Training Products

(Almost) Free HDR Workshop in New York City 10/14

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Workshop is Sunday, October 14 from Noon – 4 pm
Cost is $25 but each attendee will receive a $25 coupon at the event in exchange for a copy of their registration receipt.

SIGN UP HERE TODAY TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

Event Description:

Three letters, HDR, often instill fierce debate among photographers. Some love the techniques, others hate them, but most can't cut through all the noise to make a real decision. The simple truth is that HDR photos are popular and eye-catching, but eye-catching doesn't need to mean an eyesore. By employing proper production and post-production techniques you can create images that stand out for their quality and uniqueness and not some garish effect.

For Rich Harrington, HDR opens up all sorts of creative options that improve his photography and can for your photography too:

  • Achieve a dramatic range of exposure that shows your subject off in a compelling way
  • Shoot better black and white photos with deeper contrast and details
  • Achieve shots at times of day when the lighting is not as attractive
  • Showcase subjects like architecture, products, or landscapes in a whole new way

Join Rich for this hands-on Workshop that includes a shooting session at some great nearby locations. During this part of the event, you'll learn to capture HDR photos using your tripod as well as alternative shooting strategies for handheld and supported shooting. In addition, you'll learn to use Aperture priority mode and bracketing to make capturing the perfect exposure easy.

After the shoot, its back to the classroom for practical developing. Rich will share techniques he's used and published for achieving dynamic color, compelling black and white images, and engaging texture in his photos. In addition, he'll demonstrate how to work within Adobe Photoshop, as well as the benefits of third-party tools like Nik HDR Efex Pro to get great HDR images.

SIGN UP HERE TODAY TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

Requirements:
  • A DSLR Camera (Bracketing controls are useful)
  • Adequate memory cards to capture several photos (200+)
  • A solid tripod is useful but not required

Why I Am Done with Traditional Publishing

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I love books… as a child I'd spend hours a day with them. Sitting in the library... reading in my bed at night... discovering a bigger world. Books unlocked my brain and showed me things that a working-class kid from Chicago could never see.

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Yes, I had hair once. Lots of it.


I come from a family of teachers... I have seen my loved ones shape the lives of so many and truly make a difference. I was blessed with the ability to teach. I have an obligation to make the world a better place.

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I love to teach creative pros and enthusiasts


For me a big part of that obligation was publishing a body of work that helps people. I sought to give professionals and enthusiasts the ability to solve their problems and understand their digital tools.

I truly believe in the power of creativity. This is why I write books on topics ranging from video editing and photography to motion graphics and presentation design. Visual literacy allows the creative people to inform, inspire, and shape the world.

I wrote my first book in 2002. 10 years have passed and a lot has changed. Book stores are closing, tablets are booming. Creative people seem to learn best with a multi-sensory experience.

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The Apple Store used to sell three of my books. Now they sell zero books.


So its time I make a change. I have decided to stop writing new printed books. I will no longer write new books for traditional publishers (including my current publisher, Peachpit Press). It is time to embrace the digital platform and do the project that are important and essential without the constraints traditional publishing brings.

I'm going to combine all my skills at teaching into new digital projects. Some will be enhanced eBooks, combining text with video and interactivity. Training apps are underway too. There's even a few special projects for those looking for year long experiences.

I've been shooting photos for 35 years, creating video for 25, and publishing to the web for 15. I think its time I made a change and I'd like you to join me.

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I will now be publishing through Think Tap Learn which is a new group formed with my good friends and trusted colleagues. If you'd like to keep up with what we're up to, I invite you to follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thinktaplearn or just keep an eye on my blog here.

Thank you for all your support through the years. You'll still find my current books in stores and I have contractual responsibilities to perform… but I have changed my focus. I hope to bring you whole new ways to learn and appreciate you taking this journey with me.

Free Adorama Workshops

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Adorama (a sponsor of my blog and podcasts) is running several free online workshops in September and October.

Kids and Kameras

They are shy, playful, funny, stubborn, mad and delightful. So how do you capture these wonderful expressions from children while their parents are yelling "Say Cheese" over your shoulder? It's not easy, but Libby from Studio 32 Photography will give you tips and tricks on how to bring out a child's personality and learn to control the session without breaking a sweat.
Monday September 24th, 2012 – 9pm EST

Making Great Photo Books - The Basics:

Our FREE PixPublisher software can be used by amateurs and professionals alike to create stunning photo books that showcase your pictures beautifully.  During this introductory course we help you get started with PixPublisher by showing you how to create a book from start to finish.
Wednesday September 12th, 2012 – 4pm EST
Sunday September 30th, 2012 – 9pm EST


Taking your Photo Books to the Next Level

This intermediate level workshop assumes attendees know the basics of our PixPublisher tool and have built at least a few books using it. During this workshop we will discuss more advanced techniques that can help to improve the quality of your photo books.
Wednesday September 19th, 2012 – 4pm EST
Wednesday October 10th, 2012 – 4pm EST

Making Amazing Wedding Books

With wedding season in full swing, professionals are starting to think about their offerings for 2013 books.. For non-professionals this may be a good time to stop procrastinating and put those gorgeous photos of your wedding into a great looking book. Our workshop will cover the resources available to create great looking albums and some tips on how to get it done quickly.
Sunday September 16th, 2012 – 9pm EST

(Almost) Free HDR Workshop in New York City 10/14

in ,

Screen Shot 2012-09-09 at 10.42.23 AM

Workshop is Sunday, October 14 from Noon – 4 pm
Cost is $25 but each attendee will receive a $25 coupon at the event in exchange for a copy of their registration receipt.

SIGN UP HERE TODAY TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

Event Description:

Three letters, HDR, often instill fierce debate among photographers. Some love the techniques, others hate them, but most can't cut through all the noise to make a real decision. The simple truth is that HDR photos are popular and eye-catching, but eye-catching doesn't need to mean an eyesore. By employing proper production and post-production techniques you can create images that stand out for their quality and uniqueness and not some garish effect.

For Rich Harrington, HDR opens up all sorts of creative options that improve his photography and can for your photography too:

  • Achieve a dramatic range of exposure that shows your subject off in a compelling way
  • Shoot better black and white photos with deeper contrast and details
  • Achieve shots at times of day when the lighting is not as attractive
  • Showcase subjects like architecture, products, or landscapes in a whole new way

Join Rich for this hands-on Workshop that includes a shooting session at some great nearby locations. During this part of the event, you'll learn to capture HDR photos using your tripod as well as alternative shooting strategies for handheld and supported shooting. In addition, you'll learn to use Aperture priority mode and bracketing to make capturing the perfect exposure easy.

After the shoot, its back to the classroom for practical developing. Rich will share techniques he's used and published for achieving dynamic color, compelling black and white images, and engaging texture in his photos. In addition, he'll demonstrate how to work within Adobe Photoshop, as well as the benefits of third-party tools like Nik HDR Efex Pro to get great HDR images.

SIGN UP HERE TODAY TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

Requirements:

  • A DSLR Camera (Bracketing controls are useful)
  • Adequate memory cards to capture several photos (200+)
  • A solid tripod is useful but not required

Some Photoshop World Resources

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How to Approach Color Correction

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New users often have a difficult time when color correcting or enhancing images. They generally lose sight of the goal: making the image look better while still being believable. Many users go “too far” in their quest to fix images. If the image starts to look fake or too altered, it will be distracting. Although getting it “right” requires some practice, here’s some general advice to get you started:

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  • Identify what’s wrong. Before you can fix a picture, be sure you have decided on what’s wrong. Is it too dark? Is the sky washed out? Has the picture faded over time? Make a list and prioritize the issues you find in each image. It’s easiest to fix one problem at a time, and if you identify those problems, you’ll know when to stop twiddling with the image.
  • Work with a copy of the image. Before you start to color correct an image, you should duplicate it. This way you can return to an original version if you make a mistake or go too far in your image touch-up. After opening your file, choose File > Save As and name the duplicate version that will be corrected. Color correction can be a destructive process, meaning that you cannot revert to the original state at a later time. By preserving an original version of the image or employing adjustment layers, you make nondestructive editing possible. Some users also choose to duplicate the Background layer at the bottom of the layer stack.
  • Edit with adjustment layers. Adjustment layers allow you to apply most of the image correction commands as nondestructive effects. They are added as a layer above the actual image; the adjustment layer can be blended, masked, or deleted at any time. Additionally, if you select the adjustment layer, you can modify its properties in the Adjustments panel. The same modifications are available in both the Adjustments menu and Adjustments panel. You should work with an adjustment layer whenever possible because its flexibility will be important for future revisions.
  • Get a fresh opinion. It’s not a bad idea to step back and examine your work. Open the backup copy of the original image and compare it to the image you’ve been working on. This before-and-after comparison can be very useful. If you have a fresh set of eyes nearby, ask that person for his or her opinion.
  • Use Smart Filters. This will open up most of the filters and several of the image adjustments including the Shadows/Highlights command and Variations. Just choose Filter > Convert for Smart Filters.


Get the new book – Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS6
Get the whole chapter for free here – Download Chapter 10: Color Correction and Enhancement