Welcome to the 80th issue of the Digital Darkroom

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If you're ready to take your photography - or your Photoshop skills - to the next level, then we have the ideal course for you. BetterPhoto's online photo courses give you personal interaction with top pros with all the flexibility and convenience of the Web! Our next 4-week school session kicks off Dec. 2nd. Too short? Too soon? The next 8-week session begins Jan. 6th.

For a real creative challenge - in a fun and motivating "boot camp" format - then consider Rob Sheppard's awesome new photo course on composition.

In this issue of Digital Darkroom, don't miss BP instructor Jim Zuckerman's "Photoshop CS4: Cut and Paste in Turkey" article, instructor Deborah Sandidge's "Get Creative with Photoshop Plugins and HDR" blog, and a fine collection of photo discussions.

Kerry Drager,
Newsletter Editor

Where is Jim Miotke? Follow BetterPhoto's founder and president on Twitter: href="http://twitter.com/betterphotojim">BetterPhotoJim

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, November 18, 2009

• Featured Photo: Blue Moon Rising
• Featured Article: Photoshop CS4: Cut and Paste
• Digital Before and After
• New Photo Discussion 1: lilac breasted roller
• New Photo Discussion 2: Life Cycle
• New Photo Discussion 3: Dahlia Back
• New Photo Discussion 4: Teddy Guarding the Tomb
• The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

Featured Photo: Blue Moon Rising

Blue Moon Rising This is a composite shot. The mountain range is from a shot I took in Las Vegas, NV, the bird is from as shot I took in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the moon is digital art produced by a PS filter, and the clouds are from a shot I took in Destin, FL. The flood filter was used to create the water and reflection © Janet Fikar Canon EOS 40D Digi...

Featured Article: Photoshop CS4: Cut and Paste
Instructor Jim Zuckerman photographed a stunning statue in a museum, but felt it would look perfect amid the Roman ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. In his article, Jim explains the Photoshop process.
Read more...
 

Digital Before and After

Marooned under threatening skies HDR image. Color of flowers changed with replace color in PS. Topaz adjust added for detail in boat and sky.

Marooned

Unique Holiday Gift for Photographers

Treat yourself to an easy gift-buying experience, while also giving your favorite photographer something really special! Consider a BetterPhoto Gift Card - good for an online course, Deluxe or Pro website, or photography book.  Learn more...

Masterpiece Membership: Be Part of Something Special!

What an exciting goal that Ansel Adams had: Create a masterpiece every month! Now BetterPhoto is paying homage to this legendary photographer with our Masterpiece of the Month Membership. As a Masterpiece member, you'll receive monthly assignments, private newsletters, and be eligible for rewards not offered with a basic membership. How cool is that!?!  Learn more...

Featured Blog: Get Creative with Photoshop Plugins and HDR

New Photo Discussions

New Photo Discussion 1: lilac breasted roller lilac breasted roller © Jim Zuckerman corporatefineart.com 4-Week Short Course: Making Masterpieces with Corel Painter 4-Week Short Course: Stock Photography 4-Week Short Course: Taking the Mystery Out of Flash Photography 4-Week Short Course: Techniques of Natural Light Photography 4-Week Short Course: Wildlife Photography Developing Your Creative Artistic Vision Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography Fundamentals of Photography Made Easy Making Money with Your Photography Perfect Digital Exposure Photoshop: Advanced Creative Techniques Photoshop: Creative Techniques Self-Discovery in Photography: Where Does Your Passion Lie? Canon EOS 1D Mark ... Aloha Jim, You can't fool me - you painted this in Photoshop! :) Wonderful capture of this wonderful bird. - Fax Sinclair See Fax's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks, Fax. I'm glad you like the paint job. This began as an ugly brown bird, and voila! Jim Editor's Note: I really like this pic too! Also check out Jim Z's Instructor Insights blog in which he discusses a very unique - and captivating - portrait technique. - Jim Zuckerman See Jim Zuckerman's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit Jim Zuckerman's Web Site - CorporateFineArt.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Jim Zuckerman: 4-Week Short Course: Making Masterpieces with Corel Painter 4-Week Short Course: Stock Photography 4-Week Short Course: Taking the Mystery Out of Flash Photography 4-Week Short Course: Techniques of Natural Light Photography 4-Week Short Course: Wildlife Photography Developing Your Creative Artistic Vision Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography Fundamentals of Photography Made Easy Making Money with Your Photography Perfect Digital Exposure Photoshop: Advanced Creative Techniques Photoshop: Creative Techniques Self-Discovery in Photography: Where Does Your Passion Lie? Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 2: Life Cycle Life Cycle This is the seed pod of an exhausted lotus. I enhanced the color by moving a few sliders around in Adobe RAW 5.4 including the color ones normally used for black and white, saturation and vibrance, with a tad of sharpening. This was taken with my Canon 100mm Macro Lens. Entered into DD. © Melissa Gurdus gurdusphoto.com Canon EOS 5D Mark ... Cool find! Beautiful macro. - Jüri Vissak See Jüri's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Terrific comp and detail - Great job with this Melissa! Jeff - Jeff W. Robinson See Jeff 's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit robinsonphotoart.com - Jeff 's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Excellent colors and clarity... nicely done, Melissa! - Amy M. Wilson See Amy's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 3:Beautiful color - both on the lotus pod and the background, Melissa - great work bringing out that wonderful color saturation and of course, wonderful detail!!!! - Valarie Feldman See Valarie's Basic BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 3: Dahlia Back Dahlia Back Closeup of back of a dahlia at Schreiner's Iris Gardens. I selectively layered with a neon glow effect. © Shirley D. Cross Nikon D80 Digital ... Wow! So intense. I like it. Beautiful colors, a very nice composition. Beauty, but at the same time intense. I like it very much. And very beautiful Dahlia. - Edgar A. Monzon See Edgar 's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Lovely artistic image of this beautifully-colored flower, Shirley! - Tess L. Yee See Tess's Basic BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 4: Teddy Guarding the Tomb Teddy Guarding the Tomb I have been viewing Tony Sweet's HDR images of decrepit buildings and really enjoying them so I thought I would give this effect a try. This was done with Topaz Adjust and some tweaking in PS. © Sharon Day Nikon D200 Digital... Beautiful comp, tones and treatment, Sharon!!! - Amy M. Wilson See Amy's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Love the composition, great mood and wonderful subtle use of the filter! Very tastefully done Sharon and a great image!! - Wendy Stevenson See Wendy's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 2:Remarkable results, Sharon!!! Just love the efects you applied! Great to see you posting :o))) Hope all is well with you Sharon! - Susana Heide - Thiessen See Susana's Basic 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