Welcome to the 35th issue of the Digital Darkroom

Hi

This is an exciting month at BetterPhoto.com! Our Spring schedule of photography courses has been posted, and we're really proud of the virtual classroom concept. See for yourself by taking an illustrated tour:
http://www.betterphoto.com/tour-courses-01.asp

Have you checked out some of the awesome free - and educational - things going on at BetterPhoto? That would include Better Blogs and the weekly BetterPhoto Digital Photography Show podcast. You can find the Better Blogs and Radio Shows links on any BP page. And are you familiar with our Photo of the Day newsletter (a subscription is free!), go to:
http://www.betterphoto.com/Photo-of-the-Day.asp

In this issue of Digital Darkroom, don't miss the excellent article by instructor Robin Nichols, plus the Before and After series, the Featured Photo, and a collection of instructional - and inspirational - Photo Discussions.

To read the online version of the Digital Darkroom at our Web site, visit http://www.betterphoto.com/digitalpics/

Have a great month!
Jim Miotke
http://www.betterphoto.com/MG.asp?ID=124

In This Issue: Friday, February 17, 2006

• Featured Photo: Steppin' In To High Society!
• Featured Article: Photoshop Elements Tip - Creating a Stroke Keyline/Border
• Digital Before and After
• New Photo Discussion 1: Love Apple
• New Photo Discussion 2: Origins ...
• New Photo Discussion 3: The Greatest of These Is....
• New Photo Discussion 4: Feathered Flare
• New Photo Discussion 5: Digital Wedding Photography: B&W Conversion
• New Photo Discussion 6: Just One of the Bunch
• New Photo Discussion 7: Blue Lion
• New Photo Discussion 8: Reflections
• New Photo Discussion 9: 'These Boots Were Made ..."
• The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

Featured Photo: Steppin' In To High Society!

Steppin' In To High Society! Original white background altered with PS Elements difference clouds filter, then bad dream (plug-in) filter applied to entire composition, with final adj to contrast and brightness. © Brian Lobdell Canon PowerShot SD...

Featured Article: Photoshop Elements Tip - Creating a Stroke Keyline/Border
In his new article, author/instructor Robin Nichols shows how to add a thin keyline or border to a digital photo in order to contain the sky within the frame. Robin, by the way, teaches the awesome Adobe Photoshop Elements online course right here at BetterPhoto.com.
Read more...
 

Digital Before and After

Winter Dawn Tone curve adjustments made to original. Applied Kai Power Tools Rad-warp to get "vortex" look. Did some cloning and smoothing. Then applied Mystical Lighting Radial light effects.

Original for "Winter Dawn"

BetterPhoto's Photography School: Photoshop and Digital Courses

New Photo Discussions

New Photo Discussion 1: Love Apple Love Apple This apple was originally green. The color change and lighting effects were created in Photoshop. The apple was then shaped by creating a heart mask which was placed over the original. Any part of the apple which extended beyond the mask was removed. © Jay Valle Kodak DC4800 Digit... Very creative Jay! This came out wonderfully! I knew you would get it figured out! Awesome job! - Michelle R. Kovach Visit spiritfirephotography.com - Michelle's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks, Michelle! Yeah, I continued to play with it until I got it right. I just printed it out and WOW! The colors are much more brilliant than what's on the screen. - Jay Valle See Jay's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 2: Origins ... origins ... - image modified with polar coordinates' distortion, color and hues changed to enhance purples, pinks, and whites ... © Lyn E. Adams Canon EOS Digital ... I love the colors. What is this? - Roberta Wall See Roberta's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Roberta, the original image is a view from my balcony door thru the deck railing to the woods beyond. The deck has a vertical picket railing, and these pickets became the "spokes" under distortion (polar coordinates). I then increased the color saturation and modified the hues slightly toward "blue". (PSE3) - Mac - Lyn E. Adams See Lyn's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 3: The Greatest of These Is.... The Greatest of These Is.... A Valentine image.. I added old photo/color from NIK, romance filter from VP, saturated, buzz filter, Craquelure, and recessed frame and text in PS.. Thanks for looking!! ~Monthly Theme~ © Kara L. Hendricks Olympus Camedia C-... Lovely presentation and composition! - Roger Bernabo See Roger's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit RCBPixels.com - Roger's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:I love your effects Kara... You have some of the best effects I've seen! They are so detailed! - Bobbie Davis See Bobbie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Beautiful Kara, I love the texture and effects you used. This should be a card! - Barbara J. See Barbara's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:OK Kara ... this should be a card! Simple, to the point and beautiful. Your PS skills are superb!! Hope to see this one again! - Jill Flynn See Jill's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit visualharmonyphotography.com - Jill's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 4: Feathered Flare Feathered Flare Taken early evening as the sun was going down. Feather was set on a mirror outside to reflect the blue sky. I did however change that blue with paint fill in PS because I had a tiny bit of unwanted reflections from my rings showing. I then added a lens flare in PS and the Flood filter from FP. Same settings as my previous feather/flood posting. © Lori Fisher Canon EOS 20D Digi... Very nice PS work, Lori ... well done:) - James Whitbread Response 1:Thank you James!! I appreciate your commenting on this!! :0) PS is too much fun, isn't it!?! So much to learn!! :0) Peace. - Lori Fisher See Lori's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Oh, this is another gorgeous shot! Great blue and wonderful effect! - Tammy Scott See Tammy's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 5: Digital Wedding Photography: B&W Conversion Color to B & W conversion © Paul F. Gero Digital Wedding Photography Canon EOS 5D Digit... Beautiful capture, Paul!! Gorgeous eyes! - Michelle J. Harvey Response 1:MIchelle, Thank you very much! Best, Paul - Paul F. Gero See Paul Gero's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Paul Gero: Digital Wedding Photography Response 2:Hi Paul, I'm with Michelle ... an awesome photo! Also, I really like the black-and-white look. Any thoughts on your decision to convert from color to B&W? Again, Paul, fine work! Kerry - Kerry Drager See Kerry Drager's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Kerry Drager's Web Site - www.KerryDrager.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Kerry Drager: Creative Light and Composition 4-Week Short Course: Details and Close-ups - April 4-Week Short Course: Details and Close-ups - May Response 3:Hi Kerry, Thank you! I really like to do a lot of my wedding coverage in b&w. I think it adds a timeless quality to the photograph. In color, it looked okay, but the main light source was fluorescent with very yellow/brown walls so the color didn't look as nice, in my opinion. With the black and white, too, you go right to the bride's eyes, and that is what I really want people to see. Thank you so much!! Paul Editor's Note: Paul teaches the terrific Digital Wedding Photography course right here at BetterPhoto.com. - Paul F. Gero See Paul Gero's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Paul Gero: Digital Wedding Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 6: Just One of the Bunch Just One of the Bunch f11@1/30, Tamron 90 mm macro, PS saturated, diffuse glow, dry brush © Bill Morgenstern Minolta Maxxum 7D ... They look delicious, Bill, like a new kind of popsicle :-)!! Terrific effects and love the soft coloring, too!! Hope you're keeping warm, my friend!! Much Aloha, Stan - Stan Contrades See Stan's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks Stan. I was just playing and ended up with this different look. Glad you found it interesting. This morning it is -20 below. Please turn up the heat!! Best Regards - Bill - Bill Morgenstern See Bill's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 7: Blue Lion Dandy in Blue 1/40@f10 ISO100 55mm lens with +10 dioptre. Three layers blend modes set to (top to bottom)Burn, Difference and Normal. Top layer has had Anaglyph Flip filter applied and transparencey set to 45% to produce blue tint; middle layer has had Chromasolarise filter applied. © David A. Rich Canon EOS 20D Digi... David, wonderful detail and love the rich vivid blue. Very nice to view. - Kerby L. Pfrangle See Kerby's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks, Kerby. Another classifiication problem... but the other dandelions are even harder: which category of the contest do they belong in? All advice more than welcome! - David A. Rich See David's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:David, your dandilion macros are great! Love the blue effect on this one! - Susan J. Allen See Susan's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 8: Reflections Reflections © Claudia Kuhn Nikon D100 Digital... Wow - gorgeous shot, the reflections are so clear! - Agnes M. Fegan See Agnes's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Super scene, Claudia ... it has everything. - Wally Orlowsky See Wally's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Thanks so much for your comments. This was flooded and buzzed, and the geese were added as well. - Claudia Kuhn See Claudia's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:You picked a great shot to use the flood filter on, Claudia! Before I read your comment I kept thinking that I had not seen a reflection bend like that in still water before! But I love it. It is visually good and thought- provoking! - Kate Jackson See Kate's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 9: 'These Boots Were Made ..." "These Boots were made for walkin...'" Added the filter "Dark Strokes" in Photoshop-CS Photo taken in Cody, Wyoming during their nightly gunfighting demo. © Crystal E. Berryman Minolta Maxxum 7D ... Crystal wonderful boot images. This is so fun. Even got the spurs on them. Great shot. - Kerby L. Pfrangle See Kerby's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Original idea, Chris. I like it. - David L. Luchowski See David's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Kerby and David, Thank you for your sweet comments. The guys are so much fun to photograph in Cody... they really play it up when I show with with my camera. Be safe... Chris :) - Crystal E. Berryman See Crystal's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

• Browse more photo discussions at BetterPhoto.com
• Start your own discussion on any photo in the Galleries
• Read archived issues of the Digital Darkroom