With all that we can do today in Photoshop a lot of the techniques we used to use to get it right in camera “back in the film days” have been over shadowed. But today I think they are as important as ever. In the following video I point out how I think about a scene when shooting it, how I approach it technically, and how I use simple tools like filters and even a flashlight to improve my images before they ever see post processing. Again don’t think I don’t post process. I do. I truly believe there is a time for HDR, all the plug-in’s under the sun, etc. Some of my images receive a lot of post processing but honestly fewer then most think and often I find it funny that the questions I get about whether something was “Photoshopped” or “HDR” are often on images where I’ve done it in camera first! And images that receive a lot of artistic post processing benefit from doing it right in camera first and creating the best image for what you want to say later via post processing. Every single image shown has it’s contrast and saturation adjusted in Raw processing as I set my camera parameters to give me a flat image with the most information available out of the camera.
Both shoots discussed in the video show a few before and after images that I normally wouldn’t have taken to begin with. Again knowing when/what to shoot and when/what not to and how to make photos in tough situations so is very important. And admittedly post processing is a big tool in the arsenal of tricks but we aren’t discussing that today. If you take anything away from this it should be this- knowing when and when not to take photos is the sign of a true experienced photographer but knowing what tools to use to reduce the “when not to” times is huge and sign of a professional! So listen to me discuss two recent shoots and hopefully you will get a few tips that will help you improve your own photography.
Sometime in the next few weeks I’ll do a “what’s in my bag” post to further discuss the tools I use in the field.
I often receive emails about how I did this, or that. Often the question is posed as “Did you do that in Photoshop?”. I will say right here and now I use Photoshop and I think my technical ability with it is strong. And I’ll also state with zero reservation that every single image you see posted of mine has some post processing work done to it either in Photoshop or in Lightroom. First it receives post processing because I shoot in camera to have a final raw image that is flat in contrast and fairly low in saturation so that I have the most information to work with later. After all you can always add contrast and saturation but if you have too much of either of those to start you will have problems reducing it without ill effect. And I also believe that as an artist you take a picture and complete it using all the tools at your disposal. What tools you use to complete your vision is up to you. But I cut my teeth shooting slide film and the process of getting it right in camera to the best of my ability still rings true today. Good pictures in the camera equal good photos after post processing too. On 90% of my photos I know exactly what I want to do in post processing and do very specific things in camera to help achieve and expedite the end result.
Below are two variations of the same exact scene photographed just minutes apart. In Lightroom, the image was cropped to square, and had contrast, saturation, and white balance tweaked slightly. The adjustments on each are exactly the same. The moon was cloned out on the second image and is purely an aesthetic choice I made.
Watch for the next post for a mini lesson on using light, exposure, and simple tools to get the best image possible out of the camera before any post processing takes place. But until then ask yourself which image holds more visual appeal, is simpler, and has more warmth. Is it the top image or the bottom image? I think I know which one you will prefer but I think the bigger question is which image represents the way you would have photographed it if you were there?
The following tutorial shows how to create wall art from an image with a simple white background. It uses the Select Color Range feature to create a selection and mask. You may use any method you choose to create a selection for the mask but for this specific type of image Select Color Range is the quickest and most effective.
Photoshop brushes are something that most Photoshop users take for granted. But you can do so much with them if you learn how to create your own brushes. Custom brushes are extremely simple to create and can be used to add signatures, textures, art, and more to your images.
When I first saw this technique over a year ago I thought “bingo” it’s Polar Coordinates in Photoshop. Well it is, and it isn’t. It took some trial and error (because that’s how I learn best) behind the computer but I figured it out. There are other tutorials out there on how to do this and some suggest that you need special software. That’s not the case at all. All you need is a panoramic image or an image cropped to panoramic that has some symmetry from left to right and at least 1/3 sky at top. I find it best to shoot an image with this technique in mind. Follow along on the tutorial and try it on your own images. I’m using an image that I presented as a small world on the old photoblog (see links to the archives above) over a year ago.
Photoshop actions are very simple to create and use but their power and speed in use is great. Follow this tutorial to learn how you can create actions quickly and easily.
This simple technique takes less then a minute but gives you the option to create b&w line drawings, charcoal style art, or painterly color images. Follow along with the tutorial and you will see how easy this is to do. With a few adjustments after completion there are a lot of things you can use this process for so experiment and see where you can take it.
In last weeks photographer spotlight of flower photographer Anita Bower she demonstrated how she takes many of her flower photographs against a simple white background and then uses texture and color layers in Photoshop to give the feeling of a painted backdrop. Watch the tutorial to see how simple this is. Try it in your own photography. And remember you can use this technique in many ways so experiment and have fun.
