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Welcome to the 16th issue of the Digital Darkroom
Hi
Lots of exciting news for July! First, our summer session of online courses has been launched with our best lineup ever ... but there's still time to sign up. See the item below for all the details. Also under way is BetterPhoto's all-new, all-better contest - now with 10 categories, including one titled "Digital Darkroom." For a rundown of all contest categories, check out:
http://www.betterphoto.com/contest/categories.asp
BetterPhoto instructor Jay Forman's excellent new book, "Capture Your Kids in Pictures: Simple Techniques for Taking Great Family Photos With Any Camera," has just been published. If you would like to learn how to take better pictures of your kids, this is the book for you. For more details, or to purchase an autographed copy of "Capture Your Kids in Pictures," go to:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/ourProductDetail.asp?productID=1204&category=BKS
And in this issue of Digital Darkroom, don't miss our regular features: including the Featured Photo, the Before and After series, and yet another outstanding batch of photo discussions that offer inspiration and instruction.
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: Thursday, July 15, 2004
 Memories The old brooder coop may appear empty but still holds a lot of childhood memories. Image background, saturation and levels edited in Adobe Photoshop. (Photographed in Granum, Alberta, Canada) © Myra Trelenberg Olympus E-20N Digi... |
Featured Article: A Cool New Resource ... About Photoshop!
We just stumbled across a very cool resource for anyone wishing to learn more about Photoshop: "The 1 2 3 of Digital Imaging." This e-book includes a buying guide, image-editing tutorials, tips on organizing and printing images, and interactive manuals for Photoshop Album 1.0 and 2.0, Photoshop Elements 2.0, and Photoshop 7 and CS. More information on the e-book is available at:
Read more...
 two-toned tulip This one started out as a plain yellow tulip that needed a little boost. The orange color was added in ps8. Using layers, I added soft focus to the tulip, then redefined the water drops with the history brush. Image was taken in natural light with a black background. |  two toned tulip (before) |
| 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! |
It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for a Photo Course
| Would you like to learn more about exposure, composition, Photoshop, digital photography, and photographic field techniques? Join us for an inspiring - and enjoyable - online photo course at BetterPhoto.com. Many courses still have space available, including Lewis Kemper's "Photographer's Toolbox for Photoshop: Toolbox #2," George Schaub's "Digital Black and White Printing" and "Photoshop for Photographers with Guest Instructor Joe McDonald." Although classes have already begun, the first lesson's assignment is not due until July 18. If you sign up today, we can send you the first two lessons pronto. Choose from the available photo courses at: Learn more... |
New Photo Discussions
New Photo Discussion 1: I Pick You
- Caley Bovee See Caley's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Outstanding, Julie !!! - Cathy Maddy See Cathy's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Absolutely wonderful. Love your choice of effects and the softness it created!! - Marcie Fowler See Marcie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Thank you so much Caley, Cathy and Marcie! This is my 2- year-old son. I think he was stunned that he was getting away with this, because he normally gets in trouble for messing w/my flowers!! Rules change for a good shot, huh? ... LOL!! Thanks for taking the time to comment!!!! - Julie A. Abston See Julie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:Georgeous! - DIANE ADDONIZIO See DIANE's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 2: Magic
- Charlene Bayerle See Charlene's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PictureThisbyChar.com - Charlene's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Charlene: Thanks so much. I took a photo of the Pegasus, erased the background, and dragged the layer into the bubble. I made the layer opaque, so it looked like it was in the bubble. Thanks again for taking the time to comment:) - Karen A. Beri Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 3: Little Country Girl
- Marcie Fowler See Marcie's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:This is simply beautiful! Cindy Bracken | |
New Photo Discussion 4: Boston Panorama
- Charlene Bayerle See Charlene's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PictureThisbyChar.com - Charlene's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Beautiful pano! - Carolina K. Smith Visit CarolinaSmith.com - Carolina K.'s Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Nicely done, Sharon. :) - Kathleen Clemons See Kathleen's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit kathleenclemonsphotography.com - Kathleen's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 3:Wonderful collage of one of my favorite cities, Sharon, I love the coloring and the PS CS work you've done here. Very, very well done, my very dear friend - your good friend, 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 5: Grain Train
- Erin K. Bishop See Erin's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you. I've been in a bit of a creativity rut lately so I'm trying to get back out there and start shooting again. - James Hildebrandt Response 2:Great image!! The sepia tone works great! - Stacey A. Bates See Stacey's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Nice work! Love the sepia. - Kristen W See Kristen's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:I really like this, James! It has incredible mood and feeling to it! - Karen A. Beri Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 6: Sunflower
- Fawn S. Response 1:Thanks very much. It's from a digital photo made with an old Sony 4 MP digicam. It was originally shot in color, then converted to B/W and sepia-toned using duotones. - George Schaub See George Schaub's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit George Schaub's Web Site - www.GeorgeSchaub.portfolio.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with George Schaub: Digital Black and White Printing Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 7: Hands and Rose Petals
- Fawn S. Response 1:I use Photoshop. This image wasn't altered much - the border was custom-made by tearing a sheet of arches paper, scanning the torn sheet, and incorporating it into the image in Photoshop. The color balance, contrast, and color sat were noodled with, and that's about it. Thanks for your interest! - Vik Orenstein See Vik Orenstein's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Vik Orenstein: Photographing Children Studio Lighting Technique Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 8: Stairs Blue
- Murry Grigsby See Murry's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit mcgphotocards.com - Murry's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks Murry ... I shot this stairway from so many different angles ... It's going to be lots of fun working on them. - Nancy Ferrell See Nancy's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit nanferrellphotos.com - Nancy's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:This is quite spectacular, Nancy! You did a fabulous job composing this one. It's loaded with dynamic geometry and is a winner in my book! - Patricia A. Kuniega See Patricia's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 9: The Kiss
- Ronald Balthazor Visit balthazorphotography.com - Ronald's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Very pretty, Kresta ! I love how the hat covers the eyes and makes them mysterious!! How did you get the softness around the edge of the photo?? I am very curious of this. I just got Photoshop 7.o and cannot figure it out. - Tammy L. Odell See Tammy's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Thanks, Ron and Tammy. I used my Photodelux program to get the softness around the edges. I am learning Photoshop myself. I hope to get the hang of Photoshop soon .I know it has many more options then Photodelux. - Kresta Book See Kresta's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 10: Flames in Charcoal
- Charlene Bayerle See Charlene's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit PictureThisbyChar.com - Charlene's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Beatifully done, Mary. Love the color and effects. - Darren K. Fisher See Darren's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Beautiful image and effects, Mary!!!!! - Donna J. Taff See Donna's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 11: Walking Around with Heads in Clouds
- Jan Stadelmyer See Jan's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Outstanding job, Jan!!! - Joy E. Brown Visit enJOYphotography.com - Joy's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:LOL, Jan, great idea! Well done! - Rob Friedman See Rob's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Nice composite, Jan! - Paul C. Gazzanigo See Paul's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:LOL - so funny and creative Jan! Well done! -K - K Stevens See K's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 5:Made me do a doubletake! ~:0) - Bob Cornelison See Bob's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 12: Beach Kids
- Terry R. Hatfield See Terry 's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Beautiful, Marie!!!! I want to go to the beach too!!!!! - Donna J. Taff See Donna's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Terrific, Marie! I love the colors, composition, and effects. And I like the way the red bucket echoes the red light house in the background:-) - Jan Stadelmyer See Jan's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 13: Big Blue Bolt
- Paul Michko See Paul's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Cool strong image with great colours, effects and angle! - Mette Vendelboe Jensen Response 2:Super job on this, Allan!! It is very cool! - Rob Friedman See Rob's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:WWWOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!! Allan, you have absolutely outdone yourself with this one. I love everything about this. The effort and work you put in sure paid off. Fantastic lighting, color, composition, presentation, and effects! Very, very well done, my friend:-) I expect to see this one again in a few weeks! - Jan Stadelmyer See Jan's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:I am so impressed! Excellent work, Allan, with outstanding results! - Donna W. Neal See Donna's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
