It's another "teach it Tuesday" post...and since I've recently stumbled upon the ability to screen cast and coupled that with my love of photoshop, I thought I'd give another taste of photoshop for those of you that are still on the fence about the Adobe Photoshop Elements program.

The February 2016 Snapshop class was this past Saturday and it's probably my all time favorite thing to do...I love spending quality time with people, in a comfortable environment, teaching and helping people learn how to understand the functions and capabilities of their cameras.  Ultimately, we are always shooting to get the best image straight out of camera! (SOOC)

However, in the learning process, or even in the advanced stages, LIFE happens and we need to "tweak" a few things here and there!

Click It classes are designed to help begin that process.  Here is an example of the things we cover in the beginner workshop of photoshop elements:

Understanding the workspace (set up and tools)
Understanding the way photoshop functions (layers, destructive & non-destructive editing)
Global Editing (things you apply to an entire photo: exposure, contrast, color)
Saving your photos (PSD files and jpeg files)
Bonus: your choice of one retouching/finishing tool (sharpening, black&white/color, vinette)

These basics allow you to take a photo from start to finish and give it that all over pop!

Depending on where you are in the process of understanding photo editing, during one on one Click It mentoring sessions OR in a Click It Up (part 2) you might be ready for even more...to enhance in specific areas of your photo and take your portraits to the next level...this would include learning how to:

Utilize an in depth understanding of Layer Masking/Clipping Masks
Remove background distractions
Fix blinking eyes or turned heads
Change to a beautiful black & white (w/or w/o matte finish) and add color too
Add a vinette to your final image
Use Actions to achieve a unique look and save time
BONUS: add text and/or create you own card

In this "preview", I will demonstrate one of the many techniques that are possible in photoshop elements to achieve a "vinette" for your finished photos. It is helpful to understand the basic functions of photoshop in order to get this result as this is a technique that is taught in the Click It UP workshop.  However, I hope it will give you a feel of the program and perhaps get you excited to try a one on one with me!!!

See HERE for details.

(remember to click on the HD setting to see it without the blur)

Everyone sees "life" through their own unique set of "glasses"...the same is true for a photographer. Each one sees "life through the lens" in their own way too.  However, in order to produce what one sees in their mind's eye, I think we often travel through different phases of our understanding and then our performance of that knowledge.

I spent many years in phase 1...I struggled to find someone to help me get to the next level...to push me into the next stage so that I could begin to produce images that I dreamed about...

However, once I finally grasped those "phase 1" concepts, and I spent the time honing in on those pieces, I felt confident to move onto more and more...

I wonder where you fit???

PRE Phase:  This isn't really a phase persay, it just happens to be where most people are...People like to take pictures...pictures of themselves (selfies)...pictures to post on instagram...pictures to make someone smile...You use an iphone, a point & shoot or whatever you have handy...

for some, this phase gets old and you yearn for more...



Phase 1: The Falling in Love with Photography Phase

This is where you start taking photography more seriously...You get a "big girl/boy" camera and maybe even a new lens. Here are the things that you begin to work through in this phase:
- Understanding Aperture, Shutterspeed, ISO and how they work together
- Manual Mode & Metering Light
- Depth of Field and how that affects aperture & your images
- Composition Basics
- Finding Light and it's color (white balance)
- Determining & nailing Focus

It's in this stage that a Snapshop is super handy!!!  This is where I teach you how to do all those things listed above...

between phase 1 and phase 2 comes a lot of PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Phase 2: The Telling the Story Phase

This is the phase where you are comfortable in manual mode.  The buttons and photography lingo isn't scary anymore and it no longer sounds like gibberish.  Understanding HOW to get your camera set up to take a picture is like 2nd nature, so you are able to relax and really "see" in your surroundings...and then determine how you will capture the moment in a fresh, new & unique way to "tell YOUR story"
Here are the things you focus on in this phase:
- Toggling your focal points
- Back Button Focus
- Bouncing Flash
- Utilizing Natural Light (indoor and outdoor)
- Play with Dramatic Lighting (low, backlighting, etc)
- Introducing further equipment (if you haven't already obtained a prime lens)
- photo editing
- Connecting with the "story"

between phase 2 and phase 3 comes a lot of PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Phase 3: The Letting Loose Phase

This is the stage where you start to find your own voice & style...you let go of the comparison and determine how YOU SEE the moments and you document them accordingly.
Here are some things that you MAY do in this phase:
- shoot in full sun or ANY light
- start your own business
- explore other types of photography such as landscape or portrait or sports
- more developed composition (golden triangle, golden spiral, etc)
- dramatic editing
- shooting film
.........the list can go on and on.....

Photography is a never ending learning process...Once you think you've got it figured out, you discover how much more you want to learn...If you are beginning phase 1 and want to get a good grasp of concepts so that you can gain confidence and continue on, be sure to contact me about attending the upcoming Snapshop!!!