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Digital Darkroom: Issue #3 View archives

Hi there,

Here are a few of the best photo discussions from the past month that were either shot with a digital camera or manipulated with digital software.

Last month, I asked you what you would like to see at BetterPhoto and the response was wonderful. So many good ideas came our way. Now we are doing our best to sort them out implement the ones that we can implement.

If you have not yet seen the winner contest photos, check them out. We now are displaying a very cool award graphic - a badge of honor - with each photo that wins or places as a finalist.

And don't forget, the July contest is ending at 3:00pm Pacific time Wednesday, the 31st. If you get this email in time, give us your best shot.

Thanks and have an excellent August,
Jim Miotke
http://www.betterphoto.com/contest.asp

In this issue:


 

Featured Photo: Playing Jacks

Playing Jacks
Playing Jacks
Canon EOS D30. I bounced the ball and started to collect the jacks all with the right hand, while I used my left hand to take the picture.

© Angie Hill


 

Featured Article: New and Improved Top Ten Tips
Our top ten tips on photographic technique have been revamped with new pictures and an improved navigation. These tips will help you make better photos, regardless of whether you use a digital camera or film. For a few ideas on how to improve your results, check out these tips at:
Read more...
 

Advertisement: Are You Ready to Master Photoshop or Digital Photography?

 
Are You Ready to Master Photoshop or Digital Photography?Whether you shoot digital or film, you'll benefit big time in one of our upcoming photo courses. In these online courses, you get 12 days (almost two full weeks) to complete each lesson and inspiring photo assignment. Your uploaded photos are then thoughtfully reviewed by the instructor. There is simply no better way to learn. Classes start September 18th but space is limited... select your favorite course today at:  Learn more...

 

New Photo Discussions

New Photo Discussion 1: "Eye" see you

"Eye" see you
"Eye" see you
Photoshopped Eye, Kodak DC4800

© America Block

Very cool. I really like this! What film did you use? Was this done in natural light? By the way... is America your real name, very cool!
- Stephanie A.

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Response 1:Thanks Stephanie! I appreciate your taking time to look at my photo. This was taken with a digital camera in B&W in natural light, I then used Photoshop to color the eye. And yes, America is my real name, I was a bicentennial baby and my parents were in the spirit I guess you could say. Thanks again.
- America B.

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New Photo Discussion 2: Skyway Hiway

Skyway Hiway
Skyway Hi way
The Milky Way as seen from the road among the giant slabs of rock in Canyonlands National Park

© Art Rosch
artsdigitalphoto.com

Hi Art,
Is this a composite of 2 pictures? If not I was wondering how you got the starts to appear without streaking.

Nice photo though, the rocks almost looks surreal (like plastic) when lit like that too :)
- Romen V.

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Response 1:My technique is as follows: I locate a shooting location using a compass, so I know I'll be photographing the part of the sky that interests me. I photograph the landscape in the late afternoon with a D30 digital camera.
Then, after dark, I take the sky photo with a Nikon FM film body. At home, I merge the digital photo over the blacked-out, blurred foreground that results from the motorized telescope mount. This is as authentic as I can make it. I tweak the intensity in Photoshop, but there's not much other enhancement going on. This is the landscape you're seeing, but you're seeing day/night at the same time.
- Art R.

Visit artsdigitalphoto..com - Art's Deluxe BetterPholio™

Response 2:Great technique, really makes this a powerfull shot!!!
- Damian G.

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New Photo Discussion 3: Mono

Mono
Mono
A friend who is an experienced motox rider doing a wheel stant and heading for me while i took the shot. then edited it in ps6 to give it more impact.

© Jeff Dykes

It worked... You can't escape the impact! Good job...
- Damian G.

Response 1:Thanks Damian
- Jeff D.

Response 2:This is a trip, Jeff. What a treat upon enlargement. Great work with the shot and with the Photoshop effects.
- Jim at BetterPhoto.com

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Sign up for one of Jim's photo courses

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New Photo Discussion 4: Road to Fern Canyon

Road to Fern Canyon
Road to Fern Canyon
Olympus E-10

© Jill Battaglia

Just beautiful, Jill. Great light..I love it.
- Carolyn F.

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Response 1:Thankyou Carolyn! :-)
- Jill B.

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Response 2:Great light
Could you tell me the aperture and shutter speed that you used when taking this photo, I think you really got it all right.
- Iztok P.

Response 3:I'm afraid I can't. A car shot by us on this dirt road and the dust flew up into the sun rays. I shot this right through my brother's filthy pick-up windshield (through the bird poop and bugs ;-)). There was nowhere to pull over but he did stop for a second and I switched the camera to auto and crossed my fingers. It was a quick grab shot or miss out completely. Camera gets the credit for the exposure on this one!
- Jill B..

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New Photo Discussion 5: River City

River City
River City
Cincinnati, Ohio

© Peter Anderson

Hi Peter,

Love this effect. What steps did you take to create it?
- Jim at BetterPhoto.com

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Response 1:Thanks Jim. I started our with the normal digital image in color. In Photoshop, I adjusted the color balance and then converteed to B&W. I then coverted to doutone. Then converted back to RGB and then layered the original color photo on top deleting everything except the river in this second layer Then I boosted the cyan and blue of the second layer and blended with the bottom layer for the finished product. Thanks for viewing.
- Peter A.

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New Photo Discussion 6: Slow down and smell the flower

Slow down and smell the flower
Slow down and smell the flower
Caught my cat Honey sniffing flower

© Steven Yau

Great shot.

Like the color contrast.... Any tips you like to share?
- Deb R.

Response 1:Thank you. I was lucky to catch my cat sniffing flower. This is just a basic colorized black and white conversion.

Make a copy of the photo, change it greyscale and change it back to RGB. Adjust the contrast the way you like it. Then, copy the color version and paste it as onto of the B/W version. Now, take the magic wand tool and select the flower. Then do an inverse selection, hit del. Now only the color flower is left on top of the B/W. Flatten the image and viola!

Steve
- Steven Y.

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New Photo Discussion 7: Door to Eternity

Door to Eternity
Door to Eternity
Created in Microsoft Picture It 2001.

© Shirley Cross

Shirley this is AWESOME! A real timeless feel. The backless long dress and long hair complement the nature scene. I also like the b&w. If it were mine, and I only make this suggestion - because you are so good at digital art - to "define" here right arm more. Between her body and arm a little darker, and I am sure you can come up with something to separate the outside of the right arm with the column. Just a little suggestion. This is a gorgeous piece!
- Shelley S.

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Response 1:Thank you so much, Shelley! I do appreciate your suggestions. Actually, after I had posted, I noticed that light area between her arm and dress, (which is actually the tree) but I filled it in with darker material. I'll work on separation from the right side.
Thanks again, Shirley.
- Shirley C.

Response 2:Great effect you have created here, Shirley. Perfect in B&W. I agree with Shelley, this IS a gorgeous piece.
+Guy
- Guy B.

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New Photo Discussion 8: Fruit Design

Fruit design
Fruit design
Fruit +ps

© Linda Slater

Excellent example of symmetrical beauty! What fruit is the center star composed of? What photoshop tools did you use in particular?
- Ashwini J.

Response 1:Thanks Ashwini, I used a weave and kaleidoscope in psp7
- Linda S.

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New Photo Discussion 9: Sadness in America

Sadness in America
Sadness in America
Photo taken 9/14/01 when my son was helping me put out flags for the NYC/American tragedy. When I started editing, I decided to make him "anonymous" to represent every American child. Never entered it here because of timing, but it was in NYC on July 4!

© Shelley Sanders

It was on the Kodak screen in Times Sqaure on July 4th, so I guess it is a good representative for both dates. This was taken with a Kodak DC4800, no cropping. Outside available light. I played around with levels to produce the I hate to say it "doll-like" effect. My son will get me in the future with that one! LOL
- Shelley S.

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Response 1:Beautiful Shelley... you must be so prou d. I saw this portrait on Kodak's website the other day and loved it. I too have a DC 4800 and was on the website looking for troubleshooting info, I'm having focus problems with mine. Congratulations on a GREAT picture and darling little boy!
- America B.

Response 2:This is so beautiful. I have no words for what it makes me feel. This is truly moving.
- Cheri Lyn H.

Response 3:This was in the monthly contest for digital art on DPC. I know that, because I voted against my own image, "Justin on Guitar" in the same category. I couldn't help myself, I really thought yours was the better image.
- Rick V.

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Response 4:Thanks to you all. Big thanks for your vote Rick! America, I still have focusing problems with my Canon as I did with my Kodak DC4800. I am no expert, but my suggestion, from my personal experience, is subject still, still, still and the more light the better! Try not to full zoom either. Until we get those beautiful digital SLR's we have to work a little harder to please our cameras!
- Shelley S.

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New Photo Discussion 10: 1010101010

1010101010
1010101010
not sleeping

© Nathan Combs

Okay, this is really cool. I tried something like this recently, but was trying to use a "real" sheet of transparency paper with printed ones and zeros. Didn't work very well. Share the scoop, won't you? Nice job.
- Piper L.

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Response 1:Well, Photoshop 7. I took the original and cropped down, then I played with the hue saturation a bit, then on a separate layer typed the 1's and 0's, and changed the opacity on the layer. And that is how I did it.
- Nathan C.

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