BIRDS AS
ART NOTES
MAY 6, 2004
ELLEN ANON'S IPT PHOTOSHOP EXTENSION WORKSHOPS
Ellen
Anon has been a friend, student, and mentor for many years. For the past
few years she has been co-leading many of my more popular IPTs and is a
special favorite of beginning and intermediate photographers who are at time
inexplicably reluctant to approach Mr. Gruffy--that being me... (Hey, what
can I say: it's a bad rap. I'm really a sweetie...) I first met Ellen when
she signed up for a private day of instruction on Sanibel. She is a fine
photographer, an expert in all aspects of digital photography, and a skilled
instructor. I have turned to her often for digital help, especially with
Photoshop. Ellen teaches Photoshop for Joe and Mary Ann McDonald and ....
Be sure to visit Ellen's web site at:
www.sunbearphoto.com
Photoshop in the Field Workshops:
Have you ever wished that after a wonderful and productive IPT with Artie
that you could have some help processing your images? If so, you are not
alone! I am excited to announce that in response to numerous requests, I
will be leading a series of two day Photoshop in the Field Workshops.
Initially these will coincide with some of Artie's more popular, beginning
with the second Bosque IPT this November. Other dates may be added
upon request.
Using
a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the flight of these cranes at Bosque, as
well as having enough depth of field for the birds, the mountains and the moon
to be in focus, was impossible. Although I could visualize this image, I
could not capture it in a single shot, so I took it in three parts and
combined them in Photoshop. Original images were photographed using a Canon
1V, 500 f4 with 1.4 tele-extender and Provia 100 F pushed to 320.
.....
I am planning a series of two day courses that will focus on establishing a
solid digital workflow and using the best tools and techniques in Photoshop
to optimize the images you just made on the IPT. These courses are going to
be quite small, limited to four students, because I want to be able to work
individually with each participant. Those who may be a bit more advanced
will be encouraged to work independently, with me looking over their
shoulders, offering some suggestions of how to go farther, faster, and
better. In other words, although you may be working independently at times,
you will have an expert right there to help you when you need it. At least
twice each day we will be sharing our results with each other so each person
has a chance to share their ideas with one another, and to be stimulated by
others? approaches to similar situations.
.....
Spoonbill image as it was captured - Canon 1Ds, 500 f4.0 lens, 1.4
teleconverter
Spoonbill image after it was optimized in Photoshop. Levels and Hue/Saturation
adjustments were made as well as blurring out the distracting mudflats in the
background.
Participants must bring along their own laptop with a copy of Photoshop on
it. (Photoshop Elements is acceptable, but not optimal.) Although I am not
requiring a specific prior level of knowledge or familiarity with Photoshop,
it would be helpful if each person has at least opened an image in Photoshop
before the course! (If you are a complete neophyte, contact me before
registering.) If you are more advanced you will benefit because you can be
working on your own, listening with one ear, and receiving more advanced
individualized tips along the way. (One of the favorite parts of the
regular Photoshop workshops I lead is when we let people work on their own
for a while and help them along the way.)
Depending on the location we will be working at a table in either a hotel or
restaurant. (Details are being finalized.) Our days will begin at 9 AM and
continue until approximately 5PM with a break for lunch. That way you will
still be able to get out and photograph sunrise if you wish. Evenings will
be flexible but we may discuss a variety of topics including some specifics
of preparing your images for web use, slide shows or printing, depending on
people?s interests and needs.
Digital photographers should have a card reader or another means of
uploading their images to their computers. Film shooters are of course
welcome. Film-based images will need to have been previously digitized.
This can be done via scanning or by having a lab produce a photo CD. & nbp;
Although you may not be able to work on images from the IPT (I cannot
guarantee the speed or quality of local labs) you will still benefit from
the instruction.
Fighting egrets against a white sky is a tricky exposure. Optimizing it in
Photoshop allowed me to capture the moment safely without clipping any pixels
and then tweaking the final exposure.
The image
was captured using a Canon 1Ds with 100 - 400 mm lens handheld.
.....
My goal is to have these workshops be small enough to offer individual
instruction as much as I can, while at the same time enabling you to have the
benefit of interaction with others who are encountering similar problems to
what you are or will face. You need to be aware that because these workshops
are conducted on location on laptops, we will not be able to do an absolute
final optimization for any image. (The apparent brightness of a laptop screen
varies according the angle at which it is viewed which means you can't make
accurate adjustments to the brightness of an image on a laptop.) I can,
however teach you the methods to do it so you will feel confident to do it at
home on a regular monitor.
Cost:
$275 per day ($550 total) Since I am trying to keep this fee as low as
possible, it only covers the cost of instruction. Food, lodging, and
transportation are not covered.
Dates
and Locations: Bosque Del Apache, 11/30-12/1/2004; SW Florida, 2/23-2/24/2005
To
register, or for questions, e-mail me (Ellen) at anonpsych@aol.com and
put ?Photoshop in the Field? in the subject line. Registration is separate
from your registration for the BirdsAsArt IPTs.
Attendance at the associated BirdsAsArt IPT is recommended but not mandatory.
Best
and great picture making to all,
Artie
