Yep even we do a little shameless self promotion occasionally. Gotta keep the goods coming! Our sister site Seim Effects has just launched a brand new set of Photoshop actions. This is a collection if effects geared towards the everyday needs of nearly any photographer. S.E already has lots of amazing photographers already using their effects and workflow. You won’t be disappointed*
There’s a detailed video showing them in “Action” over on Seim Effects. There’s also a launch sale over there. PPS readers can save 15% off this set, and any of actions or Lightroom Presets on S.E for a very limited time. Just use promo code “PPSS”
Fine Print… Yep we even have that :–)
* This detailed statistic is based on the fact that people love Seim Effects, and say so rather than the contrary. Though we cannot absolutely positively promise that you will never ever be disappointed, we’re really really thinking you won’t. If you have any trouble contact Gavin. He’ll be happy to take care of you.
Most of us have at least heard of Vincent Versace. He’s revered as a master of light by most, and his book is about giving your images that Hollywood fantasy quality using PS.
This thing is loaded with beautiful pictures, and for me that’s a big deal because I get a lot of ideas by seeing what others are doing and adding my own ideas to it. It’s not just images though. It’s chock full of technique and how to, and even includes a DVD that has high res images from the book so you can try them yourself.
As with most of the products I feature in CPOTW, the Amazon reviews speak for it. Check it out here.
 Happy 4th of July and Belated Canada Day! Lets’ shoot!
For those in the USA, the 4th of July is near, and that means Fireworks. Even if your not in the US, your sure to have chances to shoot fireworks sometime.Maybe you shot a few on Canada Day.
Scott Kelby just posted a few quick and dirty tips the other day on getting good fireworks shots, Starting with getting out your tripod. I can say from experiance that these tips are great, and thought I’d pass it along.
Lets see some great fireworks on the PPS Flickr group next week… Gav
Nikon just announced the new d700, which will fill in the mid range of Nikon’s pro line that they’ve been lacking for awhile. Some more nice images and details on Engadget.
The 12mp D700 will be shipping with a live view 3-inch display, 51 point auto focus, scene recognition, four-speed active dust reduction, ISO up to 6400, 5 or 8 fps full-res shooting, HDMI out and more.
I‘m a canon user myself, and still waiting for Canon to get me that 5d MK II, but you Nikon user can expect this gem in July for about 3k. Don’t gloat too much though. Canon will be getting us some goodies soon (we hope)
In similar news Nikon has also announced the SB900 flash, and a bit of new glass, including the PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D
By Gavin Seim: Updated 05/13) – HDR (High Dynamic Range) is really powerful, but often misunderstood. People will throw images into the latest software only to mimic the easy, but often ugly and over processed “HDR look”. That HDR that has become the stigma of the technique. HDR and especially HDR portraits can be challenging, but they are not rocket science. It just takes some time to get the hang of the subtleties. Here’s a few tips that anyone can use for both pictorial and portrait work to mange dynamic range better.
1. Understanding HDR: It’s not a style in itself. A style is something that comes from you. HDR all about light. Sometimes it’s from a single file. Often it means getting various exposures at different lightness levels and then combining them in a way that looks good either manually, or using tone-mapping or fusing, with software like Photomatix and others.
But contrary to what overdone HDR suggests. It’s not about showing ALL the light in a scene. Without shadow, an image is usually flat, chaotic and without focus. HDR about gaining control over all the light in a scene. It’s almost like a bucket filled with light from an entire scene and you can use it however you want.
2. Tripods & Releases: While most HDR rendering software can attempt to line up images, you really want clear consistent frames because stability is key. If there’s no other option, you may have to hand hold and hope for the best. It can work, but a tripod is king and is always the safest route. Even with single image exposures, using a tripod will generally get you better quality. See The Six Keys To Image Quality.
Cable releases are also a great tool. Allowing you to avoid touching the camera while making frames. Good for sequences and long exposures. Besides that, it looks cool to stand there majestically and press the release button.
A PPS Loan award winner from 2010. 3 images blended in HDR software and finished in Photoshop.
3. Auto Bracketing: Most DSLR’s have an auto bracket function that allows you to have -2, 0 and +2 exposure compensation in one quick burst. AB allows you to expose things fast without handling the gear as much. In some cases you may want to manually get a wider exposure range, but I find that 3 images are usually all I need.
Auto bracketing is not only convenient, it’s especially valuable with HDR portraits or moving subjects because you need to capture your sequence as fast as possible without having to manually change settings. But remember that just because your bracketing is not an excuse for poor exposure. Keeping that middle frame dead on will give you a better final result.
A three image bracket blended in Photomatix and refined in Photoshop.
