‘Essential Development’ by Sean McCormack

Essential Development_LR5

“Essential Development” by Sean McCormack is the perfect learning tool for Adobe’s Lightroom 5 photo software. In May, I finally had enough money to purchase Adobe’s Lightroom 4. Little did I know that after I installed it, Lightroom 5 was released. I was very fortunate that Adobe up-graded my Lightroom 4 software for free (yes free), since I just had purchased the old version.

I really enjoy working with LR5, but there is so much to learn. Sean’s 140 page PDF gives you the basics on how to work with LR5, but he gives you great tips on how to work with the various new tools Adobe added. Not only will you get the beautiful e-book, but Sean also included 100 presets. I love working with presets, because they give you a quick start to finish the look you want for your photographs.

Currently you can get the amazing e-book “Essential Development” for just $6, including the 100 presets. To get the $1 off the regular price of $7, please use the promotional code EDLR5. To get your copy today, by visiting Craft And Vision. The promotional code will expire on July 31st, 2013. After the 31st, the book will be $7, which in my eyes is worth every penny if you want to learn more about LR5.

Thanks for stopping by today. Until next time – happy image making!!!

Iris

Week 7 – SOOC Challenge Edited

I know I am a little late on linking up with Ashley for this week’s SOOC challenge, but I still wanted to show you my personal edits from my photographs I took on Monday.

About a year ago, my beloved taught me about the “High Pass” filter in Photoshop. I do not use it often in my portrait photographs, because it is not very complimentary for portraits (too sharp). But it does wonders for any regular photography. Even with an untrained eye, you surely can see the difference between SOOC (straight out of camera) and the edited version. I really like my 50mm, 1.4 Canon lens, but it softens your images.

Here is the pink Nook cover, first the SOOC photograph and than the edited version:

 

Pink Nook Cover

 

Pink Nook Cover_Edit

Here is how I worked my edit: Duplicated the layer, Filter/Other/High Pass, applied the filter with 89%. Next I used the “Brightness/Saturation” slider to take down the glare a hair. You can see that the seams of the Nook cover are much sharper than in the original photograph.

Next is the original of my Bible with the pink highlighter (the passage here highlighted in pink is Colossians 1:10-12). See how soft the image is with the 50mm with an Aperture of 2.5?

Bible & Pink Highlighter

Bible_Pink Highlighter_2_Edit

I again used the “High Pass” filter, layered it over the image with the “Vivid Color” setting @ 75%. I also dabbled a little with the brightness. See how much sharper the image becomes with the filter. I think it is cool 🙂 .

There is so much we can do to enhance the photographs we take, but we have to also be very careful on how much we edit and what we edit. Some of the techniques do not work with portrait photographs (at least not for my clients and me).

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope I was able to explain a little more about my personal editing of my photographs.

Have a blessed weekend, my friends.

PS: please remember that all photographs shared on my blog are copyrighted to me – Thanks!

Week 7 Shoot to Edit SOOC

Well, I sat out last week, but I thought to give it a try this week. The theme? “Pink”. Believe it or not, but pink is my all-time favorite color. I have many pinks in my closet and around the house. Since my hubby knows my favorite color, my Nook cover is pink 😛 .

So here are my two photographs for this week. The first one is my nook cover, photographed without flash under my table lamp in the living room:


Not sure if I like all the glare on this photograph; I might format it, or maybe not…How knows.

The second photograph I fired my Speedlite 430 TTL flash, bouncing of the wall. I like this photograph better SOOC, because I have not that high glare I have from the lamp. I still want to edit it, but will wait until Thursday for Ashley’s edit suggestions.


If you are interested in seeing the bigger version of the two photographs, go over my Flickr page 🙂 . To check out more “Pink” images, please visit my friend Jill at Forever n Ever N Always Photography.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my rambling…

Have a great night,

Thankful Thursday ~ Books

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
~ Psalm 92:1-4 (ESV)

Lori's Book Review

I enjoy reading, I just wish I had more time to do so. My sweet friend Lori has a marvelous list on her review blog (click on the button above to take you there) . She picked 10 books from her vast array of books she has read over the past months. Some of the books I have already read and the rest are on my wish-list 🙂 .

I am thankful for books (especially the Bible); I always learn something. I am also thankful for Lori’s review site, because I know that I can trust her judgment. If fiction or teaching books, Lori always gives a straight forward review. She will let you know if something bothers her about a book 🙂 .

What are you thankful for this week? Head over to my friend Laurie’s site “Women Taking a Stand” to read more TT posts and leave your link.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Reading is Fundamental.