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Santa Monica Airport Artwalk! Today!

March 15, 2014 1 Comment

Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk
Going to the Santa Monica Airport Artwalk today!

Meet the resident artists of the airport arts community and discover a unique, creative cultural resource. Explore artist studios, see art and ceramic demonstrations, participate in art and theater workshops and enjoy the music of Critical Brass, local restaurants and food trucks in one of LA County’s oldest operating airfields. More than 60 local artists, performers and venues will open their doors to the public free of charge, including: Santa Monica Art Studios and ARENA 1 Gallery, Santa Monica College Art Mentor Program and Ceramic Arts, Ruskin Group Theatre, Santa Monica Airport Artist Studios and The Museum of Flying.

Santa Monica Airport Artwalk! Today!

Colorize a B&W Image Contest in the Photoshop and Lightroom group!

March 14, 2014 2 Comments

The Hidden Power of Adjustment Layers in Adobe Photoshop
Colorize a B&W Image Contest in the Photoshop and Lightroom group!

RULES:
– 1st you will need to be a member of the Photoshop and Lightroom Group on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/groups/pshopandlightroom/
– Then you will need to Download this B&W image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hz9qfbq96sdi1vl/black-white-contest.jpg
– BEST Colorization, painted Color version Wins!
– 1 Entry per person. No Re-dos!
– 1 winner will be picked at 9AM Pacific Time Monday March 17th!
– Prize is a PDF of Scott Valentine’s The Hidden Power of Adjustment Layers in Adobe Photoshop

Adjustment and fill layers are the building blocks of many techniques in Photoshop. Photographers, illustrators, and other digital artists use them for tasks ranging from the subtle to the outrageous. While these tools can appear to be straightforward, they form a foundation of powerful capabilities for creativity and image editing that give you amazing detail-level control.

Check out the book here from Peachpit/Adobe Press: http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Power-Adjustment-Layers-Photoshop/dp/0321957717/

Thanks for participating!

Colorize a B&W Image Contest in the Photoshop and Lightroom group!

Interview with Justin Seeley

March 13, 2014 7 Comments

Interview with Justin Seeley
What is your title, and can you explain what your daily responsibilities are?
My official title is Staff Author. My responsibilities are to develop and record online training courses for the lynda.com online training library.

What inspired you most to become a Photographer/photo artist? Why did you pursue this as a career?
I’ve always been enamored with digital imaging. I think design, photography, and art are all very influential pieces of our lives. They can change the way we think about just about anything, and alter our mood or state of mind without us really even realizing it, and that’s a powerful thing. I wanted to be around an environment where I’d constantly be exposed to that kind of stuff, so choosing a career at lynda.com was a no-brainer, really. We have some of the most talented artists and photographers in the world that do courses for us, and I get to interact with them on a daily basis. It’s very rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to pursuing a career in the creative fields?
The biggest obstacle for a creative nowadays is the saturation of the market and the overall perception of what it actually means to be a professional in your field. Anybody with a camera and a subscription to Creative Cloud can claim that they’re a photographer these days, and because the market is now flooded with people doing things like that, it really detracts from the true artists that are busting their butt trying to make it.

With all the new versions of Photoshop what changes do you personally feel are the most exciting or brilliant?
Wow, that’s a tough question. For me the features that matter the most are ones that people probably take for granted on a daily basis. For instance, Smart Objects and Smart Filters. These two features alone save people a ton of time and disk space, but they’re not really heralded as an amazing feature of the application. While I’m happy Adobe continues to innovate with things like Content Aware Fill and things like that, I feel like the little things matter the most in terms of what impacts the everyday workflow of a professional.

What Photoshop artists/creatives do you follow, and why do they stand out from others in your opinion?
I have several people that I follow and look up to in this business, some of whom I’ve actually had the pleasure of meeting and working with. My inspirations include Bert Monroy, Deke McClelland, James White, Ben Long, and Mordy Golding.

What social networks do you like most? Which present good examples of Photoshop and Photography the best?
Twitter is my primary social network, with Facebook being a close second. Since I’m mainly focused on the teaching aspect of the business these days, I don’t have much use for portfolio sites or showcase platforms, but I think Google+ is a great place for photographers to share work and cultivate a community around their brand. Behance is another great network for sharing your work as well. It’ll be interesting to see what Adobe does with it in the future and how well it’s adopted by the creative community.

What is your prediction of the evolution of social networks? How do you think these networks will showcase artists and Photographers better in the future?
I think social is still very much in its infancy. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the media aspect of it too, I think. Where it goes, I’m not quite sure, but I think it’s an exciting time for everyone. The main thing to remember as a creative is that you must pay attention to digital trends and go where the new things are and try them out. Never be afraid to try something new and grow as an artist, person, or business for that matter.

What predictions do you have for the future of Photoshop and Photography?
Aside from the digital revolution of the past few years, photography and digital imaging haven’t really changed all that much in the last decade or so. Sure, we’ve had some changes to the way we do business, but the principles all remain the same. I think that is going to continue, honestly, and as long as you stay on top of the latest technology and adapt to it, you’ll be just fine.

Follow Justin here: http://justinseeley.com/ & on lynda.com: http://www.lynda.com/Justin-Seeley/933963-1.html & on Twitter: twitter.com/justinseeley

Interview with Justin Seeley

Photographer’s Workflow: Enhancing the power of Lightroom with Photoshop

March 12, 2014 1 Comment

Mikkel Aaland Lightroom Event
On Saturday March 29th at 1PM Pacific Time we will be having a Live online Adobe Connect session with Mikkel Aaland on Lightroom 5 – Photographer’s Workflow: Enhancing the power of Lightroom with Photoshop
More info & to RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/633303170052381/

Photographer’s Workflow: Enhancing the power of Lightroom with Photoshop
Lightroom is like a fancy race car; it will take you most places really fast and it will make you look good. But there are places Lightroom can’t go, and that’s where Photoshop comes in. Photoshop is an off road vehicle: versatile, powerful, and capable of going just about anywhere, although often times with a tradeoff in speed, and with a steep learning curve. Until now, Photoshop has been more expensive than Lightroom, so photographers have been reluctant to take on that additional cost. With Adobe’s move to the Creative Cloud, that has all changed. Now photographers can acquire a Lightroom/Photoshop bundle for less than the price of Lightroom itself.  In this session, Mikkel Aaland will show Lightroom users simple Photoshop techniques that will take their skills to a whole new level. Check out his work here: http://www.mikkelaaland.com/

** This event will be hosted by Andrew Kavanagh & the Photoshop and Lightroom group! http://www.facebook.com/groups/pshopandlightroom
And also by Kelly McCathran – who is an excellent Adobe User Group manager and Adobe Certified instructor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adobecslovers/

Photographer’s Workflow: Enhancing the power of Lightroom with Photoshop

Interview with Eric Renno of TipSquirrel

March 10, 2014 5 Comments

Eric Renno of Tipsquirrel
What is your title, and can you explain what your daily responsibilities are?
I have a few titles I guess. I’m the guy behind TipSquirrel, something I’m very proud of. Its an incredible team and I’m proud to have bought them together. I handle all the social media, email etc which I absolutely love! I’m a lecturer at the Media and Journalism Centre here in Peterborough. It’s a great place to work, photo studio, TV studio, recording studio ans three radio studios! Its an aladin’s cave of loveliness. My background’s in editing moving images so I was taken on by the MJC to teach Premier Pro. I’ve filtered through the different departments and have taught a range of subjects, from Ident Design to Photography.

Then there’s private work. I do some portrait photography as well as retouching and restoration. Occasionally I’ll edit a video or two too.

What inspired you most to become a Photographer/photo artist? Why did you pursue this as a career?
I didn’t really pursue it, it was a natural progression from Premier Pro. I was taken ill some time ago and a friend had upgraded his Photoshop and asked if, while I was housebound if I’d like his old copy to learn something new. I fell instantly in love with it! Photography allows me to be creative. Working on an image in Photoshop gives me the same pleasure as I get from playing music. I wish I was better at both, but that drives me on I guess.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to pursuing a career in the creative fields?
Self-belief.  I wish I was more able to sell myself and work, but there’s that constant fear that someone’s going to find me out one day! As a teacher of creative subjects I see this all the time, but I can empathize , and hopefully I can be encouraging and positive.

With all the new versions of Photoshop what changes do you personally feel are the most exciting or brilliant?
Content aware takes my breath away every time I use or demonstrate it and now the advances in the Camera Shake stun me! I had saved a lovely photo of my dad taken a few years ago despite it being blurred, Camera Shake bought it back, that was a lovely moment when it ‘popped’ back all sharp.

Video editing is a great gain. CC  has it as standard and its coming on in leaps and bounds. Being able to colour correct, mask and all that Photoshop has to offer is amazing. What I really love is running Camera Raw on video!

What Photoshop artists/creatives do you follow, and why do they stand out from others in your opinion?
Of course I follow and admire all the Photoshop Nuts, past and present, I approached them to be a part of the site because I was a fan.
I get lost in Pinterest and 500px for hours as I go from artist to artist.

What social networks do you like most? Which present good examples of Photoshop and Photography the best?
I love Twitter. Others I fall in and out of love with depending on my mood. I complain about Facebook the most, but you’ll still find me there! G+ is amazing for sharing images and the communities work very well. With Google teetering on the edge of image editing I’m sure G+ and Google will become a major player in the very near future, watch out Photoshop?

What is your prediction of the evolution of social networks? How do you think these networks will showcase artists and Photographers better in the future?
Image sharing is and will be a major part of any social network, where would we be without an ‘Oh no it’s Monday’ kitten? Adobe are edging their way in with Behance and, the underrated in my opinion, Revel.

What predictions do you have for the future of Photoshop and Photography?
I’ve ranted on about this already but mobile apps for sure. Tablets are becoming the new laptop and generations are being bought up with touchscreen technology. Personally I still want a stylus in my hand but that’s probably showing my age. I worry too that in general people are becoming too complacent about their photography. I’m not talking photographers, but people in general. It seems ok to share 100 photos in an album, of which 70 are the same, 60 are blurred and 20 need rotating.

In the days of film every shot counted, you didn’t want to run out of film before the end of the day and beside that, every shot had a monetary value. Don’t get me wrong, I have a tone of terrible photos, I just don’t share them….. often.

Follow Eric here: http://www.tipsquirrel.com/ & on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/TipSquirrel/71635051061

Interview with Eric Renno of TipSquirrel

Cover banner contest in the Photoshop and Lightroom group!

March 7, 2014 1 Comment

Lynda.com
Photoshop and Lightroom group Cover banner contest!
To celebrate passing 30,000 members the Photoshop and Lightroom group will be having a Cover banner contest! The theme will be an Image of a Learning & Sharing community ( can be a photo or photo montage) and the Text Needs to say: Photoshop and Lightroom Group at the top or bottom, with the text More than 30,000 Members strong!  – placed top, bottom or middle.

* Prize will be a 1 Year membership to  http://www.lynda.com

To see more of the guidelines & to participate in the contest please join our group! http://www.facebook.com/groups/pshopandlightroom/
Enjoy!

Cover banner contest in the Photoshop and Lightroom group!

Photoshop and Lightroom Group just passed 30,000 Members! Thanks!

March 6, 2014 1 Comment

Thank You from the Photoshop and Lightroom group
The Photoshop and Lightroom Group just passed 30,000 Members! Thanks everyone!
Come join the Photoshop and Lightroom Group on Facebook to participate in the Contests to celebrate! http://www.facebook.com/groups/pshopandlightroom/

 

Photoshop and Lightroom Group just passed 30,000 Members! Thanks!

Interview with Sean McCormack – Photographer

March 6, 2014 12 Comments

Sean McCormack
What is your title, and can you explain what your daily responsibilities are?
I’m a humble photographer. Mostly my days are spent trying to get more people to pay me for photography or shooting that photography. I’m also involved in other photo related activities like writing books, magazine articles and even web plugins for Lightroom.

What inspired you most to become a Photographer/photo artist? Why did you pursue this as a career?
I’ve just always been interested in Photography. I live, eat and sleep it. It’s the first thing I think about in the morning and last thing I think about going to bed at night. I like to think I’ve come a long way, yet I know I’ve still so much to learn, and it’s that that knowing that drives me every day.  As to a career, I’m still very much up and coming. I still mix bands over the weekend, and spends my week days working from the studio, or from home when I just want to relax.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to pursuing a career in the creative fields?
Getting paid. It’s not necessarily how good or great your work is, it’s convincing people that it has value and is worth paying for. The perception of photography as a commodity and an attitude of ‘good enough’ means that people would take bad free stuff rather than pay, even when that bad stuff brings down their brand.,I do a lot of work for me. Do I think it can make money? Maybe not, but I love it. Like Ira Glass says, it has potential, but my taste is killer. I know I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’ll still keep working away at it. It’s still beyond ‘good enough’ though!

With all the new versions of Photoshop what changes do you personally feel are the most exciting or brilliant?
While I am using CC, I’m not there for the latest and greatest. Being able to rescues motion blurred shots is defintitely cool though. After a particular job today, I should really get better at perspective cloning! With the improved masking tools, I’m finding doing composites much easier with the newer versions for sure.

What Photoshop artists/creatives do you follow, and why do they stand out from others in your opinion?
I know Julieanne Kost is an Adobe Evangelist, but her art is so beautiful. I love the composite work of Joel Grimes, he’s pratically the king of commerical composites. Is his work art? I think so. Catherine Day is a British photographer and retoucher. She really does fantastic work. She has a series called ‘Chemical’ that’s really worth a look. Katrin Eismann is also fabulous. As a newer conceptual artist, I really like Brooke Shaden. I’m not sure I like the whole legion of copycats though! I’ve nothing against copying as a learning tool, but the point is find your own voice within your influence. Finally I want to give a big mention to Glyn Dewis, I love his work..and that he shows how he does it!

What social networks do you like most? Which present good examples of Photoshop and Photography the best?
I’m a huge Twitter user, and I spend way too much time on Facebook. I also use Instagram and Tumblr, though I stay relatively below the radar on Tumblr because a lot of the work I post there are nudes or latex, and less mainstream than the bulk of my work. It’s watermarked so you know it’s my work, I’m just not promoting it so much! Really for photography you need to go to places like 500px.com or Flickr.com. I have this discussion with friends over wheter or not to share more of my work. I’m terrible for keeping it to myself.

What is your prediction of the evolution of social networks? How do you think these networks will showcase artists and Photographers better in the future?
With the rights grab that happens on some social media, you’re essential sacrificing images for exposure. Something will happen where some of the images get used inappropriately and the law will eventually change how media works in social media. Facebook reach is now their cash cow, and from what I can see, it’s not targeting the people I want as clients, so I’ve pratically stopped putting stuff up there directly. In some ways, it’s been to the detriment of my own blog, so I think the effort needs to go back there. I’m in the middle of a revamp of my website at the moment too (it’s so 2011 right now!). Facebook/Twitter is so fleeting, I need that more permanent home for my work

What predictions do you have for the future of Photoshop and Photography?
The jump to Creative Cloud has created a huge divide. There are people that simply don’t want to rent software. I think there will be competitors trying to fill the perpetual license void. There’s nothing out there to touch Photoshop, but I think it’s creating an opportunity for competition.

I think that Photography as a profession will get even harder and harder. Obviously commercial work requires talent, but event work, and even press work is becoming more citizen based as people become more proficent with imagery. I genuinely hope that people learn to see the difference quality imagery can make.

As an art form, I think that photography will grow, because of the accessibility. Hopefully there will be plenty of originality that burns bright.

Follow Sean here! http://seanmcfoto.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMcCormackPhotography & Twitter:@lightroomblog

Interview with Sean McCormack – Photographer
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