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 normally do to IR images. Now the trouble is, as I move the black point control around, I find different settings work best for different parts of the image. So I am going to need to apply different adjustments across the image. So the first thing is to apply the Layers -> New Adjustment Layer -> Levels. Just in case you end up working with multiple layers, choose the Use previous layer checkbox so what you do will only apply to … Read entire article »

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 treatment. So in this article I offer you my way of working on images. We will go through three images, two infrared and one color. Color This is our starting image. The foreground is not bad but the sky and maybe the sea is weak. For this I’ve picked a clearly over exposed image that, perhaps because it is the only shot we have of a place, we want to rescue. In reality I would probably drop in … Read entire article »

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 blue and hazy (I shot this with my mobile phone camera as the only normal camera I had with me). Haze is substantially a UV and blue end of the spectrum effect. So when you shoot in infrared, which blocks all this. So the result, shot immediately after the color one above, is this. Below are other shots taken through the dirty plane window. They illustrate the motto Shoot First, Think Later. Thinking might have told me … Read entire article »

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 heavy neutral density filters (more about this in some other articles). For those who do not shoot this way, let me explain. Some movements, such as a waterfall or water cascading over rocks in a stream may require a shutter speed of 1/2 a second or longer to create that pleasing blur that you often see. Things like turning the ocean flat or making clouds into streaks in the sky can require exposures in the 30 … Read entire article »

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 you. But since I am a computer nerd and work on my laptop, I look for computer solutions. This series of posts will explore some of the software this is available to help. Keeping track of all the things that you have to do is important. You can use a diary or calendar program but not all tasks are best kept that way. I like to do lists and I’ve tried a variety of programs to do them. … Read entire article »

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 prices and quality were synonymous.  But now that digital has matured, that dogma is dog-eared.  Sure, there is truth that for some subject matter, expensive gear is the only way to bring home the award winning shot.  But that doesn’t mean serious images can’t be made with equipment that most serious photographers would pass over without thinking twice. Case in point … the point and shoot. Generally considered a camera for the masses (by those who say “consumer” … Read entire article »

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 the result of years of experience, there are things we can all do to improve the likelihood that one of our own images might end up a great shot. A lot of what I’m going to suggest isn’t rocket science or the result of deep pockets and high end equipment.  Rather, it’s a matter of thinking in advance about what you’d like to accomplish and following through to capitalize on future potential.   During my medical training, … Read entire article »

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 the Cokin one. When you first switch to digital, or for all the photographers who are coming to it without a film history, there is a reasonable tendency to ignore filters. After all, you can do all of it in Photoshop, can’t you? Well, yes, for some filters. For example the camera has built in red, green and blue filters in the Bayer filter, so use of the Channels facility can replace these. But there are … Read entire article »

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 filters for another article and I became curious to see if they would have any effect in infrared. So I went out with my converted 350D and a Hoya circular polarizing filter and tried it out. In normal color photography a circular polarizing filter can reduce the specular highlights of reflections from non-metallic surfaces, such as water, roads, glass and leaves. It can also darken the sky, most noticeably the area at 90 degrees from the sun. … Read entire article »

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 this) and adjust as necessary 2.    Resize the base image in Photoshop for my intended use 3.    Do anything else to the image I might otherwise do, such as stitching a panorama, removing dust spots, etc 4.    This should give you a perfect image ready to work with 5.    Sharpen the base image so it looks right at 100% 6.    Duplicate the layer 7.    Set Blend Mode to Multiply or whatever you are using on this image (so you can see the exact effect) 8.   … Read entire article »

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 explore the much more important question of why would we use it. I will also show a body of work I am in the process of creating using this technique. Before: After: I always try to work from the point of view that the image comes first, the focus being what do I want to say with the piece, and then the secondary question is how do I achieve it, rather than to focus on the technique first. Before: After: So, firstly, we … Read entire article »

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 Range 1 – The starting image 2 – Select > Color Range 3 – Choose Highlight 4 – The result is a selection of just the highlight areas 5 – Do a copy and paste and you will get just the highlights into a new layer 6 – Change the Blending Mode to the appropriate, in this case Screen, and apply the blur to the level that you want The trouble with this way is that it only selects a very small range … Read entire article »

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 happens as a consequence of using Multiply. 1 – The original image 2 – Duplicated and Multiply blending mode, the image is quite dark 3 – Going back to the starting image, I lighten it by using levels and adjusting the midpoint slider so the image is lightened without clipping 4 – Now when we duplicate and change to Multiply the image is less dark but has the desired appearance 5 – now the blur gives us the image we wantVariation 2 … Read entire article »

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 traditional photography that produce quite evocative photography, many of them involve some mix of blur and sharpness. Shallow depth of field techniques, the halation glow in some film-based infrared photography, the use of Vaseline on a filter or a black or white stocking stretched over a lens or even a dedicated diffusion filter, like those offered by Tiffen in many variations, all involve a controlled degree of blur. This blur may, depending on the technique, serve to … Read entire article »

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 converted for infrared 350D camera, but is also applicable to unconverted cameras. The camera came with a custom white balance after the conversion at MaxMax.com AutoDaylightShadeCloudy TungstenFluoro Flash A new custom white balanceSo, it is obvious that a custom white balance gives you the most monochromatic infrared image. This was obvious before we did it, bust as I said at the start, I do these dumb things so you don’t have to. But I also believe in showing you rather than … Read entire article »

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, 35mm with a 17-35mm Canon f2.8 L lens. All photography in this article is with my Canon 350D that was converted for IR by maxmax.com People have this idea that infrared is only for certain types of photographic subject matter. Personally my approach to infrared is this: it has a particular look and I will use it whenever that look gives me a result that I want. I am not a purist. I do not believe in … Read entire article »

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 digital camera you have, whether a compact point and shoot, dSLR or expensive professional model, is capable of taking digital infrared pictures. This is because, whilst all modern digitals are fitted with an IR blocking filter, these filters are not completely IR blocking, allowing some through (see the various IR tests on the DIMi IR page). Thus all we need to do is place a visible light blocking/IR transmission filter, like the Hoya R72 or similar, over … Read entire article »

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 can simulate this look in Photoshop fairly easily. Technique: *    Open your image in Photoshop *    Since real models often have slightly more color … Read entire article »

We have found a great site with useful articles on Internet marketing Internet marking can be complex. Most of us need as much help as we can get. I found a useful resource with a good collection of articles that can help. I hope you find them useful. … Read entire article »

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 have one3. Enter your CS2 serial number. This can be for the whole Suite or just PS. If you don’t have this, say so4. You will get a CS3 serial number. This will be 30 day limited if you don’t have a CS2 number, or until the CS3 ships if you do5. Install CS3 Beta and give it the CS3 serial number. That’s all there is to it. … Read entire article »

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 destination most of us think of this time of year (those of you who do know who you are!), my quick visit gave me both a great shot, and a great idea for a brief but useful foto tip. What is a really creative tool you always have with you, but would likely never consider a photography aid? Your wrist watch. How many times have you been walking along, especially around sunset, and thought, “What a beautiful sky, skyline, … Read entire article »

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 confronted with nature’s palette in full glory! And speaking of being ready for unexpected opportunities, this installment of Foto Tip is just about that. Regular readers of my essays know that I usually write from a “think out of the box” perspective, trying to motivate and inspire. But today I’m going to keep it simple and share an experience and make a distinct equipment recommendation, something a little different. I’m going to recommend a lens, or at least … Read entire article »

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 go?”, the answer is it flew by while I was doing a heck of a lot of traveling.  I just returned from nearly 3 weeks in Tibet, so I have vivid memories that account for a substantial block of that missing summer.  During my 30 hours of travel time back from Asia, I had ample time to give some thought to a theme for my next photo tip.  Actually the tip tip came in the first … Read entire article »

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 of computers, the same may hold true. Luckily, computer memory diagnosis is simpler and the cure is quite readily available. If you own a PC and you’re having performance issues or system crashes, the chances are decent that your troubles may stem from the memory in your desktop or notebook computer. For computers running the Windows operating system (and that’s still over 90% of us), the Online Crash Analysis page from Microsoft may be just the test you … Read entire article »

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 know how to make one that friends and family really want to watch. Based on consumer research, Sony Australia lists the following most common pitfalls for Australian home-movie makers:  * Boring shots – stock standard positions, lack of composition, don’t tell a story  * One handed filming – causing shakiness, blurry images, and a motion-sick viewer!  * Overusing the zoom – shots no longer in context, distracting motion moving in and out  “Capturing moments with family … Read entire article »

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 and a number of cameras, but mainly a Canon 350D/Rebel XT and a lot of Canon L series lenses. The camera model might seem an oddity but at the present time it is the right camera from a cost/performance perspective. Should Canon wish to provide a better camera, I’d be very happy to use it . I also naturally use whatever camera is floating around here at the moment for review. It is very easy to … Read entire article »

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 two sons. Now before you start thinking I needed help with my driving, this instruction was in high performance driving, much of it on the track at 100 mph speeds. And since we all want to be high performance photographers too, this advice is just as good off the track.Always be looking ahead, way out in front. In photography this can mean a couple of things. Typically it would refer to paying attention to your surroundings, so … Read entire article »