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Welcome to the 11st issue of the Digital Darkroom
Hi
Are you in the mood to see some outstanding photos? We have a plethora of truly stunning contest winners to share with you today. Of the 13,000 pictures entered into the January contest, 56 winners were selected. Browse these beautiful images at the article link below or view all of the 572 finalists at:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=2837
We also have several excellent photo discussions for you - with topics ranging from combining images to acheive better tonal range to colorizing photos.
While you are enjoying the discussions and the contest winners, take a look around... we have a lot of fun things in the works at BetterPhoto, including a wildlife photography workshop in California and four new classes for the spring courses. Check the Home page or email me for more information.
Enjoy this great time for winter photography!
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: Tuesday, February 17, 2004
 NY 013 © Terry Joshi terryjoshi.com |
Featured Article: Browse the Beautiful January Contest Winners!
If you have not yet had a chance to visit our January winning images, view them at the link below. Our Grand Prize goes out to Terry Joshi this month, for the gorgeous "NY 013" image you see above. Terry has been submitting amazing photographs to BetterPhoto since the early days. Congratulations on this great honor, Terry! A big round of applause goes out to all of the winners and finalists this month - truly outstanding imagery! To see for yourself...
Read more...
 Tulip |  Tulip 2 Posterize edges, liquify leaves, noise. |
| Each month, the best Before and After will be featured in the Digital Darkroom. To participate, upload a Before (original) picture then start a discussion on it (using the Discuss This Photo link under the picture). After telling us how you did created the effect, select "1" or "2" from the Upload Image pull-down menu, and submit an optional intermediate image and a final (After) photo. Aim to educate and inspire by sharing a concise, detailed explanation of your technique. Enjoy! |
Spring is Coming! Join a BetterPhoto Online PhotoCourse™
 Improve your photographic skills while having a great time making stunningly pretty pictures. Each of our online photography classes are designed to teach you how to make great photos - whether you shoot with a digital camera, shoot with a conventional camera, use a Polaroid transfer system, or tinker with Photoshop. With eye-opening lessons, inspiring weekly assignments, and helpful critiques direct from the instructor, you just can't miss with an online photo course. Learn more... |
New Photo Discussions
New Photo Discussion 1: Hey, These Are Mine!
- Wilfredo De Los Rios See Wilfredo's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you Wilfredo, for you words of encouragment. I love getting my boys and their friends all dressed up and taking pictures of them. It always amazes me how a photo in black and white can give a shot such a different mood. In this shot, my son was suppose to give the flowers to his friend, but decided he wanted to keep them for himself instead. I really like your photo, Canadian Geese on Tea Town Lake. It is so peaceful. Good job capturing the serenity of the lake. | |
New Photo Discussion 2: Neutral Density Final
- Jessica Hughes See Jessica's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks very much, Jessica. This is near Mazama Lake, more like a little pond just under Table Mountain in the North Cascades, near the much more photographically famous Mount Shuksan. It is indeed a gorgeous place. We did an overnight hike on this trip and, in spite of the millions of mosquitoes, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Thanks again for commenting. Because the tones in this scene ranged in contrast too much - with the land and lake being relatively dark and the sky being very bright - there was no way (short of using a graduated neutral density filter) for me to accurately capture all the tones. As I did not have a graduated ND filter with me, I exposed one photo for the sky and then took another photo, exposing for the land. Then, back in the comfort of my home, I combined the two images in Photoshop. | |
New Photo Discussion 3: Lookin For Any Port In The Storm
- Colleen Braun See Colleen's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Nice composition Allan! These are the types of shots I think of you taking. The lighting on the sails is great. - Claudia Kuhn See Claudia's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Boy, Allan, that class sure paid off for you!!! Wonderful work and a beautiful image!!! - Charlene Bayerle See Charlene's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PictureThisbyChar.com - Charlene's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 3:Thanks Char, yes both classes have really been wonderful and awesome. I got a note from Jim Zuckerman last evening telling me "I think its illegal to be having so much fun with this course". I would heartily recommend both Jim Miotke's "Photoshop for Photographers" and Jim Zuckerman's "Creative Techniques for Photoshop" to anyone and everyone interested in getting to know more about Photoshop. Both these courses have literally saved me hours of work each and every week. Again Char, thanx for the support, I truly do appreciate it - Allan - Allan L. Whitehead See Allan's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit ArrowheadFotos.com - Allan's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 4:Nice work Allan! Glad to see you fired up about the classes and having so much fun!! - Murry Grigsby See Murry's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit mcgphotocards.com - Murry's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 5:Very nicely done Allan..I have been contemplating on taking one of the many classes that are available..your work and results has helped me make up my mind. - Gary O`Dell Visit garysphotoimages.com - Gary's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 6:Superior work and final result on this image, Allan, if you hadn't told me I never would have known it was created from so many different elements. And your energy is contagious, I'm having fun watching you have so much fun with these classes!! - Carol Brill Visit cdubvarsityfootball.com - Carol's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 7:Thanx to Theresa and Carol and everyone else for their support. I'm enjoying this so much its hard to find single shot subjects at this time of the year so I gess I'll just keep compiling some things. Some I'm very excited and happy about while others leave me feeling a little lacking, but I'm definately not complaining, just being my usual self-critical self. Oh well, only about 4 months until sailing season again. Thanx again all, I really appreciate all the words of encouragement and support. Gary, I haven't regretted taking either of these courses and will probably take another one this fall. - Allan L. Whitehead See Allan's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit ArrowheadFotos.com - Allan's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 8:Great job, Allan. The compositing is convining. And yes, hang in there during the winter months. It is indeed a great time to get ahead on your Photoshop work ;-) - Jim at BetterPhoto.com See Jim Miotke's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Jim Miotke's Deluxe BetterPholio™ - Miotke.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Jim Miotke: Jim Miotke's Online Photography Classes Response 9:Thanx Jim, it means a lot to me, continuing to get supportive comments from you, even after your course is over. I truly believe this is 'the best Photography site on the web" and I'd be very surprised if I was the only one who felt that way. As a matter of fact, I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. You, your instructors, your staff and all of the members of BePho are always supportive, instructive, and complimentary. Its appreciated by a lot of us. Thanks you so very much - Allan - Allan L. Whitehead See Allan's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit ArrowheadFotos.com - Allan's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 4: Mirror, Mirror #15 Sand Dunes
Good job,was hoping to be my trend of thought though... - Saher Khalil Response 1:Thanks, I tried to take images that when mirrored became more than just copies of themselves. You can see more of my Mirror, Mirror images at my website www.LewisKemper.com go to the Gallery and then the Mirror, Mirror Portfolio. - Lewis Kemper See Lewis Kemper's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Lewis Kemper's Web Site - LewisKemper.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Lewis Kemper: Large Format Photography Photographer's Toolbox for Photoshop®: Toolbox #1 Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 5: Stop to Smell
- Kristen W Response 1:Congrats on your POTD with this - nicely done! - Claudia Kuhn See Claudia's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Very lovely portrait. She has great eyes! :-) - Stephen Zacker See Stephen's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Donna, this is absolutely beautiful. . . both the photo and the child. Thanks for sharing it! Have you taken BetterPhoto classes and if so, which ones? Thanks. - Vicki M. Tillard Response 4:Vicki, No I haven't taken any classes, I would like to find the time to do that, though. I got this camera back in April '03 and I have been going along the school of hard knocks trying to learn all this photography stuff. It's starting to sink in. Of course, my friend's gorgeous daughter helps. As far as the PS end of this photo I have been getting books and magazines with PS info in it. I got this one book which has really helped me learn a lot, it is "The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby. Fabulous book. Thanks for your kind comments. | |
New Photo Discussion 6: Heaven & Earth Part II
Thanks, - Cookie Serletic Response 1:Cookie, I use PS 7. I have over 1,500 filters and some 50 or so stand alone graphic, and softplug programs. Many of the base effects I get are from the type of filters I place on the lens of my cameras. When I'm shooting out in the field, I try to visualize: 1. The kind of effect I want on my base image or raw photograph... 2. The kinds of effects my base image will allow me to perform in my graphics studio if need be... Sometimes when these two things blend or at least bump close enough together, the finished image turns out pretty good. As far as plugins go... Most of my plug-ins I have collected from my first versions of Photoshop and many other programs throughout the years. As far as I know, I own every mid to high end graphic and publishing software product ever sold, since I used to be in the hard/software business. I use whatever my base image allows me to use... There are so many factors that dictate this I could not begin to start. However... the best place to find softplugs for PS 6 or 7 is to type "plugins" on a Google internet search and start looking for them. Most give you a trial time to see if you like or can use them. But remember... they do cost a bit once you start to collect. As well you might want to buy the newer version of P.S. I hear its great! Hope this helps, Cookie! | |
| New Photo Discussion 7: Different Worlds Wonderful, Rick!! Love it!!! - Carolyn Fletcher See Carolyn's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PickYourShots.com - Carolyn's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Looks like something out of a fantasy or magical wonderland, Rick, love the blue tones and textures in the sea and sky especially! - Carol Brill Visit cdubvarsityfootball.com - Carol's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Your PS work created a wonderful fantasy image, Rick. The rich blue is mesmerizing, and the buzz helped to make those "different worlds" blend seamlessly. - Mary K. Robison See Mary's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 8: Lambs - 490 Percent Sharpening
- Walt Paholak See Walt's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks Walt. That 490% refers to the amount of Unsharp Masking (Photoshop filter). This is an extreme example of sharpening that I plan to use in a future article about the various degrees of sharpening. I really loved this scene but was bummed to realize later it was out of focus. That is the price you pay for hand holding on a dim day :) As much as I would hope to save this image, sharpening 490% is far too much - the edges get a glow to them that just doesn't cut the mustard. | |
New Photo Discussion 9: Shocking Red
- Judith G. Secco See Judith's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you, Judith. I don't know what this is. It grows in my front yard along the ground kind of like ground cover and measures about an inch and a half in diameter. It's also a pale orange in color!!! Aloha from Kaua'i! - Stanley J. Contrades See Stanley's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 10: Ballet Slippers Mod 2
- Judith G. Secco See Judith's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Judy: Yes, they are real ballet slippers. This is a ballet practice bar with several pairs of worn out/old ballet slippers hanging on it. I combined the original photo with a scanned in piece of paper and then used photoshop to punch up the colors. - Geoffrey T. Wallace Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
