Welcome – Overview
Ed’s Galleries (circa 2004-7, pre-Photo Improvement blog)
Thru-Ed’s-Eyes Portfolios, A Retrospective (my Swan Song) presented in the form of ~70 portfolios of ~20 photos each
Nik Software Tutorials: more detailed than Nik user guides
Color Efex Pro 4 Tutorial (CEP4)
HDR Efex Pro 2 Tutorial (HEP2)
Silver Efex Pro 2 Tutorial (SEP2)
Color Efex Pro Filter Guide and Index (CEP)
Differences between Color Efex Pro & Viveza
Detailed Anatomy of a CEP4 Filter
CEP4 – Making & Using Recipes
CEP4 Recipe Step-by-Step Usage Example
The content below is common to the “Efex Pro” family
Control Points & Selective Adjustments
History Browser
Presets
Keyboard Shortcuts
Nik Software and RAW image files
Miscellaneous Nik Software Related Posts
Google Nik Collection File Locations on your PC & Mac
The Digital Zone System (an e-Book featuring SEP2)
Running the Nik Collection without PS, LR, or Aperture
CRAFTSMANSHIP – Knowing how to use your camera to control exposure, focus and color for a technically perfect image or for the creative image that you want. Key message- putting you in control of the camera & not vice-versa.
Exposure
Exposure Metering Tips
ISO Settings Tips
Preview 1
Preview 2
Exposure – Metering
Exposure – Adjusting Exposure
Exposure – Exposure Compensation & the Histogram, 1
Exposure Compensation & the Histogram, 2
The Exposure “You Want”, 1
The Exposure “You Want”, 2
A High Key Happy Accident
Exposure and Difficult Lighting – in camera
Exposure and Difficult Lighting – Multiple Exposures (HDR)
HDR Update
HDR Update #2
HDR Comparison Revisited
HDR Efex Pro Tutorial
“Natural HDR” is an Oxymoron
Realistic HDR – The Search Continues
Finally – A Natural Looking HDR Image (more or less)
Shooting the Rare Super Full Moon
For more on HDR scroll down to Post-Processing
Exposure Lesson Summary
Exposure – Example Images
Exposure WARNING
Diffusion Disk for Light Control
ISO
Manual Exposure – After Sunny 16 is it Cloudy 11?
Potential Long Exposure Problems
Manual Exposure, Bulb Setting, Lightning ….
Exposure Mystery Problems
Keeping Camera Settings Under Control
Creative use of Focus
Preview
Introduction
Part a – Basics of Focus
Part b – In Focus Throughout
Part c – Selective Focus for Creative Images
Using DOF – an example
Lesson summary – additional thoughts
Bokeh – an “advanced” creative focus topic
Advanced Selective Focus Example
Shoot-Through’s
Focus & Macros
A New Macro/Closeup Lens Combo
Yet Another Macro/Closeup Combo
A Final Macro/Closeup Combo, I Promise
Liveview vs. Viewfinder
Point & Shoot Camera Limitations
Starbursts
Motion
Preview
Shutter Speed & Light Control
Shutter Speed Experiments
Example Images
Creative uses of shutter speed – Camera Motion
Camera Motion – Multiple Exposures
Multiple Exposures Made Easy – short “all you need” tutorial
Camera Panning Control
Miscellaneous Shutter Speed Techniques
Falling Snow & Shutter Speed
Multiple Exposures – a Slide Show Example
Motion Blur via Multiple Exposures
Fantasy Garden – Multiple Exposure Experiments
Color
Color & White Balance Primer
Color – As Captured in the Camera, Part 1
Color – As Captured in the Camera, Part 2
Monochrome
Color Filters with B&W Images
Nik Silver Efex Pro
Digital Infrared
An IR Experiment
IR vs. Color Comparison
There’s Haze in Them Thar Hills
Color Management – Introduction
Color Management – Equipment Calibration
Getting Color Correct Can be Tricky
Human Vision & Our Perception of Visual Art
Human Vision & Our Perception of Visual Art, 2
Luminance, Grayscale & Desaturation
Using Luminosity for Shadow & Highlight Detail
More Playing with Luminosity
Abstract in B&W
Digital & the Zone System
Workflow
Overview
Workflow – Step #1, Image Capture
Workflow – Step #2, Image Download
Workflow – Step #3, Image Organization (general)
Workflow – Step #3, Image Organization (backup)
Workflow – Step #3, Image Organization (download contribution)
Workflow – Step #3, Image Organization (screen and tag)
Folder & File Naming Strategies
RAW, JPEG, TIFF – which to use & when
Computers & Monitors
Digital asset management (DAM) software for image storage and retrieval
Image editing software
Color Management tools (software & hardware)
Display – electronic and print
Craftsmanship Wrap-up
Critiquing Images
Creating a Portfolio
Printing, Matting and Framing
COMPOSITION – Learning to produce aesthetically pleasing two-dimensional images
Introduction to Composition, part 1
Introduction to Composition, part 2
Composition – Comparing Painting & Photography
Photography Lessons from the World of Art
The Language of Visual Design
Visual Design Symbols – Shapes
Visual Design Symbols – Lines
Visual Design Symbols – Textures
Visual Design Symbols – Perspective
Visual Design Principles – x
Visual Design Principles – y
Visual Design Principles – z
Composition – Orientation Matters
Composition Techniques – Framing, 1
Composition Techniques – Framing, 2
Composition Techniques – Leading Lines, 1
Leading Lines in Composition – A Few Thoughtsedknepleyphoto.photos
Some Composition Thoughts
On Being Original – from Reality to Abstraction
Another Path Less Traveled – from Reality to Abstraction
Are You Still on the Same Old Path?
Figure & Ground
More Figure & Ground
Greetings from Negative Space
Shapes & Contrast, 1
Shapes & Contrast, 2
Shapes & Contrast, 3
Shapes & Contrast, 4
Words Can’t Begin to Describe
Work the Subject, Calla
Work the Subject, Cone Flower
Composition & Hyperfocal Distance Review
When to Shoot Horizontal? Vertical?
Real and Apparent Horizons….
Cropping – after the fact
Get Closer!!
Get Closer, 2 – Walking vs. Zooming
Vision
Change Focal Length, Change Shutter Speed, Change….
The Hunt for the Perfect Composition
Compose for the Background
From 2-D to 3-D
CREATIVITY – Making your images YOUR images (not like all the rest) by building on the craftsmanship and composition skills already learned
Are Your Images Creative?
Above all else – Be Original
Make the Ordinary Extraordinary
Time Lapse Photography
Water Drops on Glass
Water Drops on a CD
Abstract Photography
Alternative Visions in B&W
Making Unique Images
It’s all about the light, stupid!
Image Overlay (the Orton Technique)
Adding Rainbow-like Color (in the camera)
Pushing the B&W Envelope
Experiment….
Black Light Photography
COMMUNICATION
Inserting emotion and feeling into your images. Great artists believed that art sprang from emotion. (A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art. Paul Cezanne)
Great Images & Emotion
POST PROCESSING (PP)
HDR Efex Pro – Tutorial
Silver Efex Pro 2 – Tutorial
Color Efex Pro 3 – 1st part of the series
Multiple Exposures Made Easy – short “all you need” tutorial
PP Tutorial – Software Backgound
PP Tutorial – Part 1, Overview
PP Tutorial – Part 2, A Quick End to End Overview
PP Tutorial, 2 – Quick Overview, White Balance
PP Tutorial, 2 – Quick Overview, Shadow/Highlight Recovery
PP Tutorial, 2 – Quick Overview, Color Contrast Range Adjustment
PP Tutorial, 2 – Quick Overview, Tonal Contrast Adjustment
Imaging Masks
Imaging Masks, 2
Imaging Masks, 3
PP – Don’t Overdo It
Cropping with Light
PP – Example #1
To Clone or Not to Clone….
The Score – and The Performance
Out-of-Frame (OOF)
Extreme Curves Adjustments
B&W Adjustments with Curves
From Camera to HDR to B&W
Introducing – Snapseed for the iPad
Snapseed for iPad – Initial Examples
Snapseed for iPad – Overview
Snapseed for iPad – Interface
The order of Post-processing adjustment steps matters
MISCELLANEOUS
How Photographs Are Made
Winter Photography Tips
A Great Tool for Outdoor Photographers, 1
A Great Tool for Outdoor Photographers, 2
Filter Buying Tips
Polarizers
Your Polarizer, Don’t Leave Home Without It
Three Polarizer Examples
Tripods
Getting Outside the Box
Diffusion Disk for Light Control
AUTO-Nothing
Upgrade the Photographer
Becoming A Good Photographer
More on Becoming a Good Photographer
On Becoming an Expert in Your Subject Matter
Making the Image You Want
Make LemonadeFloral Fun
The Many Faces of Black & White Photography
Art & Craft
Quotable Quotes
Summer Photo Exhibits – #1
Summer Photo Exhibits – #2
Summer Photo Exhibits – #3
Somewhere Over the Rainbow…
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, 2
Now This is Scary………..
Panoramas
Macro Panorama
PSE8 Photomerge Panorama Problems
Panorama Stitch Software Winner (& it’s free)
Super Resolution Images
The Best Images are in Your Own Backyard
A Photo Equipment Crash Test
Volunteer in Parks (VIP)
All You Need to Know – IN 31 SECONDS
Award Winning Nature Photos
Making Photo Coasters
Making Gallery Wrap Prints
Gallery Wrap Print Photo Grids
2010 Blog Stats
….For the Birds
….For the Birds, 2
….For the Birds, 3
Photo Competitions & Beauty
Wildflower Photography – Basics
Wildflower Photography – in High Winds
Make hay while the sun shines
Almost Heaven – The Smokies
iPad2 Photography – A Self Portrait
Making a Photo Mandala
Photographing Spider Webs
Photography Imitating Politics