Each year after the Christmas season ends, we head to market for our last Christmas purchase of the season, a purchase made at a very steep discount. There are always passed over and surplus decorations in stores at pennies on the dollar. We buy one or two items for the following year and store it away with the rest.
This year’s new addition from last year’s bargain basement deal is the berries. I think they look great on our tree, adding Christmas Cheer.
There was a relatively long period where William cruised everywhere with his binky. Now that he’s three, he goes longer periods without it 
This boy kept playing peek-a-boo so at the right moment the shutter was pressed for this photo.
The light was perfect and I love how the shot came out despite the 640×480 camcorder resolution. (that’s around 1/2 megapixel, right?)
The gentleman didn’t seem to appreciate being in my photo but the focus was on the architecture behind him. I still wonder why so many different colors are randomly interspersed in the entirety of San Marcos Plaza. It seems whatever was available for repairs and replacement was just fine. I liked the effect. Many say Venice is a decaying city, doomed to sink into the sea but I loved everything about it including the various stages of weathering and age evident everywhere you looked.
Color can change the mood so much in a picture. I added just a hint of sepia tones and a little blurring around the edges of the one that is my favorite of the three renditions of this photograph.
Just a touch of sepia tones and a high pass filter for clearer eyes and this quick snapshot is ready to go.
by Dave Keys
