Finish the Sentence...with David duChemin

"It's time once again to ask a well-known photographer, instructor or otherwise interesting person the same 10 questions and ask them to Finish the Sentence! This time, the sentences are finished by.... David duChemin.

David, please Finish the Sentence..."

My favorite photography accessory (lights, modifier, bag, tripod) is
probably my Hoodman Screen Loupe, it’s a must when shooting on location in Africa but also makes me feel very Francis Ford Coppola-esque. If lenses count as accessories then mark me down as an unrepentant 85/1.2L user/lover. Man, I love that lens.

I’ve learned the most from...
screwing up without hesitation over and over again; taking risks and learning from both the successes and outright failures is what keeps it fun and keeps me learning.

If I could go anywhere in the world it would be_____ because….
home to Vancouver, because I spend so much time everywhere else; but if that’s not exotic enough I’ll go with Lalibela, Ethiopia because I was there for Orthodox Christmas as few years ago and just couldn’t get enough of it.

My most-used Photoshop add-on, plugin, action set (etc) is
ightroom; does that count? I find myself using Photoshop less and less these days but Fred Miranda’s Black and White conversion presets are excellent.

I love the fact that Photoshop
allows us to bring my photographs more into alignment with my vision.

I hate the fact that Photoshop
doesn’t have a warning dialogue box that tells people, “Enough, stop screwing around with this image; it’s not fixable so shut the computer and go get better at your photography.”

If I could turn back the clock 10 years
I’d pay more attention to the lessons I was learning from the mistakes I was making, but I’d probably still make the same mistakes.

In 10 years
I’ll be one of the older guys bitching about the new technology and how holograms “aren’t really photography”

If I could give one piece of advice it would be
o nurture your creative self as much as you do the technical side; an artist with all the technical proficiency in the world and nothing to say is a sad thing.

Your readers can find out more about me
by buying several copies of my book, Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision. If one copy is good, several copies is awesome. I also blog relentlessly at PixelatedImage.com/blog

Ladies & Gentlemen, let's hear it for David duChemin!!

David duChemin is an international assignment photographer specializing in world and humanitarian photography. His primary work is on behalf of international development organizations like World Vision or Save the Children. When not shooting David makes his home in Vancouver, Canada and spend his days writing and moving from one coffee shop or sushi joint to another. His first book, Within The Frame, was released in May. David’s portfolio can be seen at PixelatedImage.com

Thursday Fix It Challenge #15

Here we go once again with another weekly Fix It Challenge where anyone who feels so inclined can download the provided image, fix it and upload there results to our Flickr Group.
Before we get to this week's challenge, let's look at last week.
This was the before image:








There were some great and very creative entries this week. It was difficult as always to pick just one, but the one I chose was from Beautifully ◊ Scene ◊ Images, and here's their summary:
I brought Grandma into PS CS4, changed her background by selecting her and then doing an inverse selection. On a new layer, I used the gradient tool with some grungy brushes painted over it. Then brushed the white in with a nice soft brush. I used the healing tool in a couple of spots on her face. I placed her in this nice frame with a free action I downloaded ages ago and hung her on the bedroom wall. I think she looks fabulous! It took me maybe ten minutes.

Honorable mention to kstohl1 and Are Elle.
Thanks to everyone who entered!!
When I first came up with this challenge idea it was my intention to "play along" but it's getting increasingly difficult to do so. When I can, I will, but between travel and my various projects, I barely have time to put together this post (that's my sob story, and I'm sticking with it. Cue the violins)

Okay, so get ready for challenge #15, submitted by Scott Hartman.

Don't forget, If you have a photo you'd like to submit to the challenge (and not just old restoration projects), please email it to photoshop fixes at hotmail.com (remove the spaces)

Click on the small photo to see and download the larger version. "Fix" the photo and then upload your results to the Flickr Group. Please include with your photo a brief description of what you did and how long it took - that way I don't have to try to track down the details later.
There are no "rules" as this is just for fun so use any tools, additional photos, plug-ins and techniques you want - just include a brief explanation of how you did it :) You can fix, restore, alter, improve, retouch, change, or anything you like. Okay, there are two rules: only one entry per person please, and tell us how you did it :)
Deadline: Next Wednesday at noon EST.
Have fun! Tell your friends ;)

Blogs to watch

Here's a few more blogs to take a look at (I've added them to my list to check daily....)

the image is found photography. nate and jaclyn...a husband and wife photography team based in san diego california. (they also do workshops)

Anna Kuperberg's photo blog

The blog of Tara Whitney, Orange County photographer

Larry Becker has a new-ish blog on "Street-smart marketing, photography… oh yeah, and smartphones"

Bits 'n pieces

I'm very pleased to pass on the details of a very cool new product for Photoshop Educators: the Instructor's Kit for Scott Kelby's The Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers. Get all the details - and a short video explaing the concept - over at Scott's blog. Oh, did I mention that the kit is free for educators?
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Over at Strobist, David Hobby has posted some new behind the scenes videos from photographer Dave Hill. Interesting stuff - I love watching over someone's shoulder like this. Here's the link to Dave Hill's site, although at the time I was composing this post, the link was not working.
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If you want to learn more about the world of microstock photography, take a look at the site of Yuri Arcurs, "the world's top-selling microstock photographer". This site is packed with very useful articles such as "MICROSTOCK AGENCIES - AN OVERVIEW FOR BEGINNERS" and "WHAT SHOULD I SHOOT AND WHAT SELLS WELL?". He also has some great videos including a tour of his awesome studio, built for stock photography.

Here's an interesting article on Canon vs Nikon for stock photography, and a very cool keywording tool.

Kudos to Yuri for sharing all this incredibly useful information!
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Bogen Imaging is hosting a free sports photography webinar - here are the details: Adventure Sports Photography: Roundtable with Adventure Photographer Michael Clark on July 17, 2009

Register and Join Our FREE Webinar on Friday, July 17th from 2 pm to 3 pm EDT! Listen to special guest, professional photographer Michael Clark, speak with David Fisher, our webinar host. During this session David & Michael discuss:

Adventure photography fundamentals (light, autofocus, histograms, exposure)
Artificial lighting
Photo equipment
Outdoor gear
How to approach and shoot rock climbing, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking -What it takes to be a pro!

Photography Quote of the Week

Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts. Minor White

(follow me on Twitter to see a short quote every day)

Finish the Sentence...with Deke McClelland

"It's time once again to ask a well-known photographer, instructor or otherwise interesting person the same 10 questions and ask them to Finish the Sentence! In this special holiday edition, the sentences are finished by.... Deke McClelland.

Deke, please Finish the Sentence..."

My favorite photography accessory (lights, modifier, bag, tripod) is
an extra battery with a full charge on.

I’ve learned the most from...
listening to my students.

If I could go anywhere in the world it would be_____ because….
exactly where I am (Boulder, CO) 150 million years ago, because I’d get to hang out with my big old super-terrifying dinosaurs buddies. So much catching up to do!

My most-used Photoshop add-on, plugin, action set (etc) is
the Macintosh operating system. I’ve always found it to be a really nifty Photoshop helper.

I love the fact that Photoshop
has a deep blue icon.

I hate the fact that Photoshop
still hasn’t learn to talk.

If I could turn back the clock 10 years
I’d get back an entire decade of my life! Can you just imagine? That would rock. (Is this actually an option? Are you magical?!)

In 10 years
I will learn how to fly. You know, with my arms.

If I could give one piece of advice it would be
give love more, take love less. I know, I got all serious there . But it’s the secret of life, so I thought I really ought to pass it along.

Your readers can find out more about me
at their local bookstore. Unless they have this diabolical thing called the Internet, in which case: deke.com.

Ladies & Gentlemen, let's hear it for Deke McClelland!!

Deke McClelland is an internationally renowned instructor and popular lecturer with an emphasis on Photoshop and the wider realm of digital imaging and computer graphics. He hosts the in-box videos that ship with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS4, as well as most previous versions throughout this decade. His top-ranking “One-on-One” training series on lynda.com has established him as the #1 Photoshop video trainer in the world. Deke also created the bestselling One-on-One book series, published by Deke Press and O’Reilly Media. His body of work includes over 80 books and hundreds of hours of video training, which have garnered over 30 awards, including seven Computer Press Awards and nine video industry honors.

In 2008 Deke launched dekeOnline, a website dedicated to the worlds of graphics and imaging that explores new developments and provides expert tips, insights, and support. dekeOnline hosts two free media products, the irreverent “dekePod” video series and the audio-only, lounge-flavored “Martini Hour.” Deke’s energetic and distinctly personal training style continues to expand his customer base of creative professionals worldwide, with more than 10,000 dekeOnline members in the first year.

Happy 4th of July!

To all my American friends, Happy 4th of July!
Now stop reading blogs and go enjoy the holiday!!
(I know, it's really tomorrow, but many people have today off, you know?)

Thursday Fix It Challenge #14

Here we go once again with another Fix It Challenge where anyone who feels so inclined can download the provided image, fix it and upload there results to our Flickr Group.
Before we get to this week's challenge, let's look at last week.
This was the before image:






As I said last week, I always pick the winner by looking at a slide show without any info or names, so I never know if it's a repeat winner. This time the chosen fix was from notasham, and here's their summary:
Actually fixed this one in Lightroom this time.
First brought up the exposure and recovery and fill light.
Then increased the brightness, contrast, saturation, and vibrancy.
I did a little sharpening and noise reduction.
I really wanted to bring out the colors of the sunset so I shot up the saturation of the reds, purples, oranges, and blues.
I then cloned out the pixel clouds in the top left corner.
I then added a blue gradient filter on the top of the sky, and then added an orange gradient filter on the bottom half of the sky.
Unfortunately its a really pixelated image so I added a little blur to try and soften.

Thanks to everyone who entered!!
When I first came up with this challenge idea it was my intention to "play along" but it's getting increasingly difficult to do so. When I can, I will, but between travel and my various projects, I barely have time to put together this post (that's my sob story, and I'm sticking with it. Cue the violins)

Okay, so get ready for challenge #14, submitted by Liz. This last time a number of people wished they had a larger version - wait til you see this one! A tiny scan of a passport photo. Hey, sometimes this is what we get in the real world!

Don't forget, If you have a photo you'd like to submit to the challenge (and not just old restoration projects), please email it to photoshop fixes at hotmail.com (remove the spaces)

Click on the small photo to see and download the larger version. "Fix" the photo and then upload your results to the Flickr Group. Please include with your photo a brief description of what you did and how long it took - that way I don't have to try to track down the details later.
There are no "rules" as this is just for fun so use any tools, additional photos, plug-ins and techniques you want - just include a brief explanation of how you did it :) You can fix, restore, alter, improve, retouch, change, or anything you like. Okay, there are two rules: only one entry per person please, and tell us how you did it :)
Deadline: Next Wednesday at noon EST.
Have fun! Tell your friends ;)