Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles

Often I’ll get questions from readers regarding photos that appear here at the Chronicles.  “Those photos are edited, aren’t they?”

The answer on 95% of the shots is a simple, “No.”

Really, no?  The bulk of the photos showing up here aren’t edited? They look like they are.

Often those blue blues are achieved with a circular polarizing filter.  That’s it.  Pretty simple photo technique, no fancy programs.

Currently my edits are simple.  Shrink the photo for the web.  Ah, that is an edit, isn’t it?

The photo to the left has been edited.  It was resized for this page.  It was also enhanced.  I popped the clarity up (making the edges more noticeable) and I increased the vibrancy of the photo (more blue than the original shot).  I didn’t have a filter on the lens that was used shooting this photo.

So, editing is bad?

Absolutely not.  And more might be done on shots here at the Airstream Chronicles.  It’s not that I refuse to edit for some goofy purist reason.  I don’t edit because Photoshop is so complex and kooky that I wouldn’t know where to begin.

Really, Photoshop is that hard?  Well then, why do so many people buy it?

Photoshop isn’t hard.  It’s something I haven’t personally worked with a lot.  Sure, I’ve owned it for years.  I crop photos, occasionally punch up a good photo to make it even cooler.  But I don’t know all of the ins and outs of the program.  Most people who own it don’t, and they don’t realize what a powerful program they have.  But I’m starting to learn more.  I want to, as I know I’ve had some great shots that can go well beyond great with a few minutes of work.

So, how do you take good photos to great?  Pick up a book.

Aren’t books the reason this guy is running out of space in his Airstream?  Where will he sleep?  His bed is probably piled with books……. (close, but not there quite yet).

Not too long ago I stumbled across “The Digital Photography Book” by Scott Kelby.  This guy is a prolific writer who does how to guides that will blow your mind.  No, he doesn’t write any of the “For Dummies,” books (thank god).

Just as an aside.  I can’t stand the For Dummies label.  Because you don’t know how to run a program or computer doesn’t make you a dummy.  It means you haven’t learned yet.  You’re not dumb.  Personally I know how to run giant wireless switches.  You might not know how, but that doesn’t make you a dummy.  It makes you a person who does something else.

Scott’s books don’t start out calling you names.  Instead his books start out joking, being a little goofy, and then telling you he’s going to help you get more out of what you have.  How nice of him.

After finding the book, reading it, and reading it again something happened.  Friends and family alike asked me what changed with my pictures.  People noted that my really good photos were becoming great.  New camera?  New lens?  New shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer?  Honestly, I do use a new shampoo, but it’s totally unrelated. The answer was simple.  I read a book, understood more about lighting (huge) and realized how much more I could get out of my camera.  Simple.  Maybe the shampoo helped too.

After my exposure to Kelby’s book I went out and grabbed his book on Lightroom (a photo management program), and learned how to organize my photos in a better way.  I’m still re-reading the book as there’s so much in it.  Over flowing with information.  A friend had sent a copy of Lightroom for me to try, and like Photoshop, it had so many features it was overwhelming.  Enter the Lightroom book.

So, things have improved, and I want them to improve more.  I own Photoshop because it came with a package of other software that I needed and use more often.   The Adobe Creative suite (what I laid my book out with).  Now I’m ready to get even more out of that purchase, and use the one program in the suite that I’ve avoided like the plague.

I’ve talked with many folks who take pictures around here.  Most say, “I don’t edit, I want the shot I took.”  I understand that, but there’s a fun undertone.  The honest answer is, “I’ve got no idea how to edit, so I’ll say something along the sour grapes line.”  Hey, I’ve done it too….but no more excuses.

Earlier in the week I picked up Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop.  I’ve done a few of the exercises in the book.  In total there are 21 lesson using the 7 point system.  I’ll probably finish the book next week, and then do it all again.  I can already see how improvements in my shots can be made.  And I’m thinking about a few of my “great” photos becoming spectacular.  It’s nice.  I’ll let you know when I start putting edits up, and I’ll probably provide before and afters to clue you in.

So, keep watching over the next few weeks.  I’ll show you what I’m up to in the creative zone.  And if you’d like to start improving your shots I’d suggest checking out Kebly’s books.  I’ve got links throughout this post, so start clicking.  Or just check out his blog.  I’d suggest the Digital Photography Book, Volumes One & Two.  They’re cheap, and you’ll see changes immediately in how you shoot.  From there, you’ll have to see what else you need to learn.

And no, I don’t work for Mr. Kelby.  Just passing along information on books that have really helped me improve on something I enjoy.  Hey, I even put a link to my book in the post, so you can go buy it too if you’d like……:)

This entry was posted on Friday, April 4th, 2008 at 7:51 am and is filed under Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Photo of the Day, Photoshop. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.