|
Welcome to the 54th issue of the Digital Darkroom
Hi
This is an exciting time at BetterPhoto.com! First, we have an excellent schedule of 4-week and 8-week online classes. So, for a fun and creative adventure, take one of our famous photography and Photoshop classes - all led by experienced professionals.
Next up is the photographic event of the year: the BetterPhoto Summit (September 29th-30th in Chicago). At this awesome event, you'll learn new techniques, get inspired and have a lot of fun! But you'd better hurry, since sign-up deadlines for Live Critiques and the Summit Contest are right around the corner. Learn more about the Summit...
Other features at BP: Get feedback from a professional in our unique ProCritiques. Plan your next photo outing through our Trip Planner. Read our BetterBlogs for photo insights, thoughts, and tips.
In this issue of Digital Darkroom, check out instructor Jim Zuckerman's excellent article on making your images more marketable through Photoshop. Lastly, don't miss another fine collection of 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: Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Featured Photo: Corn Husker # 3
 Corn Husker # 3 This is third of my four photo series. Again, using the emphasizing color technique I read about plus I added a few other effects. Effects used: slightly cropped, one step auto fix, then clarified, saturated, & sharpened some more, made a duplicate layer, adjusted hue & saturation, adjusted noise, selected color, flattened, sharpened selected areas, & added poster edges, using PI, PSP9, PSE. Photo was taken 7-28-07 1:30 PM, Tv 2, Av 32, ISO 100, Canon 50mm macro lens, tripod, & self timer. (DD) <>< © Nadine A. Lewis Canon EOS Digital ... |
Featured Article: Use CS3 to Turn So-So Images into Salable Ones ... by Jim Zuckerman
When your pictures don’t turn out as perfectly as you pre-conceived them, says instructor Jim Zuckerman, Photoshop CS3 can make them perfect – and salable. As a top pro, Jim Z should know ... check out his Premium BetterPholio bio.
Read more...
 ABSTRACT WITH LITTLE FLOWERS Another experiment with the flexify filter. |  Original |
| 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! |
Advertisement ... Lensbabies - Selective Focus SLR Lenses!
 Lensbabies – the unique, fun, useful, and affordable tool for creative photography. The award-winning Lensbabies are selective focus SLR camera lenses that bring one area of your photo into sharp focus, with that "sweet spot" surrounded by graduated blur. You can move the sweet spot anywhere in the photo by bending the lens. Learn more... |
BetterPhoto Summit Coming Up Soon - Sign Up Now!
 The action-packed weekend of the year takes place September 29th and 30th in Chicago - the 2007 BetterPhoto Summit! Plan on great presentations by BP's pro instructors, and for those who want to get out with your camera, you won't want to miss our first-ever Scavenger Hunt Shoot. Photo of Chicago by Brenda Tharp Learn more... |
New Photo Discussions
New Photo Discussion 1: Banana Study 2
- Maria Zammit See Maria's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Maria, I am sure your bananas are just as nice. Try shooting them with the light behind to create shadows and bring out the colors. Then, when you go to your picture program, just saturate the heck out of the color. I think you will be surprised. Thanks for the compliment - these were such fun to do! - Margy McMennamy See Margy's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 2: purple_columbine_wiht_mat
- Veronica S. McGinnity See Veronica's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Veronica, Thanks! I used photoshop and did it using layers - one layer for the center, another for the mat, and a third for the overlapping petals. Then I softened where the edges of the layers meet, and used the paint tool to paint in a shadow where the petals overlap the mat. It took a bit of time, but turned out nicely. I'm using this design for a series of note cards for our local convention/visitors center's giftshop. - Jennifer A. Feeney See Jennifer's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit jenniferfeeney.com - Jennifer's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
| New Photo Discussion 3: Getting Creative with Gaussian Blur - Sangeeth SG Response 1:Hi Sangeeth, First I copied the original flowers to the clipboard (Select > all, then Edit > copy). Then I applied Filter > blur > Gaussian Blur. Finally, I used Edit > paste and in the layers palette I adjusted the opacity to taste. Jim - Jim Zuckerman See Jim Zuckerman's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Jim Zuckerman's Web Site - CorporateFineArt.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Jim Zuckerman: Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography Creative Techniques in Photoshop Advanced Creative Techniques in Photoshop Making Money with Your Photography How to Photograph Animals & Wildlife Fundamentals of Photography Made Easy Developing Your Creative Artistic Vision Perfect Digital Exposure Self-Discovery in Photography: Where Does Your Passion Lie? 4-Week Short Course: Techniques of Natural Light Photography 4-Week Short Course: Taking the Mystery Out of Flash Photography 4-Week Short Course: Making Masterpieces with Corel Painter Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 4: Flowers by the Pond
- Kavitha Mayil Samy Response 1:A wonderful image. The background gives it a soft touch and makes the flowers stand out. Good job. - PHILIP B. LUDWIG See PHILIP's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Thank you, Kavitha and Philip! The main effect was created by combining two images in Photoshop. Each image was shot at a slightly different exposure and location. In Photoshop, each image was on a separate layer. I changed the Blend Mode of the top layer to Multiply and added a Gaussian Blur - about 17, I think. Then I adjusted the opacity of the top layer. - Beth Fishkind Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 5: Getting Creative with the Buzz Filter
- Shelly A. Van Camp See Shelly's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Shelley, Buzz is a great PS filter. It's easy to use, but use it on an image that has color and looks like it might be nice as a painting. Then bring up the saturation after you are done, because Buzz desaturates. I show this and other cool things in my Photoshop Tips, Tricks and Filter Magic class here at BP, and Buzz is one of the class favorites. Good luck, Shelley! Scotty - Scott Stulberg See Scott Stulberg's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Scott Stulberg's Web Site - asa100.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Scott Stulberg: 4-Week Short Course: Photoshop Tips, Tricks and Filter Magic 4-Week Short Course: Eye to Eye: Capturing the Face 4-Week Short Course: Stock Photography Boot Camp Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 6: Old Sacramento
- William F. Clair See William's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit williamclair.com - William's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Great image here, Cristi, love the effects too ... Dominick - Dominick M. Dimacale See Dominick's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit dominickmdimacale.com - Dominick's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Wow!! Wonderful vintage look and feel to this image, Cristi!! Very impressive DDR work!! - SuSana E. Pindiyath See SuSana's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Teriffic effects here, Cristi!! - Rakesh Syal See Rakesh's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 4:Very impressive effects work, Cristi. Jim - Jim Huffield See Jim's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
