Photoshop Makeovers

psmakeover 

So there you are, taking rather fantastic photos, and then, one day, you realise that everyone else seems to be getting better results. Unfair? Possibly. Or perhaps they’re just handier in Photoshop. Like my old friend Maxwell. I recently came across three of his photo-shopped portraiture sessions (one, two, three), and was rather impressed.

For the purpose of this article, let’s shelve any reservations you might have about the ethics of photoshopping the hell out of a portrait or fashion image (you’ve all seen this video, right?), and have a look at how it can be done. As a wise old man once told me, only if you have the skills to do something do you have the skills to choose not to do it…

Maxwell graciously accepted the challenge to talk us through how he edits his portraits, and is using a photo of himself to go through the process… Take it away Max!

Photoshop Makeovers :: Photocritic photography blog

Western Cape Interclub Photographic Competition 2009

Endler Hall

 

The annual Western Cape Interclub Photographic Competition will be taking place on Saturday 31st October, 2009, from 6pm, at the Endler Hall, Conservatoire, University of Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch.  Photographic clubs from the region will be displaying their best prints and digital images during the course of the evening.  Drinks and snacks will be served between 6pm and 7.30pm, when the digital show starts in the auditorium.  Tickets are R50 per person (drinks and snacks included), and can be booked via e-mail from nettie28@iafrica.com.  You are very welcome to attend!

2009 September Competition Winners

Here are the winners of the September competition for which the set subject was Little Bits of Big Things.

Please note that only digital images are available for display.

Prints

Set Subject

  1. Bit of the Biggest Dune
    Paddy Howes
  2. Bit of Big Windows
    Paddy Howes
  3. Dust to Dust
    JJ van Heerden

Open

  1. Starlight Painting
    Paddy Howes
  2. Gariep Sunset
    JJ van Heerden
  3. Quiver Tree Sunrise
    JJ van Heerden

Projected Images

Set Subject

  1. If Looks Could Kill
    JJ van Heerden
  2. Dew Drops
    Elsa van Zyl
  3. A CAT
    Roger Lee

1. If Looks Could Kill2. Dew Drops3. A CAT

Open

  1. Morning Shift
    Marthinus Retief
  2. Glare
    Nicole Palmer
  3. Dawn Light
    Roger Lee

1. Morning Shift2. Glare3. Dawn Light

Print photos with date taken or other EXIF data

I use FastStone Image Viewer for viewing images and performing simple edits, resizing, etc. but this tip I just found is not something I’ve tried before. You might find it useful. The tokens shown in step 3 are just an example. Play around with the different options to arrive at your desired result.

  1. Launch FastStone Image Viewer
  2. Open photo directory
  3. Create > Contact Sheet Builder > Caption > click "…" at top right > EXIF DateTime ($Hx) > Date and Time ($H1)
  4. Save the output to a file (PDF, TIF, PNG, GIF, BMP, and JPG supported) or send directly to printer.

From TinyApps.Org

7 Photography Projects to Jumpstart your Creativity

Let’s face it, no matter how much we take our camera out, there’s only so many pictures we can take of our kids, pets, house and garden before we start itching to shoot something else… but what?

Hopefully this list of projects you can undertake will inspire you to find something creative to shoot.

7 Photography Projects to Jumpstart your Creativity

Overberg Photographic Workshop

overberg_workshop

Join Wicus Leeuwner & JJ van Heerden on the
Overberg Photographic Workshop

The workshop is aimed at photographers wishing 
to find a creative way of improving their photography
by using artistic and design principles.
Both Beginners and Experienced Photographers 
will benefit.
The workshop is presented in a relaxed, informal
atmosphere, allowing individual freedom of expression!

Click on the link below to read more about the workshops
www.agape.co.za/overberg

For bookings and further information contact
Johan on 023  6251 593
or e-mail johanvanzijl@telkomsa.net

How to test a lens

How to test a lens | Photographer Inteviews, Portrait, Commercial, Editorial Photogrpahy and Photographic Art – Colours Magazine

Lens testing is fun and informative. While it won’t turn you into a Cartier-Bresson, it will have a visible impact on your photography too: if you understand the way your lenses behave, you’ll be able to make the most of them under all circumstances. For example, you might have one lens that you know to work well across the entire aperture range, and another that’s otherwise OK but starts to break down wide-open at maximum tele. Knowing this, you could make the intelligent decision to use the first lens wide-open for a shorter shutter speed, to minimize camera shake — but stop down the second lens, risking camera shake to get rid of the lens softness, or bumping up the ISO a notch, knowing that the added noise will hurt less than the lens softness.

Start Using Curves in Elements

Start Using Curves in Elements. | Photo Answers

One of the biggest advantages that the full version of Photoshop seems to offer over Elements is access to the Curves palette – and if you’ve used Curves you’ll know just how handy they are for controlling contrast.

What many people don’t realise though is that Curves are in all versions of Elements since version 5. Check out this video lesson to find out how to use them.