BEAUTIFUL WORLD Jessica Drossin's Beautiful World Group
Cover art by Maria Lindberg
January & Febuary 2021
4
30
Winter 2021
SHARES Winter Imagery Standouts Artistic Spotlight Inspired by the Season
32 A Winter Challenge Beautiful World Group Moderator Susan Gilbert Puts Her "Hot Dogs" in Cool Environments
Beauty in Black & White
48
50
A Collection of Black & White Photography
Before and Afters Member Transfromations
90
Beautiful World Showcase Popular Image Shares
Strange Days A Personal Story from Jessica
A Note from the Editor-in-Chief...
I
t's hard to believe that 2020 is over and 2021 has now begun. We have a lot of great plans in store for this magazine and we are excited to be start working them in as this new year progresses. We hope that you have been enjoying seeing all of the artwork being brought together in this publication, and that it serves as a reminder of the beauty in the world around you, even when things might not be going the way you might wish them to.
~Deirdre Lewis
~ Edited with my personal favorite: Crisp Matte Black & White from Jessica Drossin's Monotones collection
Julie Beard Lawson
edited W I N T E R - T HImage EM EwithDJD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Standouts
Julie Johnson Lochridge Image edited with JD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts Danielle Lien Images edited with JD Illuminations 2 (selective blur, contrast pretty boost) & JD Autumn Tones Set 2 (mulberry, orange, red & gold paints)
Before
After
After
Susan Perry Gilbert Images edited with JD Foundations 2020, JD Endless Winter and Forces of Nature
Before
After
Before
Mark Palmer Images edited with JD Foundations 2020 & JD Cloud overlay (Grace clean)
Angela Lehman Gorham Images edited with JD Foundations and "Flashlight Cool" from JD Illuminations
After
Before
Trudy Moylan Images edited with JD Texture Pack 1 2020, JD Instant overlays, JD Beautiful World Foundations (Brown eye pop) and Magical Glitter Overlays
Before
After
Before & Afters
Julie Beard Lawson
edited W I N T E R - T HImage EM EwithDJD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Standouts
Maria Lindberg Images edited with JD Moon Sky from Macabre Skies, Snow overlay from Force of Nature & Endless Winter bundle, Light Rays from Force of Nature & Endless Winter bundle
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Daniel Lein Images edited with JD Illuminations 2
Jayne Fletcher Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Watercolor Textures, and JD Endless Winter
Desirée Rolfe Edited with JD Illuminations Instant Overlays and JD Quick Flow
Julie Beard Lawson
edited W I N T E R - T HImage EM EwithDJD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Standouts
Angela Gorham Images edited with JD Foundations 2020
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Stefano Calderan Images edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020, JD Dark Splendor Actions
Dana Churchill McKnelly Edited using JD Beautiful World Road Maps, Matte and Haze, JD Sunflare and Wuthering Heights textures
Mark Palmer Images edited with JD Foundations 2020, JD Matte & Haze, JD Wuthering heights texture (Charlotte - soft light), JD Illuminations 2 (Hazel) & JD BW vignettes
Rita Voortman-Broos Images edited with tiny flare from Lightscaping Instant Overlays and Olive from Illumination Instant Overlays Vol. 2
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Dana Churchill McKnelly Edited with JD Beautiful World Matt and Haze, Road Maps and Wuthering Heights Textures
Deirdre Lewis (Top Left and Right) Images edited with JD
Jan Heastont Edited using Foundations, Beautiful World Paints, JD Illuminations 1 & 2 and JD Endless Winter
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Maria Lindberg
"How often does one come by mist AND frost at the same time?!? We had that one morning. I just ran out with daughter, dress and camera to the horse's pasture." ~Maria Lindberg
Edited with JD Endless Winter Brushes
Julie Beard Lawson Image edited with JD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Maria Lindberg Image edited with JD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Vicky Gustafsson Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Watercolor Textures, and JD Wuthering Heights Textures
Nancy Wilkins (Above) Edited with JD Endless Winter
Michele Sherwood (Right) Edited with JD Beautiful World and JD Endless Winter
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Dee Hunter Edited with JD Endless Winter, JD Force of Nature and JD Painterly Texture 5
Dixie J. Brumm
Rita Voortman-Broos
Edited with JD Beautiful World Vignettes, JD Endless Winter and JD Beautiful World ColorSplash
Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD BW Textures, JD Wuthering Heights Textures
Cheryl Minnier
Edited using JD Macabre Ravens and JD Illuminations Instant Overlays
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Mark Palmer Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020, Cosmopolitan Matte and JD Texture Pack II (2020)
Dallas Denoo
Edited using JD Lightscaping Overlays and Forces of Nature Actions and Overlays
Vicky Gustafsson
Dana Churchill McKnelly
Edited with JD Lightscaping Instant overlays and JD Beautiful World Foundations
Edited with JD Beautiful World Matt and Haze, Road Maps, Wuthering Heights Textures, and Sun Rays
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Julie Johnson Lochridge Edited with JD Foundations, JD Endless Winter, JD Autumn Tones and JD Green Tone Corrections
Brittany Dawson Edited with JD Endless Winter
Desirée Rolfe Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations and JD Soften Red Sampler
WINTER-THEMED
Standouts
Anki Enderud
(Left) Image edited using Snow from JD Force of Nature
Jo Garner Fields
(Bottom) Images edited using JD Versatones and JD Instant Overlays and JD 2020 Foundations
Before
Lisa Dominguez (Top Three) Image edited using JD
Michelle Noilene
Images edited using JD Magical Glitter overlay
Before
W inter's
Challenge
Susan Gilbert challenged herself to use some of Jessica Drossin's digital backgrounds and winterizing actions to transform photos of her dogs. These images truly showcase so much creativity, as well as the
Before
versatility of the Jessica Drossin products in use. In addition to being an artist, Susan is a Beautiful World Group Moderator.
After
Edited using JD Blossoming Trees Background, JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Quick Flow, JD Endless Winter, JD Forces of Nature, JD Snow brushes, JDGrass and Weeds Overlays, JD Illuminations, JD Nevermore Ravens
Edited using JD End of The World background, Endless Winter, Foundations 2020, Force of Nature, and Illuminations Instant Overlays
After
Before
Edited using JD Foundations 2020, Textures from JD Texture Pack 1 (updated for 2020). Also used JD Endless Winter
After
Before
Beth Miller-Zuber (mage edited with JD QuickFlow and JD Monotones Mystical B&W
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
I
had noticed that often there is a dearth of black and white images when I am scrolling through our Beautiful World group's amazing images, so this month, I decided to issue a challenge: I challenged our members to try to create images in black and white for a change of pace. I think that when challenged to photograph something to be developed as a black and white photograph causes us to have to look beyond the colors of the scene: an artist needs to take in the highlights and the shadows; the emotional draw; the tonality. I was so happy to see the images our group members produced as they rose to the call, and I hope you will enjoy them, too.
~Deirdre Lewis
“How strange that the nature of life is change, yet the nature of human beings is to resist change. And how ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be.” -Elizabeth Lesser
Danielle Trina Image edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Textures
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Julie Lawson Image edited with JD Monotones (Crisp Matte) and JD Macabre Ravens, Smoke and Sky.
Dana Churchill McKnelly
Desirée Rolfe
Image edited with JD Beautiful World Road Maps, Wuthering Heights Textures and JD Dandelion brushes
Image edited with JD Monotones
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Danielle Lien Images edited with JD Illuminations II, JD Autumn Tones Set 2
Penny Sesher (Top Left) Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Endless Winter, JD Illumination Instant Overlays Vol 2, (Top Right) Image edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Monotones, JD Endless Winter Actions & Overlays
Glenda Burrell
(Bottom) Image edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Monotones
Danielle Trina Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020, JD Textures
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Julie Lawson (Top Left) Image edited with JD Monotones X B+W and Quiet Boom overlay from JD Texture Pack 1 2020
Beth Miller-Zuber (Bottom Left & Right) Image edited with JD QuickFlow and JD Monotones Classic Rich B&W
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Claudia Möckel Edited with JD Monotones, JD Texture Pack 1, JD Illuminations Instant Overlays Vol. 2
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Danielle Trina Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Textures
Elizabeth Haen (Top) Edited with JD Foundations: Neutral Dimension, Subtle Saturation Glow and Overall Glow (Botttom) Edited with JD Lightscaping Instant Overlays: Sparkly Golden moveable flare. JD Beautiful World Basic Vignette
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Susan Gilbert Image edited with JD Monotone, JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020, and JD Grunge Textures
Mark Palmer Image edited with JD Monotones Artistic and JD Beautiful World Vignettes
Michele Sherwood Image edited with JD Monotones Artistic
Beauty in Black & White BEAUTIFUL WORLD STANDOUTS
Pauline van der Spuy Image edited with JD Monotone and JD freckle Enhancement Brush
Michele Sherwood
Leasa Winemiller Jones
Image edited with JD Monotones Film
Image edited with JD Monotones Classic
Desirée Rolfe Image edited with JD Monotones
Before & Afters
After
After
Pauline van der Spuy After with JD Texture Overlays, JD Lightscaping, and JD Beautiful World Foundations
Marina Ulanova Before
After with JD Illuminations and Vintage Textures
Before
Julie Lawsome After with JD Foundations 2020, Ice overlay from force of nature pack 1 and endless winte
After
Before
Jan Heastont After with JD Beautiful World Foundations
After
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Michele Sherwood Edited using JD Beautiful World Vignettes and JD Illumination Overlays
A Beautiful Note There are snapshots. There are pictures. There are photographs. There are stories. And then, there are the stories behind the stories...
When you enter a magical group like this, you gain knowledge and inspiration daily, but it's not until you begin to meet the people behind the artwork and learn THEIR stories, that the extra dimension comes into play.
Several of you have gone out of your way to be kind and encouraging, not just to me, but to others, new and veteran, in the group. There's no pettiness, no squabbling — just support and love. So here's my humble thanks to you — each and every one of you. If you haven't been brave enough to post yet, toss those fears and jump right in!
This is the safest place I've found online. As Mr. Rogers would say, "It's a Beautiful World in the neighborhood" (or something like that). Jessica inspires, both with her products and her own work, but also by letting us share in her vulnerability. Several of the moderators have gone out of their way to help me gain confidence and feel good about my obsessions. (You know who you are.)
"Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation." - Ansel Adams
May your love always shine through your creations!
— Michele Sherwood
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Desirée Rolfe
Edited using JD Beautiful World Foundations
Alisha Smith Watkins
Edited using JD Watercolor Set and JD Forces of Nature rain
Kim Boustany
Edited using JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze and Los Angeles from Beautiful World Road Maps
Deirdre Lewis
Edited using JD BW Foundations 2020, Endless Winter, BW Mattes and Hazes, and Illuminations Instant Overlays, and Lightscaping
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Lyndsey MacDougall Edited with JD Dark Splendor
Elaine Beal Smith Edited with JD Beautiful World Road Maps and Beautiful World Textures
Mark Palmer
Claudia Möckel
Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations,
Edited with JD Textures and JD Illuminations
JD Illuminations, and JD Beautiful World Vignettes
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
Lisa Dominguez This series of images was created using JD Beautiful World Foundations and JD Illuminations. The tones created really help to bring the viewer to that frosty morning!
SHARES
Patti Aichler Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations and JD Wuthering Heights Textures
Annette Sides
Christa van Gend
Edited with JD Painterly texture #8 and Antique Matte
Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations and
from JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze
JD Wuthering Heights Textures
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Rita Voortman-Broos Edited with JD Textures
Penny Sesher Top: Edited with JD Foundations 2020 and JD BW Foundations Bottom: Edited with JD Foundations 2020 and JD Endless Winter Actions & Overlays
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
Jan Heastont Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, 2020 Edition, JD Autumn Tones, and JD Endless Winter
WINTER
SHARES
Dallas Denoo Edited with JD Illuminations and JD Lightscaping Overlays
Vicki Sutherland Edited with JD Road Maps Montreal at 100% and New York at 31% and used Hindley from Wuthering Heights Textures at 72%
Rita Voortman-Broos Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020 and the JD Instant Illumination overlays
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Rita Voortman-Broos
Edited with JD Beautiful World and Wuthering Heights Textures
Lisa Dominguez Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations 2020 and JD Textures
Christa van Gend Edited with JD Green Tone Correction, JD Painterly Textures, and JD Dark Splendor
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Edited with JD Illuminations textures 1 pack.
Barry Freeman
(Both top images) Edited with JD Brood texture from Illuminations II, also blended mocha, blueberry and dramatic flare from Instant Overlays 2
Stefano Calderan Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Artistic Skies and JD Grass Overlays
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
Monika Vanhercke
WINTER
Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations and JD Grass Overlays
SHARES
Kristy Rosenfeld
Image edited using JD Wuthering Heights
Lisset Perrier
Images edited using JD Wuthering textures
Before
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Linda Sherrill
Edited with JD Quickflow and JD Lightscaping Overlays
Becky Womble Carpenter Edited with JD Texture Pack 1 (2020 Edition) JD Beautiful World Vignettes, and JD Lightscaping Instant Overlays
Dannie Armstrong Edited with JD Illuminations 2
Pauline van der Spuy Edited with JD Texture Overlays and JD Lightscaping Overlays
Linda Sherrill Edited with JD QuickFlow and JD Overlays and Textures
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Crista van Gend
(All images on these pages) Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations and JD Wuthering Heights Textures
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Julie Johnson Lochridge JD Quick Flow, Painterly textures, Wuthering Heights textures,
Candice Siddon Top — Edited with JD Texture Packs Bottom — Edited with JD Endless Winter and JD Paints and Lilac Illuminations Combo
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
Pauline van der Spuy Edited with JD QuickFlow and JD Lightscaping Overlays
WINTER
SHARES
One of the things that is striking in this group is the fact that all start of a photograph of some kind, but with the use of the textures and actions, these artists transform a simple photograph into truly creative works of art. I am sure that if every one of the members of this group were given the same starting point, they would each create such unique pieces from
Kris Durbin
Edited with JD Illuminations Vol.3
one aother. The vision these amazing people have is what makes them true artists. —Pauline van der Spry
Pauline van der Spry
Chanel Bevell
Edited with JD Foundations 2020, JD Textures
Edited with JD Murmurs Texture
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
Marta Everest Edited with JD Wuthering Heights (Emily & Haworth) and Beautiful World Textures (Poetic) plus some added Beautiful World Paints (Titanium White) and World Tints Vivid (Crisp)
WINTER
SHARES
Annette Sides Edited with JD Wuthering Heights Textures, JD Watercolor Textures, JD Mattes and Hazes, JD Dark Splendor, and JD Texture Pack 1
Jules Clyde Edited with JD Macabre Collection
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
Dana Churchhill McKnelly Edited with JD Beautiful World Road Maps, JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze, and JD Wuthering Heights Textures
WINTER
SHARES
Dana Churchill McKnelly Edited with JD Beautiful World Roadmaps, JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze and JD Wuthering Heights Textures
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Lisa Dominguez JD Quick Flow, Painterly textures, Wuthering Heights textures, BW Foundations 2020 and artistic sky overlays used in various ways in these images. BW are the film and Mystic actions from Monotones
Jules Clyde Edited with JD Cloud Overlays, JD Lightscaping Overlays, and JD Macabre Textures
Mark Palmer Edited with JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze, JD Illuminations 2, JD Wuthering Heights Textures, JD Magical Glitter Overlays, & JD Beautiful World Vignettes
BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Standouts MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Danielle Lien JD Quickflow, JD Illuminations II
Annette Sides
Julie Delgado
Edited with JD Watercolor Textures and JD Beautiful
Edited with JD Texture Pack 4
World Vingettes
Amy Enright Medina Edited with JD Foundations2020, Lightscaping overlays and bokeh overlay
Erica Jansen Edited with JD BW Foundations and Touch of Perfect from JD Beautiful World Matte & Haze Collection
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Jan Heastont Edited with JD Lightscaping, Illuminations & Foundations with a dab of Blueberry Paint
Marilyn Quisenberry Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Illumination Overlays, and JD Beautiful World Vignettes
BEAUTIFUL WORLD MEMORABLE
WINTER
SHARES
Jayne Fletcher Left Full Page, Top and Bottom Edited with JD Beautiful World Foundations, JD Illumination Textures Overlays and JD Beautiful World Vignettes
Bonnie Cox Smith Edited with JD Sea Glass Overlay and Leaf Top Overlay
Tina Dose Before
Images edited using JD Illumination I, JD World Vignettes and JD Dark Splendor
Amy Enright Medina
Dannie Armstrong
Edited with JD Foundations 2020, Texture Poetic
Edited with JD JD Illumination Textures 2 - Cool Light
and Cool Flashlight Overlays
Danielle Lien Edited with JD Wuthering Heights Textures and JD Illuminations Instant Overlays
Finding Myself in
STRANGE DAYS At the end of November, I felt exhausted.
"What is the funniest, dumbest, craziest thing I could create?
That in and of itself wasn't unusual, the fourth quarter is always hard for photographers, and this year, the feeling of being overwhelmed was amplified by the pandemic and politics. What was odd though was as the Holidays passed and January wore on, my lack of energy and interest didn't return. I've never gone through a period in my life where I've not wanted, or frankly, felt compelled, to create. Good or bad mood, I have always wanted to make art. In early February, it was still all I could do to even look at Facebook or my email, let alone pick up a camera. I baked bread, laid in bed, cut my hair (yes, a poor choice). What I didn't do was make art.
Viv & Dogs Playing Poker
It was starting to concern me. Beyond being a life-long passion of mine, art is how I provide for my family. And I felt dead inside for it. It was scary. One day, I decided I couldn't take being in my house anymore. We drove out to the desert and I watched the sun set over the vast space where my eyes could see for miles. I was overwhelmed with the beauty and the glowing desert light. I wished I'd brought my camera. I was so grateful in that moment. I realized that the passion for creating wasn't completely gone.
Viv & Dogs Playing Poker Before
Over the next few days, I pulled my camera out. My daughter, Vivi, is generally a willing model, particularly if I bribe her with Gushers. We went out and it felt good to be outside. I forget everything but what is in front of me when I'm shooting. That was a nice break from reality. But when I got home, I felt incredibly unmotivated to edit. The lethargy crept back into my bones as soon as it was time to sit at my desk. It was by sheer chance that I noticed a small toy pool table that had also caught Viv's attention. I asked myself, ""What is the funniest, dumbest, craziest thing I could create?" I immediately thought of the velvet paintings of dogs' playing poker that would hang over my grandfather's pool table in his basement. What if I posed Viv and our dogs playing pool? What would the dogs be doing, what would Viv be doing, how would it work? I felt myself increasingly amused at the possibilities. Shooting Vivi and my dogs did not disappoint. They give Oscar-worthy performances for treats. This time, when I looked at the images, I couldn't stop laughing. Every other photo was a crack up. The FACES! I was smiling and laughing out loud as I put the combinations together. I couldn't wait to get to "work". I also felt something I hadn't in a while... complete satisfaction that I was creating something just for myself. I honestly didn't care if anyone else got the joke. The process and the result was enough to give me and my family a lot of joy.
Before
My advice to anyone who might be suffering from some of the side-effects of this past year would be to first rest. Take the time you need. Alter your perspective, change your view. Next, focus on what might help you feel better when creating. For me, it was humor, but for you it might be morning light, birds chirping and a macro lens in the crisp, cool air photographing blades of grass before the rest of the family is up. Make art for yourself, don't worry about the response of others or if this project can be somehow monetized. Think only about the passion and joy you feel when you are creating just for your own personal satisfaction. The images above were created days later. Doing my silly little projects allowed me to heal something that had been broken. Once I felt re-inspired to create, I could move onto other projects. (Although, I do think I'm going to keep coming back to my dogs and Viv!)
— With love, Jessica
Dallas Denoo Edited with JD Lightscaping Actions
Get Featured! 1. Join the Beautiful World Facebook Group 2. Submit your art integrating Jessica Drossin's products. Please label the JD products or tutorials used. Additional hand edits are always assumed. 3. Art must be a minimum of 1500 pixels on the longest side to be considered for publication. Please no large or central watermarks.