Photo creative 365

Photoshop Camera RAW vs Aperture – RAW Processing

Michael Shilling — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:00:15 +0000

The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in became the latest must-have tool for professional photographers when it was released in February 2003. On the other hand we have Aperture who have been very quielty working away in their little Mac only corner of the world.

For all the bells and whistles, we’re not interested in sharpening, recovery or presets. This test looks at what RAW converter is going to give you the best images to work with.

You can read (and watch the video) on what we’re trying to achive in Creating printable images and Wedding photography digital workflow.

Our desire is always have have no clipping of any highlights or blacks. To achieve this we simply want to adjust the exposure rather than use recovery tools.

Photoshop Camera RAW Unedited

: Photoshop Camera RAW Edited

The only adjustments we made were removing the sharping, brightness and blacks. We did bring the Exposure up +0.50 to remove all clipping of highlights and shadow areas.

Aperture RAW Processing unedited

Aperture RAW edited

The only adjustments we made were removing the sharping, brightness and blacks. We did bring the Exposure up +0.50 to remove all clipping of highlights and shadow areas.

Already we see a little more detail in the shadow areas and the images does seem a little brighter.

Side By Side

The clouds in the Photoshop processed image blends into the sky a bit too much.The details in the shadow areas by the drainpipe is completely disappeared in the Photoshop conversion.

Processed Images

Here’s a few more side by side comparisons after we’ve put the images through a retouching action.

We still have the problem of the disappearing clouds in the Photoshop image.

Conclusion

Although we ‘finish’ all of our images in Photoshop we much prefer using Aperture to process the RAW files. The main reason being that Aperture tends to give us a greater and more realistic dynamic range to work with.

At the end of the day, this is why we work with RAW files in the first place. Although programs like Lightroom and Aperture do have a lot of nice features there’s always the danger of taking an image too far.

Beginning with a properly processed RAW file is the first step towards creating printable images that don’t look Photoshopped.

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The PhotoCreative Podcast Episode 28

Michael Shilling — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:30:47 +0000

The PhotoCreative Podcast Episode 28 - A look at the last 7 days at the new look PhotoCreative 365

Listen to the podcast on iTunes

Become a member of PhotoCreative365

It’s free to sign up…. we now have a fully working members only area…. just for you!

Guest post at Current Photographer – 15 Ways to Increase Your Portrait Revenue: by Michael Shilling

The last week at PhotoCreative 365 looked a little like this…….

Sunday Showcase – The 2010 Project – Things

Raising Funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Social Media Saturday – Follow ME on DIGG

Three posts this week….

Twitip – Twitter Tips Loads of great articles and link love!

The new Digg – Are you using it yet?

Social Media Songs – Just a bit of fun.

The Jaded Snapper

The Jaded Snapper – CharityCase – Follow the big bloody tease on Twitter @jadedsnapper

PhotoCreative recommends

More fun with the LensBaby – LensBaby Composer aperture tests – More tests on Thursday with the Macro lenses

WordPress themes

WordPress Themes for Photographers – Photocrati – Anyone using these templates? We’d love to hear some feedback!

Photoshop

Keeping things Straight in Photoshop

All the business Ideas for Photographers podcasts this week

Business Ideas for Photographers #26 – Control your output.

Business Ideas for Photographers #25 – Build relationships with other businesses.

Business Ideas for Photographers #24 – Memorise your prices.

Business Ideas for Photographers #23 – Decide where YOU want to advertise.

For previews of what’s coming soon at PhotoCreative 365 become a fan of the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PhotoCreative365

Questions!

If you have any questions connect with us on Twitter @memorygate or use the contact form.

The Sunday Showcase

Submit your images to the Sunday Showcase and be featured on the top banner at PhotoCreative 365 for a whole week!

The Photographers Directory

We’re still working on adding some of our favourite links and resources but you can of course share your Twitter id and Facebook pages with no back link required!

If you have any favourite resources then please share them with us.

Business Ideas for Photographers Part 2

Michael Shilling — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:00:47 +0000

This is the second in our series of Business Ideas for Photographers. Make sure you check out the Podcast episodes and of course we have all of these ideas in our free eBook.

To read the other posts in this series go to….

Business Ideas for Photographers Part 1

7. Show me the money

How are you getting paid, are you making it easy for people to pay you?

Do you have a credit card machine or does your client have to pay by cheque or bank transfer.

Can your clients pay interest free credit or different payment plans?

8. Show big sell big

How do you make more money? Easy….. you sell your biggest product! How do you sell these big pieces? It depends on what you show them they can have.

are you showing clients your images on a web gallery? What are they then looking at? A tiny images on a laptop.

9. Define your USP

Is your USP really unique? Surely you’re not another award winning photographer or another black and white wedding photographer?

How about your dress in a red suit to your weddings or you’re the only fairy photographer is west Sussex.

What makes you, as a person, unique?

10. Who are you?

What is your USP? What do you do? Can you describe what you do in five words? Do you have an elevator speech? How do you introduce yourself? Are you ‘a photographer’ or something that describes what you do.

Tell me what you do…. so I can go tell people what you do… and get you more business!

11. Give a little back

No I’m not talking discounts I’m talking about anniversary, birthday, Christmas cards. Staying in contact with your clients. Make them your friends because friends create business for you.

But why not surprise them with something simple like a ket ring or a free print?

12. How to use social media successfully

The answer is in the name… be sociable and interact. If your conversation is only one way then that’s not being sociable is it?

Don’t just be on Twitter….. use it… converse.

Be careful how much time you spend though!

All these ideas and more can be found in our brand new eBook

The 2010 Project – Things

Michael Shilling — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:00:10 +0000

Once again this the Sunday showcase is looking at submissions to The 2010 Project

All of these images have been submitted in the Things category.

Things or Still life photography is the depiction of inanimate subject matter, most typically a small grouping of objects. Still life photography, more so than other types of photography, such as landscape or portraiture, gives the photographer more leeway in the arrangement of design elements within a composition.

The 2010 Project is an International Photographic Competition designed to showcase some of the best photographic imagery whilst raising valuable funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

So what is the 2010 Project about?

It is a first class opportunity to enter an international photographic competition. The competition is open to anyone, and winners will have their images published on line AND in a beautifully produced coffee table book that is to be sold in aid of charity. Photos need to be taken from 1st January – 31st December 2010, and entries need to be in by 14th February 2011. Every single Pound, Euro, Yen and Dollar raised on this project will be donated to MacMillan Cancer Support.

Things Submissions

Thank you everyone for your donations and support. Today’s featured images are submissions from Sue Roberts, Jennifer Humphreys, Michelle Turner, Michael Shilling, Elizabeth James, Sebastian Siemieniec, Gill McGowan, Tim Hoy, Caron Wasserman, Bob Oliver and Edward Olive.

[View with PicLens]

Twitip – Twitter Tips

Michael Shilling — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:00:15 +0000

Owned by Darren Rowse who is also the editor and founder of Digital Photography School and ProBlogger Blog Tips. Twiptip is edited by Lara Kulpa @larakulpa

TwiTip is about capturing some of the lessons that I and others have been learning about Twitter and how to use it more effectively. It will cover Twitter Tips of all varieties including Writing for Twitter, Branding, Growing a Following, Corporate Tweeting and a lot more.

Darren Rowse

It’s always nice to get the perspective from a fellow photographer but Twitip offers much, much more as it encourages other Twitter users to share their knowledge in the form of regular or one off guest posts.

If you’re brand new to Twitter or you’re there every morning on your train ride to work there are different categories for you all.

Here’s a few I picked out….

Beginner’s Guide

New to Twitter? Check out our Beginner’s Guide for all the basics.

The #1 Secret to Follow Friday Success – By Dayne Shuda Follow @dayneshuda

Why Should I Be On Twitter? - By Justin Hillier Follow @Justin_hillier

7 Deadly Sins of Twitter – By Zoey Dowling. Follow @zoeyspeak.

10 Easy Steps for Twitter Beginners – By Darren Rowse Follow @problogger

Tame The Beast: How To Use Twitter So It Doesn’t Suck Up Your Time And Attention - By James Mallinson – Follow @jmallinson

Finding Twitter Followers

How to grow your follower numbers on Twitter

#followfriday Revolution - By Maija Haavisto Follow @DiamonDie

10 Ways To Create A Community Around Your Tweetup – By Jade Craven Follow @jadecraven

How to Find Twitter Twits to Retweet Your Tweet! - By Kevin Gibbons Follow @kevgibbo

To Follow or Not to Follow; that is the Question – By Neal Wiser Follow @nealwiser

7 Ways to Be Worth Following on Twitter - By Jo-Lynne Follow @dcrmom

Twitter Tools

New tools are being developed all the time for Twitter users. Get the latest info here!

Measuring Twitter Sentiment – UpprDwnr - By Stu Belshe Follow @stubelshe

Create a Custom List of Tweets with TwitBlend – By Lara Kulpa Follow @larakulpa

EventVue Chatter – A better way to follow event hashtags - By Josh Fraser Follow @Joshfraser

Twitter Tips

General tips on using Twitter to make the most of your experience.

What Should You Tweet About? – By Darren Rowse Follow @problogger

When Tweeting Less Can Help You be a More Effective Twitter User – By Darren Rowse Follow @problogger

Custom Twitter Backgrounds: Tips for Better Readability – By Hendry Lee from BlogBuildingU Follow @hendrylee

How to Host Your own Short URLs – By Darren Rowse Follow @problogger

Twitter versus Facebook: Should you Choose One? – Steve Thornton Follow @stevethornton

Business

Tips on using Twitter for your business, be it small or large.

How to Use Twitter to Poach Customers – By Helena@GGT Follow @girlgoestech

The Tale Of Customer Support On Twitter – By Are Morch Follow @TwtrCoach

Twitter Tips for Beginners [VIDEO] – By Darren Rowse Follow @problogger

20 Must Read Beginner Twitter Tips for Small Business Owners - By Mark Hayward – Follow @mark_hayward

Intangibility of Twitter Results – By Anna of Lucid New York – Follow @LucidAnna

People

Learn about some of the great Twitter users out there. People you should follow, and why!

Did Twitter Kill the Video Star? – By Jenni Izzo Follow @jenniizzo

Conan Meets Sarah – A Cute Story - By Adam Follow @adam_right

How To Get Celebrities To Tweet You - By Shannon Albert Follow @shannonalbert

The new Digg

Michael Shilling — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:30:01 +0000

Last week, Digg launched version 4.0 of the popular social news website and I thought to myself that I might as well try it out.

When it comes to social media I really like to live my one rule WWMD (What Would Mashable Do?) and seeing how Mashable now have a massive banner at the top of the site with ‘Follow Mashable on the New Digg’ and being the preferable sheep, I thought ‘why not?’

So to fully embrace the Digg experience I’ve added a Submit to Digg button - Digg This O’ Mine and downloaded the Official iPhone app. I’ve also added a Digg button to the wonderful Wibiya toolbar.

Ultimately of course this whole exercise is a shameless way to attract more traffic, but with all types of social media you have to engage with it to properly reap the befits.

We’ll see how it goes but let me know if you’re a Digger (not sure if that’s the correct phrase or not) and I’m sure I’ll give you a little follow plus the odd Digg or two!

If you want to read a little more about the new features on Digg 4.0 then please do head over to New Digg Is Live: What It Means For Digg and For You

Social Media Songs

Michael Shilling — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:53 +0000

Bit of fun for the weekend here’s a few social media related songs that we’ve been wasting our day away watching on YouTube….enjoy.