Photography
Exposure 2 Review
By Robert Lachman
This week I am going to review Alien Skin’s software, Exposure 2, the Photoshop and Photoshop Elements’ plug-in to give your photographs the look of film.
It’s a one-click way to give photographs that edgy, arty, cross-processed film look. It also can be used to add a soft focus glamour look, change your color photographs to black and white
Why would anyone pay money to make their photos more grainy, or maybe have a color shift like in the cross-processing or have the highlights blown out in the high contrast mode? It’s the million dollar question or should I say, it’s more like the $249 question because this software ain’t cheap.
Only one answer I can think of: ART.
Now these are things you could do on your own if you had the time to figure them out, but it would be difficult for most, especially with such a quick-click and choose method.
This is definitely make your new school work look old school
The Exposure 2 software will work on both Photoshop Elements version 4 or newer and Photo
shop CS2 or later. It definitely makes your new school photographs look old school.
First I tried the Exposure 2 software plug-in on a portrait of my daughter and of course, I used TRI-400 setting. Wow, I mean I’m using Tri-X 400 again. It seems like old times. My photos have grain instead of digital noise. That’s very cool. But now I’m getting confused. Back in the olden days, we tried our best to get rid of grain and worked to make it as fine as possible. There were special developers like Accufine which was designed to make the grain small. Now I have really digressed.
The interface is easy to use. Once you have the photo up on the screen, just pick the menu item filter, then Alien Skin Exposure 2 which will give you the choice of menu color or black and white.
It’s very easy to use and has a very nice split screen preview feature. The software plug-in gives you a choice of the split going horizontal, diagonal, or vertical. You can decide which side of the screen is the affected side.
Also, in the preview window there’s an option to enlarge and move the image for a close look at the detail. This is one of the best preview windows I have used.
There are so many settings: saturation increased warm, overcast, golden hour orange, faded sun, saturated-slide-film, high and low contrast and cross-process featuring every imaginable film that was once available.
The choices of film styles are endless: Tri-X, Kodachome, Polaroid, Fuji’s Velvia and Reala. That’s just a start, how about GAF or Agfa Scala.
Other effects include: softening, push processing, contrast and curves, toning, infrared, dynamic rage, color temperature, saturation, softness, grain and sharpness with slider controls.
The only downside to this Alien Skin software is the $249 price tag making it more of a professional photographer’s product who have a specific need for a quick one-click arty look to make their photos look different and to to speed up their work flow.
It’s just too expensive for the average consumer to add to their repertoire. They do offer a 30-day trial to check it out.
I would give it four out of five stars, with the price as the main detraction.
Check out the audio version of the review on The Mac ReviewCast podcast.
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iPhoto Question
Question:
When editing photos in iPhoto, the Adjust panel gives you the ability to alter the settings fo
r up to ten aspects of the photo. I generally only tweak the sliders for: contrast, highlights/shadows and saturation and occasionally for temperature, tint and sharpness.
--In what order should I be carrying out the adjustments?
--Are there other adjustments that I should consider?
Your advice would be much appreciated, as always! -- Jane from Perth, Austrailia
Answer:
The adjustment in iPhoto are fine for most photos. I would start with the levels adjustment at the top. It has three sliders. I use this in
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I usually start with the middle slider. It controls the overall brightness to the photo. Then use the slider on the left to bring back some of you black and the slider on the right for the white.
For problem photos, you can try the shadow control to bring back extra detail in the dark areas.
Next, I would move on to the saturation, temperature and tint.
You can add a little Sharpness but I would keep it to minimum if you need it.
For any real control and photo editing, I would suggest using Photoshop Elements. At $79, its a great deal and simply a lighter version of Photoshop. I always recommend it over similar priced photo editing programs because there are so many fine books and tutorials available on it. --RL
When editing photos in iPhoto, the Adjust panel gives you the ability to alter the settings fo
r up to ten aspects of the photo. I generally only tweak the sliders for: contrast, highlights/shadows and saturation and occasionally for temperature, tint and sharpness.--In what order should I be carrying out the adjustments?
--Are there other adjustments that I should consider?
Your advice would be much appreciated, as always! -- Jane from Perth, Austrailia
Answer:
The adjustment in iPhoto are fine for most photos. I would start with the levels adjustment at the top. It has three sliders. I use this in
Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I usually start with the middle slider. It controls the overall brightness to the photo. Then use the slider on the left to bring back some of you black and the slider on the right for the white.For problem photos, you can try the shadow control to bring back extra detail in the dark areas.
Next, I would move on to the saturation, temperature and tint.
You can add a little Sharpness but I would keep it to minimum if you need it.
For any real control and photo editing, I would suggest using Photoshop Elements. At $79, its a great deal and simply a lighter version of Photoshop. I always recommend it over similar priced photo editing programs because there are so many fine books and tutorials available on it. --RL
Vacation Time
July 29, 2008 11:09 AM Filed in: Photography | Vacation
More Deke, More Kelby
The new dekePod video podcast by photographer and graphic artist, Deke McClelland is out. Just under six minutes of pure Deke. His videos always give me something to look forward to. This time it’s Deke’s approach to lab color. Sounds boring, right? Only Deke can give lab color an interesting spin. OK, now that we’re talking about how lab color is boring... I don’t use it but, if it’s good enoungh for Deke, it must time for me to give it a try..
Deke pitches his Photoshop book and his Lynda.com tutorials after the video. The lab color tutorial looks like it would be nice. I ne
ed more knowledge!
Scott Kelby’s taking pre-orders on his new book, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers. This one could be tough to beat. I am still on the fence about Adobe’s Lightroom and Apple’s Aperature it’s tough to know which one to go with. I still don’t shoot RAW images very much. The book might just be the push toward Lightroom for me. It would fit perfect next to my dog-eared Photoshop CS2 Book by Kelby. But then, it all starts to add up, because I would need to upgrade to a Canon G9 point-and-shoot which will give me RAW images. It a viciuous circle of spending. It never ends. Great and cool technology is never cheap.
Deke pitches his Photoshop book and his Lynda.com tutorials after the video. The lab color tutorial looks like it would be nice. I ne
ed more knowledge!Scott Kelby’s taking pre-orders on his new book, The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers. This one could be tough to beat. I am still on the fence about Adobe’s Lightroom and Apple’s Aperature it’s tough to know which one to go with. I still don’t shoot RAW images very much. The book might just be the push toward Lightroom for me. It would fit perfect next to my dog-eared Photoshop CS2 Book by Kelby. But then, it all starts to add up, because I would need to upgrade to a Canon G9 point-and-shoot which will give me RAW images. It a viciuous circle of spending. It never ends. Great and cool technology is never cheap.
Review: The Digitial Photography Book Volume 2
By Robert Lachman
This week I’m going to to review Scott Kelby’s newest
book, “The Digital Photography Book Volume 2.” Most people are way too critical of their own photographs and they tend to compare their photos to top professionals. Even my 91- year-old Mom does this.
I want everyone to stop this. Did you hear me? Stop being so critical of your own work. Back off, relax and enjoy your photography.
Kelby says on the cover that his book is the step-by-step secret to make your photos look like the pros! His description is pretty accurate. While this book will help, you still need the vision to pull off great photos.
“The Digital Photography Book Volume 2” is probably the best photography book for those amateurs trying to improve their photos. Scott uses a very simple and different approach in his new book.
It’s not full of long winded explanations, complicated, or esoteric approaches, but a short, straight-to-the-point example of how to get what you want.
The book is broken into Nine Chapters:
- Using Flash Like a Pro
- Building a Studio from Scratch
- Shooting Portraits Like a Pro
- Shooting Landscapes Like a Pro
- Shooting Weddings Like a Pro
- Shooting Travel Like a Pro
- Shooting Macro Like a Pro
- Pro Tips for Getting Better Photos
- More Photo Recipes to Help You Get “The Shot”
“The Digital Photography Book Volume 2” is just a little over 200 pages making it easy to carry around so you can read the book while waiting places. Scott did a nice job of laying out one tip to a page with nice graphics, most of them he shot himself.
Many of the ideas I use everyday shooting photographs professionally. I’m a photojournalist, so generally I tend to use smaller strobes, trying to light things more natural, more like an amateur. Scott’s ideas are right on the mark. He first talks about why your photos look lousy when you use the pop-up flash and how to move away from this like the pros do. That’s me. I am a professional working 33 years at the L.A. Times. I’ve been at it a while, so I must know something.
Scott cuts right to the chase: He explains how the book works, “It’s you and me shooting together at a shoot.” Sometimes you have to buy stuff. He gives you different price alternatives as you go along. We don’t all have budgets like a pro. Hey I’m a professional and I don’t have a budget like a pro. I’m still using a G4 laptop with a missing screw and also use a Vivitar 285 HV ($89) as one of my primary strobes.
He also lets you know that most of his demos are the Nikon or Canon products, but you can use other cameras to make it work. Just so you know, "Volume 2" picks up where his last book left off. It’s a new book not an update.
And finally, he lets you know that this is a “show me how do do it book”, like you’re a shooting buddy on assignment with Scott.
I love his one tip per page approach to “The Digital Photography Book Volume 2.” He starts the book with Pop-Up Flash : Use It as a Weapon. He says it’s designed to give you the flashiest, most harshest, most unflattering light modern day man has ever created. Scott didn’t pull any punches here. Although, sometimes you do need use the on-camera flash. In certain situations, it’s better than nothing.
He rounds out the first chapter with getting your flash off camera, going wireless, dragging the shutter, softening light, bouncing, how to get that Sports Illustrated look and shooting sunsets with flash. All good stuff.
In the next chapter he talks about Building a Studio from Scratch. He talks about the different kinds of strobes using umbrellas, soft boxes, and other modifiers like reflectors and where to position those lights. Be warned, Kelby loves that wind-blown-fan look.
Chapter three in the book, Shooting Portraits, Scott hits the track running, giving both lighting and composition ideas here. He even throws in the Trendy Composition Tips. I go back so far, that in my time, the horizon was supposed to be straight. All rules are meant to be broken now.
He also talks about posing your subject which is a very important topic.
The book continues on with great many features. He even did the shooting the famous landmark in the reflected sunglass trick. Scott is giving everything away.
Other topics include: wedding, travel, landscapes, when to shoot RAW, shooting food (one of my favorite subjects), looking for high vantage points, macro lenses and maximizing your depth of field.
Look to advance your photography skills learning to use window light and reflectors.
Chapter four works with landscapes, where he talks about sunsets, shooting streams, fog, lighting, rainbows, and flowers.
Chapter five Kelby gives his take on shooting weddings.
Chapter six talks about bringing back great travel photos.
Chapter seven dabbles in macro magic.
Chapters eight and nine brings it all together.
The book is for sale at Amazon.com for $16.49. Not only is it probably one of the best beginning digital photography books out there today, it's the cheapest. This combination doesn’t happen often.
I would give the book five out of five stars.
More info about Scott Kelby can be found on his Photoshop Insider website.
Check out the Kelby interview by Scott Sherman on The Digital Photography Show. Also, Sherman has a photography blog at www.scottsphotoblog.com
This week I’m going to to review Scott Kelby’s newest
book, “The Digital Photography Book Volume 2.” Most people are way too critical of their own photographs and they tend to compare their photos to top professionals. Even my 91- year-old Mom does this.I want everyone to stop this. Did you hear me? Stop being so critical of your own work. Back off, relax and enjoy your photography.
Kelby says on the cover that his book is the step-by-step secret to make your photos look like the pros! His description is pretty accurate. While this book will help, you still need the vision to pull off great photos.
“The Digital Photography Book Volume 2” is probably the best photography book for those amateurs trying to improve their photos. Scott uses a very simple and different approach in his new book.
It’s not full of long winded explanations, complicated, or esoteric approaches, but a short, straight-to-the-point example of how to get what you want.
The book is broken into Nine Chapters:
- Using Flash Like a Pro
- Building a Studio from Scratch
- Shooting Portraits Like a Pro
- Shooting Landscapes Like a Pro
- Shooting Weddings Like a Pro
- Shooting Travel Like a Pro
- Shooting Macro Like a Pro
- Pro Tips for Getting Better Photos
- More Photo Recipes to Help You Get “The Shot”
“The Digital Photography Book Volume 2” is just a little over 200 pages making it easy to carry around so you can read the book while waiting places. Scott did a nice job of laying out one tip to a page with nice graphics, most of them he shot himself.
Many of the ideas I use everyday shooting photographs professionally. I’m a photojournalist, so generally I tend to use smaller strobes, trying to light things more natural, more like an amateur. Scott’s ideas are right on the mark. He first talks about why your photos look lousy when you use the pop-up flash and how to move away from this like the pros do. That’s me. I am a professional working 33 years at the L.A. Times. I’ve been at it a while, so I must know something.
Scott cuts right to the chase: He explains how the book works, “It’s you and me shooting together at a shoot.” Sometimes you have to buy stuff. He gives you different price alternatives as you go along. We don’t all have budgets like a pro. Hey I’m a professional and I don’t have a budget like a pro. I’m still using a G4 laptop with a missing screw and also use a Vivitar 285 HV ($89) as one of my primary strobes.
He also lets you know that most of his demos are the Nikon or Canon products, but you can use other cameras to make it work. Just so you know, "Volume 2" picks up where his last book left off. It’s a new book not an update.
And finally, he lets you know that this is a “show me how do do it book”, like you’re a shooting buddy on assignment with Scott.
I love his one tip per page approach to “The Digital Photography Book Volume 2.” He starts the book with Pop-Up Flash : Use It as a Weapon. He says it’s designed to give you the flashiest, most harshest, most unflattering light modern day man has ever created. Scott didn’t pull any punches here. Although, sometimes you do need use the on-camera flash. In certain situations, it’s better than nothing.
He rounds out the first chapter with getting your flash off camera, going wireless, dragging the shutter, softening light, bouncing, how to get that Sports Illustrated look and shooting sunsets with flash. All good stuff.
In the next chapter he talks about Building a Studio from Scratch. He talks about the different kinds of strobes using umbrellas, soft boxes, and other modifiers like reflectors and where to position those lights. Be warned, Kelby loves that wind-blown-fan look.
Chapter three in the book, Shooting Portraits, Scott hits the track running, giving both lighting and composition ideas here. He even throws in the Trendy Composition Tips. I go back so far, that in my time, the horizon was supposed to be straight. All rules are meant to be broken now.
He also talks about posing your subject which is a very important topic.
The book continues on with great many features. He even did the shooting the famous landmark in the reflected sunglass trick. Scott is giving everything away.
Other topics include: wedding, travel, landscapes, when to shoot RAW, shooting food (one of my favorite subjects), looking for high vantage points, macro lenses and maximizing your depth of field.
Look to advance your photography skills learning to use window light and reflectors.
Chapter four works with landscapes, where he talks about sunsets, shooting streams, fog, lighting, rainbows, and flowers.
Chapter five Kelby gives his take on shooting weddings.
Chapter six talks about bringing back great travel photos.
Chapter seven dabbles in macro magic.
Chapters eight and nine brings it all together.
The book is for sale at Amazon.com for $16.49. Not only is it probably one of the best beginning digital photography books out there today, it's the cheapest. This combination doesn’t happen often.
I would give the book five out of five stars.
More info about Scott Kelby can be found on his Photoshop Insider website.
Check out the Kelby interview by Scott Sherman on The Digital Photography Show. Also, Sherman has a photography blog at www.scottsphotoblog.com