WOW!! Nice capture. I have one of that and the swiming place right next door.

 

So is this our new photography thread?

 

Wow that's some amazing shots! I haven't been around the city at night with a tripod yet but I would love to try some landscape photography around here. I haven't uploaded any of the pictures yet but I'll put them up here when I get to it.

Heh you guys can dump your photos here if you want. We all love photography here

I also tried getting into a portrait photo class but they were filled as well she told me the only class still open is black & white film class on Saturday but I don't know how I would like film and developing it.

 

DO IT! The thing about digital is that anybody can pick up a camera and call themselves a photographer. You can take a picture, and if it doesn't turn out you can delete it and take another without any financial loss. With film you force yourself to get the picture right the first time. You learn to appreciate exposure and lighting, rather than going "Eh, that picture didn't turn out. Oh well."

You can pick up a decent old film camera with a 50mm prime for ~$50 (or maybe even less)

 

Ok thanks. It's a Saturday 9am-3pm class but it sounds like it would be fun.

 

You'll also understand the importance of post processing in photoshop/Lightroom. Film never goes from film to camera (except when you get it printed at Walmart and whatnot). Where is the class again?

Edit: Saw you're in Monterey. Unless it is Cameron Greene teaching I don't know the teacher and can't take the class

 

Can't wait to check it out!

 

I'm actually thinking of getting the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro over the Nikon version. Virtually the same IQ and build quality, but at less than half the price ($450).

 

is that last picture of a Ninja? JK JK

Use the healing patch tool to get rid of the heroin addict eye bags / darkness
also make the whites of the eyes white and get rid of the blood shot lines (at least the big ones.) The wrinkles on the brow are pretty easy to get rid of

 

I didn't get into a portrait class

I just started using Lightroom 3 and I haven't found where everything is yet.

The other pictures I used Aperture which is really good for touching up people.

 

Nor have I

Most of the stuff has to be done in PS CS5 or Gimp (gimp is free)

LR is good for broad stuff but specific stuff you have to do in photoshop
Send me the color version and I can show you what can be done

michaelmckay at gmail

 

Email'd!

I have Aperture, Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5

I took a computer graphic design class in High School but I forgot most of what I learned

 

Ah ok

right click on the healing bursh and you will get the patch tool

Clone a lot for blemishes and eye whites

 

healing brush

 

Yup! Color correction and exposure compensation (if needed) I do in LR, and then export as the original file type (when shooting in RAW) and do fixes in PS. I have an action for facial enhancements (teeth whitening, eye white whitening, eye black blackening [pupils], and iris enhancement). I think a teacher who got it from a photography magazine gave them to me. I can put the file up on my server if you want them. You just run the action and then brush it on where you need it (each enhancement is its own layer).

BEFORE (straight from camera RAW converted to JPG)


AFTER (blemish removal, level corrections, 28% skin softening [running skin softening action, brushing it on, reducing layer opacity to 28%... I usually do 40%-50% for women])


EDIT: Yes Mike, I know the background is even! I'm working on getting a third light for a background light. Actually I'm working on getting an Alien Bees B1600 and using one of the B800's as a dedicated background light when needed.