This year on the Christmas episode we talk A LOT about the industry business and pricing ideas, what we see for 2011 and even some great tools and gadgets to pick up for Christmas. Note that this is a long show. If it’s a bit much break halfway using the time index below and listen to it as two episodes.
by Gavin Seim: I’ll keep this brief because Photoshop CS5 has been out for months now and reviews have been floating all over. Rather than get redundant with an ultra in depth review, I’ll just talk a little about what I think. I’ll be frank and you can make your own decision from there.
Photoshop CS5. Full = $699 – $999.
My overall rating 6.5/10.
New features worth noting…
Content Aware tools are the big news in CS5. It works when lassoing and deleting sections of an image, using the healing brush and more. Neat tool, but not perfect. More on that below.
New “Mixer Brushes” blend color like paint, similar to something like Painter (but less powerful).
Crop has a rule of thirds overlay now (finally).
Remastered HDR tools and Pseudo HDR with HDR toning. Better, but not perfect.
Remastered Refine Edge. Will find more detailed edges for better masking and has automatic edge decontamination.
Puppet Warp allows you to modify in a new ways. Move limbs, horizon lines and more by defining control points.
New process versions and improved camera RAW.
Mini bridge right within PS.
Content aware fill. This feels more like a beta feature. It got hyped a lot prior to release. Probably over hyped. Once we got the product in our hands, reality set in. Content Aware was not the magical tool that Adobe made it out to be in demo videos and they took some flack for it. I think the problem was that they showed it as being so perfected. Erasing entire areas of photos, cleaning out power lines with a single stoke. It looked wonderful in theory.
by Gavin Seim: Pricing is an interesting thing. Those of you that listen to me on the Pro Photo Show podcast know that I don’t try to be the cheapest in my photography. Not by a long shot. Truth is I don’t try to be cheapest with Seim Effects either, though I often am for what I offer. I just try to make the best tools and charge what I think is sensible. Through that process I often come out less expensive than other editing products available in the industry.
Now it’s true that often you get what you pay for. It’s also true that sometimes people buy something just because it’s more expensive. That’s perceived value. How much you can charge because of your brand. Experience and service are worth something too, but sometimes paying more does not mean you get that.
Most effects out there are different and have something unique to offer, so I’m not saying mine are the only ones worth buying. I’ve not used all the editing products available, but I’ve used a lot of them. Some are really good, some less so. In the end I just want to sure my product is something special. I’ve had people essentially call to ask…
“Are Seim Effects any good. Their so much cheaper than brand K or Z”.
The answer of course is yes. In fact many users tell me their a lot better. Truth is I put my heart and soul into this stuff. I’m fanatical about making it as flawless and effective as I can. Their not $5 because their good and their worth a lot more. Their not $200 either. Not because I hate money, but because I think that would be overkill and the overall benefit would go down.
Updated 04/11. Note. FB no longer allows you to “Suggest To Friends”. In absence of this feature you can use the “Share” link and suggest the page by posting it on your wall.
Many of you are already fans over on the Seim Effects Facebook page, but if you’re not check it out because you’ll find news and updates, tips and various cool freebies.
Anyways I have a special deal for you FB friends. If you think I’ve earned a little word of mouth and are willing to help out I’d like you to tell your friends. In return I’m giving back a special thank you gift. Suggest the Seim Effects page to friends and get a $10 coupon good towards anything on the site. No strings. You simply have to suggest the page your Facebook photo friends by using the “Share” link (as pictured).
Click the “Share” link on the button left of the page. A window will popup.
Post the page to your wall. You’re welcome to add a personal recommendation.
Alternately click the link in the same window to email the suggestion to specific photo friends (at least 15).
Finally, email me (effects@seimstudios.com). Let me know you posted to wall or suggested to at least 15 friends.
I’ll send a special one time coupon ASAP that’s good for $10.
This is an honor system, so as my habit is I’m trusting you to be fair. When you send me that email I’m trusting you’ve really followed through. If using the email method, there’s no need to suggest t0 friends who are not interested in photography, but you must suggest to at least 15 friends.
This coupon is a flat $10 discount good on any Seim Effects goodies, including the new Power Workflow 3. It’s my thank you for being a customer and helping spread the word about a better way to edit photos. Let me know if you have questions… Gav
Sunset's Hidden Falls - Yosemite National Park, Fall 2010.
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I’ve seen amazing things in my travels. So at first glance it just seemed like a beautiful landscape. But as I took what little time I had to really look at Yosemite through the eyes of an artist, I soon begin to realize why Ansel Adams loved it so much and to see that those giant slabs of rock towering above me were true wonders of natural beauty.
I had just one afternoon for this, as it was the tail end of our Fall 2010 tour and we needed to move towards home. I was hoping to take away at least one really good frame that afternoon. I think I did just that. I made various compositions throughout the day, and though we did not get to see a fraction of Yosemite’s beauty, we wound the narrow highways and hills, seeing what we could in the time we had. We ended up down in the village and roamed a bit, taking time to visit Ansel’s gallery and peek at some of his legendary images.
We were heading out of the village, working our way back to camp near Mono Lake. I was hoping to see some sort of sweeping sunset as the night drew in, but we barley got a mile before I rounded the bend and experienced this view for the first time. Gateway to Yosemite is a sight. With a view right cross the river and down the valley. Bridal Veil falls in the distance. Some others were in the pull off, snapping photos and enjoying the view as the low evening sun cast sprawling light on the crags of El Capitan and it’s surrounding landscape. I knew this was it and I was going to take my time.
Those of you who know me, know I’m a fan of silver prints and of Ansel. I don’t want to copy what he did, but his and others work have allowed me to gain appreciation for quality silver images as I continue to refine my own approach. In the past few years I’ve started spending time in the study of monochrome. I love color, but sometimes I just want to take it away. Allowing me to explore the canvas that is tone, depth detail and density. This was one of those times.
This this was one of those places that get’s photographed often, but I wanted something above average and was willing to wait for it. I set up the tripod and gear, waiting for some people to move so I could get right where I wanted. I meticulously analyzed the composition and setup for the image. I think I spent a good twenty minutes planning it and running few test frames, refining the focus manually and just making sure I didn’t miss this.
Finally it all came together. The light, the plan and the moment. I made my final frames, then packed up. I don;t believe I took any more photos that night. This was what I had come for and I felt satisfied. After I was back in the trailer, final process proceeded. I could try it describe the scene, the flowing river, the driftwood, and the tiny distant waterfall. But I need not because I have the result of many hours of labor to show just how it felt to me on this evening in September 2010. I’m currently doing test prints on metal and this one should be officially released this year.
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