Variation on Photoshop Theme

I took this iPhone shot yesterday of a poster in a local restaurant. I like the effect, and realized that I had just read a great article on how to create a similar effect by the mucho talented (in Photoshop and on bass guitar) Felix Neslon in the April/May 2011 issue of Photoshop User magazine, where Felix is the Creative Director.

Before going on, here is a Photoshop joke:

Q: How many Photoshop instructors does it take to change a light bulb?

A: One, and 99 others to show you his or her own way.

Well, Felix offers one very cool method for creating the effect in the magazine. Following is another method – using a few alternate steps, resulting in a slightly different end-result. Still, giving credit where credit is due, it's based on the concepts conveyed by Felix.

Above is a cropped area of a full-frame shot I took of a model.

Above is my end-result image.

Here are the steps in Photoshop:

1) Duplicate your layer. Layer > Duplicate Layer.

2) Desaturate the top layer. Image > Adjustment > Saturation, and then move the Saturation slider all the way to the left.

3) On the top layer, play with the Levels sliders until most of the facial features disappear – except for the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. See below for the before-and-after Levels adjustment screen grabs. The position of the sliders will vary along with your image.

Before

After

4) Select white as a foreground color (in the Color Picker at the bottom of the Tool Bar). Use a soft-edge brush and paint away any remaining features that you don't want in your final image. Tip: when you are working around the eyes, nose and mouth, reduce the Opacity of the brush so you can paint out details at a slower, more controlled rate.

5) Selected the Color Replacement tool on the Tool Bar. Pick a color (in the Color Picker) for the eyes and lips and paint over the eyes and lips.

Thank you Felix for the idea. You're the man now dog – in Photoshop and on electric bass.

Explore the light,

Rick

My iHDR iPad App is Here and on Sale!

My newest how-to app for the iPad is now available: Rick Sammon's iHDR. It's also currently on sale for $1.99.

This app (formerly called Rick Sammon's HDR Portfolio) is packed with HDR photos (my latest from around the world), info and movies. It's a great way to learn and experience HDR.

The app has the same great content as HDR Portfolio, but with an added Favorites section. So, if you already have the app, you don't need to download this version.

It's called iHDR because the app is all about how you can create cool HDR images using your imagination – combined with HDR photography innovations. 
  
Click here to download the app and to start the HDR learning and fun.


Here is some more info on the app.


The app was developed by Dr. Dave Wilson, who also developed my iPhone and iPad apps, Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet.

The interactive app features solid how-to information (tips, tricks and techniques) and more than 300 images, including 30 of my latest HDR images. Several movies, including a clip me shooting an HDR sequence, are also included.

What's more, the app offers one of the coolest features I have seen when it comes to teaching and illustrating HDR: HDR Dissolve™.

To activate HDR Dissolve™ Simply touch the photo to see it magically transform into the final HDR image. Normal images dissolve into great HDR images - just by touching them! In some cases, a set of three original photos are provided, followed by one or more processed HDR images. Nice work Dr. Dave!

The app is divided into four major sections, making it easy to access the photographs and how-to information.

• Introduction – Dr. Dave and I cover the basics of HDR image making. Photographs, text and movies are provided for fast learning.

• Inside – Learn how to shoot in extreme contrast situations, and learn how to see the light and exposure for the dynamic range of a scene.

 • Outside – Travel with me around the world and see how he captures cityscapes, landscapes, and interior scenes, during the day and at night.

 • Nature – Learn how to capture the beauty of nature without being limited by the existing lighting conditions.  

This is not an app to process or take pictures. Please do not download this app to edit your photos – it doesn’t so that! It is an educational app for digital SLR and compact camera photographers.

For each HDR image, I provides the location, number of exposures, HDR processing program used, and tips about HDR and/or standard photography. EXIF camera and exposure info is also included for many images. A quick e-mail feature lets you share any image with family and friends.

Size: This app contains more than 100 MB of movies and photos. It’s self-contained, so you don’t need an Internet connection to use it.

$ave a Few Buck$: If you are new to HDR image-making and need an HDR plug-in (Nik Software's HDR Efex Pro) or program (HDR's Photomatix), click here to get the program/plug-in . . . and a discount (if you use the appropriate discount codes). While you are there, check out Topaz Adjust, which also helps expand the dynamic range of an image.

To see all my apps, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Hope to See You on Monday - Topaz Adjust "Awaken The Artist Within" Webinar: April 11, 5 PM NY Time

I truly believe that every photographer, and that includes you, has an artist within - an artist that can be awakened in the digital darkroom by using creative plug-ins. An artist that can make your time sitting at your computer, processing your images, more fun.

One of my favorite plug-ins is Topaz Adjust. With a click of your mouse and a swipe of a slider, you can transform your pictures into more creative - and professional looking - images.

In my Topaz Adjust Webinar on April 11 at 5 PM Easter Time, I'll share with you my favorite effects. I'll also take your questions. 

I'll also show you a few Photoshop tricks, such as how to create the circular fish-eye lens effect, as illustrated above, from the image directly below, which was created in Topaz Adjust from the image below that.

As you'll see, sometimes you don't need an HDR plug-in or program to create an HDR-type image.


This is basically the same webinar that I gave last month, with a few added touches.

I hope you can join me for the plug-in fun.

If you have never tried Topaz, click here for info. Also, you can $ave a bundle of $ when you order a Topaz Bundle. The Photoshop bundle is my favorite.

Click here to sign up! 

Below is an another example of how you can use Topaz to awaken the artist within.

See you (okay, I really will not be able to see you, but I will get your questions) on the Webinar.

For discounts on other plug-ins, click here.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Hey, my HDR app, Rick Sammon's HDR Portfolio, now has a new name: Rick Sammon's iHDR. We changed the name because users suggested that the app is all about: Images, Imagination, Innovation and Interactivity. For info, click here.

The Three Most Important Lighting Concepts

Here are the three most important concepts when it comes to lighting.

1) The closer the light, the softer the light. Above: now that's close. (Photo taken in the Westcott booth at Photoshop World).

2) The larger the light, the softer the light. Above: now that's soft. (Photo taken in the Westcott booth at Photoshop World).

3) Light illuminates, shadows define. Above: now that's definition. (Photo taken in my office).

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. I am considering starting a lighting podcast. If you like the idea, or have a suggested topic, please let me know in the Comments here on my blog.

Friday's iHDR Flicker Group Favorite: John Trautschold

Starting today, Friday, I will pick a favorite HDR image from my iHDR flickr group, which I started as a showcase for your HDR images. Hey! Join the group and post an HDR image. You might see it here on my blog, too. I am always looking for talented HDR shooters and cool HDR images.

Today's Friday Favorite is: John Trautschold. 

To see more of John's work, click here.

Above on the left is another one of John's HDR images. On the right is one of mine. The images have good depth-of-field in common. For max depth-of-field, use a wide-angle lens, shoot at a small aperture (f/16 or so) and focus 1/3 into the scene.

If you want to learn more about HDR photography and have an iPad, check out my latest app: Rick Sammon's iHDR.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. Here's another tip: Shoot through an arch or arches to create a sense of depth in a photograph.