Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Adventures in Photography: I Have No Idea What I'm Doing

I don't believe I've mentioned that I am taking a photography class at UT this winter. It's an eight week course focusing on the fundamentals of digital photography, specifically using DSLR cameras. I am having a great time learning how to take manual photos and all of the ins and outs of this camera. Before this class, I don't think I had ever moved my switch off of the green square or "Auto" mode.

Taking all of these pictures has led me to Photoshop, a photo editing/enhancing program that I had heard about but never used before. I am teaching myself how to use this awesome program by reading a how-to book by Photoshop wiz, Scott Kelby. It's really interesting, but I'm having trouble finding time to sit down and teach myself. It's a very time-consuming endeavor because you can do TONS in this program (not to mention the book seems to be the size of a phonebook!). However, because I didn't have a homework assignment due for class this week, I have managed to squeeze some time in and have just scratched the surface of what Photoshop is really all about.

Let me state: I have no idea what I am doing.

However, I was just playing with some stuff and this is what I did! Nora and I ventured out for a walk/trip to the playground this morning and I captured a few shots.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:

1 comment:

Gabby said...

I hopped over here from Lillian's blog and liked the title of this post. I don't think I've formally met you, but I've seen you before at church. Probably the most advantageous tool in photoshop is levels (Ctrl+L). You can move the very right most arrow to the left to help pictures that are too bright to make them darker and vice versa on the other side. It only works to a certain extent, though, before it gets weird. Props for trying to study a book on it!