Review
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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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
Matt Kloskowki’s new book “LAYERS”
By Robert Lachman
When I was browsing through the photo books at Amazon.com, one book in particular, really jumped out at me, Matt Kloskowski’s new book, “Layers,” the complete guide to Photoshop’s most powerful features, so I clicked the buy button. That was easy. I am a sucker for any new photography book, you could say, I’m an easy sell.
Some people, I guess, want to sit by the fireplace with a good novel, but for me, it’s a computer or photography book. I really feel like I have hit the geek wall because I’m spending way too much time in front of the computer.
I guess I should be out exercising more. Tomorrow, I am going to ride my bike to the beach while listening to the new Steve Martin book from Audible.com on my iTouch. Exercise and computers, what a great combination.
OK, back to the book review. I did look forward to receiving the book and I wasn’t disappointed. “Layers” is designed for the the beginning to intermediate Photoshop or Elements user.
Matt definitely has the credentials for writing the book, he has hosted photoshop podcasts, written articles for Photoshop User and he works full-time for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.
The book is on the smaller side for a computer book, just 255 pages. Did I say 255 pages? I saw another “Layers” instructional book at the Barnes and Noble bookstore which contained over 800 pages. Yikes, that’s a little too many “Layers” for me to digest.
I’m still trying to figure out curves and the histogram.
The book is an easy read with nine chapters. Including: Basics, Blending, Adjustment Layers, Masks, Type and Shape, Enhancing Photos, Retouching Layer Styles and Smart Layers.
You can also follow along building projects with the examples which you can download from the internet.
I would consider myself an intermediate photoshop users so this book is perfect for me. Matt uses nice graphics on each page to to drive home his points and goes over the important features you will use.
In Chapter Two, he talks about Blending Layers. This is an important part because it always confuses me. Matt simplifies it by breaking it up into “The Three Most Important Blend Modes You Need.” Multiply, Screen and Softlight. Three is good, I have just enough brain cells left to remember this data. The explanations are concise and to the point.
Let’s skip ahead to chapter six, “Dodging and Burning Done Right.” I’m fired up now! I usually just use a the simple burn-and-dodge tool. It’s not really the correct non-destructive way. It’s simple, not the cool way. I’m ready to do it the right way: add a layer, make it 50-percent gray, and then use black and white brushes to paint to dodge and burn. With this technique, my Photoshop I.Q. should be through the roof.
I always enjoy learning new techniques. Photoshop gives you many ways to do the same thing.
There is really a lot to learn in the book and Matt uses nice graphics to illustrate his points. At the end of each chapter, he has a Q&A to help reinforce his points.
Other topics which are included in chapters are: combining multiple exposures, painting with light, selective sharpening, creating soft focus, creating reusable photo effects and using type with layers.
If you’re looking for a photoshop book which is easy to read and not the imposing giant computer books, I highly recommended picking up a copy of “Layers."
The price of the book is $39.95. I bought it at www.amazon.com for $26.39 US.
I’ve finished eight of the nine chapters leaving me with Smart Layers. I didn’t know layers had any intelligence. I am ready for the next chapter, “Four Reasons Why Smart Objects Rock!”
______________________________________________________________________
When I was browsing through the photo books at Amazon.com, one book in particular, really jumped out at me, Matt Kloskowski’s new book, “Layers,” the complete guide to Photoshop’s most powerful features, so I clicked the buy button. That was easy. I am a sucker for any new photography book, you could say, I’m an easy sell.
Some people, I guess, want to sit by the fireplace with a good novel, but for me, it’s a computer or photography book. I really feel like I have hit the geek wall because I’m spending way too much time in front of the computer.
I guess I should be out exercising more. Tomorrow, I am going to ride my bike to the beach while listening to the new Steve Martin book from Audible.com on my iTouch. Exercise and computers, what a great combination.
OK, back to the book review. I did look forward to receiving the book and I wasn’t disappointed. “Layers” is designed for the the beginning to intermediate Photoshop or Elements user.
Matt definitely has the credentials for writing the book, he has hosted photoshop podcasts, written articles for Photoshop User and he works full-time for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.
The book is on the smaller side for a computer book, just 255 pages. Did I say 255 pages? I saw another “Layers” instructional book at the Barnes and Noble bookstore which contained over 800 pages. Yikes, that’s a little too many “Layers” for me to digest.
I’m still trying to figure out curves and the histogram.
The book is an easy read with nine chapters. Including: Basics, Blending, Adjustment Layers, Masks, Type and Shape, Enhancing Photos, Retouching Layer Styles and Smart Layers.
You can also follow along building projects with the examples which you can download from the internet.
I would consider myself an intermediate photoshop users so this book is perfect for me. Matt uses nice graphics on each page to to drive home his points and goes over the important features you will use.
In Chapter Two, he talks about Blending Layers. This is an important part because it always confuses me. Matt simplifies it by breaking it up into “The Three Most Important Blend Modes You Need.” Multiply, Screen and Softlight. Three is good, I have just enough brain cells left to remember this data. The explanations are concise and to the point.
Let’s skip ahead to chapter six, “Dodging and Burning Done Right.” I’m fired up now! I usually just use a the simple burn-and-dodge tool. It’s not really the correct non-destructive way. It’s simple, not the cool way. I’m ready to do it the right way: add a layer, make it 50-percent gray, and then use black and white brushes to paint to dodge and burn. With this technique, my Photoshop I.Q. should be through the roof.
I always enjoy learning new techniques. Photoshop gives you many ways to do the same thing.
There is really a lot to learn in the book and Matt uses nice graphics to illustrate his points. At the end of each chapter, he has a Q&A to help reinforce his points.
Other topics which are included in chapters are: combining multiple exposures, painting with light, selective sharpening, creating soft focus, creating reusable photo effects and using type with layers.
If you’re looking for a photoshop book which is easy to read and not the imposing giant computer books, I highly recommended picking up a copy of “Layers."
The price of the book is $39.95. I bought it at www.amazon.com for $26.39 US.
I’ve finished eight of the nine chapters leaving me with Smart Layers. I didn’t know layers had any intelligence. I am ready for the next chapter, “Four Reasons Why Smart Objects Rock!”
______________________________________________________________________