HDR Photography, what is it about.

HDR photography, what is it about, well all I can say is that if done wrong it is simply ghastly.

High dynamic range, which if pushed foo far  looks unnatural

Photoshop can do the process for you but this is where the look can be a little strange.

So what alternatives and why consider HDR anyway.

I sometimes shoot in bracket mode, the function can easily be set up in either M mode or AV mode with most DSLR's.

This setup is what I will use for street photography combined with a fast shutter speed.

When I get back in I choose the image that has the best starting point taking into consideration areas of the other two images I think work well too.

If I come across a problem where the base image could not be pushed into the final look then a partial image overlay is an option.

The reality of shooting and using RAW files means is this is very rare, more likely in low light high ISO situations.

For those who want to explore a partial image overlay, this is how I would approach the task.

With the original image open bring the new image in (Photoshop) to the same file on its own layer, working with a layer mask set to hide the new layer, then with a low opacity brush, gently bring in the detail you want.

Hope you find this useful.

Photoshop CS6, The low down on whats coming.

Adobe Photoshop CS6, the low down on what's coming and what to expect is creating a buzz.

Below is  video from Scott Kelby and guests Bryan Hughes and Zorana Gee from the Adobe Photoshop Team when they dropped by to discuss the developments coming in Photoshop CS6.

Here is a list of the JDI changes listed they mentioned during the show

Scott Kelby and his various productions are the definitive Photoshop benchmark for being up to date and informative.

Scott Kelby and Photographer Joe McNally Critique session.

Scott Kelby is the world's most successful author of all things photoshop, Joe McNally is a photographer based in NY highly acclaimed and with a large following.

I posted yesterday about Scott Kelby and photoshopusertv, well here is Scott Kelby talking with photographer Joe McNally

Joe and I were in Venice Italy a few years back, he is an absolute master of small light shooting.

Joe's Bio
Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed photographer who's career has spanned 30 years and included assignments in 50 countries. He has shot cover stories for TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, New York, Entertainment weekly, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and Men's Journal. He has been at various times in his career a contract photographer at LIFE and, currently, an ongoing 23 year contributor to the National Geographic, shooting numerous cover stories for those publications. 

In this video Scott and Joe talk about portrait critique.

If you wish to buy a friend or loved one a book to inspire about photography, Joe's book "The moment it clicks" is the perfect gift, not only an easy read, this book gives an insight to how he approached taking pictures in the book, the story.

Joe was in the process of writing this book while we were in Venice.

What Joe does mention is prep and research, I covered this in my dance video blog 2, some points will keep coming up over and over.

Follow more of Joe McNally at www.joemcnally.com

Photoshopusertv the place to go to learn Photoshop

Photoshop training is one of the first areas I would recommend a new photographer spend some time to understand, building it into your workflow.

Granted other software is available but this is the industry standard and with other software eventually you will hit a wall, that only Photoshop can get you past.

Photoshopusertv really is the place to go for those wishing to learn How to use the latest version of Photoshop.

Headed by the worlds top and best selling author Scott Kelby, together with a great team of knowledgeable  co-hosts the weekly video blogs are essential for those wanting to keep up to date, or get off the start line.

The weekly videos are not the end of it, subscribe and you have a heap of resources, back episodes with regular magazines to keep you on track.

This is the place I always recommended to the new photographers who came to work with me.

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