Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Color My World


I have now had adobe photoshop on my computer for one week and I have begun to do more than just look at it. I have cursed it. I have made nasty faces at it. I can't maneuver easily from point A to point B. Thank goodness for the undo button. I click that on a regular basis. I have made a zillion copies of all 4,000 pictures so I won't lose them by mistake. I experimented lots. As a matter of fact, I took the advice of Merisi , whose blog I visit on a regular basis, and I created a folder for all of my experiments. And I am starting to have fun with this technology.


Unfortunately I have also decided that what I really need is a new camera! I have wicked lens envy! My camera works fine for a little 'point and shooter' but I am ready for an upgrade. I was over visiting Kahshe Cottager yesterday and am still in awe of the incredible dragonfly pictures she was able to take with her camera. I want that camera! I want to get shots that are up close and personal. I want to see colors that pop out at you. Colors that are so vibrant that you just want to touch them. I want to take pictures that invite you to sit down and stay awhile. I want to take pictures that mesmerize, that tell a story all on their own.


I am open to suggestions from all photographers as to the type of camera I should purchase. For now, I will share with you my latest creation - with the before and after photo. At the top of this post is the 'after' shot. I would like to be able to tell you what I did to create this picture but I have forgotten. I was just clicking away on photoshop. I love playing around with the color buttons, changing the hues and saturation levels. If I could only click a few buttons each morning and color my world...



And below is the picture I originally took, untouched. It is a sunburst sculpture at the casino at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

17 comments:

Michele said...

I, too, am in search of a new camera. Mine is so limited, my pictures don't turn out well unless the conditions are perfect - bright lighting, close to subject, etc. UGh! I'll keep an eye on your posts to see what others recommend.

Akelamalu said...

The original photo is fantastic. I like taking photos but I'm no photographer, I leave that to MWM.

pink dogwood said...

me too, me too, me too - I want a nice camera. But now after looking at your pictures, I want photoshop as well.

The transformed picture looks really cool. Can't wait to see more of your experiments.

david mcmahon said...

Great sunburst sculpture!

Anonymous said...

Such fun. That's what it is all about. I love PS.

Louise said...

That's an amazing transformation!

As for cameras, I don't have a point-and-shoot. I have a pretty nice camera. But I have major lens envy myself. You get the camera, then you want more. And more. And more!

david mcmahon said...

In answer to your question, Deb, I use a Pentax K100D, a digital SLR.

Marg said...

Way to go on your Adobe program.
I have it and gave up.
You'll get it and I'm not sure if the camera make that much of a difference anymore.
If you were closer, Id' borrow all three of mine to you...
I like the simple styles.

Willow said...

I would love to have a new camera too! I've had my current one for almost two years and am at the end of what I can do with it. Those close up photos elude me because my camera (which is a good basic one and my darling son gave it to me for Christmas) doesn't do the close ups well. I had planned to get a new one for the trip to England and then decided to not spend the money. Maybe this Christmas??

Thanks for your encouragement about my DOING project. I chose one area--sewing. You can just choose one like photos and focus (pun intended) on it.

I loved your post about the rehearsal dinner outfit. Laughed, sobbed, identified!

Celebration of Life said...

I don't have any suggestions about a camera but I just wanted to stop by and thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Please come back again!
Jo

Kahshe Cottager said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kahshe Cottager said...

(Sorry, I made a typo on the previous post so I deleted it!)

Wow Deb, thank you for the lovely comment on your blog! I have lens envy too as I want a camera that will let me take better macros! lol

I am happy with my Canon PowerShot S2 IS which is the second digital camera I have owned. The first one was a Canon as well and I still keep it handy in the car for those quick pictures shot out the car window! I use a tripod whenever I can for those closeups as I have ruined many shots with shaky hands.

Adobe offers online tutorials for Photoshop - if you Google, you will find them. Also, there are good books to help get going with it - I think there is even one put out in the Dummy series which gives step-by-step instructions.

Your transformed picture looks really nice! It was certainly an interesting sculpture!

Keep having fun with your pictures!

Deb said...

Rapunzel ~ I have started my camera research - I will keep you posted :)

Akelamalu ~ Thank you.

Pink Dogwood ~ It seems that every time I figure out the technology something new comes out -so then I am behind again. Oh, well.

David ~ Thank you for the kind words and for telling me about the camera you use. My research has begun!

Beverly ~ And I love to have fun! I agree that is what it is all about!

Louise ~ You take fantastic pictures. And your camera of choice is...? I am doing my research and need your input, please. :)

Marg ~ I like my simple camera some of the times but not when I am trying to do close ups or fancy shots ;) I do wish you lived closer then we could go on adventures with our cameras in hand!

Willow ~ Thanks for your kind words. Maybe I should write a post about the camera you'd like for Christmas and then we could make sure that the Professor reads it? ;)

Celebration of Life ~ I'll be back!

Kahshe Cottage ~ I LOVE that puppy icon you have - it is too cute how it moves its head! Thank you so much for the photo tips - I greatly appreciate your advice. And I am happy to have mentioned you in my blog before you become a famous photographer for National Geographic and then you won't have time for us little guys! :)

Elaine Denning said...

There are some brillinat Photoshop videos on You Tube. Have a look...you'll be hooked!

Melissa said...

Isn't it cool what photoshop can do? although it took me forever to figure out that you'd flipped the image upside down!

Anonymous said...

I use a Canon Digital Rebel SLR (single lens reflex). With the SLR type cameras you can usually get different lens attachments; like telephoto, or macro. I would like to get a macro lens for really close up shots.

Looks like you turned the sculpture into a virus. (chuckle) Keep at it.

Great photo up in your header.

Anonymous said...

btw
My Digital Rebel Canon came packaged with Adobe Photoshop Elements on a CD.

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