A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words

Fix-It Friday

2011-01-14T07:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a Fix-It Friday in forever, so I thought I'd go ahead and participate this week.

This is the original photo:

Here are my edits:

For this edit, I edited it in Camera Raw, adjusting the exposure, clarity, vibrance and white balance. I added a warm photo filter, dodged the highlights on the lips and ran the Florabella Sweet Color action.

For this edit, I did all the above, minus the Sweet Color action and ran Coffeshop Vintage Buttercream Action and then Florabella's Black and White Tints and Hazes. I chose the Cappucino Tint.

For this final edit, all I did was add a texture to the steps that I had done for the second edit.

Blog Redesign

2010-09-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let those out there that actually read this blog that changes are coming to it. I'm going to give it a whole new look and most likely be changing the domain name and address as well.

Mainly I'm doing this because I want my photography blog to correlate a bit better with my new Etsy shop that I will be opening soon to sell my photos.

So look for new changes soon!

Gradients: An Example

2010-08-25T07:14:00.001-07:00

I've been using Adobe Photoshop Elements for about a year and a half. Everyday I learn something new and how to make my pictures better.

I know you guys have heard me recommend the Photoshop Elements book by Scott Kelby and I'm here to sing its praises again.

I'm always looking to punch up my landscape photographs. Often beautiful landscapes aren't quite enough and don't always translate to film as I see them in my mind. Enter adding gradients to your picture. I can't really explain gradients as well as the experts so I'll let you google that and hear it from a better source than I.

However, they can do a lot for your photograph.

Exhibit A: A photo of Lake Bled. Pretty, but lacking something.

Exhibit B: After I've adjusted the contrast, saturation, added two gradients to the top and bottom of the photograph and also added a colored photo filter through Photoshop.

It never fails to amaze me what you can do through Photoshop!

Irritation

2010-05-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

One thing with photography that really gets under my skin is when people complain about photographers using Photoshop.

Honestly, I've never met or seen someone's work in this day and age who doesn't use some form of photo editing.

I'm part of a forum and one of the topics was being allowed to use Photoshop in a weekly photo contest we have on the forum.

Here are a few statements I made, followed by an ignorant opinion (sorry, but it is) about photography and Photoshop. Both of which this person knows NOTHING about.

Me:I may be in the minority with this opinion, but I don't understand how photoshopping a picture somehow negates camera skills.

I think there is a point of taking editing too far, but I think a lot of people are under the impression that a crappy picture can be made magnificent with Photoshop. I disagree. I use Photoshop to make good pictures even better. Not to cover up shoddy camera skills.

Her:A shot that needs photoshop editing isn't a quality shot.

If a photo needs some photoshop to give it that extra POP, you're doing something wrong.

Me:I guess tell that to every professional photographer then, because every photographer I've ever met or talked to about their work edits their photos.

Her:There are PLENTY of professionals who refuse to digitally enhance their work, believing it takes away from a photo's integrity. I do not have any respect for a photographer who does photoshop.

Me:Agree to disagree then, because I've yet to meet someone who doesn't. I personally find it unprofessional if you don't.

I just can't believe some people. Especially people who don't even take pictures!

Working With Textures

2010-03-26T11:56:00.001-07:00

If you have Photoshop and you aren't working with textures, then you should be. They are a great element to add to your pictures for an extra "kick".

Shadow House Creations has some great textures and tutorials on how to use them. The best part? They're all free!

Check out these two pictures.

The first has been edited, but textures have not yet been applied.

In the second picture I used Shadow House Creation's textures and this tutorial to make this picture.

Check out the rest of Shadow House Creation's blog here.

What a Little Lighting Can Do

2010-03-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

In all honesty, I edit almost ALL of my photos. Rarely is there a photo that I take that I don't think can be helped in some way by post-processing. Sometimes that little extra something is to adjust lighting levels or bumping up saturation to bring colors out. Sometimes it's using actions and textures to give it a whole new look.

Today I'm going to show you the same photograph, one SOOC (Straight Out of the Camera) and one that has only had the lighting levels adjusted.

The Original:

After Adjustments:

Basically my lighting trick is one I got from Scott Kelby's book about Photoshop Elements. You use CTRL-L, use the eyedroppers to choose the darkest, lightest and midtone gray colors and it adjusts for you. There's a few other details about setting up the default colors for each dropper, but if you really want to know them, just email me.

Fix-It Friday

2010-03-12T04:49:00.001-08:00

I missed Fix-It Friday last week, so I was eager to participate this week.

I found this week's picture a little hard to edit, but I gave it my best shot!

The Original:

Fix Number 1:

What I Did: First I adjusted the levels, adjust the saturation, used Coffee, Tea, Photographys Little Perk action, screened the image and adjusted the opacity to my liking, then applied CTP Perfect Portrait Action.

Fix Number 2:

What I did: All of the above in slightly different order and then at the end added an additional CTP Sunkissed Action.

Fix-It Friday

2010-02-26T06:15:00.003-08:00

It's time once again for Fix-It Friday!

Here is the original picture:

Here are my two favorite edits that I did:

#1

What I did:
Cropped the image,used the quick selection tool to adjust the shadows on the face and arms, inversed the selection to multiply the color of the sky, applied Coffee Tea Photography's Eye Bright Action, applied Coffee Tea Photography's Butterscotch Vintage action.

#2

What I did:
I did everything the same up until the Butterscotch Action, instead I applied Coffe Tea Photography's Vintage Blush action and unchecked the color mute selection. I then copied the layer and used the soft light to accentuate the colors. I also applied a bokeh texture from Flickr.

Hope you enjoyed!

Fix-It Friday

2010-02-19T05:28:00.001-08:00

Time again for Fix it Friday!

This weeks original picture:

My edits:

The main thing I did for the first picture was to use the Quick Selection tool to outline the little girl and then once I copied her alone into a layer, I screened the layer, so that she was lighter than the shadows and adjusted the level so that she wasn't too bright.

I adjust the saturation, a little tweaking of the light levels and then used CoffeeShop Photograph's Butterscotch Vintage Action.

Edit Number 2:

All I did in this edit was to add two different textures to the above picture I had already edited. The textures I had downloaded from Flickr

Barbed Wire Sunset

2010-02-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

I took this while at home over Christmas. I love it because it reminds me of growing up out in the country and how much I love where I grew up.

I used Picnik to edit it, but I'd like to re-edit it when my Photoshop comes in.

My Equipment

2010-02-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

I've had some of you ask what sort of equipment and editing equipment I use, so I thought a post answering these questions might be a bit easier.

For starters, I use a Canon Rebel XSI aka the Canon 450D.

I highly recommend it! It's a great starter DSLR camera and you can find them for a good price.

I have 4 different lenses I use for my camera. Generally I use the kit lens that came with it the 18-55mm lens.

I also have a 70-300mm lens that is a telephoto lens. I use it a lot when I travel. It's a great lens.

Then there is the 10-22mm lens. It's for wide angle shots. It's great for crowded rooms or if I want to get a large landscape entirely in one picture.

My last lens is my newest and I find it to be the trickest. It's the 50mm f/1.8 lens. It's great for portraits and taking close-ups. I'm still working on getting good shots from this lens.

Now for editing software. I highly recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements. I'll list a few reasons why I like it.

1. It's way, way cheaper than Adobe Photoshop CS4. I just got the new version of Photshop Elements for $50...compare that to over $300 for CS4.
2. Bascially they do the same thing. Unless you are some sort of graphic artist I don't really understand the need for CS4. Not to say it's not an excellent program, because it is. But you can get the same results from Elements that you can get from CS4.

If you do get Photoshop Elements it may seem a little overwhelming at first. Get this book, I promise you won't regret it.

I call it my bible. Seriously..it's that important and it makes using Elements ten times easier for someone who has never used it before.

Photoshop Actions Take 2

2009-11-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is another picture I edited using one of the free actions I downloaded.

I liked this picture, but it seemed just a tad too bright. Nothing wrong with that, but I wanted a different look to it.

So..I did the Vintage Blush action. Perfect!

Free Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Actions

2009-11-04T00:55:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a long time since I've posted here. I'm hoping with this unemployment period that I can get back to sharing my photos with you guys. Obviously for now I've abandoned the 365 days of photos idea and I'll just be posting pics and links that I think are relevant.

Sound good?

Ok, as promised I'm going to give you a link to some free photoshop actions. If you're like me, you're cheap and don't feel like paying for actions. I've been trying forever to find an action that will replicate a vintage photo.

I found this website via the Pioneer Woman actions set on Flickr.

Actions

If you have trouble installing the actions or just don't know how she's included a link to explain everything. Trust me..If I can install them. So can you!

Installing

Here is one example of a picture I used her actions on.

The Original Pic:

Vintage Action: (I also cropped it)

Cool huh? I'll try to do more examples of the actions in a few days.

Day 30

2009-06-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Obviously by now you all know I suck at keeping this updated, but I'm going to continue to truck right along.

This was on the back of a truck that we were stuck behind in Milan a few weeks ago. I have no idea why it's on there, but yeah....amusing anyway!

Day 29

2009-05-09T14:04:00.001-07:00

I "borrowed" this picture from last Saturday since I didn't shoot anything today.

Day 28

2009-05-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

I thought my orange looked like a snail. Can you see it?

Day 27

2009-05-06T12:06:00.001-07:00

This picture is from the USO's Cinco de Mayo dinner last night. We had tamales (which I helped roll by hand) enchiladas, nachos, rice and flan.

Here's a pic of the tamales.

Day 26

2009-05-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Ok..I know I've been gone a week. I'm horrible at this. So...I'll add a week on to this little project and pick up now where I left off.

Posing with my new Jen Lancaster book. I'm reading it at this very moment.

Day 25

2009-04-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

Funny, upside down pic I took tonight.

Day 24

2009-04-26T13:15:00.001-07:00

I took this picture from our balcony, one floor up from this lizard and I used my new telephoto lens. Pretty cool huh?

Day 23

2009-04-26T13:11:00.001-07:00

This is how naughty Min-Pins behave.

Day 22

2009-04-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

I REALLY suck at keeping this thing updated. I promise I'll do better!

My engagement ring...that I LOVE.

Day 21

2009-04-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

I got the lovely scarf that Steph made and I won in her contest. Isn't it just the cutest? I can't wait to break it out once it gets cold. Steph you are the best!

Day 20

2009-04-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

It's completely sad that I'm drinking so much wine that I won't even put it in the fridge so I that I don't have to walk there to fill up my glass.....

Day 19

2009-04-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

My FAVORITE German chocolate variety that I've tried so far. It's amazing! I love Marzipan!

Day 18

2009-04-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

I got my new Photoshop Elements Book. Hopefully now I can figure out that program, it's unbelievable complicated. I'd love to be able to edit my pictures like the pros.

Day 17

2009-04-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

Delicious loose wine. This is Rabaseo, a sort of sparkling, red wine.

It's my fave!

Day 16

2009-04-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Today's subject is one of my favorite shirts. It's a shirt that's soft to the touch and it always makes me laugh. This shirt used to be worn by one of my best friends until he passed it on to me. His name was Aaron Stookey, but I called him Stookey for short. He called me Scholl. So we were Stookey and Scholl, a dynamic duo!

I met Stookey in high school since we were both on the yearbook staff together and also attended the same church. I was older then him by two grades, but we hit it off immediately. In time we were inseperable and it continued that way until I graduated college. He attended Oklahoma State University with me and looking back at pictures of us together I cannot help but laugh. Stookey is seriously one of the funniest people I've ever met in my life. He does impressions like nobodies business. He was always so generous to me. I often called him my Sugar Daddy. Stookey and I were close, as I said, until I graduated. Then I moved back to our hometown and we started to drift apart. Not so much because of the distance, but because he decided to make some changes in his life that I didn't really understand, but continued to support him.

We still talk from time to time, but it's nothing like the friendship that we used to have. I saw him while I was home over Christmas and we chatted for a couple of hours and it was almost like it used to be. One the way home that night I cried though. It's hard having someone you are so close to gradually become someone that you aren't sure you know anymore.

This is one of my favorite pictures of us.

Day 15

2009-04-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Isn't the packaging the cutest? It doesn't taste as good as it looks though.

Day 14

2009-04-15T13:26:00.001-07:00

My bicep. I think it's impressive, but you don't have to agree.

Day 13

2009-04-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

First of all I want to apologize for being a bad 365 Picture Challenge person. I do almost always take a picture that day, but if I get home from work late then I generally don't go ahead and put it up. So for that, I'm sorry.

German pasta and sauce. Great for a quick, cheap dinner!

Day 12

2009-04-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

My neighbor to the back of us out working in his yard. Italians love working out in their yards, now that it's nice you see them out there frequently.

Day 11

2009-04-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not putting up Day 11 on the exact day. I was in bed before I realized I forgot to post.

So without further ado...

Raspberry Sorbet...delish and yet still somewhat healthy. Does it get any better?

Day 10

2009-04-11T12:14:00.001-07:00

So there was a random Elvis impersonator performing today at the Eggstravaganza we had on post. I mean, what's more synonomous with Easter than Elvis? It was quite amusing seeing him at the shoppette after the event buying beer. Now that's a picture I wish I had gotten!

Day 9

2009-04-10T13:21:00.001-07:00

The infamous pregnant stick figure sign.

Day 8

2009-04-09T14:45:00.001-07:00

My attempt at unwinding with a glass of wine after work.

Day 7

2009-04-08T12:18:00.001-07:00

Under construction. A common sight in our neighborhood!

Day 6

2009-04-07T13:55:00.001-07:00

So, I have to apologize for this very un-creative photo. It's 11:00p.m. here and I just chose something that I had taken.

Forgive me! I'm tired.

Daffodils...who doesn't love them?

Day 5

2009-04-06T10:09:00.001-07:00

The stack of books I have checked out from the library and am currently reading.

Note the travel and cooking books...my faves!

Day 4

2009-04-05T10:23:00.001-07:00

This is our apartment, the red one. We live on the second floor.

Red and yellow seem to be the typical Italian colors for apartments.

Day 3

2009-04-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

All around there are shrines to Mary, this one is at the end of one of our streets. It's not unusual to see fresh flowers placed there and tonight they had candles on it, I'm guessing for Palm Sunday coming up.

Day 2

2009-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

This is a picture outside our apartment building, someone had a delivery of water and I found it picture-worthy.

Day One

2009-04-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

I mentioned this on my other blog, but these pictures were taken of a particularly delish batch of chocolate chip cookies I made. I'm serious when I say this might be the best batch I've ever made!