Geographic Composition #6: Alone

Welcome to week six of Geographic Composition! Each week a number of my fellow photobloggers and I will submit an image based on a common theme from our scattered locations around the world. Even though the theme is the same, our own vision and view of the world when coupled with the geographic and cultural environment in which we live will shape the images we create and offer a varied interpretation on the topic of the week.

For this week, our theme is "alone."

Please take a moment to view the participants' blogs and also, if you have any suggestions for future themes, please leave a comment below.

Thanks, and Enjoy!

Jenny Arnez - Rancho Cardova, CA
"Jo Ann and Maguey with Lensbaby 3 B&W"
Jon Erikson - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
"Solo"
Andrew Smith - Hanover, PA
"This Path We Follow"
Erik Persson - Seattle, WA
Jason D. Moore - North Syracuse, NY

My First HDR Image

For the last couple of days we were out in Western New York on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution doing interviews and gathering footage for a capital campaign video for a client of ours. (By the way, the interviews we did yielded some great quotes for the video, but I also feel they were some of my best work. I'll grab a few screen shots and post them next week.)

Anyway, back to the image above. This is the sanctuary of the church we were shooting in and while we were packing up I thought I would take the opportunity to try out the whole HDR thing. For this image, I took 5 bracketed exposures with my D200 on a tripod and processed using CS2's Merge to HDR function.

Once the image was made, I converted to 16bit and changed the drop-down menu option to "Local Adaptation" and made some adjustments to the curve - most importantly, moving the black point to the left edge of the histogram. Basically, I followed the same process as outlined in the posts I linked to on Tuesday.

This was just my first outing with HDR and, I must say, I really like the crisp-ness of the image and more true-to-life result. I can't wait to do some more experimenting. (Also, just a note about the image, unfortunately, the shadows on the cross make it look like there's a motion blur, which is unfortunate, and a little distracting.)

Digital ProTalk Blog

Upon watching this week's episode of Photoshop User TV, I found out that renown wedding photographer and instructor David Ziser has a new blog called Digital ProTalk. David is an amazing photographer and, after sitting in on his Marketing 101 class at Photoshop World in Boston this past spring, I can attest to his great skill as an educator as well.

I am always in search of interesting blogs to add to my list of "Must Reads" and the equally interesting bloggers behind them to profile for my P&P Blogger Profile series. So, noticing that David is now part of the photoblogger community I sent him an invitation to fill out a profile. (You will be able to read his profile soon!)

To my surprise, about an hour or two after I sent the email, the phone at my desk rang and it was David on the other end. I have been repeatedly amazed by the approachability and genuine friendliness of the many photographers and Photoshop experts that I have encountered through the blog and in person at Photoshop World. And David was no exception.

On his blog, David posts photos from his latest shoots, tips on how to take better photos, and techniques to make the most out of Photoshop and Lightroom to help guide you in the right direction as you develop your photographic skills.

Stop by his blog to check out some fantastic photography and excellent tips. Welcome to the blogroll, David!

*Just a note: I will be working out of town in Chautauqua, NY Wednesday and Thursday this week. I'll try to have something to post when I return on Thursday but it won't be up until later in the evening. Until then, check out the Photoshop & Photography Blogroll member blogs and be sure to meet me back here Friday for this week's Geographic Composition. -Jason

Photoshop User TV...Again!

Another special thanks to Friends-of-the-Blog Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski for mentioning this blog for a second time on the show making reference to my recent profile of John Nack. Thanks Guys!

For those of you who may be linking here via Photoshop User TV and have never been here before, in addition to my normal weekday posts, every Monday I write a roundup of what members of my Photoshop & Photography Blogroll are posting (view the list on the right). Also, each Friday a number of my fellow bloggers and I post images on a common weekly theme in our Geographic Composition project. In addition, I have a number of P&P Blogger Profiles that I have accumulated over the past year which you can find by clicking here.

Thanks again for the mention! And thanks to all of you for stopping by!

Creating HDR Images

I just came across this post from Ryan McGinnis over at Backing Winds via Friend-of-the-Blog Jeff Revell.

Both Jeff and Ryan take us through the process of creating HDR (high dynamic range) images using Photoshop CS2's (and CS3's) "Merge to HDR" function.

I have never done anything with HDR myself, mainly because I was never sure about what it was or how it worked. Basically, when your scene has a wide range of tonal values where you want to keep as much of the detail in the highlight and shadow areas of your image as possible.


With HDR, you merge multiple images of the same scene taken at different exposures in order to create a photo that is closer to what you actually see with your own eye.


Ryan McGinnis' post on Backing Winds does a great job of taking you step by step through the process. One thing he mentions, though, that is important to note is what you need to do in-camera prior to uploading the files to your computer.

1. Shoot in RAW. RAW files, by their nature, carry more dynamic range and are better for creating HDR images.
2. Use a tripod. Because you will be merging multiple exposures of the same scene, it is a must that your camera is locked down. If possible, use a cable release.
3. Use your camera's bracketing function. Many DSLRs have an option that will automatically adjust the exposure by a set increment each time your trigger the shutter for a set number of shots (at least 3 but 5-7 is recommended). Your camera will take a "properly" exposed version, one underexposed, and one over exposed - or more if you choose to take 5-7.

Once you create your HDR image (now a 32bit image) you will want to convert it to 16bit. When you make the conversion you'll have the chance to adjust a curve to bring out the most detail and contrast for your shot.


Have fun!

P&P Weekly: #45

Here’s what’s been happening this week in The Photoshop & Photography Blogroll:

• Amy of 2007 Picture a day (or week) - "Death Valley Tree" (one of my favorites this week)
• Paul of A Clean Well-Lighted Place - "#6348"
• Kathleen of A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - "Cattle Show, 2007 Grange Fair"
• Bruce of Bruce L. Snell Photography - "Ellyce and Chris"
• Chris of Chis Orwig Photography - "dad's view"
• Dave at BeckermanPhoto.com - "Guitar Player, Subway"
• Dave at Dave Cross Online sends us an update from his teaching cruise to Alaska.
• Erik of Erik Persson Photography recently met Bruce Willis.
• Mike at eyes on the road really wants a Nikon D3.
• Jeff of Jeff's Photo Gallery a great wave image.
• John of John Nack on Adobe does some photographic pondering.
• Matt of Lightroom Killer Tips talks about upsizing in Lightroom. And over at Photoshop Killer Tips Matt talks about a pen tool tip and a tip about creating really tiny type.
• Lynda of One Day at a Time - "No Longer Owned"
• Jenny at Photo Two-Twenty has a greatly textured shot from this week's Geographic Composition.
• Scott of Photoshop Insider reviews some of his equipment.
• Jon at San Miguel Photo of the Day posts images of life in Mexico. "Sombrero Viejo y la Plumas"
• Shooter at Serial Photographer - "Life's a Beach"
• David of Strobist has a post about Annie Liebovitz and the (red) campaign.
• Terry of Terry White's Tech Blog is our newest member - Welcome! - always has some great reviews on the latest gadgets.
• Clayton of The C Spot has been reconstructing his WTD Bass Guitar.
• Andy of The Global Photographer will be leading an off the beaten path photo workshop in Moab, Utah.
• Andy of Visual Realia and I really like his GC contribution "The Sound of E"
• Aaron of What the Duck - "WTD #288"
• Martin of What the Heck Journal - "Vintage"
• Ben of Where is Ben? recently had an interview in After Capture Magazine.

Update your blogs often! I will only include links to posts added since the last P&P Weekly.

As always, if you have any suggestions or notice a discrepancy, please email me.

Geographic Composition #5: Metal

Welcome to week five of Geographic Composition! Each week a number of my fellow photobloggers and I will submit an image based on a common theme from our scattered locations around the world. Even though the theme is the same, our own vision and view of the world when coupled with the geographic and cultural environment in which we live will shape the images we create and offer a varied interpretation on the topic of the week.

For this week, our theme is "metal." The selections this week range from the aged to the artistic to musical, to the commemorative.

Please take a moment to view the participants' blogs and also, if you have any suggestions for future themes, please leave a comment below.

Thanks, and Enjoy!

"Crazy Little Curve"
Erik Persson - Seattle, WA
"Rusted"
Jason D. Moore - North Syracuse, NY
"Remembering 9/11: a WTC beam up close"
Jenny Arnez - Rancho Cardova, CA
"Horns"
Amy Archer - Sweden "Father Hidalgo"
Jon Erikson - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
"Sound of E"
Andrew Smith - Hanover, PA

P&P Blogger Profile: Terry White

Terry White of Terry White's Tech Blog

Terry White - Director, North America Creative Pro Core Business for Adobe Systems, Inc.
Terry has been with Adobe for over a decade and has extensive knowledge of Adobe’s Creative Professional product line.
In his current position, he leads a team of Solution Engineers and Product Specialists that focus on Professional Publishing and Web Authoring.
Terry is an Adobe Certified Expert and Creative Suite Master.
He has been active in the industry for over 20 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit – Michigan’s largest Macintosh users group and is a columnist for Layers Magazine and X-Ology Magazine. Terry is the host of the top ranked Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast.
He is also the author of Secrets of the Adobe Bridge and co-author of The iPhone Book and InDesign CS/CS2 Killer Tips. Terry is a key presenter at major industry shows around the world.

Why do you blog?
I enjoy sharing my ideas and reviews with others.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, which ones would they be?
Photoshop Insider
Engadget
Macsimumnews

How long have you been using Photoshop/been a photographer?
Photoshop since version 2.5
Serious photographer since 2004

What type of camera(s) do you shoot with?
Nikon D80

Mac or PC?
Mac

What is your favorite piece of photo or computer equipment (other than your camera)?
Spiderlite TD5

What piece of equipment would you most like to get but don’t have?
Nikon Zoom Telephoto AF VR Zoom Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8D G-AFS ED-IF Autofocus Lens (Vibration Reduction) - Black

What advice do you have for a novice creative professional/photographer?
Less is more!

What inspires you to create?
Seeing something out there and thinking to myself, “I could do that and maybe even better.”

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Be of your word.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you live now)?
Somewhere warm year round, perhaps Hawaii

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Swim, write

What talent would you most like to have?
Singing

From Inside the Actors Studio:
What is your favorite word? Success
What is your least favorite word? Failure
What turns you on? Intelligent people
What turns you off? Racism
What sound or noise do you love? Silence
What sound or noise do you hate? Crickets
What is your favorite curse word? F@*k
What occupation other than your own would you like to attempt? Comedian
What occupation would you not want to participate in? Fast Food
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Glad you’re here.

*Note: If you there is someone you would like to see as a part of the P&P Blogger Profile series, please email Jason with their blog's URL. Also, be sure to check out the P&P Weekly every Monday for news about this site and a roundup of what other Photoshop & Photography Blogroll members are posting.

A Few More From Last Week

(Sorry for the delay in posting and for the error messages you may have seen. Apparently Blogger was experiencing some server issues which kept me from posting and you from viewing. Appologies for any inconvenience.)

Here are three more shots from our outing last week. Two of them were thoughts I had for the "On The Go" theme for last week's Geographic Composition but because I wasn't using our on-car camera rig (used primarily for video) they were a tad blurrier than I would've liked - though a little bit of blur adds a little something, given the theme. The other is a shot I took while laying down in a corn field just before taking the shots for this composite.

P&P Blogger Profile: John Nack

John Nack of John Nack on Adobe

John Nack is a Sr. Product Manager for Adobe Photoshop. Prior to joining Adobe John was a web designer and animator at AGENCY.COM New York, where we developed online content for clients such as Gucci, Nike, British Airways, and Coca-Cola. That experience convinced him that design tools could and had to be better, leading him to join Adobe in 2000, working on the web animation tool in LiveMotion. John has been on the Photoshop team since 2002 and has worked on features such as Adobe Camera Raw, Smart Objects, Vanishing Point, the File Browser, and Adobe Bridge.

Why do you blog?
I’m inspired, both personally and professionally, by the work I see going on in photography, design, typography, and other creative fields. I’m grateful for other folks who take the time to share interesting finds, and I like to return the favor when I can. With my job it’s easy to get lost in the weeds, thinking that Photoshop and other software is an end unto itself, rather than a means to various creative ends. Sharing and reflecting on creative work helps me keep some perspective.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, which ones would they be?
Tough question! I really like Core77 for their eclectic, well-edited mix of design-related info. I rely on the MXNA, Adobe’s (formerly Macromedia’s) aggregator of Web design-related feeds, for info on technology developments. And I enjoy The Online Photographer’s perspective on gear and developments in the world of photography.

How long have you been using Photoshop/been a photographer?
I started using Photoshop my freshman year in college, 1993. I was used to MacPaint-class tools, so when my friend pointed out Photoshop, it was a real revelation.

As for photography, I’ve had an interest as long as I can remember. As a little kid I used to snap away as much as my parents’ film budget would allow, and when they first got an SLR I loved experimenting with things like shutter speed.

Unfortunately I was too lazy to really learn enough, so I ended up drawing more as that came easily to me (and didn’t cost much!).

What type of camera(s) do you shoot with?
I own a Canon Rebel XT, which for most of my needs is great. Lately I find myself rather hungrily contemplating a 5D, though first I think I should invest in some better glass. Of course, I’m reminded of what my friend says when he teaches at high-performance driving schools on the weekends: if most of those guys invested a tenth as much into learning how to use the gear as they put into the gear itself, they’d be way better off than they are. Therefore I continue to want to make time to take more classes. Too bad it’s so much easier just to plunk down cash for gear than it is to become a better photographer.

Mac or PC?
Mac, since ’84. :)

What is your favorite piece of photo or computer equipment (other than your camera)?
I love Wacom tablets, though I’m sorry to say that my job keeps me in email far more than it lets me stretch my legs in Photoshop. That said, I find a tablet invaluable for any kind of drawing or retouching work.

What piece of equipment would you most like to get but don’t have?
Well, the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is a real beauty. I think the 5D would be great for indoor low-light shooting, and the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens would be a step forward there as well. I’d also like to start experimenting with polarizers and graduated neutral density filters.

What advice do you have for a novice creative professional/photographer?
Get out there! The picture you take or design you create is infinitely better than the one you don’t create. I think that patience and humility are essential. Just as with exercise, music, or most other worthwhile pursuits, know that your skills will take time to mature. Try not to take the work or yourself too seriously, and enjoy the process.

What inspires you to create?
I’d like the world to be a little more beautiful, a little happier, a little more truthful by virtue of my having been here.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Good grief; how about, “Don’t take a self-absorbed 30-ish software dude or his pronouncements too seriously!” ;-)

Where would you most like to live (other than where you live now)?
Heh—not San Jose. I live here strictly because it’s where I work, and I didn’t want to waste my life commuting. I still miss New York.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
What is this “spare time” of which you speak…?

What talent would you most like to have?
Being made of liquid metal (mimetic poly-alloy).

From Inside the Actors Studio:
What is your favorite word? Passion
What is your least favorite word? Apathy
What turns you on? Possibility
What turns you off? Pomposity
What sound or noise do you love? I love steel guitar. And I smile when hearing just about any native instrument (steel drum, Peruvian flute, sitar, etc.) made to play The Godfather Waltz on a subway platform.
What sound or noise do you hate? The drone of meetings, and the bitching of suckaz.
What is your favorite curse word? Teabag.
What occupation other than your own would you like to attempt? Ice road trucker.
What occupation would you not want to participate in? Processing anything bought or sold…
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? You’re okay, kid. You done good.

*Note: If you there is someone you would like to see as a part of the P&P Blogger Profile series, please email Jason with their blog's URL. Also, be sure to check out the P&P Weekly every Monday for news about this site and a roundup of what other Photoshop & Photography Blogroll members are posting.

P&P Weekly: #44

Coming up tomorrow you can read a P&P Blogger Profile of Adobe's Sr. Product Manager for Photoshop, John Nack!

In the meantime, here’s what’s been happening this week in The Photoshop & Photography Blogroll:

• Amy of 2007 Picture a day (or week) - "Little Bird"
• Paul of A Clean Well-Lighted Place - "#6152"
• Kathleen of A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - "Jenn Gets the Guillotine at the Grange Fair"
• Bruce of Bruce L. Snell Photography - "USD 437" Great Stuff!
• Chris of Chis Orwig Photography - reflections at the harbor today
• Dave at BeckermanPhoto.com - "Gotham from Manhattan Bridge" and "Lenox Avenue"
• Dave at Dave Cross Online is off to teach on a cruise to Alaska, poor guy!
• Richard of Europe in Black and White is processing is images from his summer travels.
• Mike at eyes on the road profiles photographer Bob Krist.
• Jeff of Jeff's Photo Gallery has a great pano of the Grand Canyon - be sure to click on the link at the bottom of the post for the full size, scrollable version.
• Joey of Joey Lawrence: Perception has been sharing some recent "fan" mail.
• John of John Nack on Adobe has some links for Lightroom web galleries.
• Matt of Lightroom Killer Tips has a video about creating a desaturated effect. And over at Photoshop Killer Tips Matt talks about HTML color, smart guides, global light, and saving your own layer styles.
• Jenny at Photo Two-Twenty - "A Tire for Three"
• Scott of Photoshop Insider has been shooting out west and shares a story of his "fun" experience in Monument Valley.
• Jon at San Miguel Photo of the Day posts images of life in Mexico. "Another Sunflower"
• Shooter at Serial Photographer - "Camelot"
• David of Strobist has a post on Umbrella Specular Portraits.
• Andy of The Global Photographer is off to Seattle for some lectures on his African adventures.
• Tom of Tom Moore Fine Art Photography - "Heather and Robert"
• Andy of Visual Realia has some great city shots from Harrisburg. Some of his best that I've seen. Nice work, Andy!
• Aaron of What the Duck - "WTD #282"
• Martin of What the Heck Journal - "Rocket Science"
• Ben of Where is Ben? - "Empire Truck Rental" and "Hazelgreen, MO"

Update your blogs often! I will only include links to posts added since the last P&P Weekly.

As always, if you have any suggestions or notice a discrepancy, please email me.

Geographic Composition #4: On the Go

Welcome to week four of Geographic Composition! Each week a number of my fellow photobloggers and I will submit an image based on a common theme from our scattered locations around the world. Even though the theme is the same, our own vision and view of the world when coupled with the geographic and cultural environment in which we live will shape the images we create and offer a varied interpretation on the topic of the week.

For this week, our theme is "on the go." Images of driving seem to dominate this week's selections, though we also have a sweet scene of ducks and a shot of a speedy rider.

Please take a moment to view the participants' blogs and also, if you have any suggestions for future themes, please leave a comment below.

Thanks, and Enjoy!

"RPM"
Andrew Smith - Hanover, PA
"PeMex"
Jon Erikson - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
"Horse and Rider"
Jenny Arnez - Rancho Cardova, CA
Jason D. Moore - North Syracuse, NY
"The Chase is On"
Erik Persson - Seattle, WA

Abstract #2

Last March I wrote a post about creating abstract backgrounds using long exposures. Well, the other day as we were on our way back from shooting an interview for one of our projects, I had the chance to stop and take some shots - particularly in search for a shot for tomorrow's Geographic Composition.

As we were driving along through the country roads in Genoa, NY we pulled off so I could get a couple of shots in a cornfield - another one will be posted probably next week. The above shot is a composite of six 1sec. exposures with some light adjustments in Lightroom and put together in Photoshop by simply changing the blend modes of each layer (some to Multiply, some to Screen, some to Soft Light).

It's a great little technique for coming up with something interesting and different. I really like how this one turned out.

UPDATE: I just posted a variation of this in my NAPP Portfolio where I added a couple of Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layers with angled linear gradients in the masks to add the blue and red hue shifts.

P&P Blogger Profile: Andy Biggs

Andy Biggs of The Global Photographer

I am a full time nature photographer, and I lead photographic safaris throughout Africa. Some years I lead 4 or 5 safaris, and others 6 or 7. I also lead workshops in the American West, as well as other locations around the globe.

Why do you blog?
I blog as a way of effectively communicating with my past, current and future workshop participants. I feel like I need a way of communicating in more personal nature, where I can write just about anything down. I strive to post content as often as I can, but sometimes it is a challenge.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, which ones would they be?
Luminous Landscape
Engadget
The Online Photographer

How long have you been using Photoshop/been a photographer?
I started using Photoshop with version 6, and that is about the same time that I took up photography as a true passion. Before that I was just a casual shooter that picked up a camera only for vacations and family get togethers.

What type of camera(s) do you shoot with?
I primarily shoot with a Canon 1DsMkII, but I also shoot with a 1DMkIII and an infrared converted Canon Rebel XTi. I am currently thinking of adding a 6x17 camera to the mix for animal-scapes.

Mac or PC?
Mac when I can get away with it. Mac at home, Mac on the road. However, unless Apple comes out with a lightweight laptop solution, I might move back to the PC just to save some weight on long safaris. Hey, a few pounds here and a few there really do add up.

What is your favorite piece of photo or computer equipment (other than your camera)?
Right now it is my camera backpack that I am bringing to market in a few months. I have been working on this product for over two years, and I am so excited to start selling it soon.

What piece of equipment would you most like to get but don’t have?
Medium format digital. I love landscapes with oodles of detail, and the latest round of medium format digital backs would look great in my bag.

What advice do you have for a novice creative professional/photographer?
Photography isn’t about having the latest gear. Even though we will have new product innovations in the future, don’t get hung up on having the latest and greatest gear. I look back 5 years when I had a pair of Canon D30 3mp cameras, and I still think the images I captured were every bit as strong as some of the images I am shooting today. Photographs that stir the soul come from within and between your ears, and not with what is sitting on top of your tripod.

What inspires you to create?
I have a growing library of coffee table books, and I often refer to them for inspiration. So I have to say work from other photographers.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Whatever you choose to do, be the best at it that you can be. Give it 110%.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you live now)?
I would love to live in the Colorado Rockies, or perhaps back in northern California again. California is where I developed my passion for the outdoors.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
As many people might know, I am very social person. So I love to spend time with family and friends. I thrive off of the energy of others.

What talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be more creative. Creativity is something that is difficult to obtain. Once you think you have it, poof! Gone. Sometimes I like to think that I am a creative person, but other times I realize that I am more innovative than creative.

From Inside the Actors Studio:
What is your favorite word? Yes
What is your least favorite word? No
What turns you on? Working with a new electronic gadget
What turns you off? Gadgets that don’t work.
What sound or noise do you love? The sounds of the African bush
What sound or noise do you hate? Traffic noise.
What is your favorite curse word? Doh! Not really a curse word, but anything Homer Simpson says has to be funny.
What occupation other than your own would you like to attempt? I would love to direct films.
What occupation would you not want to participate in? Anything involving blood. I would be passed out on the floor all of the time!
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? I listened to all of your prayers, Andy. Did you really want that 5.0 liter Mustang GT back in 1986?

*Note: If you there is someone you would like to see as a part of the P&P Blogger Profile series, please email Jason with their blog's URL. Also, be sure to check out the P&P Weekly every Monday for news about this site and a roundup of what other Photoshop & Photography Blogroll members are posting.

P&P Weekly: #43

Well, the new computer has finally arrived after a mixup by DHL. It's been a little slow going getting everything installed but once I am able to put it through its paces I'm sure it will prove to be an improvement.

In the meantime, here’s what’s been happening this week in The Photoshop & Photography Blogroll:

• Amy of 2007 Picture a day (or week) - "101 Cafe"
• Paul of A Clean Well-Lighted Place - "#5984"
• Kathleen of A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - "A Swim in Tinicum Creek"
• Bruce of Bruce L. Snell Photography - "Lightning Strike"
• Chris of Chis Orwig Photography - while biking home from work
• Dave at BeckermanPhoto.com - "Brooklyn Bridge IR2" and "New York Skyline, Vertical"
• Dave at Dave Cross Online has a great tip about wrapping text around objects in Photoshop.
• Erik of Erik Persson Photography - "Blue Angels and More at Seafair 2007"
• Richard of Europe in Black and White is back from a holiday.
• Mike at eyes on the road shares the first shots of his day stalking the sun.
• Jeff of Jeff's Photo Gallery has two posts (1,2) from his time at Tonto National Forest Park in Arizona.
• Joey of Joey Lawrence: Perception shares some behind-the-scenes shots from a recent workshop.
• John of John Nack on Adobe is back from a recent trip to Ireland.
• Matt of Lightroom Killer Tips shares a shortcut for switching modules. And over at Photoshop Killer Tips Matt talks about color, previewing adjustments, the quick selection tool, and resizing your window.
• Jenny at Photo Two-Twenty - "A Mendocino Neighborhood"
• Jim of PHOTOBLOG by Jim Larimer - "Hill Top"
• Scott of Photoshop Insider was recently interviewed on Photo Talk Radio.
• Justin from Photoshop Quicktips and Seeley Media has a video about using calculations to create a grayscale image.
• Jon at San Miguel Photo of the Day posts images of life in Mexico. "Falls under the old bridge"
• Shooter at Serial Photographer - "Untitled #66"
• David of Strobist has an interesting post on using specular reflections as background elements and includes some sketches of the setup as well as examples of the effect.
• Clayton of The C Spot won the guitar in the What the Duck auction. Congrats!
• Andy of The Global Photographer is offering a new custom profile service for inkjet printers. And speaking of profiles, Andy is the next subject in my profile series which will be posted tomorrow!
• Tom of Tom Moore Fine Art Photography - "Amy & John"
• Andy of Visual Realia - "So Small a Flower"
• Aaron of What the Duck - "WTD #276"
• Martin of What the Heck Journal - "Pit Stop"
• Ben of Where is Ben? - "Exploring Maroon Bells"

Update your blogs often! I will only include links to posts added since the last P&P Weekly.

As always, if you have any suggestions or notice a discrepancy, please email me.

Two Months and Counting

The P&P Weekly will be posted tomorrow instead of in its usual Monday slot due to a busy weekend.

Kim was a bridesmaid in her friend's wedding on Saturday so I got to meet a number of people that will be coming to ours. We saw some things that we might consider including in our plans, other things that wouldn't be "us," and had an all-in-all good time.

With the wedding this weekend, we both have been growing more excited about our own which is now exactly two months from today. As the groom got up to speak, he said how he wasn't at all nervous and I can honestly say that I'm not either. I can't wait!

As I wait for DHL to deliver the new laptop - it's out for delivery! - I will leave you with a shot I took on Friday of the tractor from the summer camp I went to as a kid and volunteered and worked at in college. (We're working on a video for them and I was down there last week gathering footage.)

Until then...

Geographic Composition #3: Reflections

Welcome to week three of Geographic Composition! Each week a number of my fellow photobloggers and I will submit an image based on a common theme from our scattered locations around the world. Even though the theme is the same, our own vision and view of the world when coupled with the geographic and cultural environment in which we live will shape the images we create and offer a varied interpretation on the topic of the week.

For this week, our theme is "reflections." For some it was about the physical reflections on glass, water, or a mirror or even the simple fact that what we see is the reflection of light off of the subject(s). Others took the more contemplative meaning. And another went with a combination of the two with a surreal twist.

Please take a moment to view the participants' blogs and also, if you have any suggestions for future themes, please leave a comment below.

Thanks, and Enjoy!

"I Wonder As I Wander"
Erik Persson - Seattle, WA
"One Fish... Two Fish"
Jenny Arnez - Rancho Cardova, CA
Jon Erikson - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
"Live Crab"
Amy Archer - Sweden
"Anticipation" ("Where's the Camera #2")
Jason D. Moore - North Syracuse, NY
"Glass, Mirror and Light"
Andrew Smith - Hanover, PA

Impossible Shots

From time to time I like to have a little fun and create images that are a little surreal. Awhile back I put this one together as an homage to M.C. Escher and his drawing of hands drawing each other.

I also once created an image of myself standing in front of a mirror with my hands held out in front of me and you saw the hands sticking into the frame - in addition to the reflection - so it appeared as though there was no camera. It was an impossible shot.

For tomorrow's edition of Geographic Composition, I have submitted a similar shot and thought I would share a link to some cool shots that I came across when I first attempted this type of image. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find one anywhere. Does anyone know of this type of shot and know where I may find more?

Royal Motel #2

Here's another look at the sign for the Royal Motel that I used for my entry into last week's Geographic Composition. I think I like this one a little better because I have the ground in the shot, which allows me to add the graduated lens blur to add depth and I took a little more time on the mask of the sign so it's a little cleaner, selection-wise. I also removed part of an "apartment for rent" sign that was sitting on the lawn near the sign - which is why I initially went with the other shot.

Finally!

They have the new set!

P&P Weekly: #42

Here’s what’s been happening this week in The Photoshop & Photography Blogroll:

• Amy of 2007 Picture a day (or week) - "Wildflowers"
• Paul of A Clean Well-Lighted Place - "#5606"
• Kathleen of A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - "American Flag Hot Air Balloon"
• Bruce of Bruce L. Snell Photography has a photo on a billboard.
• Chris of Chis Orwig Photography - "Meadow Walkway"
• Dave at BeckermanPhoto.com - "Brooklyn Bridge & Willow" and "Trees #2 (Central Park) "
• Dave at Dave Cross Online asks what his readers think about the iPhone.
• Erik of Erik Persson Photography - "Red Rock Waterfall"
• Mike at eyes on the road has more tips for shooting on a rainy day.
• Jeff of Jeff's Photo Gallery is trying out the Dragonizer action set.
• Joey of Joey Lawrence: Perception is stranded in South America
• John of John Nack on Adobe has a post about gigantic typography.
• Matt of Lightroom Killer Tips has a tip about using the target adjustment tool. And over at Photoshop Killer Tips Matt talks about actions, inverting, and filling layers.
• Jenny at Photo Two-Twenty found a new site to share your photos.
• Scott of Photoshop Insider has a new CS3 book out.
• Justin from Photoshop Quicktips and Seeley Media shows us how to create an Apple-inspired design.
• Jon at San Miguel Photo of the Day posts images of life in Mexico. "After the rain"
• Shooter at Serial Photographer - "Up Ship Creek"
• David of Strobist shares a link to a site with a video about balancing ambient light and a flash.
• Clayton of The C Spot has another shot up from the Upper Falls on the Cheat River.
• Andy of The Global Photographer has one of his shots featured on the splash page of Naturescapes.net
• Andy of Visual Realia - "Idleness"
• Aaron of What the Duck - "WTD #271"
• Martin of What the Heck Journal - "Bling Bling"
• Ben of Where is Ben? is going to be leading a Galapagos Islands workshop.

Update your blogs often! I will only include links to posts added since the last P&P Weekly.

As always, if you have any suggestions or notice a discrepancy, please email me.

Geographic Composition #2: Signs

Welcome to week two of Geographic Composition! Each week a number of my fellow photobloggers and I will submit an image based on a common theme from our scattered locations around the world. Even though the theme is the same, our own vision and view of the world when coupled with the geographic and cultural environment in which we live will shape the images we create and offer a varied interpretation on the topic of the week.

For this week, our theme is "signs."

Please take a moment to view the participants' blogs and also, if you have any suggestions for future themes, please leave a comment below.

Thanks, and Enjoy!

"Royal Motel"
Jason D. Moore - North Syracuse, NY

"The Crooked Path"
Andrew Smith - Hanover, PA

"Seventy"
Amy Archer - Sweden
"What Do You See?"
Erik Persson - Seattle, WA

"Hill Top Sign"
Jim Larimer - Denver, CO

Jon Erikson - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

"The Artist Is In"
Jenny Arnez - Rancho Cardova, CA