Chris Barnes Digital Imaging

Washington D.C. Monuments and Memorials Workshop

2012-01-13T14:50:00.003-05:00

It is with great anticipation and excitement that I announce my Washington D.C. Monuments and Memorials Photography Workshop! A workshop that has been over a year in the making, but I think we've put together a fantastic workshop full of very unique and special opportunities.

Washington D.C., our Nation’s Capital, learn how to photograph it like never before! Come learn travel and architecture techniques that will help you capture beautiful photos now and prepare you for that next expensive trip or vacation you take.

We'll cover landscapes, architecture, travel, sunrises, composition, lighting, posing, outdoor portraiture, and interior photography without flash or tripod. It is safe to say that you will have a chance to work with every lens you have - from wide angle to macro through to telephoto - depending on where your creative vision takes you!

Meals and lodging are not included in the registration fee. However, we have secured a block of rooms with great rates at the Americana Hotel in Crystal City (Arlington), VA. Breakfast is complimentary at the hotel, and we will provide refreshments and snacks throughout the workshop.

With the workshop based in Arlington, VA, we’ll have the advantage of being close to most of our locations. There will be no arduous hiking or strenuous walking, The workshop is designed for the beginner and advanced/intermediate level photographer.

Come join me and a very special guest of mine as we take you not only to the very popular spots in DC, but also to some very special and limited access spots as well.

See the brochure for the line up of locations, the registration form and all the information you should need. There is no web sign-up, you need to complete the form and send to me. Dropping me an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks!
Chris

Now Booking - South Carolina Photography Workshop - April 7-10

2011-01-18T15:40:00.008-05:00

South Carolina's Low Country offers opportunities to explore the magic of its land and sea in special ways with beautiful light and comfortably warm weather in early spring. Come join us for a weekend of photography as we visit just a few of the area’s amazing places.

Workshops will include in-the-field instruction and classroom presentations from Jamie Konarski Davidson, professional freelance nature photographer, and Chris Barnes, professional photographer and Adobe Certified Instructor.

Prepare to be filled to overflowing with incredible photo opportunities, learning and sharing with fellow photographers, and plenty of subjects to shoot! We'll cover sunrises, landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, birds, marshes, nautical places and spectacular gardens. It is safe to say that you will have a chance to work with every lens you have - from wide angle to macro through to telephoto - depending on where your creative vision takes you!

Discover for yourself the charm and beauty of South Carolina’s Low Countryover a long Spring weekend.

With the workshop based in Pawleys Island, we’ll have the advantage of being close to most of our locations. There will be no arduous hiking or strenuous walking (unless sand dunes and beach sand are difficult for you), The workshop is designed for the beginner and advanced/intermediate level photographer.

Meals and lodging are not included in the registration fee. However, we have secured a block of rooms with great rates at the Baymont Inn in Pawleys Island, SC. Breakfast is complimentary at the hotel, and we will provide refreshments and snacks throughout the workshop.

We’ll begin each day with a sunrise shoot and follow with explorations that will bring you close to a variety of wildlife, shorebirds and other critters. You’ll have a chance to photograph landscapes and scenics as well as macro and close-up images in every location.

We’ll be visiting coastal areas that provide for picturesque ocean, marsh and piers and other nautical imagery. Plan to flex your creative muscles to come up with photographs that share your own impressions of the sights, sounds and scents that surround you on this adventure.

On the list of places we will go is Huntington Beach State Park, including Atalaya Castle. A place not to be missed any time you’re in the area is the spectacular Brookgreen Gardens - and we will be spending a good bit of time there, accompanied by Anne Malarich, Brookgreen’s own photographer.

Pawleys Island and other local areas provide plenty of waterfront shooting possibilities. We will visit a few and point you in the directions of others to explore when you come back for more on other visits.

Jamie and Chris will share their experience and knowledge of the subjects as well as photographic skills and techniques to help you capture beautiful images. Learning and practicing to “get it right in the field” will save you much time on image processing.

Come celebrate your passion for nature and photography, sharpen your shooting and seeing skills (and learn new ones). Spend your days in the field learning to capture what you “see” and your evenings refining your image processing and editing skills and sharing each day’s visual catch!

See the brochure for the registration form and all the information you should need. There is no web sign-up, you need to complete the form and send to Jamie. Dropping us an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to seeing many of you in this Spring!
Chris

Now Accepting Registrations!! OBX Workshop

2010-10-04T15:28:00.002-04:00

Outer Banks Photography Workshop

Come join us for an incredible winter weekend photographing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. No more summer crowds and traffic. Welcome migratory birds, deserted beaches and wonderful winter surprises! Workshop will include in-the-field instruction and classroom presentations from Jamie Konarski Davidson, professional freelance nature photographer, and Chris Barnes, professional photographer and Adobe Certified Instructor. Prepare to be filled to overflowing with amazing photo opportunities, learning and sharing with fellow photographers, and plenty of subjects to photograph!

We’ll cover vast stretches of beach, windswept dunes, shorebirds and waterfowl, and even a few lighthouses! Think landscapes, scenics, sunrise, sunset, wildlife, macro and more! By the end of the workshop, you will have explored the Outer Banks from North to South and leave wanting to come back for more.

See the brochure for the registration form and all the information you should need. There is no web sign-up, you need to complete the form and send to Jamie. Dropping us an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to seeing many of you in this Winter!
Chris

Outer Banks Winter Photography Workshop—Jan 27-30, 2011

2010-08-24T20:37:00.005-04:00

AWESOME! Yes, in a word, that’s what it’s like to spend a winter weekend photographing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Gone are the summer crowds and traffic jams! Hello to brisk days, migratory birds , deserted beaches and wonderful wintery surprises!

If you missed your chance to join me and my co-leader, Jamie Konarski Davidson, for the Richmond Spring Gardens or NC Falls & Foliage workshops, you’re in for a treat with this long weekend of photography on the Outer Banks.

We’ll cover the long stretches of beach, windswept dunes, migratory birds, and oh, yes, a few lighthouses. Think landscapes, scenics, sunrise, sunsets, wildlife, waterfowl, macro and more. You’ll have image sharing and critiques as well as classroom sessions that include image processing & editing. With two instructors, there’s plenty of us to go around for personalized in-the-field instruction.

To get on the mailing list for this workshop, send an email to Jamie@newlifephotos.com.

More details coming soon!

Check Out PhotoVision

2010-07-29T12:58:00.003-04:00

PhotoVision is absolutely awesome. Outside of my NAPP membership, this is the training I crave! What NAPP does for my Photoshop skills, Photovision does for my photography. I talk about Photovision with photographers and students anytime I can to get them informed and onboard. Now because of a special sale, anyone can receive PhotoVision's 6 DVDs for just $39 by using the promo code: PVFAN. If you are not currently receiving PhotoVision, now is your opportunity to get in on this fantastic educational series at an unbelievable price. From now until September 30th, PhotoVision is on sale at 70% off, just $39 for the entire year when you use the promo code: PVFAN. I look forward to my bi-monthly, 2-hour photo educational fix arriving in my mailbox chocked full of info and inspiration. To find out more, click here.

I promised to only bug you when there was a good deal - this is a good deal. Order today and thank me later!

Wishing you good light,
Chris

Scott Kelby's 3rd Annual World Wide Photowalk Report

2010-07-25T16:41:00.004-04:00

So today is the big day. It's my third time leading a walk in Scott Kelby's famous Worldwide Photowalk. I'm excited, I've got my biggest crowd yet. I went out twice last week to check out the route and check-in with the restaurant. We're all set.

I pull into the meeting location 30 minutes prior to the start of the walk this morning, and the entire place is surrounded by CRIME SCENE TAPE!!! Police are everywhere and so are the local TV cameras. I'm guessing the place got robbed - it's a local favorite. So I go up to one of the officer's and explain what I'm doing there and to feel out the situation. Trying to make an 'on-the-scene' decision as to whether I need to regroup and move the walk last minute.

I learn that 30 minutes earlier, a guy shows up for work and out of nowhere a guy pulls up beside him and shoots in in the head! Point blank range. Another worker comes out to see what's going on and pulls out his gun and the two of them literally get in a gunfight. Unreal.

Broken glass, crime scene tape, cops, blood and local media all over the place and all I can think running thru my head is Scott's mantra of SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY.

By now I've got 15 walkers and cameras all over the place and the media is enthralled and the cops are nervous. LOL

Long story short, the "hit" (quite literally as it turns out) was personal and gang related, so I didn't feel I was endangering my walkers (Police Station across the street!) and the walk went off without a hitch. I even got a good shot of a walker running across the tracks while an Amtrak train barreled by - I probably shouldn't have said that...

Totally kidding - kinda - the train was stopped and we staged the photo.

Oh, and after the "thrill" of the shooting died down, the local media came over and interviewed us and asked all about the walk, and at noon on Tuesday they're airing the footage! The cameraman kept zooming in on my Photowalk Leader shirt! Can't wait to see the awesome Rob Jones designed shirt get airtime!

UPDATE: (via WHIG TV)

WHIG-TV RM POLICE: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury132 S. Church St. - Central Café Victim: Gary Morris, age 52
Suspect: Unknown black male, approximate age range in 20's, 5 ft. 6in. to 5 ft.10 in., medium build to large build, dark complexion, close cut hairstyle, wearing a white t-shirt and dark jeans An unknown male suspect approached an employee, Morris, in the parking lot of Central Café. Before Morris could exit his vehicle, the suspect fired one shot and injured Morris in the chin. Morris was transported to Nash General Hospital for treatment of his non-life threatening injury. This case is an ongoing investigation. If anyone has information on this crime, contact Crime Stoppers at 977-1111, crimestoppers@rockymountnc.gov or case investigator, Detective John Denton at 972-1680.

Quick Monday Updates

2010-06-14T08:25:00.003-04:00

Hey guys!
Back in town and have a lot of work to catch up on, but wanted to give you a quick update on a couple of things:

1) My Rocky Mount, NC Photowalk is getting nice early response. Three of the people signed up are new walkers, and I've spoken to several more that have yet to sign up but are planning on doing so. Please remember to sign up soon.

2) Early registrations are pouring in for the NC Falls and Foliage Photography Workshop. Looks like it's going to be a great workshop! Space is limited so if you're interested - sign up NOW!

3) I'm thrilled to announce that I'm going to be teaching Adobe Photoshop to a ton of photographers in Greenville, NC in association with ASAP Photo and Camera Store. The training will be two half day sessions in late July. Stay tuned for direct sign up - or contact the fine folks at ASAP Camera.

4) And finally this morning, I feel like I've hit the "big time!" ;-) A good friend of mine, David Ziser, runs the incredibly popular and super blog Digital Pro Talk. David just has TONS of readers and followers (and deservedly so). He's one of the blogs I read EVERY morning to start my day. So imagine my surprise while reading this morning to see this:

Hey, There's A New Lighting Book In Town

It's not by me but it's about lighting. While surfing' the web this past weekend, I came across a post by Chris Barnes at his digital imaging blog. In addition to giving my CBTL book a nice nod, he went on telling his readers about another book he had discovered on lighting entitled, Lights, Camera, Capture. Here is the link to his post.
I got to know Chris when he attended my Master Class a few years ago. In addition to being a really nice guy, he also really knows his stuff. He is an Adobe Certified Instructor and Certified Internet Webmaster/Instructor. Chris’s blog is easy to follow as he has a nice way to find little nuggets of good info out there for photogs. I just ordered my copy of Lights, Camera, Capture Chris is raving about and I can't wait to receive my copy.

I have this "Mama said I'd see my name in Lights" feeling. :-) Thanks David for the mention.

And with that, I'm going to head over here and edit this maternity session since the baby was born Saturday! Yikes!

Wishing you Good Light,
Chris

Book Review: Bob Davis' "Lights, Camera, Capture"

2010-06-10T20:17:00.006-04:00

Hello students and fellow followers. A few weeks ago I got my copy of Bob Davis' new book Lights, Camera, Capture - Creative Lighting Techniques for Digital Photographers. I had hoped to dive right in and consume the book over the weekend, but as often does, life happened and I didn't finish the book. However this week I resumed my devouring of this book and here's a little review for your consumption.

This book comes out hot on the heels of another book that I thought just knocked it out of the park - David Ziser's Captured by the Light. Both deal with the issues of off camera lighting, but David's is centered around wedding photography (although the topics can be applied to any situation) and Bob's is centered around practical situations (although the topics can be applied to wedding photography).

Both authors are Canon shooters, as am I, so both were really helpful to me, but both go to great lengths to explain Nikon's solutions as well. Both are real light on theory (thank goodness) and real heavy on practical applications. Both use personal shots as demonstrations that both teach and inspire, and both have a section dedicated to gear and what's in their bags (really helpful). Usually, one reads a book and then meets the author, but in both of these cases, I was privileged enough to take workshops under both of these guys and then read their books! So in fairness, I may be biased on both counts!

So let's dive into Bob's book. I pre-ordered this book MONTHS before it hit the presses, and due to my teaching status got it before it hit the shelves of my local bookstores. I was dying to get my hands on this book, and it doesn't disappoint!

First Impressions:
The book is beautiful. Well laid out and easy to read, and the photography is, of course, stunning! Bob is a laid back, hip, stylish, extremely nice, eager to help, Christian man - and it shows in his writing as much as it does in person. And it's all those reasons that he's been an idol of mine from the first 5 minutes I got to know him. Bob photographs the superstars (Oprah, Eva Longoria, etc.) and he's never once not replied to an email, tweet, or Facebook message in the four years I've known him. Now if I can just get him to come down and let me host him and his lovely wife while they hold one of their Love Story Workshops on the Outer Banks of North Carolina..... But I digress....

The book has sample photos as I've mentioned, but each photo has a recipe settings and complete EXIF data so you can see exactly how the shot was captured. This is an unbelievable tool to help you in training.

Content:
The book is primarily to teach beginners the advantages and options of flash lighting techniques, but I believe almost anybody could get something out of the content. I think I learn something new from Bob every time I purchase one of his materials or hear him speak - so there! There's an introduction, a chapter on Understanding Light, Getting the Basics Right, Lighting Equipment, Getting the Most From Your Lighting Kit, Controlling the Light, Creative Lighting, Traveling Light, A Glossary, A Collection of Websites Worth Visiting, and a DVD full of additional info and training. The DVD is a semi commercial, but I swear it's almost worth the price of the book itself.

Negatives:
The only one I can come up with (but it did annoy me to death) is that most of the time the recipe and EXIF data for the photo and/or any additional info Bob wanted to point out about the photo was usually found on the next page (or several pages later) and I had to constantly flip back and forth. I wish it had been at the bottom of the picture or on the facing page.

Conclusion:
The book was so worth the wait. The positives really outweigh the one negative I had. The way he writes is easy to understand and each and every page is filled with remarkable images one can't wait to go out and try for themselves, putting his/her own artistic twist on it. I have adopted the book as a standard for my photography classes, so my students will get "carry home notes" packaged in a nice book!

There have been a lot of really good photography books come out in the last few years, and this one is right there among my favorites!

Good Job Bob! So when are you and Dawn going to let me host you at the Outer Banks?

Happy reading everyone,
Chris

North Carolina Falls and Foliage Photography Workshop

2010-06-09T10:15:00.005-04:00

As promised, here is the official announcement of our North Carolina Falls and Foliage Photography Workshop!

Come join us for jam-packed days of photographing all that the North Carolina mountains have to offer - including Waterfalls, Fall foliage, White Squirrels, the Blue Ridge Parkway and much more! Workshop will include in-field instruction and classroom presentation from Jamie Konarski Davidson, professional freelance nature photographer, and Chris Barnes, professional photographer and Adobe Certified Instructor. Prepare to be filled to overflowing with amazing photo opportunities, learning and sharing with fellow photographers.

We will be taking you to some of the most beautiful, yet easily accessible locations in western North Carolina. The locations we will be visiting have been carefully selected for their unique characteristics, easy accessibility, and captivating formations. All hiking will be “easy to moderate level”, come prepared.

Few things in the natural world are as awe-inspiring as the sight of water pouring off the side of a high stone ledge and clamoring into a rocky pool beneath. Though our first inclination may be to simply stand and marvel, we’re going to be there to photograph these incredible wonders!

On this workshop we will explore a land that offers over 250 waterfalls and countless streams that have taken centuries to carve the very faces of the mountains. A temperate rain forest supports some of the rarest plant and animal species on the planet. We will likely have opportunity to photograph white squirrels - whose population started from a pair of white squirrels on the lam from a traveling carnival in the 1950s and now spans generations.
In short, this is a place like no other on earth. Fall foliage will only serve to enhance the experience. Won’t you join us for an extended weekend capturing some of the most beautiful scenes imaginable?

Learning Opportunities in the Field and in the Classroom
Our first night will include an orientation program that covers where we will be going, waterfall safety, and how to capture images that you’ll be proud and thrilled to take home and share. Most of our days will be spent shooting in the field, including plenty of hands-on instruction such as practical techniques for capturing waterfalls and moving water, filter tips and tricks, High Dynamic Range (HDR) techniques, and more.

Back at the hotel, our evenings will include Adobe Lightroom basics, HDR processing techniques, and plenty of image presentations and critiques. A list of recommended equipment and supplies will be provided so you’ll be ready for the adventure.

See the brochure for the registration form and all the information you should need. There is no web sign-up, you need to complete the form and send to Jamie. Dropping us an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to seeing many of you in the Fall!
Chris

Fall Photography Workshops - NC Mountains and other possibilites!

2010-05-25T16:55:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Well I'm fresh off two awesome photography workshops and now I'm busy planning for the Fall. Will I ever get the new blog off the ground? It's looking doubtful, but hey - hang in there!

Just wanted to let you know that Jamie and I are planning a Fall NC Mountains Workshop in October (14-17). Will be based at the Hampton Inn in Hendersonville and will have waterfalls, fall colors, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and other cool things on deck. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Will have full days of shooting and evenings with lots of image sharing and critiques.

More info coming soon!

Hope all is well and the shooting is awesome!

Chris

Final SGPW Update!

2010-04-09T09:33:00.002-04:00

Hi gang! The Spring Gardens Photography Workshop I'm co-hosting at the end of the month is fast approaching and I wanted to let you know one last time in case you wanted to fill one the remaining seats, before the cutoff!

I'll be teaching 3 classes during the workshop:
1) On all the options available for Image Editing along with recommendations
2) A Complete Digital Workflow from Shot to Print
3) From Photo to Photographic Art.

We've adjusted the price due to a hotel error and offered the option of joining us on Friday (at a reduced rate) for those who couldn't travel during the business week.

Contact me if interested!
Thanks!
Chris

SGPW Update!!

2010-03-23T10:36:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!

I've been working hard on a new blog (not a post, a whole new blog!) and haven't had the desire to post anymore here for a bit, but....

I did want to update you on the Spring Gardens Photography Workshop. We nearly had to cancel the thing due to the hotel backing out of their agreement, but Jamie was able to muscle them around (OK, she was nice but this sounds cooler). Anyway, the prices changed a little bit. We still have the $39.99 rate for Thursday, but it went up to $49.99 for Friday and Saturday.

As a result and incentive for you to grab one of the last few remaining seats, we have lowered everyone's workshop registration fee to $350.

See the brochure linked to this post for all the information you should need. There is no web signup, you need to complete the form and send to Jamie. Dropping us an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to seeing many of you in Richmond!
Chris

Spring Gardens Photography Workshop - Richmond Virginia

2010-01-27T19:46:00.002-05:00

Greetings my fellow photographer friends,

So where have I been? Here's just one of the many things I've been working on in my hiatus!

Many of you have been asking me "what's next." So, it is with great pleasure that I can finally and officially announce to you that I will be co-anchoring a Spring Garden Photography Workshop in Richmond, Va. April 29-May 2. Many of you will remember Jamie Konarski Davidson from some of my classes in Wilson. We have teamed up together to bring you what I think will be an awesome photography workshop.

This will be an action-packed workshop where we will include plenty of hands-on instruction in the field so you can learn and fine tune shooting techniques. Then 'retire' back to the hotel for classroom sessions that focus on photography and image processing, and if that weren't enough of a day for you, we will also have time for image sharing & critiques. Our days will run from 7am to 10:30 pm with all the photography goodness I know many of you crave!

During the daylight hours we're shooting at three incredible locations: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Maymount Park, and the Agecroft House and Gardens. I can't say enough about how cool these locations will be to shoot - just see for yourselves. Then when night falls, we've packed in SIX (6!) classroom workshops to help you obtain better images. You should come home with a ton of wonderful shots! Come join us, it's going to be a blast!

We've reserved an incredible deal with the 'Base' hotel Baymont Inn and Suites for just $39.99 per night (single or double!) with breakfast included! We will also be including a couple of your meals AND admission to the shooting locations in your registration fee! The hotel is conveniently located very close to our shooting locations and there are several nice restaurants in the near vicinity too including an Olive Garden in the parking lot!

Don't delay! We're limited to 14 participants and it will sell out fast. The last workshop wound up with 14 on the waiting list. See the brochure linked to this post for all the information you should need. There is no web signup, you need to complete the form and send to Jamie. Dropping us an email to tell us you've sent your money would be appreciated too.

Thanks for your continued interest, and I look forward to seeing many of you in Richmond!
Chris

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T16:01:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been an up and down year for the blog. I hope for better things to come in 2010, but until then - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tip Tuesday - Drag and Drop to the Center

2009-11-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

OK - a peek in here long enough for my Tip Tuesday segment...

Holding the Shift key while dragging and dropping a layer between two documents will place the “dropped” layer into the center of the destination document. If there is a selection in the destination document, holding the Shift key while dragging and dropping an image will drop it into the center of the selection.

Quick Update

2009-11-09T13:42:00.003-05:00

Incredibly busy week (with Travel) this week. My appearance here may be spotty, but I'll check in next week and tell you all that's gone on!

More to come soon!
Chris

Scavenger Hunt

2009-11-02T12:46:00.003-05:00

Hey gang -

Short and sweet today as I have heard a rumor that a friend of mine, David Ziser, is in the great state of North Carolina today, and I'm going to go hunt him down!

Tell you all about it tomorrow!

More to come soon,
Chris

More Jayci

2009-10-28T12:38:00.000-04:00

OnOne Software Releases Plug-In Suite 5

2009-10-28T09:35:00.002-04:00

I'm a big fan of OnOne Software's Plug-In Suite, and yesterday they announced the release of version 5.

With support for Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 the onOne Software Plug-in Suite 5 now includes the new onOne Panel which provides quick access to all products, Windows 64 bit support and the ability to access select plug-ins from within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and Apple Aperture 2.1. Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November.

Plug-in Suite 5 includes full versions of the following onOne Software products:

FocalPoint 2 - Like bringing the camera lens inside Photoshop, this new version of FocalPoint 2 gives photographers the best way to add the most realistic depth of field and selective focus control to any image after it is photographed. Photographers now have an incredible amount of flexibility and control over the look of the blur with FocalPoint 2's new blur algorithm, FocusBrush, Lens Presets and multiple FocusBug features.

PhotoTune 3 - Getting great color doesn't have to be so hard. This new version of PhotoTune 3 uses patented eye-fidelityTM technology, originally developed by and licensed from imsense to optimize the dynamic range, color and sharpness of images so that they look more true-to-life. The improved Wizard offers fast color and tone correction in as little as two steps while giving pro users direct access to advanced and innovative controls. SkinTune, which represents two years of research and analysis of thousands of skin tones, now offers one-click color correction of portraits and the option to correct just the skin in an image.

PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition - With PhotoFrame 4.5, you can add the perfect finishing touch to your images with over 100 exciting new professionally designed frames, backgrounds, textures and layouts including over a dozen from professional photographer Kersti Malvre. With one thousand design elements like film edges, borders, textures, backgrounds and adornments, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition even has complete layouts where users can simply drop an image in and they are done. It is the easiest and fastest way to add an authentic darkroom touch with a film edge or to create beautiful albums or scrapbook pages

PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition - PhotoTools 2.5 is the highly acclaimed Photoshop plug-in that allows photographers of all skill levels to maximize the full power of Photoshop with it's ability to preview and combine Photoshop Actions in a single, intuitive interface. Designed by photographers for photographers, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional now includes a new MaskingBug control based on the FocusBug control from the award-winning FocalPoint plug-in. The new MaskingBug allows photographers to create high-quality masks to selectively apply effects to images. With over 30 new creative effects, for a total effect library of 280, photographers can easily find, combine and save the results to create images that truly stand out.

Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition - The industry standard for enlarging photos, Genuine Fractals 6 enlarges images up to 1,000% while maintaining sharp edges and important image details. Genuine Fractals 6 now includes an automated gallery wrap feature and output options for tiling an enlarged photo. No other resizing plug-in is as widely used by more professionals than Genuine Fractals.

MaskPro 4 - For those times when you need to extract a subject from a photo, Mask Pro 4 uses a color-based method that allows users to easily remove unwanted backgrounds from your photos. Mask Pro's unique Color Decontamination technology allows users to get realistic results by maintaining transparency in hard to mask objects like hair, smoke and glass in a fraction of the time using traditional tools.

The new Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November to new users for $599.95; purchased separately the products would normally cost $1,300. Existing users of Plug-in Suite version 1, 2, 3 or 4 can upgrade to the Plug-in Suite 5 for $199.95. Customers who own any one or more of the products in Plug-in 5 will be able to upgrade as well by visiting http://www.ononesoftware.com/upgrade/. For more information on the Plug-in Suite 5, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/.

More to come soon,
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Magic Wand Tool

2009-10-27T10:05:00.002-04:00

Okay - sorry about yesterday's missing post. I was on my way home from dropping off the kids and made a detour that changed my whole day. Luckily, it was a good detour as I netted a contract job - that started immediately! So that brings us to Tuesday - which is Tip Tuesday here on the blog. So here it goes...

To select similar colors throughout the image with the Magic Want tool (as opposed to being restricted to those similar pixels that are touching) uncheck the "Contiguous" option in the Options bar.

Also, while using the Magic Wand tool, tapping the return/enter key will automatically highlight the Tolerance option for the tool in the Options bar and allow you to enter a numeric value.

Both big time savers!

Since I'm missing that everyday post goal, I'm changing my sign off from "See you tomorrow," to...

More to come soon,
Chris

Jayci Smith - Senior

2009-10-24T10:22:00.005-04:00

She's magnetic. As in, Jayci draws people into her sphere, and she's cute enough to placed--in miniature form--on your refrigerator.

I met Jayci online back this summer when she approached me to take her Senior pictures. At the time, I did not have the drape required by her school, and sadly, I lost the opportunity to photograph her.
Fast forward a few months. I needed fresh new shots< for my website and marketing promotion I was about to kick off, and I wanted to do something different. I was tired of the 'usual' head and shoulders Senior shot. So I called Jayci to see if she'd be interested in modeling for the shoot. I explained that I would be asking her for some weird locations and poses. She seemed excited and we agreed to meet one day when she was out of school.Jayci was AWESOME! Such a cool girl - very striking and had gorgeous eyes, and she could talk with her eyes as well as anyone I've ever met! Photographer's know just how cool this is, and men better watch out! If I asked for a smile, I got it (without the cheese you get from a fake smile), when I wanted serious, I got it. She was a true angel to photograph. We shot from 2:00pm until almost 7:00pm - and I put her in some strange locations including rusted and rickety stairways, back alleys, trash dumps, tobacco barns, laundromats, and even turn the water hose on her! She braved it all and we came away with some really cool shots.I loved the time I spent with Jayci, and I hope she'll call me again when she needs pictures taken.

See you Monday,
Chris

Lightroom 3

2009-10-22T11:26:00.002-04:00

Big news today... Adobe has once again released a public beta of the new version of Lightroom. Lightroom 3 Beta was announced and is now available as a free download for anyone (not just existing Lightroom users). I'll give you some of the main points here but, honestly, Scott Kelby, RC Concepcion and Matt Kloskowski have each created various videos and articles over at NAPP's Lightroom 3 Beta Learning Center. Check it out!

The Main Stuff:
• The Beta is for everyone
• Big changes in the Import dialog
• Noise removal has changed quite a bit
• Slideshows can now be exported as videos (with music)
• Custom print templates in the Print module
• And finally!, we have watermarking!

So here's what you need to do:
1) Don't complain about the beta. Remember, its not finished yet. Its a beta.
2) Head over to NAPP's Lightroom 3 Beta Learning Center
3) Download the Lightroom 3 Beta from the Adobe Labs website

That's it for today, and sorry about missing the post yesterday - school emergency!

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Blend Modes

2009-10-20T09:34:00.003-04:00

I've been all over playing with Blend Modes lately, so today's tip has to do with using Blend Modes.

All blend modes have their own keyboard shortcut. They all begin with Option (Mac)/ Alt (Win) + Shift + a letter - most often the letter is the first letter of the name, N = Normal, M = Multiple, O = Overlay etc.

If you want to quickly cycle through the painting tool’s blend modes, hold the Shift key and hit the “+” (plus) or “-” (minus) to move forward or backwards.

If you'd like to cycle like this thru the Layer Blend Modes, use the same shortcut - BUT - don't havea painting tool selected.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Where have I been?

2009-10-19T11:21:00.002-04:00

A quick apology. After meaning to stick with the blog regularly - I didn't count on the entire family getting wiped out by the flu. Yes, for three weeks, me or a member of my family was wiped out with the flu - naturally, the blog took a back seat. I'm sorry for the void and am now back on track!

Coming up this week is a report on a trip with a friend, a photoshoot with a lovely young lady, tips, seminars, etc. Stay tuned!

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Mandatory Homework - Understanding Histograms

2009-09-24T09:42:00.005-04:00

Sorry about the lack of blogging yesterday.... life happened. But I'm back today and I have a good one for both of you who read my blog!

Mandatory Reading, there will be a quiz later....

Understanding Histograms

I'll be on an all day shoot tomorrow, so I'll see you on Monday!
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Finding the Center of Your Picture

2009-09-22T08:38:00.002-04:00

Here's one that used to stump me all the time. How do you find the center of an image? When I discovered the method it was too easy!

Simply, set the rulers to percentage.

Setting the rulers to percentage can also be helpful when recording action that will be run on files of different sizes where you might want an effect to be applied to a certain percentage of an area.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Mean Sisters

2009-09-21T16:55:00.002-04:00

I kept telling the older one she better watch out. One day the younger child would get her revenge. Alas....

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Foto Friday

2009-09-18T20:03:00.003-04:00

1/200 sec at f/3.2 ISO 320 190mm (70-200mm f/2.8) Canon 40D Natural Light

Have a great weekend everyone. I'll see you Monday,
Chris

Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Raw 5.5 released

2009-09-17T09:36:00.003-04:00

Camera Raw 5.5 has been released, along with Lightroom 2.5. This release is basically a camera update, along with one announced bug fix.

Camera additions are:

Nikon D300s

Nikon D3000

Olympus E-P1

Panasonic DMC-FZ35

Panasonic DMC-GF1

Release Notes:
Camera Raw 5.5 and Lightroom 2.5 include a correction to the demosaic algorithms for Bayer sensor cameras with unequal green response. Olympus, Panasonic and Sony are among the more popular camera manufacturers affected by this change. But the demosaic correction provides only a subtle visual improvement to the processing of those raw files.

AND FINALLY!!! (Thank you thank you thank you!) Lightroom 2.5 corrects for the following problem in Lightroom 2.4. Lightroom 2.4 on Windows continued to display the import dialog when a memory card was detected regardless of the preference setting "Show import dialog when a memory card is detected."

Download:

Lightroom 2.5: Macintosh | Windows

Adobe Camera Raw 5.5: Macintosh | Windows

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Guessing Game

2009-09-16T23:23:00.002-04:00

(Thankfully) I was very busy today, but I'm rushing to make my Wednesday post in time! Judging from the clock, I have 35 minutes to spare! LOL

Anyway, I thought we'd play a neat game. It's simple - where did I take the picture above?!?

Hmmmmm.......

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Zoom Zoom Zoom (in CS4)

2009-09-15T13:35:00.003-04:00

In Photoshop CS4 you can use a new shortcut Cmd/Ctrl - 1 to set the zoom level to 100% (also known as Actual Pixels). This makes Photoshop CS4 work like the other Creative Suite Applications such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Flash. Or, you can double click on the Zoom tool to display the image at 100%. In addition, the old standby’s will still work - Cmd/Ctrl - Option/Alt - 0 (zero), Cmd/Ctrl - 0 (zero) will "Fit To Screen", Cmd/Ctrl -“+” (plus) will zoom in, Cmd/Ctrl - “-” (minus) will zoom out.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Check This Out: TweetDeck

2009-09-14T12:09:00.003-04:00

Short and quick today. If you're into Twitter and Facebook (and MySpace), you're going to love what I discovered today. It's called TweetDeck.

TweetDeck is your personal browser for staying in touch with what’s happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter, Facebook and more.

TweetDeck shows you everything you want to see at once, so you can stay organized and up to date.

I like it!

See you tomorrow,
Chris

How Will You Remember 9-11 Today?

2009-09-11T12:43:00.002-04:00

This post is coming out of left field for most of you that know me, but I wanted to do something different today since it's 9-11. Something that might matter.

Then I got this email:

Dear Chris,

I think that this is probably the most difficult introduction that I’ve ever written. I have so much to say, yet I can’t seem to begin.

So, I’ll begin this way. Heroes walk among us every day. Some you’ll readily recognize: those in the Armed Forces (or who have served), firefighters, police officers. However, there are also heroes who make a profound and lasting difference, but do so quietly. These are the invisible heroes, and they are everywhere—especially in the photographic industry.

Bravery comes in many forms. I’m in constant awe of not only those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, but also those who willingly open their hearts to others, even when the circumstances cause their own hearts to break while they are helping.

In the midst of mourning, a group of heroes emerges to give families lasting images of their children who will never grow older. They are the photographers who volunteer for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. This week’s Vital Signs shares information about what they do—and how you can get involved.

These photographers are my heroes.

Now, I had heard of the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation before and even thought about joining, but today it just seemed right...

Have a great weekend everyone.

See you on Monday,
Chris

25 Cool Digital Photography Tutorials, Techniques and Effects

2009-09-10T16:46:00.003-04:00

Had a completely different idea for a post today, but got really busy (more soon) and lost track of time. So, I decided to share a group of cool tutorials I found recently.

The list of cool digital photography techniques and tutorials is endless, you can even find 10 completely different methods to achieve the same effect. Which is the best? It really depends on the photographer and there level of expertise. Which ever effect you use, your images are going to look cool and unique.

Check them out here.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Fall Foliage Photography

2009-09-09T16:42:00.002-04:00

So I'm sitting here working on my Fall Foliage Fotos special for the website and it hit me...

...THIS is today's blog post!

Autumn is right around the corner, bringing with it a seasonal change that inspires photographers across the nation: Fall foliage. There’s no question that autumn’s dramatic landscapes are stunning to behold; the real challenge is how to preserve the impact in a still photograph that captures the unique quality of this season. Here are a few tips that may help:

Closer is Better!

The temptation of wide shots, of entire forests or mountainsides may be hard to resist. However, variety is important. Shoot the panoramic landscapes, but also remember that beauty can be found in the details.

Out-of-focus backgrounds are a photographic effect you can heighten, or reduce, by controlling your aperture: Wider apertures (that is, lower f-numbers, such as f/4, f/2.8, etc.) will result in a shallower range of focus, and soft backgrounds. Smaller apertures, such as f/11, f/16, or f/22 will increase the range of focus, resulting in sharper backgrounds. Either effect may work; you just need to make the creative choice depending on what, and how much of the background you want to see in the image.

Think!

Instead of pointing and shooting, think about ways to artfully compose your shots for greater impact. Many beginners only pay attention to their main subject in the frame, and capture it in obvious ways (such as centered in the frame, or right in the foreground). Instead, take the time to consider the background, and experiment with more dynamic ways to make your main subject stand out:

Try not to shoot everything from eye-level.
Remember the Rule of Thirds.
Look for patterns or repetition in the frame, such as reflections or groups of similar objects, which creates a pleasing effect in the composition.
Remember that contrast can help colors to ‘pop’ – for example, the warm tones of autumn leaves will be enhanced with the subtle inclusion of something cool (blue, or blue-green) in the frame. For example, a vivid sliver of sky, or a blue-painted automobile or house strategically placed in the foreground.
Don’t forget the power of wide-angle lenses. A standard zoom lens, such as an 18-55mm lens (or 28-90mm lens on a film camera) can produce some spectacular results – especially if you move in close at its widest setting and focus upon one object in the foreground. A low-hanging branch with leaves can suddenly become a broad burst of color and detail, if you move in and focus upon the nearest leaf.
Shoot some back-lit pictures, with the sun coming toward the camera and shining through leaves. Back-lighting can really increase the rich color of fall foliage. Watch for glare or lens flare, however. Sometimes, moving the camera just a bit can cause other leaves to block the sun, shading the lens and reducing or eliminating lens flare.

Try to Use Natural Light

If possible, make a point of shooting during the ‘magic’, or golden, hours. This occurs generally during the first half-hour right after the sun rises in the morning, and the last half hour just before the sun sets at the end of the day. During these fleeting periods, the quality of light is ideal for autumn landscape photography:

The sunlight is naturally warm, rich, and golden-hued - further enhancing the colorful leaves.

The angle of the sunlight is lower and more directional. You can create enhanced textures and shapes if you shoot with it as side-light, or increased depth if used as a backlight.

The quality of magic-hour sunlight is more diffuse, with a pleasing contrast that is less likely to overexpose in the highlights, or underexpose in the shadows.

However, if the weather is not cooperating (magic hour light is most pronounced on days with clear, sunny forecasts) – don’t get discouraged. Fall showers can inspire beautiful photo opportunities, as well: Fall colors can look even more saturated during or right after a rainstorm, and moody skies can offer that perfect contrast to a fiery-hued tree. Or, get out your macro lens and look for details such as raindrops clinging to the leaves.

Summary

Autum photos are a big hit - everyone likes them. Take advantage of this short time period: Go out with your camera and shoot! Remember to look for different ways to shoot familiar subjects, whether it's up-close, down low, with filters, after dawn, or during a storm -- and you will find it pay off in many wonderful, dynamic shots that capture the spirit of the season.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Adding Canvas Using the Crop Tool

2009-09-08T08:01:00.003-04:00

OK, so I forgot Monday was a holiday and I chose to spend it with family - hope you will forgive me! But, now we're on to Tuesday which means Tip Tuesday!

To use the Crop tool to add canvas to your image, drag out a crop and release the mouse. Then, drag the crop handles outside of the image area and apply the crop. The area outside of the image will be added to the canvas. To keep the same aspect ratio, add in the shift key as you drag a corner. To add area to all four sides, hold the ALT key, to add the same amount all around the image while keeping the aspect ration, add in the SHIFT and ALT keys!

Note: to add transparency around the image (instead of filling the added space with the background color) convert the Background into a layer by selecting Layer > New > Layer From Background (or by double clicking on the word Background in the Layers panel).

See you tomorrow,
Chris

My Favorite Things...

2009-09-04T08:42:00.009-04:00

First let me apologize for the lack of post yesterday - and yes, I'm depressed about the outcome, but mercifully, most games will be on Saturday when I don't blog anyway....

So on to My Favorite Things...

No not in life silly, it's the favorite things that help me do whatever it is that I do here. (In no particular order)

Adobe Photoshop
I fell out of love with photography in college because I couldn't afford the film and processing. I fell back in love with it when I mastered Photoshop 5.5 (thanks to Scott Kelby - see below). I've been in love with both (photography and photoshop - not Scott, because that would just be weird) ever since.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
What Photoshop did to rekindle my passion for photography, Lightroom came along and stole! I now do 85% of my image processing in Lightroom, and most images never see Photoshop. Now Photoshop still has a loving place in my heart and I still use it daily, but the routine processing I do on my images is all done in Lightroom now.

And I've noticed this strange phenomenon, if you tell someone you ran an image through Photoshop to clean it up - they immediately assume you "created" and "fabricated" your way into a nice image. For whatever reason, if people see a nice image now they assume it was "Photoshopped." I hear things like, "You must have Photoshopped that picture," or "wow that's beautiful, did you use Photoshop?" But tell them you processed that image in Lightroom without going into Photoshop at all, and they stare in disbelief and say things like, "That's a really nice image," or "You're a really good photographer." It really cracks me up.

Canon "L" series Glass
Particularly the 85mm, the 70-200mm, the 16-35mm, and the 24-70mm - L-O-V-E them!

PocketWizards
They're more expensive than other options, but world-class leaders in my book. Would buy them everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Scott Kelby
Wow. How do you sum up what this man has done for my career and abilities. I'm an Adobe Certified Instructor, Photographer, NAPP member, pretty decent Photoshop'er, blogger, Photowalker, trainer, and even help orphans in Kenya - all directly because of this man. He's a legend, a master, and from all accounts of speaking with his friends - a darn nice guy to boot, and one day I sincerely hope to call him "friend" as well.

David Hobby
No one has done more for lighting in photography than Mr. Hobby. An inspiration on so many levels.

and finally, NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals)
I'm a fiercely loyal member - recommend them to all my students, take my students to every workshop that comes near us, and strongly encourage everyone I know in the biz to join. Most do - have you?!?

Mpix
You guys and gals have heard me rave about them before. Still can't recommend them enough!

I'll see you on Monday,
Chris

Gone Fishin'

2009-09-03T13:34:00.002-04:00

I am, ummmm, otherwise occupied today!

See you tomorrow,
Chris

P.S. Go Pack!

9 Seconds to Better Photoshop

2009-09-02T16:08:00.004-04:00

Dave Cross posted a neat article the other day that really caught my attention. It's something that I stress to my students all the time, and rarely practice myself. It's the idea to experiment so that you can learn. As he says, "Easy to say, but with our busy schedules, often very difficult to do."

Here's more:

Generally, I think we're creatures of habit: we do things a certain way in Photoshop because that's the way we were shown at some point, or perhaps figured out for ourselves. So here's where the 9 second idea comes in. If you always use the Gaussian Blur Filter, try that Filter, then Undo and try a different blur filter, just for comparison. You may end up going back to Gaussian Blur, but by trying that quick experiment you see the effects of another filter - even if it's to store that idea away for another project. Each time you do another 9 second experiment you pick up another idea. Try this with Filters, blend modes, adjustment layers, selection tools...

I'm suggesting experimenting for 9 seconds here and there, while you still get the job done.

So what you waiting for?!?

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Tip Tuesday - Making Copies of Layers in Photoshop

2009-09-01T12:07:00.004-04:00

I'm initiating a new spot here on the blog - Tip Tuesday - where each Tuesday I will post a neat tip in my favorite software to help you!

Today's tip: Making Copies of Layers in Photoshop

Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag a layer in the images area with the Move tool creates a copy of a layer. You can also Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag in the Layers panel to duplicate a layer - select the layer(s) and drag until yo see a heavy black line between the layers and release.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

Introducing the Strobist Gel Packs

2009-08-31T08:43:00.002-04:00

OK, I don't have permission to repost the article here, but there's a line in the post that says "I want to see them succeed and I hope you'll support them, too" - that sums up exactly how I feel, so I'm redirecting today's post over to David Hobby.

______________________________________________________

Oh, and sorry about Friday's post. Today is my daughter's birthday (hence the brevity), and we celebrated on Sat. Thus there was just way too much work to be done on Friday. I never even made it down to my computer.

See you tomorrow,
Chris

This one's for my photography friends...

2009-08-26T09:53:00.002-04:00

I will be participating in Help – Portrait in our area this December, and I’ll give you more details as things move ahead, but I think this is just a fantastic way for us all to give back to those less fortunate this Holiday Season. This kind of stuff is really what it’s all about, so I hope you’ll visit www.help-portrait.com and get involved.

See you tomorrow!
Chris

On the path to EnLIGHTenment

2009-08-26T09:07:00.004-04:00

So I'm on this kick lately to better balance flash with ambient lighting, and I found an excellent sight for this kind of thing. Honestly, I found it awhile back and read it religiously, but until recently, read is all I did. Now I'm going back and trying this stuff, and man is it fun! I'm hooked!

This site is called Strobist.com and it's run by David Hobby - an ex-newspaper photojournalist for the Baltimore Sun. David has a very easy going and witty style that makes you feel so welcome and willing to participate. His sight does a great job of explaining and teaching the concept, and then he actually gives assignments to reinforce what he's saying. He's even set up a Flickr.com group to post your shots and share with others. Imagine the feedback you get from over a hundred thousand viewers!

David's about my age, which helps me feel like I'm learning from a friend. I purchased his instructional DVD set and I'm devouring it like crazy (the above photograph was inspired one of the tutorials on the DVD's), and as I mentioned I've gone back through his site and cataloged all the teachings and assignments from his Lighting 101 and 102 series as well as his Boot Camp I and II series. It's just really well done stuff. The Strobist is a very well thought out, very well done blog. The photo world is a better place because of David Hobby, and I don't think it would it be far off to say that he is among the most influential photographers today!

Well done David!

See you tomorrow!
Chris

Matt: Senior

2009-08-25T08:17:00.008-04:00

Some people have it all... and that makes me happy. Let me introduce to you Matt. Is it just me or does he have a Lance Armstrong look going on?!? Anyway, Matt's a bonafide stud! Good looking, extremely nice mannered, star athlete, and oh! did I mention - he was MY ring-bearer 14 years ago!?!

It was my extreme pleasure to shoot Matt's senior pictures a few months ago. Matt was GREAT to work with - had three outfit changes and a positive attitude. We shot in four or five locations around Tarboro, and I couldn't ask for a better subject! Most senior boys want this over with as soon as possible, and I'm sure Matt did too, but I never got that from his expression and demeanor. Wherever I asked Matt to go all I got was "yes sir."

Matt was also a photographer's dream in that he didn't want the traditional portrait. Matt wanted a collage of all his pictures in a giant 20x30 Standout print. (We photogs love getting to try out new stuff!) Stand Outs are like really thick posters - a print mounted on 1.5 inches of Gatorfoam (Styrofoam) that is super light and easy to hang! And it turned out GREAT!

Matt - thanks for the privilege to shoot your senior pictures! I'll shoot you anytime!

See you tomorrow!
Chris

Welcome to a Blog Re-vamped!

2009-08-24T09:25:00.004-04:00

WELCOME TO A BLOG RE-VAMPED!

I started this blog awhile back and had great intentions, but life got in the way. But in an effort to put my best foot forward, I'm rededicating this blog and my efforts to it! I promise to make some kind of effort here Monday thru Friday from here on out. I'm also going to try and post an new image here as often as possible in an effort to keep me practicing! Something I recommend for all of you btw - no matter your craft - you should be practicing daily!

Anyway, what can you expect from this blog? Well, updates from Chris Barnes Photography, news, anecdotes, teachings, specials and mindless ramblings from time to time.

If you're new to the blog - welcome! If you've stuck with me all along - God Bless you and welcome back!

See you tomorrow!
Chris

2009-05-18T12:46:00.000-04:00

Great news! Scott Kelby's 2nd Annual World Wide Photowalk will take place on Saturday July 18th in hundreds of cities around the world! Last year over 8,000 people took part in more than 230 cities, and there will likely be even more this year.

Check the website for details and to find a city near you - and don't worry if your city doesn't appear: these are just the cities that have been confirmed so far. Many more to come.

In each city the Photowalk leader will pick a favorite photo and that person will win a copy of Scott's brand new book, The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3. Then Scott will choose an overall winner and that person will win some amazing prizes, including a copy of the Adobe Creative Suite, a Wacom tablet and 2 passes to Photoshop World! There's no entrey fee - just find a city and sign up.

You can sign up for my walk HERE.

Great Shots II - Mastering Light Class

2009-02-03T09:45:00.001-05:00

Hey guys,

Just a quick reminder that this Saturday 8am-6pm is Part II of the Great Shots Workshops - all about Mastering Light!

It will be a great class with tons of info. Bring your camera and flash equipment (if you have) and don't worry about anything. We'll be discussing things to purchase if you don't have anything and you can use my equipment this weekend. Trust me, I can show you cheap options as well as the bank breakers!

We'll have a live model to shoot in the afternoon session and it will be INDOORS! Yippee! Hope you'll join us for what's shaping up to be an awesome class!

Hope to see you there!

Photoshop World - Reason #4 To Go!

2009-01-20T16:22:00.002-05:00

The Expo

OK, I've listed several reason so far, and if all those classes, parties and events weren't reason enough, Photoshop World also hosts a three-day Expo jam-packed with all the gadgets, goodies, eye-candy, and bonus classes/workshops from all the coolest Photoshop and photography-related industries!

Plus, the Expo floor is the place to be for all the action! You never know who you'll run into there... Aside from rubbing elbows with your instructors, you just may wind up on a roving episode of PhotoshopUserTV or find yourself in one of our awesome closing ceremony videos.

Where can you get a first look at tomorrow's, mind-blowing Photoshop technology? At the Photoshop World Expo!

Browse the latest hardware, software, cameras, printers, and more from the biggest names in the business for three innovation-filled days. The Expo Exhibit Hall is where you'll get face-to-face with the industry's leading developers to check out all of the latest plug-ins, digital cameras, scanners, printers, peripherals, imaging software, hardware, storage devices, and transport cases.

Along with all the gadgets, goodies, and eye-candy, there are also bonus classes and workshops held in the Tech Expo theatres that add a fantastic educational bonus to your Expo experience!

Also, while you're at the Expo, make sure you stop by the Official Photoshop World/Peachpit Bookstore to purchase the hottest books and DVDs at an incredible discount, as well as limited edition themed Photoshop World gear. And don't forget to stop by Help Desk Live to get answers to your Photoshop puzzles.

Photoshop World - Reason #5 To Go!

2009-01-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

Pre-Con Workshops

Honestly, of all the reasons, THIS is the main reason I want to go to Photoshop World.

To go out and shoot with Moose Peterson and Joe McNally on in studio with Eddie Tapp and Jack Reznicki? - shut up I'm there! I've already done the wedding shoot with David Ziser and it's awesome! The Peterson-McNally Photo Safari is always booked - but one day!

For those of you interested in in-depth training, the day before the conference is completely dedicated to the "pre-con workshops." In addition to the always-popular wedding photo shoot, live studios, and NAPP Photo Safari mentioned above, this year they plan to offer five brand new pre-cons that include a hands-on, "real world HDR" session with Matt Kloskowski, a live fashion shoot with Kevin Ames, and a skill-building class, perfect for beginners, on Photoshop selections and masking with Dave Cross.

In addition, all pre-con attendees receive a pre-con workbook containing all available instructor notes (at print time) for every class! Pre-conference workshops are a great way to kick-start your Photoshop World experience. These special workshops are only open to registered attendees of Photoshop World and require a separate fee at registration.

Photoshop World - Reason #6 To Go!

2009-01-13T11:15:00.002-05:00

Midnight Madness

We're not talking about some over-rated glorified basketball practice, nor an 80's album by Night Ranger here! No, we're talking about the legendary after hours party at Photoshop World, where the only thing promised is that you will NOT learn anything about Photoshop! There are always many fabulous prizes to win, as long as you don't mind getting singled out a little. Bring your coffee mug and your sense of humor!

But you have to move fast. Tickets for Midnight Madness are available at Photoshop World on a first-come, first-served basis. However, these tickets go FAST and people have been known to camp out for them.

This night of no-holds-barred Photoshop mayhem is definitely the hottest ticket at the conference - delivering non-stop music, madness, contests, and partying is hosted by the conference ringmaster himself, Scott Kelby.

The only way you go is to A) Attend Photoshop World and B) be lucky enough to secure one of the 200 tickets to be given away. So, get in line outside of Hall C because starting at 7:30 am they’ll be handing out tickets.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-22T17:38:00.002-05:00

From my house to yours, Merry Christmas! See you in 2009!

Photoshop World - Reason #7 To Go!

2008-12-17T19:09:00.002-05:00

The Keynote Speech

How cool would it be to go to a conference on Photoshop and hear the opening keynote address from the senior vice president of the Adobe Creative Solutions Business Unit?

Well that's what happens every year, when Photoshop World asks John Loiacono ("Johnny L") to give the keynote. He is responsible for the development, delivery and marketing of Adobe's entire creative software portfolio. His ability and willingness to share some of Adobe's largest news nuggets exclusively with the Photoshop World audience makes me want to be sitting right there from the beginning.

Plus, he and Scott Kelby have a running "one-up" gag that always delivers a great laugh, and memorable moment.

New Update for Lightroom (FREE)

2008-12-17T10:08:00.003-05:00

Adobe released a free downloadable update to Lightroom 2 (bringing it to version 2.2), that adds support for some recently released cameras (including the Canon 5D Mark II, , a number of Panasonic cameras, and the Canon G10), along with some bug fixes (for a list of the bug fixes, visit Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty’s blog by clicking here).

Also, (and this is big), this update includes the final versions of the Camera Profiles which will now be available in the Calibration panel.

To get the free update, go under Lightroom’ 2’s Help menu and choose “Check for Updates.”

Photoshop World - Reason #8 To Go!

2008-12-09T11:18:00.005-05:00

The Art of Digital Photography

Ever wonder what went into getting that perfect photograph? Ever seen the artist get really emotional about his work? Ever laughed so hard at the events that led up to that picture? Well if you want to experience a night you'll never forget, join some of the world's most celebrated masters, and true living legends of photography, at the TOTALLY FREE, after hours event at Photoshop World.

By all accounts, this is one of the most talked about sessions of the conference. This is just another reason I want to go to Photoshop World March 25-27, 2009 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T10:22:00.003-05:00

Today in the U.S. we celebrate one of our most popular holidays; “Thanksgiving,” which is day for giving thanks for the blessings in our lives.

This is a day we usually spend at home surrounded by family, and we enjoy two key Thanksgiving day traditions: a huge Thanksgiving day turkey dinner, and FOOTBALL!!!

I’m thankful to everyone who stops by here, and spends a few minutes with me each day. I feel very blessed to be able to do this blog.

I would like to send a Thanksgiving blessing to all of our friends, family and to those very special men and women who are fighting for our freedom.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

Photoshop World - Reason #9 To Go!

2008-11-25T08:21:00.002-05:00

The GURU Awards!

I'm no where near ready to start submitting my work to the GURU awards, but seeing the winners work each year is jaw dropping and inspiring. The image above is a previous winner, and all of last conference winner's can be seen here. The only images I've ever seen are the winners, so now I want to see all the entries!

And guess what - it's only open to the attendees of Photoshop World! It's a great - and fun - way to get your work noticed by some of the best in the industry.

Carol : Maternity

2008-11-20T09:14:00.006-05:00

I know I've missed a few days, but I have been busy and away from the blog! I shot an INCREDIBLE session yesterday! I had the extreme honor of shooting Carol's maternity photos yesterday.

Her and her husband were lots of fun and good sports about anything I wanted to try. Some shots turned out - others didn't, but I'm glad they gave me the experience. As you can see Carol was a beautiful subject to photograph, and I think she looks AMAZING! Here's some of my faves from our shoot:

Seriously, is there any chance that the baby of this couple isn't going to be gorgeous??

You can just see how excited they both are for this baby. What a lucky baby!

Congratulations Carol and Joey! It's my absolute honor to know and work with you both! Can't wait to meet little Bennie!

PhotoshopWorld - Reason #10 To Go!

2008-11-14T12:17:00.004-05:00

Portfolio Reviews and Help Desk LIVE!

Hey guys, I'm dying to go to this year's Photoshop World Conference in Boston, Mass March 25-27, 2009. So, I'm going to be passing on to you the Top Ten reason's I'd like to go. Today is entry #10 - the Portfolio Review and Help Desk LIVE!

First, if you don't know about Photoshop World it's the bi-annual conference on all things Photoshop put on by NAPP. If you don't know about NAPP , where have you been - I talk about it everyday in class!

Since my photography and digital imaging business is in it's nubile beginnings, what better thing have happen to me than the industry leaders and Photoshop gods look over my work and give me feedback?!? That alone would be worth the trip, but trust me - there's oh so much more! Ever been walking down the street and need to know an answer right then? Sure you have, we all do it. Well, if I was at Photoshop World and that happened - I could get an answer! Well, maybe I could... If the question was on Photoshop, I KNOW I could!

Hey, this is going to be fun. Stick around and see what other reasons I come up with!

Practice!

2008-11-12T19:32:00.003-05:00

I was taking a master course the other day and the instructor advised that the best professional athletes PRACTICE their craft every day in one form or another. He went on to inform us that we too should practice our craft everyday.

So armed with that admonishment, I went to practice shooting flash images outside in the sunshine. I came away with these two as my favorite images of the shoot, but that's not the point. I want to remind you that you should be out practicing your craft too! Have fun!

Try Out CS4 - You know you want too!

2008-11-11T08:48:00.001-05:00

As of yesterday you can now download trial versions of the CS4 applications. click here

"...the best damn camera strap in the world. Period. End of story."

2008-11-07T09:42:00.002-05:00

I found out about this camera strap recently, and started checking around on it. EVERY single photographer I know and worship respect, uses this thing and loves it. The title of this post, comes from one of those photographers. That's a heck of a statement about it right there. Check it out here.

Photoshop Artists - How Cool!

2008-11-05T19:38:00.003-05:00

Oh wow! Is this a cool site for geeks like us or what?!? Be prepared to spend an awful lot of time browsing this site...

http://www.artistsofphotoshop.com/

For My Nikon Friends... D300 Firmware Update

2008-11-03T14:59:00.001-05:00

…and a couple of bug fixes, too! Here’s a list (from Nikon’s support site) of what’s included in this free downloadable update, which was released on Friday:

The Highlights playback option has been moved from Display Mode > Basic photo info > Highlights in tthe playback menu to Display mode > Detailed photo info > Highlights.
The size and color of “Demo” displayed in the monitor with playback when No memory card? in the Custom Settings has been set to Enable Release have been modified.
The range of settings available for ISO sensitivity settings > ISO sensitivity auto control > Minimum shutter speed in the shooting menu has been increased from 1/250 - 1s to 1/4000 - 1s.
When shooting in hand-held live view mode and the frame is magnified prior to autofocusing, operation has been modified so that display returns to the magnified display rather then the full frame display.
Images captured with Rotate tall, in the playback menu, set to On, are not automatically rotated for display immediately after capture (image review).
A Copyright information has been added to the setup menu. When Copyright information is enabled, the copyright symbol ( © ) is shown on the LCD display, Shooting info menu.
Recent settings can now be displayed in the place of My Menu.
Custom Setting e3 Flash cntrl for built in flash ( e3 Optional flash when an optional Speedlight is mounted on the camera) can now be added to My Menu using the Add items > Custom setting menu > Bracketing/ flash.
The degree of the High ISO NR setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display while the High ISO NR setting item, in the shooting menu, is being applied.
Ankara, Riyadh, Kuwait, and Manama have been added to the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu.
When a GPS device is used and no heading information is available, –.–° is now displayed for the Position / Heading option in the GPS item in the setup menu.
When shooting in live view mode using Camera Control Pro 2 (ver. 2.2.0 or later) with a PC-E lens, the aperture setting can now be adjusted from the computer.
Focus acquisition performance in dynamic-area AF mode has been improved.
Focus acquisition performance with contrast-detect AF has been improved.
Auto white balance performance has been improved.
The fourth digit in seconds display for GPS latitude and longitude information is now rounded off rather than omitted.
The current MB-D10 battery type setting can now be confirmed in the shooting menu display when R6/AA- size batteries are used with the Multi-Power Battery pack MB-D10.
An issue that caused an increase in noise when shooting in [M] exposure mode at a shutter speed setting of bulb with the shutter held open for less than 8 seconds and Long exp. NR enabled has been resolved.
An issue that prevented shutter release at the specified shutter speed when no operations were performed for 30 seconds in mirror up mode has been resolved.
An issue that caused abnormal image display when Image review was set to On and the playback zoom in button was pressed immediately after shooting at the following settings has been resolved.
Image quality: NEF (RAW) + JPEG
NEF (RAW) recording: Lossless compressed or Compressed
Image size: S or M
When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and the camera recovered from standby mode triggered by the auto meter off function, the distance information in the SB-800 changed. This issue has been resolved.

You can download the free update directly from Nikon:

Mac (Nikon USA) click here.
Windows (Nikon USA) click here

Mac (Nikon Canada) click here.
Windows (Nikon Canada) click here

Mac (Nikon Europe) click here.
Windows (Nikon Europe) click here

Nice Interview

2008-10-31T15:44:00.001-04:00

Today I'd just like to point you to a wonderful interview done by Crash Taylor (how cool is that name?) on on of my mentor's - David Ziser. Read the entire thing here, and then look around his site. It's very nice as well.

Really Nice Photoshop & Lightroom resources

2008-10-29T09:26:00.001-04:00

Recently I've happened across a few resources that may be of interest. I linked one of them earlier:

Tutorials:

PSDTUTS offers great Photoshop tutorials in a beautifully designed wrapper. They also host interviews (e.g. one with Peter Jaworoski) with inspiring artists. Paid membership gets you access to source files and more.
Design Reviver is geared towards Web design, offering tips like how to design icons in Illustrator and 350+ brushes, textures, and fonts in the aptly named "Massive Hand Drawn Roundup."

Presets:

To create The Full Montage, author Steve Caplin "has spent the last two years photographing, processing and preparing images" that work really well in image composites. The readymade set, using Smart Objects & warps to enable mapping objects onto surfaces, looks particularly interesting. Royalty-free pieces are for sale on the site.
LiveSurface offers a large library of images ready for use with Photoshop's Vanishing Point filter. Files "are pre-masked, layered and have embedded 3D surfaces."

Lightroom

PresetsHeaven is all about sharing high quality development presets for Lightroom.

Photography Network TV?

2008-10-27T15:47:00.002-04:00

There is a promising development at the intersection of photography and video content, the development-in-progress Photography Network TV. A beta launch is coming in late November with a full launch near PMA 2009. In the words of one of the co-founders, "think Food Network but for photography".

Oh can this be true?!? If so, AWESOME!

The Best Web Video I’ve Seen....Ever.

2008-10-26T21:51:00.003-04:00

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I wish I could say it as good as Syl Arena said it, but I can't. So, I give you his words and know that they echo through me...

Let’s face it - October’s been a tough month. The world melted down financially. There’s coast-to-coast vitriol over the election. A thief decided that he needed one of my cameras and a favorite lens more than I do. Job prospects are evaporating for everyone I know.

In the midst of all this, the following came to me quite innocently. Amy received the link in an email. Call me tired. Call me emotional. The first time I watched it, goose bumps covered my arms. I’ve watched it a dozen two dozen times since. Smiles break out whenever I show it to friends.

I’ve been lifted up and reinvigorated. Our world truly is an amazing place filled with people of all shapes, colors and sizes. I believe (again) that our current tribulations will pass. Thanks to a guy named Matt and his friends in 43 countries.

If you have fast broadband, click here to watch a High-Def version.

Like many great movements, it started as a simple idea and spread like wildfire. Read the story here. If you want to download a legit personal copy for free, click here.

What’s this have to do with being a photographer? Nothing and everything at the same time.

Incredible New Utility for RAW Shooters

2008-10-24T18:29:00.003-04:00

If you missed it, Michael Tapes (and the crew at Imagenomics) have released an hot new utility “Instant JPEG from Raw” that makes a JPEG from any Raw file, and it does it incredibly fast. The utility is free. Download it from RawWorkflow.com

Lightroom 2.1 and Camera Raw 5.1

2008-10-22T14:14:00.001-04:00

Both Lightroom 2.1 and Camera Raw 5.1 will be available later today. Both are free to existing users of Lightroom 2.0 and Camera Raw 5.0 (5.0 shipped with Photoshop CS4). There are 15 new digital cameras supported in Lightroom 2.1 and Camera Raw 5.1 including the Canon EOS 1000D, Canon EOS 50D, Fuji FinePix IS Pro, Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS, Leaf AFi II 6, Leaf AFi II 7, Leaf Aptus II 6, Leaf Aptus II 7, Nikon D700, Nikon D90, Nikon Coolpix P6000, Olympus SP-565 UZ, Pentax K2000, Sigma DP1, and Sony A900. For CS3 users feeling left out in the cold, these are already supported in Camera Raw 4.6.

Adjusting Space Between Letters

2008-10-20T13:27:00.003-04:00

There's nothing new in the news world or deals or new products to write about today, so I thought I throw out a tip (soon to be a more regular part of this blog).

Did you know you can visually control the spacing between your type (instead of numerically trying to figure it out)? Here’s how: To set the tracking (the space between each letter or word in a group), highlight the type with the Type tool (T), then press Alt-Left Arrow (Mac: Option-Left Arrow) to tighten. Press Alt-Right Arrow (Mac: Option-Right Arrow ) to expand the space between a selected group of letters or words.

To adjust the space between two individual letters (called kerning), click your cursor between the two letters and use the same keyboard shortcuts mentioned above.

If you missed the last good deal on Memory Cards...

2008-10-17T18:38:00.001-04:00

I've gotten wind again of a hot deal on Sandisk cards at Adorama. Hot on the heels of a popular rebate program, Sandisk and Adorama are back with a new pre-paid Visa card rebate program that starts October 12, 2008 and ends January 17, 2009. So if you missed the previous rebate, you are in luck, the new one is ready to go! The terms state "limit three cards per redemption claim. Limit three claims per household". This is promotion #59051.

Note that the new promotion has a different set of cards, namely, with the addition of Extreme IV cards. Also note that these are buy-more save-more rebates. The price listed in each column is the total price after rebate, not the price per individual card.

Sandisk CompactFlash Rebate specials at Adorama
CF Memory Card	Buy One	Buy Two	Buy Three
4gb Extreme III	$28 (after $10 rebate)	$46 (after $30 rebate)	$54 (after $60 rebate)
8gb Extreme III	$45 (after $15 rebate)	$85 (after $35 rebate)	$110 (after $70 rebate)
4gb Extreme IV	$50 (after $20 rebate)	$90 (after $50 rebate)	$120 (after $90 rebate)
8gb Extreme IV	$89 (after $40 rebate)	$165 (after $95 rebate)	$240 (after $150 rebate)
16gb Extreme IV	$195 (after $45 rebate)	$380 (after $100 rebate)	$520 (after $200 rebate)

Sandisk SD/SDHC Rebate specials at Adorama
SDHC Memory Card	Buy One	Buy Two	Buy Three
4gb Extreme III	$39 (after $10 rebate)	$68 (after $30 rebate)	$87 (after $60 rebate)
8gb Extreme III	$45 (after $15 rebate)	$85 (after $35 rebate)	$110 (after $70 rebate)
16gb Extreme III	$120 (after $20 rebate)	$230 (after $50 rebate)	$320 (after $100 rebate)

I've tried to do the math accurately, but please double-check on your own to be sure! If you notice any errors, please let us know!

Please read the terms and conditions carefully and note that this is a prepaid Visa card rebate, not a check you can cash at the bank. As always with rebates, make sure you make copies of everything you submit, follow-up and follow-through. If you hate rebates, don't do this, unless you are committed to the rebate process!

Coming in November: AnnieLeibovitz's New Book

2008-10-17T14:01:00.002-04:00

Mix equal parts talent, resources and prima donna and you'll end up with the #1 A-List people shooter Annie Leibovitz.

She has a new book coming out, Annie Leibovitz: At Work, that looks to be a behind-the-scenes study of some of her more famous shoots.

I have always loved her work, and laughed at her antics, but I learn something every time I look at her photos.

Amazon has it available for pre-order at $26.40 (list is $40.00) with price protection between now and when it ships.

Can't go wrong with this one, for that price.

Reminder! Great Shots II - Mastering Light

2008-10-17T09:12:00.003-04:00

Part II of the Turn Your Snapshots Into GREAT Shots Class series is coming up November 15. Please get yourself pre-registered to guarantee your spot. First responders' get a special surprise!

The Mothership has delivered!

2008-10-15T16:05:00.002-04:00

Adobe announced today that it's newest CS4 product line is now shipping! If, like me, you've been waiting and waiting - today will make you smile. Although compared to years past - this wait was nothing. Usually, they announced it in the Fall and made us wait until Spring. This time is was less than a month!

Photoshop Tutorials

2008-10-13T15:19:00.003-04:00

As promised, I'm making more of an effort to bring you something daily to my blog. Today, I've found a neat collection of Photoshop tutorials. PStuts.com compiled this collection of links to tutorials on Photoshop. These are the written type of tutorials, but good anyway. Here’s the full list.

R-Strap Camera Strap - Mmmmm....Me Likey!

2008-10-09T16:36:00.004-04:00

I’ve been hearing a lot about the R-Strap lately, but I thought, “Really? It’s just a camera strap. What’s the big deal?”

Turns out it’s a really smart design. The strap hangs diagonally across your chest like a messenger bag, so:

It’s more comfortable than a neck strap, and…
Your camera stays out of the way at your hip. (However, the potential to bang it in to everything you pass - has me concerned too.)

The smart bit is the little slider attachment that allows you to glide the camera up the strap to your eye so you can take a picture. The camera moves, but the strap doesn’t. See it in action here.

It’s really clever, but kind of expensive for a strap.

The Original R-Strap

I Heart Tilt-Shift Photography

2008-10-09T13:50:00.003-04:00

You may have seen examples of using Tilt/Shift photographic techniques to make photos of real things look like toys. (no idea what I'm talking about? Check wikipedia or search Google images for "tilt shift miniature")

Anyways, photographer Chase Jarvis shows a video from Keith Loutit that takes it to another level using stop motion photography to create this really cool video. Watch it here.

Now taking Tilt-Shift images requires a really expensive Tilt-Shift lens, or you can just fake it with this cool Photoshop tutorial. Have fun!

Photoshop 7 Users BEWARE!

2008-10-07T12:13:00.001-04:00

If you are using Photoshop 7 and you want to upgrade to the newest version of Photoshop. You need to hurry and upgrade by October 15. According to John Nack’s blog, Adobe will only allow upgrading up to three versions back. So to upgrade to Photoshop CS3 you would need CS2, CS, or Photoshop 7. When CS4 is released Photoshop 7 will no longer qualify. So check on that and make sure your version qualifies. Don’t wait, October 15 is closing in.

ATTN: Canon Owners

2008-10-07T11:48:00.001-04:00

If you are a Canon DSLR user you might be interested to download and test the new version of Canon’s RAW converter Digital Photo Professional, or DPP, version 3.5.0.0 that ships with the new Canon EOS 50D.

This download is NOT yet an official Canon release and available only for Microsoft Windows OS (English).

So grab your DPP now on Rapidshare or BadOnGo and if you are looking for the instruction manual it can be found on Canon website!

By the way this is a full version, not an upgrade and doesn’t require any previous version installed.

Whatever you do - DON'T VOTE!

2008-10-02T14:57:00.004-04:00

Another Great Deal!

2008-10-02T10:54:00.001-04:00

This is one of the rare buy-more save-more promotions. Adorama has new specials on the mail-in prepaid Visa card rebate promotion. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions in the rebate form before purchasing. The rebates expire on October 11, and the promotion is while-supplies-last.

As you can see, these are great deals, because the more cards you buy, the less you pay, sometimes you pay the same price (after rebate) for three cards as you would for one card! But if you hate rebates, make sure you are committed to the rebate process, otherwise spare yourself the frustration.

The prices listed under "Buy Two" and "Buy Three" are the total prices if you buy two or three cards respectively.

Sandisk CompactFlash Rebate specials at Adorama
CF Memory Card	Buy One	Buy Two	Buy Three
16gb Extreme III CompactFlash	$25 (after $90 rebate)	$45 (after $190 rebate)	$45 (after $300 rebate)
8gb Extreme III CompactFlash	$20 (after $40 rebate)	$20 (after $100 rebate)	$20 (after $160 rebate)
4gb Extreme III CompactFlash	$18 (after $20 rebate)	$26 (after $50 rebate)	$34 (after $80 rebate)
2gb Extreme III CompactFlash	$15 (after $10 rebate)	$20 (after $30 rebate)	$25 (after $50 rebate)
4gb Ducati Extreme CompactFlash	$25 (after $45 rebate)	$40 (after $100 rebate)	$50 (after $160 rebate)
8gb Ducati Express CompactFlash	$45 (after $75 rebate)	$80 (after $160 rebate)	$110 (after $250 rebate)

Sandisk SD/SDHC Rebate specials at Adorama
SDHC Memory Card	Buy One	Buy Two	Buy Three
4gb Extreme III SDHC	$18 (after $20 rebate)	$31 (after $45 rebate)	$39 (after $75 rebate)
8gb Extreme III SDHC	$25 (after $35 rebate)	$40 (after $80 rebate)	$50 (after $130 rebate)

This is a preloaded Visa card rebate
Please note that this is a preloaded Visa gift card rebate, not a cold cash check. You can use it the same way you use a Visa card, but you obviously can't go to the bank and cash it.

CS4!!!

2008-09-10T12:45:00.002-04:00

Adobe has announced that they will announce the newest generation of their Creative Suite software on September 23rd. If you’d like to be the first on your block to watch the Adobe CS4 webcast, click here to sign up.

In case you hadn't heard...

2008-09-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

Adobe announced that they will unveil Creative Suite 4 on September 23. Mark your calendars.

The [b] School opens Oct. 1st

2008-09-04T10:28:00.001-04:00

Best of the Best

2008-08-26T16:23:00.003-04:00

Hey, don't' miss THIS flickr group showcasing the best of the best from Scott Kelby's worldwide photowalk.

What a Fantastic Day!

2008-08-24T16:46:00.005-04:00

What a fantastic day for the first ever Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk in Rocky Mount, NC, no rain and temps hoovering around darn near perfect all morning! I arrived at the starting point early excited to meet the 29 eager participants who had signed up. Everyone had come prepared with fresh batteries, empty CF cards and tons of enthusiasm. One walker had ventured out bright and early as he had a two and a half hour drive to get to us! The walk was exciting and fun and most importantly, no one got hurt! At the end of our walk as we gathered at our final destination, Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, there were smiles all around and you could hear the ooh-ooh, ahh-ahh (chimping sounds) as everyone reviewed their images. We had such a great time that we busted out shooting our food as it arrived at the table. (An honor to Scott as he's into shooting food right now!) I want to extend a personal thanks to Scott for dreaming this event up and for all the great folks who came and made it a successful day.

These Boots Are Made Fer Walking!

2008-08-22T15:54:00.002-04:00

Greetings Fearless Walkers!

It’s shaping up to be quite a weekend. We will be a little short of having more than the scheduled 50 walkers, (but only 50 would get the chance to win the city prize and the grand prize) but as they say, the more the merrier!

During the Walk…

Safety First! – Please be aware of your surroundings! Remember that there is real traffic on the other side of that lens and that you mustn’t get too distracted by what you are shooting and forget that. We don’t want someone ending the day at the hospital!

Be Mindful of Your Gear – A large group of photographers can attract a lot of attention – some of it, not the good kind. Please be be mindful of your gear at all times. Again, just be aware of your surroundings!

Be Prepared for Walk-ups – As I said, the enthusiasm for this event has been very high so do not be surprised if unregistered walkers arrive to join our group. We want to share this experience with everyone so please, allow unregistered walkers to join in on the fun! Just be sure they understand that, as last-minute participants, they are not eligible to submit their photos for the prize. Only walkers that pre-registered for your walk will have that access to upload photos.

Play nice – Remember folks, this is a social event - A time to meet with fellow photographers and maybe gain some new perspectives. Take the time to share your knowledge with others. If someone shows up with a disposable camera, don’t laugh. Instead, why not take them under your wing? And if police or security guards stop us from photographing a building or something (hey, it happens) just nod politely and move on. The name of this game is, “Keeping it Social.”

Remember, It’s a Photo Walk, Not a Photo Parade – A photo walk is supposed to be a social event. Participants are encouraged to move and mingle at their own pace. You do not have to stay together and move as a group! The only thing that should be done as a group is the very beginning and the very end. As long as everyone reconvenes at the final meeting place - APPLEBEE'S- at the end, our walk will be a complete success! Our reservation is for 11:45am.

What if it Rains? – This is Eastern NC, so it could be raining during all or part of the walk. So, what if it is raining? We walk on - no rain day. If it looks like it might rain, bring an umbrella, a raincoat/jacket and of course, something to cover your camera and lens in case it rains. Sometimes, an extra shirt to cover the camera or lens doesn’t hurt. I’ve seen people use plastic too to cover their cameras.

After the Walk…

Remember to Upload – All walkers must upload their photos to our group’s Flickr Page by Midnight on Tuesday, August 26 if you want to be considered for both the city and grand prizes. Please Note: They’ve placed a Flickr link on our City page to better help you with this.

… and lastly, BE SAFE! – I really cannot stress to you how important it is to impart a message of safety to all you walkers. Photo walks are meant to celebrate the spirit of photography in a fun and social setting. Nothing would dampen this notion faster than the knowledge that a fellow Photographer got more than he/she bargained for in the process. Let’s keep it fun and safe folks so we can do this again sometime.

WHAT TO BRING:

Your camera. That’s the most important thing. Don’t forget it. Don’t have an SLR? That’s okay! Just bring whatever camera you have. Make sure your batteries are charged and you have enough memory.
Lenses - Bring 1 or 2 lenses… generally a wide and a zoom lens would be good so that you can cover a lot of things. It really depends on how you usually shoot, but as much as possible, I’d advise you to travel light.
Tripod - I leave this up to you. There might be some nice scenes around sunset so it’s good to have this. Don’t forget to bring your cable release if you will bring your tripod. Just make sure your tripod is light enough so you won’t be carrying something heavy.
Water - I would recommend to bring a bottle of water during the walk.
Business Cards - Hey you never know, you might make a friend.
But remember: Above all, HAVE FUN!

See you Saturday at 9:30am in front of Braswell Library

Photowalk Tips for Saturday

2008-08-19T10:09:00.002-04:00

First of all, I would like to thank ALL of you who have signed-up for the walk.

Okay, down to business…I thought I’d like to share with you some tips and reminders for the walk:

Wear comfortable clothing - we’re going to WALK, so wear something comfortable (i.e. shorts, rubber shoes, etc). Okay, I’m being redundant here…

WHAT TO BRING:

First, your camera. That’s the most important thing. Don’t forget it. Don’t have an SLR? That’s okay! Just bring whatever camera you have. Make sure your batteries are charged and you have enough memory.

Lenses - Bring 1 or 2 lenses… generally a wide and a zoom lens would be good so that you can cover a lot of things. It really depends on how you usually shoot, but as much as possible, I’d advise you to travel light.

Food / Snacks - You might get hungry during the walk. Just remember that we’re still doing a photo walk, you might end up eating and not shooting anything.

Water - While I would recommend to bring a bottle of water during the walk.

Think Safety - I can’t stress this enough, watch your gear all the time and be sure to secure your cellphones and wallets. That way, you still have some money to buy food after the walk.

Remember to walk in pairs or in groups - This is a social event. Get to know new people. We’ll definitely see some familiar faces in the group, but it doesn’t hurt to go with someone you don’t know and get to know them.

Help others - We’ll be having a mixture of experience during the walk. There are some experienced/professional photographers, so this might be your opportunity to learn from them. For the experienced/professional ones - it’s always good to lend a helping hand.

Shooting Reminder: Make sure to watch other photographers. Don’t get in their way while they’re shooting.

Finally, HAVE FUN! That’s the most important thing. Mingle with the group, get to know everyone. It’s going to be a fun day and we’ll all have a chance to share our photos after the walk.

To get to know more about Photowalking and the event on Satuday, check out the following links:

What happens after the walk? We’ll all post our photos in a Flickr Group that I have setup.

See you on the 23rd!

Photowalk and begging....

2008-08-11T16:17:00.007-04:00

from a kid shoot this weekend, and the sunset was doing some magical things so we threw the whole family in there to see what we could get

OK guys, I'd like your help. As you know Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk is coming up Saturday August 23rd. Many of you are signed up and I appreciate that, but I want a full walk. That means 50 people. So I'm asking your help to get the word out! Tell anyone you can, anyone that has a camera and loves taking pictures. This thing isn't for professionals at all - as has been said on other walks, some people just show up with camera phones and join in the fun. Here's a blurb from Jeff Revell on photowalking recently posted on Scott Kelby's blog that helps explain a lot!

The other big question I get is, “Do I need a fancy DSLR to participate?” Not at all! You will find every manner of camera being used by your fellow photowalkers. Whether you have a 60 year old Graflex camera, a D3, or even a point & shoot, the most important thing is that you get out there and use it. Truth be told, I have even had people show up with nothing more than a camera phone and a lot of enthusiasm. They probably didn’t come away with the best images but they had a blast along the way. So don’t be intimidated if you don’t have a bag full of camera bling because more often than not, it’s the person behind the lens that makes the biggest difference.

I'll be posting other tips from Jeff prior to the walk, so stay tuned. The more the merrier so get out there and invite people! Also, the site seems to have a small glitch in it - it currently says there are 17 people signed up, but in reality there are 23 - that means we're practically half full!

PhotoWalk - August 23rd !!

2008-08-01T17:08:00.002-04:00

OK - It can be announced! The Saturday August 23rd thing is a WORLDWIDE Photowalk! And we're part of it right here in Rocky Mount, NC! I've been selected to host the walk in this area and I'm pumped! Part of my responsibilities however is to promote the devil outta this thing, so sign up today as it is limited to 50 participants. And heck, IT'S FREE!!!

There are VERY NICE prizes involved and it's a great social event as well, so come join us!

If you don't know what a photowalk is, click here.

To sign up for my walk, click here.

To read about the whole worldwide event and see the prizes, click here.

Oh, and spread the word! Tell any and everyone about this! Thanks! Hope to see you there!

Save The Date! Saturday, August 23, 2008

2008-07-09T17:23:00.002-04:00

Scott Kelby (our hero) has something ultra cool brewing for this date. Mark your calendars now and save the date. Read more about it here.

You have GOT to get this!

2008-06-04T17:29:00.004-04:00

Guys and Gals - I know I've been away forever, but I have found a great deal for you.

If you take pictures and you use Photoshop, then you MUST purchase these actions. They will make your photography sooooooooooooooo much better I can't explain it. Just click the logo above and go to the samples page and play with them for yourself. See what ONE TINY CLICK can do to your photos, and then realize you can apply multiple ones! I bought them and I can't say enough about them - you must get them.

So, go ahead and click the image above and thank me later....

Color Correction Part II

2008-05-23T22:15:00.003-04:00

OK, now that we've got all our preferences set we're ready to correct some photos. Here's basically what we're going to be doing with those eyedroppers - finding something in the photo that's supposed to be Black and clicking on it with the black eyedropper, finding something that's
supposed to be white and clicking it with the white eyedropper and finally finding something neutral gray and clicking it once with the gray eyedropper. Sounds simple enough, but finding those items isn't always so easy. So let's see how we go about it...

Let's start in the shadows first. I like to always use the Adjustment Layers found in the half black half white circle at the bottom of the layers palette so as to give me an escape clause if I really monk this thing up. So go and pick Curves from the Adjustment Layers to bring back up the Curves dialog box. I started with blacks first, as they are usually the easiest to find in a photo. Anything black will do - dark shadows, clothing, car tires, etc. So just click the black eyedropper and then go click that thing in the photo. However, if you can't find anything black, the Curves dialog can help. If you look directly under the histogram there are two sliders - one under black and one under white. Grab the one under the black and hold the ALT/OPTION key down. As you slide the slider to the right (towards white - still holding ALT/OPTION) the image will turn white and as you slide the first areas that show up on screen are the darkest areas of the photo. Remember where they are and slide everything back to their starting positions and
release the ALT/OPTION key. Now click the black eyedropper and go click in the photo where it first appear during that last trick.

Now we're going to do the very same thing for the white eyedropper except reverse it. This time use the slider on the right side under the whites and hold ALT/OPTION as you slide this slider tot he left. The image will turn black and the first things that show up white are the lightest parts of the image. Remember where they are and return everything to the starting position and then grab the white eyedropper and go click the spot. The only trick here is to find something that's
truly white in the image, don't be fooled by lights, reflections, etc. that have no detail. These are called specular highlights and will not help you in this case.

The last thing we have to do is find a neutral gray. Unfortunately, there isn't a find a middle gray trick in the Curves dialog. Or is there? I'll give you two methods I use to find neutral gray, one I got from Dave Cross and the other I just discovered one day. I tell you my discovery method first as it's the simplest, but not as exact as the others.

Method 1) First, make sure none of the eyedropper buttons are depressed (if they are, try and cheer them up! OK, bad humor.) Then go out into the actual photo and click and hold. The cursor will change to an eyedropper, and as you move around (while holding the mouse button), a corresponding dot will be sliding up and down the line in the histogram depending on where you are clicking. If you can find a spot that puts that dot in the dead center of the graph - you've found your gray spot! I'll admit, you get much better at predicting where a neutral gray might
exist with lots of practice. Anyway, remember the spot - go back and get the gray eyedropper and click it! You now have a scientifically color corrected photo, but there's one more step before we leave the Curves dialog box - so read on.

Method 2) Dave Cross showed this on one of his tours and it blew me away. I had finally found a sure fire way to find neutral gray. Go ahead and click OK in the Curves dialog box, we're not finished, but we can come back and we don't want to lose the Black and White info we've already set. Alrighty now then, let's add a new layer using the Create New Layer button on the bottom of the layer panel. Then go under the Edit menu and choose Fill. In the dialog drop down the options for Use and choose 50% gray - then click OK. Now change the blend mode of this new layer to Difference. Now we have an interesting image, but hang on! Go back to the Adjustment Layers and choose Threshold. When the dialog opens, drag the slider all the way to the left until the photo turns completely white. Then slowly start dragging it back towards the right. The first areas to turn black is your gray correction point. Remember where it is in the photo, or hold the Shift key down and click in the photo to "mark" it. Now just click Cancel in the Threshold dialog box as you don't need it anymore. You can/should also delete the 50% gray layer too as it has served it's purpose. Now double-click the Curves layer thumbnail to re-open it and use the gray eyedropper to click the spot you just found. You now have a scientifically color corrected photo, but there's one more step before we leave the Curves dialog box - so read on.

Finishing up, in the histogram, click once on all three line intersections along the line and the graph (see photo). Then click once on the lower left dot and press the down arrow on your keyboard 7-9 times. Now click once on the upper right dot and press the up arrow on the keyboard 7-9. This is adding contrast to the photo, the more you press the arrow keys, the more contrast you get. Set it to taste and click OK in the Curves dialog! There is you color corrected image.

Color Corrections Part I

2008-05-16T11:02:00.001-04:00

OK Class...

Well the best laid plans of mice and men right? My Camtasia studio has decided it doesn't want to play today, so who's up for a typed tutorial?!?

Before we do any color correction we need to change a few default Photoshop settings.

1) Go to the eyedropper tool and look at the options at the top of the screen. Where it says Sample Size:, I'm betting yours still says Point Sample. If it does we need to change that to 3x3 (or higher for really hi-res images). Why? At Point Sample, it only gives you a reading of one teeny tiny individual pixel. What we want is an average of the area we're clicking as this is a much more accurate setting for color correction.

2) While having cool desktops and colorful wallpapers and background are cool - you won't find any pros doing color correction with colorful surroundings. Heck, the real pros even paint their rooms a neutral gray so as not to be influenced by color. You CAN NOT trust your eyes while doing color correction - they will lie to you every single time no matter what your vision is. There is a really cool video that shows this here. Go watch it and come back, I'll wait......................

OK, you're back. To resolve this in Photoshop, just press the F key once. This centers your image full screen on a neutral gray background. BTW, pressing F three more times will return you back to the default view (and cycles through some other cool views too).

3) And finally, we need to re-set some colors in Photoshop to be more realistic. Photoshop ships with white being pure white and black being pure black, which is fine in most cases, but in print photography that is bad. If something were to print pure white, it would in effect put NO ink on the paper in that spot. So, here's how we fix it. Go to Image - Adjustments - Curves. Curves is hands down the choice of the pros for color correction. But we're not ready for that yet. We're still setting preferences. OK, in the curves dialog box, under the histogram, there are three eyedroppers - Black, Gray, and White for Shadows, Mid-tones, and Highlights. We want to double-click the left one (Black) which brings up a color picker. We want to replace the R,G,B values which are probably sitting at 0. So For R, enter a value of 10. Same for G and same for B. So now we have RGB all equaling 10, so we can click OK to save these values and return to the Curves dialog box. Now, we're going to do the same thing for the Middle/Gray eyedropper and the Right/White eyedropper using the values listed below. Each time after setting the RGB values in the color picker - clicking OK to return to the Curves dialog box, but not clicking OK to exit the Curves box until all three have been done.

Black: 10,10,10 Gray: 133,133,133 White: 245,245,245

Now, after setting all three eyedroppers, we can finally click OK on the Curves dialog box and it will ask if you want to Save the New Target Colors as defaults? Click YES - and from now on, these will be the values used to color correct your photos. You will not have to go through this process anymore! Yea!

Now, you're ready to color correct your photo, See Color Corrections Part II coming up!

Still here!

2008-05-14T21:56:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the lack of info lately, but I've been on the road doing on-site training in Winston-Salem and other places. No time to blog and it's killing me! More soon!

Great Shots - Level II and MORE!!!

2008-05-05T22:19:00.004-04:00

Good Evening Guys and Gals!

Breaking news! You asked, and now I can announce it. This Fall (November 15th), Great Shots Level II will be held. And what's better - Great Shots will now be a 5 class Certificate program. Complete all 5 classes and the college will award you a certificate in Digital Photography. Stay tuned for more as it develops!

Farewell from Cincinnati...And A Personal Thank You

2008-05-03T09:19:00.005-04:00

I'm sitting in the airport in Cincinnati, and the past week is still swirling through my head - and it occurs to me that I need to do a public/personal Thank You...

David,
I felt the need to let you, LaDawn, Jennifer, Geoffrey, Staci, Nick, Sharon and anyone else from your wonderful staff know that I had a great experience at your Digital Master Class. Your warmheartedness, caring and willingness to open your home, business and personal lives with 20+ relative strangers made for an incredible week. I feel I have formed lifelong friendships. I wish I was more articulate to express my gratitude as "Thank You" doesn't quite seem to be enough. I hope our paths cross many more times. God Bless you all.
Chris

Now back to the rest of you... ;-)

I spent the week telling you how you should be signing up for David's class. I hope you know now how superb David's Digital Master class is. Like Scott Kelby (the Grand Poo-Bah himself) says, "attending David's classes are like standing there watching David shove money in your pockets." However, I say all that to say this...

If Digital ProTalk is not on your daily reading list, then make sure you catch up on the week of posts on the weekend. If you're not doing that, well then put your camera down - you might not be worthy of using it! Seriously folks, subscribe yourself and make it required reading.

With that, my boarding call has just been announced...farewell Cincinnati, it's been a blast!

Day 5 - David Ziser's Digital Master's Class

2008-05-02T17:15:00.005-04:00

I'm so sad.... I can't believe ....it's over! Here's one more of Sarah in the pose a majority of the class voted as their favorite (I personally liked the one out at Dree's Pavilion, but hey... that's what's so cool about photography - there's no right or wrong, just a personal preference.) She descending the staircase at the Marriott in Cincinnati, and it is a lovely pose.

Today's Recap:

Well I'm back to wrap up one amazing week. We finished the door prize drawings, if you haven't figured it out by now, everybody wins something. Today was the big day of prizes - there were two B&H Photo gift certificates given away, and the nicest prize of the week was about a $200 collection of NIK Software plug-ins for Photoshop!

Several people had to catch early flights home, so David began the day on the run. We covered how to use the best flash light we could, and saw examples of how on camera flash has a real hard time making people pretty. There are some tricks to make it better, but nothing to make it great. We then covered off camera flash, bare bulb lighting, room lights, multiple lighting setups, and how David typically shoots a wedding and reception.

Then due to people leaving we had a graduation ceremony. David thanked his staff publicly for the huge effort to make this week an awesome week. Then he called each of us up individually and thanked us for coming and presented us with a graduation certificate and class photo.

After some brief goodbye's, we were right back into the materials covering lens selections and how to use them in what scenario in shooting a wedding, shooting in available light, shooting digital, and backup options.

We wrapped the class by covering David's $elling Process and Salesflow. We got to see EVERYTHING about how David sells to his clients. David even shared his contracts and price lists with us. I'm telling you the man shared every single aspect of his business with us all week.

Then it was hugs and handshakes all around and even a few teary goodbyes! A few of us went to lunch together for one last hoo-rah. Then a few of us came back to the hotel where I hosted a little Photoshop tutorial till around 5:00pm.

It was an absolute blast, I learned a ton. I made a bunch of new friends and contacts around the country, and I'm leaving charged up. This was an awesome opportunity and I once again recommend it to anyone. If you do sign up to take his class, please do mention my name. Yes, I get a small reward, but it would be neat for both David and I to know how you got there.

I'll be back Monday with something new. I hope you've had a good time reading this this week. Thanks for your attention...

Day 4 - David Ziser's Digital Master's Class

2008-05-01T22:41:00.003-04:00

Well, once again it's way past 10:00pm and I'm just getting to the PC to blog. Mainly because since 6:30 we've been enjoying a wonderful dinner party at the Ziser house. The food, friendship, camaraderie and fun, made for a truly magical evening. More on that in a bit...

Today's recap:

The day began with another round of door prize giveaways and image reviews. The biggest thing I can remember given away today was a very nice book of merit images from the PPA (Professional Photographers of America).

David then started the day of with a quick finish of the Powerpoint presentation from yesterday, and then went right into the Photoshop section of the class. David demo'd the things he does every day in his studio to fix images. It was nice to see clean, down to earth no frills edits that didn't take all day to get the job done.

After lunch we did a nice long look into Marketing and growing your business. It was very informative and I learned a ton! Some of the ideas I had already thought of or learned from other blogs, but most of it was very enlightening.

Late this afternoon we had a representative from ArtLeather come in and give a introduction to their product and offer us some really nice discounts. Then we actually wrapped early to get to the dinner party at David's home.

The dinner party was awesome, we gathered for drinks and a class photo and then were treated to a delicious dinner of salmon, chicken, pork, vegetable lasagna, rosemary potatoes, some vegetable dishes, croissant rolls and a full rack of deserts. Or model bride and awfully sweet girl, Sarah Dupuy (featured above) was there with her REAL fiance Steven. And we all sat out on the deck laughing, talking, and having a grand time until it was time to go. I was so envious as the house was wide open and we sat outdoors all night and never saw the first bug! If we had done that in North Carolina the house would be filled with bugs and the guests would be a mosquito buffet. Needless to say it was very nice.

And now I sit here. Hardly believing that it all ends tomorrow at noon. It has been so much fun, and so educational. I'm ready to go home and take on the world now, and I highly recommend if you're presented the opportunity - you make every effort to come take this class. (And if you do mention my name when you register!)

I'll blog tomorrow's day too, don't worry! But I have been extremely honored by Terri "I got to get these opossums up to Monterey" Nowling and a few other classmates as they have asked me to stick around tomorrow and give them a little impromptu Photoshop class. Terri's been a neat classmate as she's wanted all week to be on somebody's blog - mainly David's, but somebody's! Well there you go Terri, you've been blogged. Terri acts like she doens't know much, but we've seen some of her work and she's doing just fine. Look for big things from "In The Now Photography" in the very near future!

Day 3 - David Ziser's Digital Master's Class

2008-04-30T20:46:00.003-04:00

Here we are a lot earlier today! Even though we still ran long (personally I love that as I feel we're getting more bang for the buck, and I'm here in Cincinnati with nothing else to do!)

Well, as teased in yesterday's post, David held true to his word and we're linked to David's blog! Read more about it here...(we're the last two paragraphs.) On that note, David really should be on your "must read" blog list of every day. He puts an incredible amount of time into his blog and it shows - and if nothing else, you get a beautiful picture to look at everyday!

So on to today's recap:

The day started with LaDawn (David's wife) announcing the plans, and showing us the large prints from the day before. She also had set out a back breaking amount of magazine and catalog samples from vendors and sponsors of the class. Then we started the first of three days of DOOR PRIZES!!! We drew 7 names today, and yours truly won! I won the Canon Camera bag (which is good as I'm a Canon guy). The goodie bag included a camera bag fanny pack, a Canon CF Card wallet, Lens Cleaning Kit, Lens Polishing cloth, and some discount coupons and gift certificates. The "big" prize awarded today was copy if IrfanView software (a really neat image browser David demonstrated this week, check them out here.)

Then David came in and we discussed some of the images from yesterday and talked shop about what worked and what didn't and why. Then we got our class images CD and did a full two day shoot review of all the images. These shots included the really beautiful shots, and the ones David shot to illustrate some "bad" examples as well.

From there we got into the meat of the day which was a look at the class software CD all the students get as a part of the class, it includes tons of shareware software and product demos. We looked at all of them and installed some so David could demo them in class. They included the previously mentioned IrfanView, Noise Ninja - a noise reduction software, and LumaPix - a album builder with unbelievable power and ease. Then we began a full in-depth look at things like workflow, salesflow, and an in-depth look at FotoFusion's LumaPix software for album design (the image above is a screen capture of me working on the software using the images from this week - you can learn more about LumaPix here.) We got to play with it and design pages as David and LaDawn walked around assisting us.

Then David presented a Slideshow entitled "Rocket Speed Album Design" fresh on the heels of us experimenting with LumaPix that really made sense and tied the whole thing together.

Tomorrow is all about Marketing, Photoshop and ProSelect Software. Now in reading my materials, I see that we have some homework, but David never mentioned it. Hmmm... should I??????