My week’s off to a bright and mystical start. It’s amazing what a perfectly smooth cup of coffee will do for a designer!

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1. “Posh” Photographic Art
2. Christmas on the Beach Photographic Art
3. New Design – Achievement
4. Spring Blossoms Photographic Art

Is there anyone who can’t use a little visual optimism on a Friday morning?!

Here’s a pocketful of happiness to make your day cheerful and stir up some pleasant thoughts!

Please click on each photograph to view on Flickr. The artists/photographers here have more beautiful pieces to show.

Follow me on Twitter for notification of new blog posts and friend me on Facebook! That would be special :-)

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The next best time is now. – Chinese Proverb

One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’ t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.
- Lucille Ball

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller

It is the childlike mind that finds the kingdom. – Charles Filmore

What we can borrow from Ronald Reagan… is that great sense of optimism. He led by building on the strengths of America, not running America down. – Rudy Giuliani

Positive things happen to positive people. – Sarah Beeny

Related posts:

1. The Optimist Creed {Awesome Video}
2. Visual Inspiration

There are many stock photography websites to find a great shot for your website or print media. Here’s the ones I like most. As always, be sure to check on the photographer’s terms for use. Have fun!

Image Search Engines:

Creative Commons Search offers search by use for commercial purposes or images that can be modified, adapted or built upon.

EveryStockPhoto searches across multiple sources of almost 5 million images.

Flickr: Creative Commons Search also offers a search of content uploaded by Flickr members based on the type of Creative Commons licensing you are looking for.

Websites:

AboutPixel requires you to register to get free photographs. It is not an English website.

ADigitalDreamer has a small but well organized collection.

Cromavista offers a small collection, mostly scenic. It is not an English website. No attribution required as stated at bottom of page.

Deviantart has stock images of all kinds by many members. Terms of use vary. Excellent website.

DHD Multimedia Gallery offers wide range of photos. Navigation is not the greatest. Requests a link back if using their stock.

Flickr Creative Commons shows images with attribution requirements.

FontPlay Free Photos offers 10,000+ free, high resolution photos without restriction.

Fotolia offers stock starting at $0.14. Although not free, it’s a great source for high rez images.

Freemediagoo offers free photos, no credit required.

FreePhotos offers free use of their 3000+ photographs. Link back required.

FreePhotos.se has a small but nice collection of free use photographs by non-professionals. Link back requested but not required.

FreeRangeStock is an awesome website full of high resolution photographs for personal or commercial use.

FromOldBooks has over 2800 scanned images, engravings and pictures from old books.

ImageAfter is a terrific website for free high resolution photographs although most are raw and unprofessionally shot. Great for modifying and enhancing though.

Imagebase offers some great stock photography without any restrictions other than the obvious; no porn use or resale of original images.

IronOrchid has to be mentioned here as there are some original and unique photographs for web use with attribution. Print quality available for a fee.

Mayang has 3400+ photographs of textures and architecture that can be used freely. Link back requested but not required.

Microshots has a cool collection of 600+ closeup shots available for personal and commercial use.

National Digital Library allows use of their photographs freely. Requests credit to be given to photographer.

Photo Laboratory has free stock that they claim exists nowhere else. Definitely worth a look. I did not see anything written in their legal jargon stating that use of their photos requires attribution.

Related posts:

1. Vintage Magazine Insert Freebie
2. Sites for the “Creatively Thirsty”
3. Feed Your Soul: the free art project
4. Free Vintage Social Media Prints
5. Illustrations for Free Commercial Use

TiltShiftMaker.com: Create tilt-shift style photos in minutes for free!

Link: http://ow.ly/RB8D

Here’s a photo that I shot and used TiltShiftMaker.com to create a tilt-shift style…

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