The Digital Photo Guy

Finding a Good Workshop

As mentioned in a previous article, one of my entries to the 2010 San Diego Fair won the Panasonic Digital Photo Academy Sponsor’s Award. The prize was a $150 gift certificate for one of their advanced classes. I used it this past weekend to attend a field workshop led by Fred Greaves, a San Diego based photojournalist who has covered many major San Diego news stories including the devastating wildfires of 2003 and 2005. Fred had just returned from Afghanistan so it was also interesting to hear how today’s wars are so different, yet so similar, to Vietnam.

Fred’s field workshop was along Sunrise Highway in the Laguna Mountains. It was probably the hottest day in many years. On the same day, 4 hikers and their dog were rescued by the Sheriffs Dept while a 2nd dog died in the 110°F heat. We met in Pine Valley, a wide spot on Old Route 80, just 2 miles from the southern terminus of Sunrise Highway, at 6:30AM but the actual workshop didn’t start until 9AM.

The photos above were made while it was still relatively cool. The first two were from a rest area I had passed dozens of times but never stopped to photograph. I liked the way the slopes overlapped each other as they receded into the distance. The third was simply an old tree trunk that reminded me of space aliens.   Click to read more

Monday Morning Tips – 06/20/10

Went to the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo for my annual “wassup” look-see. There’s always things that I never saw before and this time was no exception. While waiting in the parking lot for the people who had RSVPed for this Meetup, I noticed a row of old tractors and machinery that I had not seen previously. It’s possible they were always there but I had never hung around in the parking lot so it’s also possible I just missed them. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

     
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Your Turn to Critique Me

I won’t have time to update the site this weekend so here’s something to occupy you until next week.

Here are my entries for the 2010 San Diego Fair. The juried photography competition draws about 3000 entries each year of which about half are accepted. Just being accepted is the first step. Placing 2nd, 3rd, 4th or Honorable Mention is the next step and winning 1st and/or Best of Show are the ultimate goals. Tell me your opinion in the poll at the bottom.

The first is titled Open. The second is Book of Accounts and the 3rd is Dinner with the President.

All the photos were processed to some extend with Topaz Adjust4. I tried to emphasize what was already there instead of slathering on weird effects or hide some deficiency in the photo. Each was acceptable as-is but Topaz Adjust4 enabled me to oversharpen or soften or saturate without inducing artifacts.
Click to see more entries

FREE Lens Webinar

Saturday, May 15 at 11AM CDT (noon EDT, 10A, MDT, 9AM PDT), Roger Cicala, the man who owns ~3000 lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, Panasonic, etc will explain what makes some lenses better than others. If you’re wondering which to buy and how best to use it, Roger has the answer, backed up with years of experience. When have you ever seen a company with a Lifetime Rating of 9.98/10 on ResellerRatings.com?

To dat, we have the following goodies as door prizes:

1. Photoshop World Workbook, over 800 pages of notes, PowerPoints and photos from every session at PSW Las Vegas 2009
2. Black Rapid camera strap – The newest innovation in camera access technology. Don’t just be fast, be Black Rapid fast.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Fantastical Topaz Deal

Topaz Labs has extended an education discount to my students at Palomar College as well as my private classes/workshops. In the future, all my students qualify for a 25% discount after the 3rd paid webinar or any $150+ Photoshoot Workshop (free webinars not included).

The discount applies to all Topaz products including single modules, multiple modules and the smokin’ Bundle. The Bundle of all 7 Photoshop/Photoshop Elements plug-ins normally costs US$179, a 47% discount off the single module price of US$340. With the extra 25% off, students can buy the Bundle for just $135.

The offer starts today but past students who have paid for 3 or more webinars or Photoshoot Workshops over $150 are eligible. Please send me the names and dates of your classes and I’ll send you the discount code. Before anyone asks, the discount is not retroactive to Topaz modules you purchased before today.

Topaz Labs FREE Webinar

Eric Yang of Topaz Labs will demonstrate tips, tricks and techniques for their most popular plug-ins. If you have registered, please check your e-mail for log-in instructions and log in early because we open the doors to everyone once the webinar starts. To register, please click here and follow the links.

It Makes Me Happy…

I love it when readers send me samples of their work using tips & techniques they’ve learned here. Below are Before and After photos fixed by Al from New York using techniques in this MMT.

  
Click to read more