feel. :)

Annie Jeffries said...

Nothing attracts me like an empty bench. I'm going to make myself comfy here for a while.

bobbie said...

It's a lovely little bench, and I love your treatment of it.

Dianne said...

raven - funny coincidence, we've been talking about a bench for the front of the house :)

carletta - thanks, it is a pretty little bench - so out of place by this ugly old AC unit

leora - lol re Photoshop
I signed up for a class but the schedule didn't work out
teaching myself was making me nuts so I started looking at Picasa and Picknic and the Kodak software that came with my camera - all free and all easy to manage

ellen - thanks, you have a good weekend too!

mojo - it's ugly in color, even after editing
the bench looks cold without any regard for its character
the blurring really helped play down the AC unit and the bank wall, plus the patch of bare dirt on the ground
I tried to get a better angle but the other direction gave me the bank entrance which is even uglier

lisa - the employees use it during warmer weather
it's very pretty when the trees are full and the grass is green

ilanadavita - thanks so much :)

cherie - thanks :)

annie - there are so many little benches all over town, I have to find the time to take shots of them all, might make a nice series of photos :)

bobbie - thanks!! Photobucket is easier and more fun than I thought it would be. thanks to Mary or I don't know that I would have tried it

EG CameraGirl said...

Photobucket did a great job! Nice work!

Dianne said...

EG - thanks, I was pleasantly surprised with their editing elements, definitely going to use it again

Babs (Beetle) said...

Such a quaint old bench! Lovely photo.

Patti said...

Nice photo! I like weathered-looking things too and the sepia adds to the old look.

~Just Me Miranda~ said...

Oh this is a nice photo!

Kahshe Cottager said...

Oh, I do like how this turned out. It is just like the bench I would sit on when I was a child waiting for my mother outside the post office!

Sherrie said...

Hi!
Beautiful job on the editing. Great Sepia Photo!! Thanks for stopping by my place.

Sherrie

Dianne said...

babs - thanks :)

patti - it's such a pretty little bench - sometimes I feel like taking it and giving it a better home ;)

just me - thanks :)

kahshe - that's a nice memory :)

sherrie - thanks so much!!

dot said...

You did a good job on the bench. Looks great in sepia.

Anonymous said...

A great edit job done on the bench :)
Sepia tones goes very well with this picture :)

magiceye said...

a classic!

Anonymous said...

Sepia toning combined with a great choice of frame made that weathered bench look more vintage.

Btw, thanks for visiting my SS earlier :)

Bobkat said...

It's a great subject for the antique sepia look. It works really well :)

Dianne said...

dot - thank you!! I appreciate that :)

napaboaniya - thanks :)
I find myself noticing things now in terms of what photo project they might suit - red or creative or sepia or shadows, not to mention looking for a good sky lol
blogging has done wonders for my creative spirit :)

magiceye - thanks!!

bintang - I so appreciate that, thanks. that damn AC unit was in danger of ruining the shot

bob-kat - thanks!! :)

pink dogwood said...

Looks amazing!!!

maryt/theteach said...

Love this Dianne! The photo looks really old! Good job! :)

Dianne said...

pink - thanks!!

mary - thank you, I really enjoy all the hints you post with the sepia posts, thanks so much!!

Anndi said...

Makes me want to go sit down and watch people walk by...

Rose said...

This one is perfect!

Dianne said...

anndi - it is a very peaceful setting, thanks

rose - thank you!!

L'Adelaide said...

diane, thanks for joining me as feeling like one of the "dumb ones" on pagan's nude post yesterday....you warmed my insecure little heart with your words....

AND I LOVE this picture...it's soft and luscious, much softer than it would be to sit on but really very beautifully done as are all the photos I gazed at this cold calif. morn!

blessings...

Anonymous said...

Interesting sepia photo treatment. Thanks for sharing what you did to achieve these results too.
Hugs and blessings,

Dianne said...

linda - you're welcome, you comment to pagan made me smile and remember
the bench isn't all that comfy but it is pretty
stay warm :)

happy - thank you!!