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Welcome to the 58th issue of the Digital Darkroom
Hi
The new year is off to an exciting start at BetterPhoto! Our Winter online photography school is just getting under way, and it's our best session yet! We have classes covering all sorts of subjects, including an exciting lineup of Photoshop courses. Also consider BetterPhoto's unique learning experience: ClassTracks, in which you can master photography or Photoshop over the course of one full year.
In addition, a reminder on these new BetterPhoto features:
- Cash Photo Contest, in which you can win up to $1,000!
- MVBP Rewards, our new "frequent flier" program. For every five classes you take, you receive a 50% discount on your next course.
- BetterPhoto Clubs, in which you can interact with photo friends, share photos, exchange tips, and even meet for trips.
In this issue of Digital Darkroom, be sure to check out instructor Jim Zuckerman's "Fantasy Wildlife Shoot" article, the Before-and-After series, and a 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, January 16, 2008
Featured Photo: GERBERA's ABSTRACT
 GERBERA's ABSTRACT This image is the result of applying the flexify filter to a photograph of four gerberas. © Amalia Arriaga de Garcia Nikon D70 Digital ... |
Featured Article: A Fantasy Wildlife Shoot ... by Jim Zuckerman
Pro instructor Jim Zuckerman enjoys using Photoshop to put detailed dinosaur models in his landscapes. In his article, he demonstrates how he used composites to create an eye-grabbing scene! Jim, by the way, teaches Photoshop: Creative Techniques and Photoshop: Advanced Creative Techniques here at BetterPhoto. Check out his fascinating article...
Read more...
 The Moon at Dawn Nikon D100, 28-300 mm lens at 28 mm, ISO 200,1/13 s. at f/8. Harbour at Ile de Ré, France. In Photoshop: flipped horizontally, lots of Hue/Saturation work, posterized and Poster Edges filter. |  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! |
Lensbabies: Get Creative with 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... |
Turn Your Photos into Beautiful Greeting Cards!
 Photographer's Edge features a complete line of do-it-yourself Photo Frame Greeting Cards for all types of photographers and subjects! Learn more... |
New Photo Discussions
| New Photo Discussion 1: Medieval Knights - Marietjie Townsend Response 1:Hi Marietjie, Thank you very much. The knights were photographed at about 3pm in a Renaissance Faire in Tennessee with a crowd of people behind them. The blue foggy forest was photographed about an hour from Venice, Italy at 6am. I used Photoshop to carefully select the knights (with the pen tool), and then I pasted them in the background. Next, I used the clone tool to eliminate the sun's reflection on the armor, and then I used the burn tool to darken the bottom of the image. The knight who is holding a sword was actually holding a broken wooden lance in the original picture, so I went online and found a cool-looking sword for $35 and ordered it. I then photographed the sword and cut and pasted it into the hand of the knight. This is one of my all-time favorite images. I had wanted to set something like this up in Europe, but since there's no guarantee of fog, it was very hard to do. It also would have been very expensive to hire people and costumes, so I settled on doing it digitally. - 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 Photoshop: Creative Techniques Photoshop: Advanced Creative Techniques Making Money with Your Photography 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: Making Masterpieces with Corel Painter 4-Week Short Course: Techniques of Natural Light Photography 4-Week Short Course: Taking the Mystery Out of Flash Photography 4-Week Short Course: Wildlife Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 2: Tybee Light
- Linda D. Lester See Linda 's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit lindadlester.com - Linda 's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:This is beautiful Linda, awesome colours and comp, lovely work! - Lynne Morris See Lynne's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit lynnemorrisphotography.com - Lynne's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:It's amazing the changes you've made, Linda. Excellent DD work. Distracting items? LOL - Ken Smith See Ken's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Great work on this image, very good use of the Nik Filter and Mystical Lighting software... Well done and amazing final image!!!! - Eugenio Diaz See Eugenio's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 3: The Enchanted Forest
- Tarun Bose See Tarun's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Wow! Beautiful! Great tones & effects! - Tiia Vissak See Tiia's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 2:Thank you for your gracious comments, Susan, Tiia, and Liz! :-) There is much beauty in the "commonplace" things that surrounds us everyday, but often it takes some time, work - and inspiration - to "see" and appreciate it. Thanks again for your nice feedback! - Cary Rogers Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 4: Mystic Beauty
- Cassie L. Woodlee See Cassie 's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Lynn- wow, what's not to like. I just love the coloring on this. It is just awesome. the reflections are excellent. Lighting is perfect. For some reason, this photo gives me the feel of mystic beauty. Way to go. Take care! - Frank W. Degenhardt Response 2:Very creative work, Lynn! I love the, lighting, colors and effects! - Inge S. Lasmana See Inge S.'s Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Cassie, Frank and Inge: Thank you very much for your kind comments. Frank, thank you for naming this one for me! Wonderful title - Lynn :) - Lynn Haack See Lynn's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
New Photo Discussion 5: Golden Gate Bridge
- Cindy Cone See Cindy's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit cconephotos.com - Cindy's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Wow! That's an excellent shot Piper. Great line. Love your sky too. Well done! - Ken Ferguson See Ken's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit fergiesfabfotos.com - Ken's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:I've seen a few shots of this bridge but I must say this one tops them all! Great manipulation. - Chris N. Sweet See Chris's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 3:Brilliant use of Photomatix to create this spectacular Finalist, Piper. Congratulations! Michelle - Michelle Alton See Michelle's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion | |
The Next Step: Where to Go From Here
