I recently upgraded to Photoshop Elements 6.0 and have been waiting to order the book to go along with it.  I love others tutorials.  In it I found this cool trick. 

note:  this info. was taken from the book mentioned above
The Photoshop Elements 6 book for digital photographers by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski

I have to admit that I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Photoshop.  I’d much rather take a picture that is (sooc) straight out of the camera fantastic!!

Then there are times when I just love being able to get rid of someone or something with Photoshop.  Point in case…my second son’s very first touchdown run.  This annoying spectator was just in my way so I got rid of him.  The clone tool has to be one of my favorite!!

Can you find the missing man???  Now you see him…

Now you don’t!

Sometimes called Negative Space is one of my favorite parts of picture taking.  Mom and Dad think I cut off heads a lot and yep!, I do.  But I don’t mind a few missing heads if the central part of the photo is something else (like a hand or a foot).  Here is one of my favorite “negative space” photos.  Do you have one??

I call it “The Shoe”.  Catchy and innovative title, huh??
Let me know if you have a favorite white or negative space photo…
julie

I’m having loads of fun with my new lenses and took a couple pictures of my little ballerina a few days ago and then played with borders in Photobucket!
So here’s what I got!

What do you think??
julie

February is usually a good month for us financially.  Taxes and bonuses roll in about this time of year.  So while we are still on the Dave Ramsey get out of debt plan we usually splurge and spend money on something both me and my hubbie have wanted.

This year he wanted some new exercise equipment and I was contemplating a few things for my camera.  I use a Canon XTi but have two others that I use occasionally too.  My first digital camera was a Kodak Easyshare DX6490.  I still love that camera when all I want to do is capture something on film and I’m not busy trying to learn (which is where I am with the Canon).  And for Mother’s Day last year I asked for a pocket camera so that I could always have one with me to capture those moments I won’t get otherwise.  It’s a Fuji Z5.  I love that little guy too.  Having these two smaller cameras also allows my kids a chance to take pictures without me having to worry about their sweet little hands on my Canon.

All that said I’ve decided to buy a Canon 58mm f1.8 lens this year.  I’m so excited about getting it.  After spending two days reading up on the lens I’m even more excited.  I’ve learned some cool words like the term for that wonderful “out of focus blur” that is so desirable in portrait shots is BOKEH. And it has a lot to do with the lens you are using, not the camera or the photographer (yippee).  Here’s an article I enjoyed reading about the subject.  It has great examples and is easily understood.

I’ve also learned a lot about f-stop.  Why someone couldn’t come up with a few easily understood words is amazing to me. If you would like to read more about this particular lens you can find great reviews here. Alyssa at Live and Learn has helped in my decision making process.  She has some great advice on photography so check the tips on her blog if you have a chance.
Here’s a good discussion about f-stop or aperture.
And this is a good practical discussion about aperture(or f-stop) /ISO/ Shutterspeed and how they work together.

There’s a lot to learn when you dip further into the photography world.  Meshing all of it together can sometimes feel overwhelming.  So I allow myself times to learn and times just to shoot pictures in hopes that SOMETHING comes out good enough that I can fix anything that’s wrong in Photoshop.

One thing if for certain.  I love taking pictures.  It’s a gift my dad passed down to both me and my sister.

Thanks Dad!!
julie

I set off today to take some photos outside but none of my kids were willing to sit still for pictures that would allow me to practice Catchlighting so here’s what I came home with.

The array of skateboards on the front porch.  This comes from having 3 very active boys:

At least the rain drop stayed still for me:

And here’s another bloom waiting for spring:

ADDITION:  I finally got my oldest to pose some this afternoon and talked my cat into a grainy photo….but I did get some catchlights!!!  I played around with the color in my son’s picture and liked it really soft.  The catchlight isn’t at 10 or 2 o’clock but it’s there!

Fred stopped in the middle of grooming and I got a 10 o’clock catchlight.  Although a bit grainy it was the best I could get on a shady screened in porch without a reflector.