I have always liked to modify small sections of images to enhance the overall balance. In this article we look at how to do this in Photoshop. Go back to Part 1. Infrared This is our starting image. It was shot in shade and is quite low contrast. Applying Levels is a standard thing I [...]

I have always liked to modify small sections of images to enhance the overall balance. In this article we look at how to do this in Photoshop. I find it is rare that the best I can get out of an image comes from simple, overall adjustments. Most images benefit from some degree of localized [...]

Yesterday and today I was in Sydney for an Autodesk press event and, as usual, I took my converted for IR Canon 350D with me, and the results were interesting. When you fly there is a great desire to take photographs from the plane. Unfortunately too often the result is like that shown below, too [...]

Strong neutral density filters are great for landscape photography when you want to allow motion blur to occur. But they can be expensive and hard to find. Lately I’ve been exploring using longer exposures in my landscape photography to produce motion blur in waves, trees, clouds and flowing water. I’ve been testing a number of [...]

Keeping track of things is a major task but considerably easier with the right support. Photographers and artists have a lot of things to do. When this activity is also a business the issue is bigger. All of these activities can be well tracked on paper. Paper works and can certainly be carried anywhere with [...]

Mark Alberhasky looks at using point and shoot cameras and comes to the conclusion it is all in the photographer, not in the gear. Most serious photographers base their approach to the medium on the premise that fine quality work requires advanced, expensive equipment.  This attitude has its roots in decades of experience where high [...]

Mark Alberhasky looks at the value of planning and practice in photography. Anyone who has ever studied photographs has seen images whose timing seems to defy the odds.  Photojournalists regularly document the world with photos that many of us simply don’t think we’d ever be capable of making.  While some of their skill is unquestionably [...]

There is the temptation to believe that you don’t need any filters for your digital camera, that you can do it all in Photoshop. But at least one is, in my view, essential for digitals, the circular polarizing filter. In my film days my camera bag was filled with filters, and filter systems, such as [...]

We don’t normally think of using polarizing filters when shooting infrared but I decided to try it out. Regular readers will know that I shoot a lot of digital infrared work, both with a converted for IR Canon 350D and with unconverted digital cameras that I have in for testing. I was testing circular polarizing [...]

In this last, extra part, I cover how to determine just how much blur is enough? One thing I haven’t covered in this series was how to determine just how much to blur the image. So let’s cover that now. This is the way I work: 1.    Open the Camera RAW (I always work in [...]

Concluding our exploration of Layers, Gaussian Blur and Blending Modes, Part 4 explores the topic of when and why you might choose to use this approach. Before: Over the last three articles we have explored various ways to create a particular look and how do we do it. In this, last, article, I want to [...]

Continuing our exploration of Layers, Gaussian Blur and Blending Modes, Part 3 explores the approach that I prefer. In this article we explore a couple of additional ways of doing it, including the one I prefer. It can be more complex but it offers much more control.Variation 3 – Use a Selection Based on Color [...]

Continuing our exploration of Layers, Gaussian Blur and Blending Modes, Part 2 takes a more complex approach. So what do we do if the basic approach doesn’t give you what you want.Variation 1 – Lighten the image first By lightening the image first, before the duplication step, we avoid the darkening of the image that [...]

People are often looking for ways to give their images a different look in Photoshop. I find that the combination use of Layers, Gaussian Blur and Blending Modes can be a match made in Heaven. Part 1 takes the simple approach. The image before: If you think of some of the types and techniques of [...]

We test various white balance settings for infrared images and come to the obvious conclusion. As part of our ongoing coverage of digital infrared we decided to do the obvious, so you don’t have to, of tested what is actually the best white balance setting when shooting digital infrared. The test was done with our [...]

Many people fall into the trap of thinking that infrared photography is an activity for full sun and when confronted with a beautiful treed landscape or a portrait subject. Nothing could be further from the truth and you can use a camera for infrared photography whenever you like the results. 1/250 sec at f8, 100ISO, [...]

Whilst all digital cameras are capable of taking an infrared image if an IR transmitting/visible light blocking filter is used, exposures will be long. Converting a digital camera for IR work solves this and other issues. All photography in this article is by Wayne J. Cosshall. All rights reserved. It is almost certain that any [...]

This technique allows you to produce images that look like they are photographs of amazingly detailed models, yet are, in fact, images of the real world. Macro shots of real miniatures are characterized by a shallow depth of field, leading to areas of substantial blur in front of and behind the plane of focus. You [...]

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People seem to be confused about what to do, so here is a quick run through. The correct procedure is to do the following: 1. Download the software2. Go to the adobe site  (or here if the previous does not work for you) and log in or setup an Adobe account if you don’t already [...]

Mark Alberhasky offers up a great piece of advice for those trying for that little extra something in their photography. Season’s Greetings everyone! As the holidays roll around again, we’ll all be reaching for our cameras.  Some of us will be traveling during the holidays, as I just was.  While Las Vegas is not necessarily the [...]

Mark Alberhasky brings us great advice for the photographer on the go. While every season provides its own unique opportunities for great images, fall colors certainly rate high on most photographers “must capture” lists.Don’t forget that you’ve got to have your camera available to make the shot when you turn that corner and are unexpectedly [...]

Foto Tip by Mark Alberhasky – Mark explores the benefits of getting immersed over your head in some way and about discovering a lot about yourself in the process. If you’re like me, you’ve suddenly noticed the days are shorter and fall is on the way.  While I can honestly ask, “Where did the summer [...]

One of the classic signs of aging in adults is memory loss. In the world of computers, the same may hold true. Luckily, the diagnosis is simpler and the cure is quite readily available. Replace your computer’s memory Press Release One of the classic signs of aging in adults is memory loss. In the world [...]

Beat the dull family footage curse with tips from Sony Australia Press Release Putting your home-movie audience to sleep? Shaky shots? Zooming in too close? Does this sound familiar? These are the top three mistakes Australians make when filming their home-movies, according to Sony Australia.    Australians have long been fans of the home-movie, however very few [...]

DIMW Column – Wayne looks at getting the relative importance of the technology and the image right. Whether you are a digital artist, photographer, graphic designer or modern illustrator, your tools of trade will probably involve technology. Mine currently involves a number of computers, both Mac and Windows, lots of software, a mix of printers [...]

Foto Tip by Mark Alberhasky – Mark looks at how a bit of forethought can go a long way in helping you to get the killer image. Previsualise and sort out the technical issues beforehand. This foto tip sounds like one of the mantras from the driving school I took during the summer with my [...]