Foto Friday: Photoshop

Repeat after me: Photoshop is my friend.

I always thought photographers were so fabulous their pictures came out of the camera in the form of pure awesomeness. Not true. I was astounded to discover that they "cheat". And I think it's awesome.



If you haven't tried photoshop and you're intimidated by it, don't be. Plus, you can get a scaled down version called Photoshop Elements just to get you started for around $99. Once you learn a few quick techniques you'll be hooked and then you'll want the full version. That's when you're in trouble. It costs like 7 times more. Plus, you'll feel the need to get Photoshop Lightroom, too (because you're hubby bought you a jam-up camera for Christmas and you fancy yourself a professional. But. You. Are. Not.). Incidentally, I would really like to upgrade from Photoshop Elements to CS5. (I'd also like one of those Silhouette SD cutting machines and a medium telephoto lens for my new jam-up camera). So have pity on me and check out the links to my work and buy something. You'll like it. I promise.



All the pictures in this post were taken with a simple, point and shoot camera - with the exception of the last one. My sister-in-law took that one because she had a jam-up camera at the time and I did not. (Can you tell any difference?) The awesomeness happened in photoshop. Truth be told, I became quite the prodigy with a point and shoot. I desperately coveted the DSLR but not having one, I learned to push my little P&S to the limit. Once I discovered the magic that can happen in photoshop, I almost lost the desire for the DSLR. Almost.



And you won't believe how I learned to use photoshop. For free. Yes. I said for FREE. I don't even remember how I stumbled on the Jessica Sprague website but one day I found myself there and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. You can even learn how to use that jam-up camera you have while you're there. Because I'd be willing to bet most of you, like me, have no idea what all it can do. But we'll figure it out. And until we do, we'll fix it in photoshop and call it a day.



So. Your homework for the weekend (yes, I said homework and weekend in the same sentence. But it's fun homework) is to play with your camera until you figure out something that it can do that you didn't know it could do. (And then come back here and tell me. It will save me some time learning on my own.) You should also obtain a copy of Photoshop (the cheap version or the expensive one. Your choice. But if you get the expensive one, don't tell me, I'll be jealous.) Then go over to Jessica Sprague.com and sign yourself up for that Free Photoshop class.




Have fun!

Foto Friday

I got a new camera for Christmas. Santa brought me my very own DSLR....and I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing with it. But I've been playing around with it and scouring the Internet for tutorials. I can't say I've gotten any better than when I first started but I sure am having a ball.

Finding all these great sites with wonderful tutorials and great ideas got me to thinking it might be nice to do a Foto Friday here on Peach Street. I can share with you some of my practice shots, tutorials I've found helpful and maybe even some interesting ideas, too. And it would be even more terrific if you'd play along, you know, share some of your pics, too.

There is no doubt in my mind why my "Santa" willingly plunked down such a significant chunk of change on my behalf this Christmas. And it is this: 'Maybe if I buy her her own fancy camera she'll stop giving ridiculous sums of money to photographers to take pictures of our kids'. Well, it was a nice idea. The problem is, I actually have to learn to use it first. That, and I wonder if he has any idea how very, very, very expensive this hobby can be. Shhhh...let's not tell him.



I love those close up pictures, like baby feet, where the tiny feet are in focus but everything around them is blurry. It makes the subject of the photo even more interesting. Apparently it has something to do with aperture. Now, if you, like me, are wondering, what the heck is an aperture?, then you're gonna love the tutorial I found over at The Pioneer Woman: What the heck is an Aperture. Why don't you head over and see if you can figure it out, then come on back and we'll see if we can accomplish it together. See ya next Friday!