I’m on SmugMug now. I’ve uploaded full-res images of photos and I’ve also been using software to make some of them artful. I’ve had a blast. I invite you to check out what I’ve done thus far. There are a couple of new images and there will be more soon. Mostly I’ve re-saved old images in full-res format and posted them there. I got pretty frustrated not long ago when I decided I wanted to buy myself a print or a book—I’ve been looking around. The only problem was, to save room online and to allow for faster loading of images, I have made them all about 500 pixels wide. They’re fine for online viewing, but not for much else. When I started uploading images and files to a website, we were still all on dial-up, and at that time it was important that the files be small. Now—not so much.

Once the holidays are over, I hope to go somewhere once a month to take pictures. And I have decided, I am not a successful point-and-shooter; I have to use a tripod. But I have new tools that I’m excited to try, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, I’m staying busy with a new job (where I’m learning lots), an old job (that I love), two dogs, a house, baking cookies for Christmas gifts, a little social life, and until last week, school. It keeps me out of trouble, I suppose. But what fun is THAT?!

This is my balcony that overlooks Grand Junction, Colorado. I used Topaz Labs’ Star Effects to exaggerate the shimmer on the Christmas lights. The result is more interesting than the original photo.

Do you notice it’s snowing here on WordPress?

Christmas Lights