Losar – Tibetan New Year

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Prayer Flags, Thrangu Monastery in Richmond (Vancouver), Canada

Prayer Flags at the Thrangu Monastery in Richmond (Vancouver), Canada

Tashi Delek!

Today is Losar which means New Year according to the Tibetan Calendar.
May you all find peace, happiness and good things.
This is the Year of the Dragon 2136. The celebration usually lasts 3 days.

One of the Buddhist traditions on New Year is to hang prayer flags which contain written Mantras with good wishes for everyone in the world.
The wind spreads these Mantras or prayers around the world.

The most important Mantra is “Om Mani Padme Hum”

The pronounciation is: Om ma nee pay may hung

Buddha at the Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver Canada. Photo Malu Couttolenc

Buddha at the Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver Canada

This Mantra is associated with Avalokiteshvara in Tibetan Buddhism: Chenrizig. It means “Jewel in the Lotus of the Heart”.

The recitation of this mantra is to develop infinite compassion within us and others and to transform our body and speech into a pure exalted body.

You will find this mantra carved and written on stones, paper, flags and prayer wheels like in the image below. Spinning the wheel is like repeating the mantra endlessly and it spreads all over the world for all sentient beings.

Om Mani Padme Hum on Mani prayer wheels

Mani Prayers Wheels at the Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver, Canada

Read more about Tibetan Buddhism or about the Thrangu Monastery in Canada

Text, and photographs are © Copyright Malu Couttolenc and  are not in the public domain. They may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Malu Couttolenc.

Photoshop – Same person multiple times in one image

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Duplicate subject several times photoshop

Would you like to learn how to duplicate a person several times in an image?

Follow me on this tutorial that I wrote on Squidoo. You will find easy steps to follow even for the ones that are new at Photoshop and working with layers.

Bring your creative side and surprise your family and friends creating fun and original images. The sky is the limit! This is another image I made with this tutorial.

Duplicate same person in one image photoshop tutorial

For this tutorial I used Adobe Photoshop CS5 but you can also do it on Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Text, and photographs are © Copyright Malu Couttolenc and are not in the public domain. They may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Malu Couttolenc.

Quiet River

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This image is © Copyright Malu Couttolenc Photography – All Rights Reserved

On sunny mornings I love going for walks near rivers and lakes. It is a great opportunity to relax, meditate and of course to take photographs.

Pitt Meadows, BC is one of my favorite places because you always find gorgeous views like the one on this image.

There are many photographers in the area that, just like me, love the contact with nature and wildlife. We often exchange photo suggestions and advice.

This image was edited in Photoshop CS5. I applied textures to add a painting effect. Playing with layers is fun and you can add a special touch to your images. Do you like this effect?

Camera Settings:

  • Camera: Nikon D300
  • Lens: 70-300 mm   f/4.0-5.6
  • Shutter Speed:  1/125
  • F-Stop: f/20
  • Focal Length: 122 mm
  • Exposure program: Manual

Text, and photographs are © Copyright Malu Couttolenc and  are not in the public domain. They may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Malu Couttolenc.

Birds at Play

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Marsh Wrens at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

This image is © Copyright Malu Couttolenc Photography – All Rights Reserved.

These birds were fun to watch, it seemed that they were taking turns to eat; it was like a fun game. I thought of naming this image “Check, bet, call, fold”

If you like bird watching and you enjoy photography you must visit the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta British Columbia; a great opportunity to see all kinds of birds in their natural habitat throughout.
Between October and March you can see snow geese, bald eagles and many other bird species.
The sanctuary is also dedicated to the conservation and promotion of the waterfowl and wetlands in British Columbia.

  • Camera: Nikon D300
  • Lens: 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6
  • Shutter speed: 1/200
  • F-Stop: f/13
  • Focal Length: 155.0 mm
  • Exposure Program: Manual

Text, and photographs are © Copyright Malu Couttolenc and  are not in the public domain. They may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Malu Couttolenc.