The Digital Photo Guy

Learning Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Lightroom

Think back to when you learned to drive a car. If, like me, you’re older than dirt, you may recall watching work the clutch and shift the tranny. It seemed so simple. Give it gas, release the clutch, wait until the car is up to speed, depress clutch, shift, release clutch, repeat. However, doing it, nothing worked quite as you imagined. Lightly depressing the gas pedal made the engine roar like an Indy racer. Releasing the clutch either stalled the engine or made the car jump like a toad with a hotfoot. Shifting was an exercise in futility, second was nowhere to be found! It was only with lots of practice that you finally started, shifted and stopped smoothly.

Learning Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Lightroom is much the same. Watching others isn’t going to get you much more than frustration and badly edited photos. To really learn something, one has to practice repeatedly. It also helps to have an advisor who can help when you’re at wit’s end.

Last week, I decided to print some black & whites. Lately, I’ve seen some great BW and thought I’d rework a few old photos. The first print was a disaster. The blacks were completely blocked and there were  no details anywhere.

After three days of hair-pulling frustration, I conceded defeat and asked the printing guru at my local Calumet store. He showed me some techniques on the 3880 in the store and that’s all I needed. Within hours, I was printing great BW.

My success can be attributed to hours upon hours of practice with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom coupled with several dozen classes plus knowing the right person to seek out for advice. Finally, it really helps to know how to frame the questions.

That’s why all my classes come with after-class support. I know most students will never remember everything from a class. It would be surprising if students remembered 25% of the class. But, anyone who diligently applies themselves can always get help from me.

Back to Wild Animal Park with a Plan

I went back to Wild Animal Park this past Sunday prepared to photograph large birds. Before I went, I had three large birds in mind. As always, Fred the Shoebill Stork was at the top of my list of favorites. Next, I wanted a good photo of the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and, of course, the Secretary Bird.

The hornbill has such black eyes that I wanted a photo using fill flash to add a catchlight. As luck would have it, the hornbill was not in a mood to pose. Most times, he perches on a log in the middle of the enclosure but, this time, he kept pacing directly in front of me, behind a set of barrier cables. I had to wait patiently for him to make several runs through the tall grass before I finally managed to fire three frames. This was the best.

I used a Canon 7D with a 300/2.8 at f/2.8 and 1/80 second. My Canon 550EX was set to Manual at 1/4 power. The camera was on a Gitzo 3530LS with a Markins ballhead and a Wimberly Sidekick gimbal mount.

The Secretary Birds weren’t much better. Their interesting running behavior of the previous week was gone and one sat on the ground, just out of sight, while the other paced in front of a chain link fence, a distracting background. On a few occasions, it ran past us and I was able to make this photo.

For this, my Canon 7D with the 300/2.8 was set to f/2.8 at 1/250 second and the Canon 550EX was in Manual Mode at 1/4 power.

The White Egyptian Vulture was a treat. I had’t noticed him before so it was fun to make a photo. Again, his eyes were so black, it was difficult to get a catchlight unless he was looking in just the right direction. Shortly after I made this photo, he was chased off by a brown vulture. Here, I used f/8.0 because I wanted to dial back the light off the white bird. A 300mm at 30 feet has less than 12 inches DoF from f/2.8 to about f/8.0 so I wasn’t too concerned about the background. My main concern was not to blow out the white feathers.

Fred, the shoebill stork, as usual, didn’t disappoint. Here, I caught Fred in a contemplative mood as he studied the flowers in front of him. As fearsome as he looks, I would love to get up close to Fred.

All the photos were processed in Lightroom 3 based on techniques I learned from George Jardine’s LR training videos. If you’re serious about your photography, you should be using Lightroom and, if you’re using Lightroom, you need George’s videos. You can get all three (Library, Develop, Adobe Camera Raw) for about $50. That’s 16 hours of training for less than a dinner for two.

Understanding Layers and How To Use Them

Explaining Layers is like blind men describing an elephant. Depending on where on the elephant a blind man touched, it was variously described as python-like, wall-like or built like a tree trunk. Be as that may, I’m presenting a 30-Minute Webinar to demonstrate the different ways Layers can be used in PS/PSE. I’ll demonstrate Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks, Fill Layers and other useful Layers.

This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, August 10 at 7PM Pacific Time. As always, the webinar is $3. Register HERE.

Microsoft LifeCam Studio Improves Video

After nearly 10 years, my ancient Intel CS430 VGA webcam has finally been retired. As a replacement, I installed a Microsoft LifeCam Studio 1080p HD cam with an integrated microphone. Don’t ask me what all that means, I just know that the image is clearer and sharper. This camera has autofocus so I don’t have to hold objects at an exact distance and it has better white balance.

In the screen captures above, the left is from the old Intel webcam while the right is from the new Microsoft HD webcam. As you can see, the resolution is vastly improved with the new webcam. With the Canon 7D on a tripod, the MS cam image would be sharp enough to read the screen.

Of course, there’s always a downside to everything and this is no exception. The video is so clear and the autofocus is so accurate that it captures every wrinkle on my face. For viewers of my webinars, the advantage is that you’ll be able to see demos like my dSLR sensor cleaning webinar much more clearly.

Sweet Home 3D Makes Quick Work of Home Design

Not exactly photography related but I’ve been using a free program called Sweet Home 3D to draw plans for for some extensive remodeling we’ve started in our Arizona home. Whether you’re just rearranging furniture in your home or knocking down walls, SH3D will make the planning stages much easier for you.

The program is pretty much drag ‘n drop. To create walls, simply click “Create Walls,” place the cursor at the start and drag to the end. If you want to change directions, click once to anchor the wall, if you want to end the wall. click twice. You want furniture? Just find what you want in an extensive library and drag it into position in your newly created room. You want Shaker instead of Contemporary Motel? There are scads of free libraries offering hundreds of different shapes and styles.

More Photography, Less Marketing

Starting immediately, I am offering classes by appointment only. I will, of course, finish classes I am currently teaching or scheduled to teach (e.g. Palomar College) but I will not develop, schedule or market new classes or workshops except on request. To schedule a class, send me an e-mail with two or three days that are convenient for you and, at least, two weeks in advance. After I check my calendar, I’ll confirm a date and send you an invoice. All my current classes and workshops are available on-demand.

The only other services I offer at this time are an Annual Photography Coaching Plan at $60/year ($5 per month) and a Premium Photography Coaching Plan at $120/year ($10/month).  For $60/year, you get unlimited access to the site and timely answers to e-mail questions. The premium service also includes 10 hours of webinar. If you have a complex question, you can request a face-to-face meeting via webinar. Each meeting is also recorded for you to review for up to 60 days.

The 10 hours can also be used to schedule standard webinar classes such as Digital SLR for New dSLR Owners (3 hours,) Photoshop Elements in 3 Hours (3 hours) or Photoshop Elements for Digital Photographers (6 hours.) The hours cannot be applied toward special events. Another use for the 10 hours is individual Feedback and Coaching Time Sessions (FACTS.) Webinar classes and meetings can be scheduled anytime between 8AM to 8PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday with, at least, two weeks notice. Immediate or after hours services are available at an extra charge.

Former students are always welcome to e-mail questions and they will always receive a reply. Registered readers will receive a response to questions of interest to larger audiences.
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Have You Cleaned Your Sensor Lately?

Cleaning a dSLR sensor is like washing dishes, not a fun or glamorous task but necessary. And, like dishes, the longer you put it off, the nastier the job. On Sunday, June 12 at 7PM Pacific Time, I’ll conduct a $3 Webinar to demo cleaning a dSLR sensor. Click HERE to register.

First, let’s clear up a misconception about dust on dSLR sensors. You CANNOT see dust on a sensor through the viewfinder (VF). There is a mirror in front of the sensor at all times except when it flips up (reflexes) to allow light to strike the sensor. The only way to expose the sensor, other than by releasing the shutter, is to place the dSLR into manual sensor cleaning mode (see your manual) which locks the mirror in the UP position. When doing so, be sure to have a freshly charged battery in your camera. Most newer cameras won’t go into sensor clean mode if the battery is low. This avoids the battery expiring and allowing the mirror to fall while a tool is inserted into the camera’s innards. If you see dust through the VF, it is on the VF, most likely the eyepiece although, in some cases, it can get inside the VF.

The photo above illustrates why you want to clean your dSLR sensor. A spot like that on one or two photos is no big deal, one click of the Clone Stamp Tool or Spot Healing Brush and it’s history. But, what about the trip to the Eastern Sierras where you made hundreds of photos, if not thousands, that included wide expanses of clear blue sky with dozens of spots that look as if your cat sneezed on the sensor?

Cleaning your sensor isn’t rocket science but it takes the right tools and technique. There are many sources for the right tools but there are also many Chinese knock-offs so it’s a good idea to buy from a reliable source that also includes specific instructions. I buy all my tools from Artie Morris since I learned this method from Artie. There are two kits on his site. One kit includes a sensor scope and the other doesn’t. I don’t use a sensor scope but I can see the appeal of such a device.