a bit of scrapbooking...a bit of photography...
First, thank you SO very much...your comments on my latest photos made me smile :) :) :) !!! And along those lines, I received a bunch of questions on photography, both here and via email...so I will answer those in a bit...
But first...I'm a proud big sister...have you seen the latest "Digital 4" issue by Simple Scrapbooks Magazine? I was so excited to get my copy...Heidi was asked to write an article in this issue! Yes, it's true: my sis is a real, live, DIGITAL DIVA!!!
Is it any wonder that I'm constantly calling her, at all hours of the day and night, asking Photoshop questions??? She's amazing. Just amazing. I'm very proud of her and loved seeing this 2-page article! It's entitled "Virtual Scrapbooking" and includes a fabulous (digital, of course) layout by her.
AND...don't faint or anything, but after a one-month absence from the blogging and internet world, she actually BLOGGED yesterday! Click her name (above) for the link. She responded to my "tag-you're-it"...
Speaking of being "tagged", did you peek at Heidi Swapp's tag list? Fun to see. I've had fun "chatting" with her via email...she's a very real, genuine and sweet person. And a real-night-owl, just like me. What a creative ball of energy she is...must be that name...HEIDI...they all have the creative thing going on!!!
Okay...some photo tips...and answers to your questions...if you aren't a photo-bug, you can stop reading and just scroll down to the photos, because this will BORE you to tears...but if you love photography like me, this is the fun part! :)
"Do you use a Cannon or a Nikon?"
When I decided to purchase an SLR camera, I decided to go with Nikon after lots of researching, although there are lots of fabulous cameras on the market (Cannon being one of them). My first SLR was the Nikon N75 film camera...but I soon discovered that I missed the awesome advantages of digital photography (I had been using an Olympus C-50 point and shoot for a year prior to buying my SLR) so I soon purchased a Digi SLR.
I stayed with Nikon because it made sense: all of my Nikon lenses for the film camera would work on my digital camera if I stayed with the same maker. So...that's why I bought the Nikon D70. At the moment, I'm looking to upgrade into a pro-series camera...with a Nikon or Fuji (Fuji also adapts to the Nikon lenses and they have a fabulous line of pro lenses). But the D70 is a FABULOUS camera.
Want to be confused? Ask any Cannon owner about their camera...they'll tell you IT'S fabulous too! So...it all comes down to how the camera feels in your hands. Just realize this: you should stick with the maker that you start with to continue using the glass (lenses) you've invested in. Lenses cost $$$$$. So it makes sense to choose a maker...and STICK with it as you upgrade camera bodies.
"What White Balance do you use?" (This pertains strictly to digital camera's...and it's the adjustment for your lighting situation that determines the coloring of your photos)
I've been using the preset Custom Balance on my camera lately...which means I adjust my camera to it's Custom adjustment, fill the frame with a gray card, and shoot my sequence of photos! A gray card can be purchased at most camera shops...just ask for it by name: "gray card"! It's literally...a GRAY CARD and costs under $5.00! To put it in very easy terms, you simply "take a photo" of the gray card (although the camera doesn't really record a photo of it) when your camera is set to it's Custom preset. Every time your lighting situation changes, however, you must "re-read" the gray card. Consult your manual for details on how your camera's custom white balance works.
I also vary between the "auto", "cloudy" and "shade" settings...with an adjustment or two (either +1/+2 or -1/-2). You really have to practice with these settings based on the lighting. Take photos of an inanimate object at varied settings, same lighting set-up and watch what happens!
"Do you ever use a flash?"
No...I'm a natural-light gal. Never a flash...I love the effects of natural lighting either outdoors or by a window.
"Can you describe precisely what you do with channels for your conversions?"
Ahhhhhhh...ancient Chinese secret!!! No, not really...that's what I always thought, though, because I could NEVER get a straight answer out of any single photographer on this question!!! Truth be told, it's the one "single" thing in black and white photography that "sets you apart" from what everyone else is doing. So I finally came to realize that photographers are reluctant to share what works for them on conversions because it's their unique and creative recipe discovered through lots of trial-and-error...however...you can find some "actions" for conversions and many photographers share those...peek around the photography boards and you'll find some info on actions ("actions" are basically something you "add" to your photoshop program, which are "pre-made" recipes).
Here's the thing with conversions using the channel mixer: it really does vary with every single photo depending on the exposure!!! It's an art that you can only learn...by doing it. By playing with it. By reading everything you can get your hands on about it. And then applying it on test photos until you start to see and understand the relationship the color channels have to each other in respect to each photo.
There really isn't a secret recipe that works every single time for every single photo! It's an art...it's a precise calculation of "channel adjustments" whereby you use your red/blue/green channels in a total combination of 100% (meaning, the combined number of the 3 together should equal 100% to achieve the most optimum end result), together with a "constant" that adjusts the colors in your photo until you arrive at a wonderful, contrasty, black and white (or sepia-toned) photo.
Using the channel mixer brings out the contrasts of the greys and blacks versus a flat, grey photo when you simply "desaturate" it. CLICK HERE for a link to a site that will get you started with playing with these adjustments. Dennis gives some ratios for the channels...using both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. These are good starting points..adjust from these basics until you start to get the hang of it and start *loving* your own conversions!
"How do you pose your subjects and get those perfect shots?"
I don't. Oh, I may suggest that they sit here, or stand against a wall, or hold this or that, but I never say "okay, say cheese!". My favorite shots are the ones that are "in between" the *real* poses. Somehow, they seem artistic to me. Even when I do ask someone to "do this or that", the shots I end up loving the most are the ones that were unplanned. I often engage in conversation, say something to make them laugh, or something to make them think, and BAM...I depress the shutter button. Those are the best shots.
"What books do you recommend for learning all about photography and digital processing?"
Lots of ideas for you...hope this helps.
Complete Digital Photography for a thorough and intense guide to understanding digital photography overall. I refer to this book a lot...even now.
Understanding Exposure for a fabulous, easy-to-understand guide explaining the relationship of Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO settings in the perfect combination for achieving that one, very artistic exposure.
Color Confidence for understanding light and color and how it relates to photography (and how to understand color on your monitor versus the color your camera sees versus the color your photos are once printed!)
Photoshop CS2 Workflow This is an amazing book for the digital photographer explaining how to "manage" your workflow once you've captured the image in your camera all the way through the post-processing, storing, and managing of the digital files! A MUST read for photoshop owners. He also explains things for the Elements owner in this book. Do a search at Amazon to see if there are earlier versions to the CS2 version.
Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book recommended by my sis (the digital diva!) and now by me...I LOVE this book...step-by-step instruction on how to understand Photoshop. Earlier versions plus Elements versions are available too.
The Manual that came with your camera! Have you read it? Have you read it AGAIN? Don't overlook the valuable advice I received from an incredible photographer once: "Read your manual...every month!". It's true! As you advance in knowledge, you'll realize your camera does amazing things you never knew about...until the very moment you were ready to learn them! Don't overlook the extended versions of your manual...written by authors other than "Nikon" or "Cannon"...great info in those.
"Have you taken any classes or gone to photography school? If yes, which ones...if no, how did you learn so much?
First...I have learned a lot...but oh, do I have so much more to learn! I'm convinced that photography is a never-ending-learning-curve. Really! My grandpa used to tell me that he was learning new things all the time in photography...he and Grandma Audre owned the renowned "Van's Studio" in Chico CA for over 40 years...and even after countless national awards, he said he was always learning. So, I will never know enough.
No, I've not taken any classes. I'm self-taught thus far. But I DO think it's a very good idea to take classes, get schooling, learn, learn, learn. I just haven't taken or had the time for formal classes. And it's been a love of mine that has really just evolved to this point. I've always said that I can *see* the picture...I can *see* the art in the picture...I've just needed to learn how to communicate that to my camera. And it's a steep, on-going process.
I do read, TONS. I have photography books in my car and (shhhh...don't tell anyone) read a few paragraphs at a red light (they are sooooooo long here...I can almost read an entire book at a red light). I read online photography forums. I ask questions at my Nikon dealer. I buy the monthly photography magazines that have articles that appeal to me at the moment.
And I take a ton of photos...all the time. Practice, practice, practice. I have a long way to go...but when I compare photos that I've taken this time last year to photos that I've taken today, I can see that the investment in my reading and practice is paying off. Slowly but surely, little tiny baby-step at a time, it all comes with...just doing it.
And fyi...some of the most talented photographers out there are self-taught. But they read, read, read and shoot, shoot, shoot!
"Are you going to turn pro anytime soon? Will you take photos of my kids for me? LOL."
Meaning...opening my own business? Yes. I'm in the process. It's my love...and as my mother has aways told me, "it's in your blood...your grandparents would want this for you". I can't tell you how many times I've said recently "oh, I wish Grandpa Monte and Grandma Audre were here to see me taking over the family business"!!! Just the other day I said "I sure wish my grandpa was alive to see me pursuing my love of photography...and to see the digital revolution! He would FREAK out!"LOL.
It makes me sad that they aren't alive to a) see their own photography published via my scrapbooking work that has included their photos and appeared in various national magazines and books and b) to ask questions about this fabulous art now that I'm a "student" of photography rather than one of their favorite subjects to photograph every second of the day and c) play games...they were so much fun to play card and board games with. :)
Okay...the reader that asked me this question via email lives in New Jersey...to answer the second part of her question: "yes...book my flight and my room and I'm there...". LOL. :)
Okay...I have about 9 other questions to get to...but I'll save those for another day. This email is a book by now...and you have some reading to do, right? Photography books and magazines, right??? Your camera manual, right? So I'll let you go for now...:) :) :)
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