Photoshop Enables You to Get the Most From Your Digital Photography

Photographing in color is the most commonly used form of photography, and is perfect under most conditions. However, there are times when the simplicity of black and white produces a more interesting image.

Black and white photography requires a different mind set and skill set, because the picture is formed purely from different shades go gray, from the lightest shade, pure white, to the darkest shade, pure black. As digital photography becomes more popular, black and white film is increasingly hard to come by. Unless you are fortunate enough to have your own dark room or a specialty lab near you, getting high quality prints made will be difficult. The machine processing that is done at most one hour mini labs leaves a lot to be desired if you want quality film and print processing.

Many modern digital cameras have a dedicated black and white mode, but in most cases the camera just desaturates the picture and make it look washed out and flat with little contrast control. It is actual better to capture your digital images in color and then convert them to black and white in Photoshop.

The easiest way, but not necessarily the best way of making a color photo black and white in Photoshop is to convert the mode to gray scale. But this will limit your options if you want to enhance the picture later on because a lot of the original information in your image file is discarded.

Shooting traditional black and white photography, with film, gives you the option of using colored filters over your lens is to create a dramatic contrast. This is done because hues that appear to be different in color can merge into one shade of grey when seen in monochrome. The intensity of the colors appears to be the same, even though the actual colors are different.

For example, a blue sky with white clouds sometimes to be weak and washed out in a black and white photograph. When you place a red filter over the lens, it will darken the blue sky and create more contrast between the sky and clouds. The red filter blocks the blue color waves and creates more contrast in the red color spectrum.

The great thing about Photoshop is it gives you the ability to experiment with a variety of color filters and get the effect that you are looking for. The method I most often use and I find works best involves keeping the picture in RGB color mode. I then use the channel adjustment option and manipulate the various color channels.

For example, if you go to the image adjustment tab and choose the channels tab you can click on any one of the various color channels, for example the red channel and create more contrast just like you would by putting a red filter over your camera lens when shooting black and white film. Experiment by clicking on the green and blue channels to see how differently each one affects your image. The results will be very different and will open your eyes to a new creative process.

You can then use some of the other Photoshop adjustment tools to finalize your image. From here you may want to use either levels or curves, or even selective color to create a fine art black and white that will rival some of the all time great photographers like Ansell Adams. The tools in Photoshop can, and should be used to get stunning black and white and color images. Photoshop will enable you to get the most from your photographic experience.

Learn How to create stunning Black and White Images and much more with Photo-Shop-Made Easy’s 21 Video Tutorials.

Till next time, all the best…Terry

Curiosity Pays It’s Dividends

There is an old saying that says ‘curiosity killed the cat’ While curiosity might be fatal to a few cats it is an incredibly useful characteristic to have as a photographer. Here are just a few of the benefits of being curious as a photographer.

1. Curiosity helps you notice things others often overlook!

While most people only see the obvious, and sometimes they even overlook that. A curious and inovative photographer will create stunning images of everyday things that most of us wouldn’t even think to look for beauty in.

2. Curiosity drives you to find new ways photograph normal items.

A curious and persistent  photographer finds interesting ways to make ordinary scenes and objects look extraordinary. You can do this by finding interesting angles, placing your subjects in unusual settings or by experimenting with things like different  focal length lenses. (particularly macro shots).

3. Curiosity drives you to learn about your digital camera.

One thing I’ve noticed about great photographs is that most of them show that the photographers have a good grasp of their cameras and how to use them. It is quite obvious to me that most of the photographers have ventured out of Auto mode and have learned to take control of their cameras. There is obviously a lot of experimentation going on with digital photography which is evidence of curious minds wondering what will happen if they just take the shot a little differently than the norm.

4. Curious photographers capture the viewers interest.

One theory you might is, creative people  are willing to push boundaries and explore new ground. They tend to be the type of people that others are drawn to. Curious photographers images are attractive because they help the rest of us view the world in new and intriguing ways. How about you? Are you ready to push some boundaries and explore your curious side?

If the thought of exploring your creative and curious side excites you, If you would love to experience the excitement of capturing fantasic images with your digital camera, then I envite you to join me and learn how to Master Digital Photography.

@ http://www.Master-Digital-Photography.com

Till Next Time… All the best, Terry Day

Photography Lessons Creative Composition: The Use Of Lines

 Digital Photography Lessons, How to use lines to lead your viewer to your main point of interest.
When you have a river, road, path or fence line in your photo, make sure it leads your viewer into your image to a point of interest rather than out of the side or away from your main point of interest. In some cases your lines are in fact your point of interest. A good example would be a river or wilderness trail.

Another example would be a set of railroad tracks. When your main subject are the lines themselves the area they lead your eye to is referred to as the vanishing point. Take your viewer on a journey with the use of lines and end the journey with an interesting conclusion. Another example is, when you are photographing a river or stream start with your stream in the foreground and try to include a mountain peak, interesting rock formation or a waterfall at the vanishing point.

Converging lines always convey a feeling of depth, and can be especially striking when arranged on a diagonal. Here again try to include an interesting subject at the point of convergence.

Curving lines are softer and more sensuous in appeal. And don’t forget that a line can be a circle, spiral or arch too.

Horizontal lines to imply calmness and tranquility. An obviously suitable horizontal composition would be a beach with golden sands, blue sea and horizon. Be sure to compose you photograph with your horizontal line or horizon either in the top or bottom third of your image. Use either the sky or the foreground as your main composition. I cant say you should never have your horizon in the center but, in most case this usually is not as interesting and you run the chance of your photograph appearing stagnate and un interesting.

Vertical lines convey strength and stability. If vertical lines converge upwards, as when you tilt your camera to get in the top of a building, they can give a soaring feeling, but in this case you can nearly always improve your image by slanting the camera slightly to build a strong diagonal which will increase the interest in your image.

Diagonal lines are great to create strong interest and a more dynamic image. Whereas horizontal and vertical lines tend to give a stable, static feel, diagonal lines are more dynamic, implying action and movement. Diagonal lines will also lead your viewers eyes to your main subject matter in a more interesting path.

Don’t forget, you don’t have to have an actual line between two points. This can also be accomplished through the use of contrasting light and colors. Lines can also be implied by the positioning of people or other objects.. If you find yourself with horizontal or vertical lines you don’t want, simply change your camera angle to place them on a slant or eliminate them entirely.

Have your lines exit into corners.
If your lines are going to break the frame or come to an end, try to have them exit your image in a corner as opposed to the top, bottom or side of your composition.Don’t cut your lines short.

Give Your image room to move. Anything that moves needs a space to continue its action, so don’t cut your imaginary line too short. The same goes for people or animals, vehicles or even a fence line, try not to have them facing the short side or a lesser space of your composition. Give your subject some open space to continue their line of sight or direction they are traveling.

S-curves are great composition builders. Straight lines can be dramatic and have good visual impact, but the alternating sweeps of S-curves are more relaxing and more attractive to the human eye. Think of a straight road compared to a winding one or a winding river compared to a straight length of river. The S-curve or even an arch is more effective when creating a soft or soothing image.

Want more indepth instruction?  Learn how to take better digital photographs now.

I’ll be back soon with more helpful tips so stay tuned.

Happy shooting, Terry