Cross Bokeh

This week I learned that creating custom bokeh was not as easy as I thought it would be.  Creating the lens hood was easy, but capturing the shot was not.  Primarily, because I couldn't find any lights to capture, when I actually had the time to attempt the shot.  So, what's a girl to do?  I hung some Christmas lights. and although it is not all that attractive, I have a custom bokeh shot.  

If you want to learn how to make custom bokeh click HERE.  Even if you don't, you should go and check out the cute coffee mug/heart shot Janell captured.  Maybe, mine will look like that....some day.

Not only was I bummed I didn't capture a better photo, but I had a hard time with the edit.  I have been trying to use less actions, because I want to learn to fully use PSE8.  However, I opened my SOOC shot,   cropped it, adjusted the brightness, adjusted the contrast, up my blacks a little, increased my midtones, then applied TheCoffeeShop's Moody Pop action and I was much more pleased with the results.  

AFTER (second edit)

AFTER (first edit)

Before