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Showing posts with label Photoshop Elements Tutorials. Show all posts

Practicing Manual Mode In the Garden

Top B&W & color photo:
6.3 Ap & 1/100 speed

Hand cupping chin: 3.5 Ap & 1/80 speed
Arm reaching: 7.1 Ap & 1/100 speed
Spaghetti Sauce face Bottom: 5.6 Ap & 1/100 speed
I usually shoot in AV: Aperture Priority, but this time as I did that I saw my shutter speed go crazy to 1/1000 super fast & I was not getting enough light. I was confused because before my speed was usually 1/60 and would adjust fine. So I decided to go MANUAL. I have shot manual film 35mm for many years, but feel a little rusty. All of these images needed more light in post editing. I still need to learn how I can correct the white balance on my camera as I am shooting. I would prefer to get all lighting right as I am shooting rather then depend on Photo Shop to make even minor adjustments.

Being Amelya: Some of My Favorites So Far

These photos are minimally touched in Photo Shop Elements 5.
I used the contrast & increased it. I just learned how to do skin tone by simply going to Enhance, Color, Color for Skin Tone & simply click on the image & adjust to your liking. These photos have a cool tone to them because I did not use the skin tone function. I think I like them as is. Sometimes I can get carried away when I learn new functions and it may take away from the natural beauty of the photo. I am always trying to find that balance.

I draw inspiration from Tamara Lackey, she captures the essence of every child. Her photos always make me feel something. I hope to be as good as her one day! Here is her blog link.
http://www.tamaralackeyblog.com/galleries.cfm?gcID=6

Beauty in Motion

Just before dark I asked Amelya to throw on my "bat" sweater, that's what she calls it, and pose for me. I just invested $3 in a white foam core board & wanted to try it out on this overcast evening. It was pretty dark out and I was amazed & pleased how it helped light up her face & eyes. I held it as close to her body as possible & held my camera in the other hand and did my best. I like the results, and this was my first attempt at using reflective props. I look forward to using it again and improving my images. I love the blur in these images. It helps to see how much fun she was having and how fast she was moving. It tells the story, I like that.

A Quick Photo Shoot Before Dark

Amelya was munching on crackers during our impromptu photo shoot. I had to photo shop the crackers off of her mouth by using the healing tool. I considered removing the crumbs on her tongue but I couldn't get it to look natural. I was going for natural so they stayed.

Amelya: Using a reflective white board for light

Empower Personal Training. My 1st Shoot!

My First Family Photo Shoot.

Ok so they aren't blood relatives, but it's like a real family! Membership is based on personal training services, the trainers and the members get to know each other real well and the culture reflects that. So in a way it becomes a family that coaches you, builds you up, and encourages you to go to your limits because they really believe in you! Sounds much better them my biological family! Much more positive! Ha!

Some of my favorite photos
from the shoot.

http://www.becomepowerful.com

How to Add Text to an Image: So easy!

To add text to an image: And create a water mark.
First click the "T" tool.

2nd click the top of your image & hold & drag, a text box will appear.

3rd Type away: choose color & font & hit the "enter" key to move the text down the image.

4th use the "T" Arc tool, top right of your screen.
This will allow you to angle the font wear you want, if you do not want it horizontal.

5th I changed the opacity to about 60% & flattened & saved my image.

Amelya and Her Cat

Amelya's buddy "baby cat".

When we got to this point of our "photo shoot" the light was so different. There is a real brightness to her face, that gives her a pale complexion. It's amazing how the light changes her skin tones. In real life she has a lot of color in her skin. She tans quite brown but always has a rosy glow in her cheeks on most days.
To see this kind of angelic color is interesting. I like it.

Having Fun in Our Garden

These photos have minimal Photo Shop enhancement.
I brightened them a bit. The light at this time of day was really nice, but it is a challenge for me to have Amelya look in the direction with the best light, and get the light in her eyes. I see that the stones act as a reflective light source to brighten up her face.