Magical Sayulita

Traveling is a passion for many people. And if you have a camera and Photoshop skills, you can create some wonderful images.

The unique text effect you see above, and the charming collage in the image below were created in Photoshop Elements by one of my talented students, Jack Murphy. He visits Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico often and fortunately for us takes lots of pictures!

Jack grew up in the 50's in Southern California during a time when Californians were lucky…they had the weather, the immense growth, and a melting pot of people that made everything interesting.

Jack met Jeanette, his wife, at Macy's department store in the 60's and they were fortunate to be able to travel all over the United States and Europe due to his job and just curiosity.

Back in 1999 they found Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico and because of its beauty, weather, natural art and simpatico people they decided to purchase something they never planned on, a second home.

I asked Jack to describe this fascinating place, and he said, "Sayulita is a beautiful quaint fishing and surfing village 35 miles north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. The waves are perfect for the beginning to intermediate surfer, and during the October through May period the deepsea fishing is boiling with tuna, mahi mahi, toro and mackeral. The reason for the great fishing is Banderas Bay is one of the main breeding areas for the sperm whales. Whales need lots of feed and the tremendous amounts of sardines attract all the other fish and sea birds. After the fishing or surfing it is time for margaritas and a well earned great meal. Sayulita has it all, it is paradise.

All of our family and friends who have visited Sayulita love it. Sayulita is truly magical!”

Thanks to Jack for sharing this lovely spot with us in such a unique way

Tuesday Treasures

On Tuesday's we are going to take a trip down memory lane with some "remember when" photos and stories submitted by our students. It could be photos from a high school prom; a nostalgic look at a 1950's TV program or a collage of photos that were just taken last week. If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com

This simple yet effective collage was created in Photoshop Elements by one of my favorite students, Kevin Rush. He visits New York City as often as possible to take in all the city has to offer plus to catch up on the many family members and friends who live in or near New York City.

He is a native of New Jersey and spent many a day and night in New York City before leaving home to attend college at the University of Tennessee and to pursue a career with Celanese Corporation.

He and his wife Linda (an excellent baker and dedicated teacher) were fortunate to live in the New York City suburbs for 13 years during which time their son Bryan was born. Kevin's career took the family to Dallas in 1992 where they have put down new roots.

The pictures in the collage were all taken on a Saturday morning between 7 and 7:30 in and around his niece's apartment in the West Village of NY City. Kevin said, “I thought she would appreciate getting to see her neighborhood from a perspective and lighting she normally would not witness. Why should she ever be up at 7 on a Saturday morning?”

Thanks to Kevin for sharing his "morning magic" of photos in this collage collection.

Tuesday's Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative Photoshop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.



Creative Photography
& Photoshop

Thats a combination you can't beat! Natalie Harris has a real spark as a photographer. She has taken the time to hone her great eye by taking classes from the best Photography teacher we have at our community college in Dallas.

Combined with newly acquired Photoshop skills, she is creating some wonderful images for herself and her family.

This picture is of a structure at the Dallas Arboretum that in enhanced by a special effect in Photoshop:

Again an interesting image from the Arboretum with a picture of two charming young men inserted in the window so that it looks a bit like a television or computer moniter--you guessed it, they are grandsons.

And last but not least, Natalie took an image of this sculpture at the Nasher Sculpture garden and put her granddaughter's image inside it (she was actually at a baseball game).

Great work, and a special thank you to Natalie Harris for sharing it with us on the blog.