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Thursday, April 18, 2013

soulmates

This week I am linking up with Beyond Beyond - inspired by some elegant magazine layouts and Kim's tutorial on tinting in Lightroom, and celebrating a special kind of love with Texture Tuesday.


I spent a good hour perusing the magazine rack at the public library before checking out a couple of back issues of Victoria...then immediately went home and set up two photo shoots, combining family heirlooms and some old snapshots to tell a story or two...

Della & Greg


As did many children of his generation, my father grew up in a bilingual home, where Italian was spoken as often as not. Della Libonati was born in Denver of immigrant parents. Gregorio Notarianni emmigrated to America in 1920, as a young man. Although well-educated he only learned the language upon arriving here; over the years Della was his primary tutor in conversational English. An avid reader and history buff, Greg soon became fluent in the language.
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These are just a few my grandfather's treasured old books, which I now display on a shelf in my living room. Topics include Italian history - ancient and contemporary early 20th century, especially WWI, in which he served in the Italian Cavalry - as well as an Italian-English dictionary and vocabulary book dated 1905. This little end table also belonged to my grandparents. I re-finished it several years ago.


I have several of these little terra cotta jars - made in Italy about 100 years ago - at one time displayed on a dresser or vanity in my grandparents' bedroom.


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Edna & Joe


My maternal grandparents, Joe and Edna Toomey, eloped in June of 1921 when she was just 18 years old and he was 27. My mother relayed their wedding story in her genealogy many years later:

Edna's mother, Ida Swanson, was especially suspicious of anyone Irish, and likely to be Catholic. Joe was both...They told her parents that they wished to marry and be married in the Catholic Church. Ida would have none of it so the young couple eloped...When the priest learned that Edna was Lutheran, she was banished from the altar and they were married in a side room. This was an affront to them both.

It wasn't until several months later that they revealed their marriage to Edna's parents...when she realized that she was expecting.

***

This sterling silver dish was the only wedding gift that Joe and Edna received, given to them by Joe's friends, the Mulrooneys. Their only "wedding photo" is a snapshot of Edna wearing her brown taffeta wedding dress. The handkerchief was Edna's.


***
I followed Kim's tutorial on Tinting in Lightroom using Graduated Filters; after adjusting the colors to get the right feel, I made it a preset, which I call Peachy Blue Vintage. I also applied my own Soft White Vignette preset to all of the photos here. I softened the color photos with Kim's Berrily preset.

In Photoshop I treated all photos with a layer of kk_carmel (Soft Light blend mode @ 60-70%), which I brushed away via a layer mask to recapture some details.


xoxo
Cindy




22 comments:

  1. Absolutely LOVE!! I love the history and stories that you have recorded along with the photos of precious family heirlooms. Great job on the processing too, it compliments the stories so well.

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    1. Thanks Sarah!
      I realized this morning that the accompanying "snapshots" in their raw, unprocessed state detracted from the soft, hazy still life images. So I processed them in a similar manner, except for the b&w tinting. Voila!

      xoxo

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  2. Such beautiful memories. I really love the table you used.....also the exquisite monogrammed handkerchief. Bravo to you on your "homework".

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! I realized after perusing a few of these magazines that I have loads of "raw material" already, amongst my treasured family heirlooms and photos. I have often over the years used this "stuff" in my art in various ways. I seem drawn to family history.

      xoxo

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  3. Beautiful way to tell the story. Wonderful.

    Earl

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    1. Thanks Earl! This seems to be something I am drawn to - both in my art and in that of others. As the saying goes, "You can't make this stuff up."

      xoxo

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  4. Such a nice post, enjoyed reading all about the reason behind the photos

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    1. Thanks Barbara! I am most drawn to that which does have a reason, a "something deeper" behind it - in what I do and in what others do.

      xoxo

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  5. Cindy, this is such a fabulous post. I've been thinking about doing this with my great grandmothers things. This is just the push to get started.

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    1. Thanks Roxi! I can't wait to see what you do...I love this stuff!

      xoxo

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  6. Beautiful photos telling the history of your ancestors!The lovely processing is perfect. Jean S.

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  7. Thanks Jean! I enjoy remembering/honoring them in this way.

    xoxo

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  8. Such a touching story. Made even better with your beautiful photos.

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  9. Love how you set up your photo story and the info to go along with it. Such history and memories to have been shared with you by family. Very nice.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I've always loved this 'stuff' and I enjoy sharing it here.

      xoxo

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  10. Hi Cindy- Thanks for your thoughtful comments on my sky replacement post! I am enjoying looking through your blog and reading your posts and looking at the beautiful photos- WOW! You have the same love of family heirlooms, genealogy, and memories that I have-I love how you present them. I know I will be back to read more- love your writing as much as your photos. BTW, I am a fan of David duChemin as well- I read his blog and have two of his books.
    Yes, I do use Lightroom (as well as CS5) and LOVE it!

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  11. Very pretty work. I really like the last photo!

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  12. What a beautiful job you did on both the photographs and the story. I too need a reason for things and I love items that have been passed down from previous generations. They seem to connect me to the family members of my past... They have meaning...

    You took your treasures from your past family members and made a beautiful visual story that your kids will really appreciate one day....

    You have really encouraged me today....

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    1. Thanks Nancy!

      I'm glad you enjoyed this, and so pleased to have inspired you.

      xoxo

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