Last week’s challenge was themed ‘Markings’. Another easy one really considering ‘Markings’ are omnipresent and so naturally one that I found challenging 😛 Do you see a pattern here? I certainly do! Oh well – when in doubt – ‘Use the Kid’ I say 😉 They’re generally adorable and make great pictures 🙂 So that’s what I did, although this time Junior wasn’t a keen subject. He doesn’t like being ‘Marked’ but luckily is easily bribed 😛 I applied the red mark you see on his forehead, (a ‘Tilak’ we call it in local lingo) with powdered vermilion. We use it on auspicious occasions and it signifies a Blessing from whatever deity we’re in the mood to worship on the day! You know we have like millions of those right? 😉 The pic on the right is the final post-process result (I increased the blur significantly in PS leaving just the mark sharp to fit the theme), but many friends in the group liked the original (on the left) better because his eyes are in focus and they are rather dreamy – even if I do say so myself 😉 But I admit my extreme bias 😀 I’m still undecided on which one I like best, but I’m glad I got some PS practice!
Leopard spots and tiger stripesPretty birds and rusty spikesMarks in red and marks on goldTreasure maps and ancient scrollsPainted roads and painted facesSpades and Clubs, Hearts and AcesBeetles, rings and butterfly wingsMarkings on most everything!
H is for Happiness 
Laughing at your propensity to over-complicate things 😆 I like the PS work you did to make the marking stand out, but I also really like the version where his eyes are in focus. And yes, kids always make photos easy 😉 What if you tried a selective color processing where only the marking was in color? Then Junior’s eyes could be in focus AND the mark would really stand out.
Your poem is perfect for this post 🙂 I’ll never understand how poetry, even Seuss-ian verses like this, come so easily. My brain simply does not work like that.
😀 😀 I know right?! Simple is so hard to do 😛 You know…I did think of that idea (great minds we are ;)…I was actually thinking B&W with just the mark red…just didn’t get around to doing it this time, but I’m going to try it out and see how it looks. Thanks for the suggestion mon ami 🙂
As for the poetry…I’ve never understood how that happens either. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s excruciating…but I do enjoy it 😀 Glad you liked it!
You did a fine job on both images, I happen to favor the one with the blur. But I do like the suggestion from above about selective color. That would have been cool, although he is wearing a red shirt also. Anyway, nice job Harsha.
Thanks Julio 🙂 I truly appreciate your comments 🙂 I did think about it like I said, and I’m going to attempt it once I find some time. But first I have to think of something for ‘Down’!
This is a most wonderful post! These days I am struggling with markings too…of the feline territorial sort. Trust me, it ain’t pretty 😛
But your take on markings present and past were a joy to behold!
This comment escaped me somehow
Thanks M 😊 I’m trying to control time spent online these days coz I’ve realized my virtual life is in danger of taking over my real life! The shot I really wanted to take wax one of an hourglass…Marking Time, literally…but couldn’t find one! What is Fuzzy up to now?!!