Here is a quick way to organize your SmugMug galleries using Lightroom.

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After reviewing a few images from Photoshop World, I came across an image that I liked but I noticed I cut off the head of the guitar. Using Photoshop’s content aware fill and a layer mask, I was able to fix the image. It always helps when you have more than one image to work with from a set.

We are working on a text version of this tutorial, in the meantime here is a video of the process.

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Once you select the cropping tool (keyboard shortcut R), you can experiment with cropping overlays. Select Tools>Crop Guide Overlay. You will have the choice of Grid, Thirds, Diagonal, Triangle, Golden Ratio, and Golden Spiral. Once the crop tool is selected, you can use the keyboard short cut O to cycle through the choices.

Original Image

Cropped using Golden Triangle (usually meant for photos with diagonal lines)

Cropped using Golden Spiral

You can achieve a different look by simply changing your crop. Keep in mind, when you crop an image, you are “throwing away” pixels. This will lower your image quality. It’s always best to crop in the camera, but in this case, I couldn’t get close enough to my subject and I was shooting with a 200-400 VR lens!

Cropping

It’s always best to fill your camera frame with as much of the image as possible. Most digital SLRs have an aspect ratio of 3:2.  Without cropping, your images can be printed 6×4, 12×8, 24×16. This aspect ratio doesn’t fit our standard sizes.If you want an 8×10 print, shoot a little wider and your crop will not delete any key elements in your photograph.

Matting and Framing

If cropping your image isn’t an option, have a custom matte made. This will make it easier to select a cheaper standard size frame. Select the size of your frame, then have the matte cut to the opening of your image.

Custom print size

Wouldn’t it be better if you could concentrate on creating your work of art and not have to worry about the output? This is where we benefit from custom printing. To keep the print affordable, develop a relationship with your printing company. Know their standard sizes and keep that in mind when you shoot. Some companies have a complete solution, meaning the mounting of the image is part of the art work. You see this in gallery canvas wraps by Artistic Photo Canvas and metal products from Metal Mural.It takes practice to format your images for these companies.Once you get the hang of it, you will be as creative in your output as you are with your photography!

Specialty Printing Companies

Metal Mural, Artistic Photo Canvas

Printing Labs Standard and Custom print sizes

Bay Photo, Mpix, EZ-Photo

Create a custom print for Metal Murals

Metal Mural reproduces high quality images on metal in a modular design, perfect for reproducing art, portraits, wedding photos and more on a durable, scratch resistant metal.The standard size panel is 12×12.

This tutorial will teach you how to create a custom size panel to reproduce artwork at any size. You will also learn how to increase the size of your image without losing image quality. The prefer software of choice for image enlargement is onOne’s Genuine Fractals. As an added bonus, we will learn about actions.

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Downloads

Grid Action for Photoshop.

Installation: Download the action file. Launch Photoshop. Make sure your action panel is active: Windows->action. From the drop down menu inside the action palette select Load Action. Select grid.atn

Using this same advice, I started to review a few of my favorite photographers. I wanted to see how they blended their photography talents with their editing skills. Notice I said editing skills? It doesn’t matter if they used Photoshop, Lightroom or another image editing software. I was looking for artist to emulate and then one found me!

I received a compliment from Trey Ratcliff on my post, “Adding Texture to an Image“. I was feeling pretty good. He mention he did a video series on textures and offered me to check it out. Being a HUGE fan of his work, of course I had to. Applying Larry’s advice, I dissect Trey’s technique. To say I’m excited is an understatement!

Trey blends several simple Photoshop tricks together to create a unique piece of art. He walks you through his entire work flow from choosing the textures to applying them in Photoshop. Some textures and techniques worked, some didn’t. He didn’t edit anything out of the video. You see exactly what he was thinking while creating his image. As an added bonus, he supplies all the textures for you!

My quick notes:

• look for textures with colors that will enhance your image.
• apply as many textures to an image as you want without over doing it.
• major use of layer mask, look for elements in the photo you want to keep and edit out the rest.
• merge the final layers, keeping the original as the top layer and use opacity to dial in the effect.
• Review Trey’s Video

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Skills taught: Layer mask, Layer blend mode

Video Level : Beginner to Intermediate

For more tips on textures, Click here to visit Stuck In Customs.

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Skills taught: Cropping, color cast, sharping, cloning, noise reduction and artistic interpretation.

Video Type Available : Novice to Advance-Speed Clinic and Beginner- In-depth (coming soon)

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It all starts in the camera

While in Boston, a group of us went on a photo shoot of  the city. I saw a father and daughter standing on the subway holding hands. I quickly took a shot. Sounds simple?  Let’s explore the thought process and technical issues I had to face in a matter of seconds.

I was dealing with poor lighting, a moving platform, lots of people in the way and TIME. I calmly observed the situation and set the camera to ISO 1250, F/2.8  at 1/60 of a second using my 80-200 lens. Well if I were Joe McNally that’s what I would have done. Instead, BEFORE I entered the subway, Sandy Foster suggest I try a great feature found on most Nikon cameras, auto ISO. Now before you judge me, let me finish. On Pro and Pro/Consumer Nikon cameras you are able to dial in when to change the ISO. In my example, I programed the ISO to start at 200. If the shutter falls below 1/60 of a second, then the ISO changes but won’t go any higher than 1600. I kept the camera in Aperture Priority and steady myself against a pole. This feature is amazing. It let’s the photographer focus on composition while still allowing creativity by changing the aperture. A plus or minus EV (exposure value) can also be used.

You are probably wondering why not just keep the camera in the AUTO mode. Although you can, you are now letting the camera make ALL your creative choices for you. As a photographer, it’s always best if we can decide when to make a change to our settings. By using the method I just described, we would have come up with those setting IF we had an abundance of TIME.

This brings me to our tutorial, how to fix a really bad photograph. It’s always best to get the shot right in the camera. Under the difficult situation I was faced with, this was the best I could do. With a few tweeks in Photoshop, Lightroom and the help from a few plugins I was able to save this photograph.

Before the digital age, photographers were making incredible images. Don’t get caught up in the tools I’m using; Lightrrom, Photoshop, ect.., Try to focus on the concepts and work flow I’m demonstrating. Understanding these  concepts will enable us to work faster.

This tutorial will be available as a video and written instructions Monday, April 26, 2010.

With that being said, here was my thought process. Street photography made me think of Sandy Foster, who’s street photography images are stunning. Which made me think she needs to get signed model release forms which reminded me of a class Jack Reznicki and Ed Greenberg taught on model release forms. That made me download Jack and Ed’s simple model release form which made me think of a post Larry Becker did on “Invite Models to Your Pad”. The pad being your model release forms made into a pad from an office supply company. While editing the form in Adobe Indesign, I thought of a class Terry White did at Photoshop World that taught us how to use conditional text so the forms can be changed on the fly. Now you have a glimpse of what’s inside Vanelli’s  head when he prepares for a project!

So to recap before I explain what I did… Street photographers (Sandy Foster) need model release forms (Jack Reznicki and Ed Greenberg), and it would be convenient to have the forms on a pad (Larry Becker) that can be designed (Terry White) so other photographers could use them too! Whew that was a lot of thought to prepare for one photography class (Joe McNally and Moose Peterson).

The Model Release form

Jack and Ed drilled into our heads the importance of  having a signed release form. Even if you don’t think you are going to use the images in the future, it’s a great safety net that can protect you if you change your mind. I am not a lawyer, so the best advice I can give you is to take their class or watch it on Kelby Training.com. This way you are getting first hand information. I asked Jack if I could share the Limited Model Release form and he was more than happy to let me share it with you.  Keep in mind, this is a generic form. Each state has their own laws.

Limited Model Release

I give Robert Louis Vanelli (“Photographer”) and designees and those acting with Photographer’s authority permission to use the photographs created or made on _____________ for the sole purpose of fine art gallery shows and exhibits, photography books and video tutorials, and for use in photographer’s portfolio, self-promotion, lectures, and books.

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images, or other printed matter that may be used in connection therewith. Except as stated above, I do not give permission for the use of my name or said photographs for the purpose of advertising or endorsing any goods or services.

Model acknowledges that he/she has read this release and has received a copy of this release.

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Model’s Name                                                                                    Model’s Signature

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Address                                                                                                Date

_______________________________________         _______________________________________
Witness Signature                                                                            Witness Address

If you plan to use this form, please send Jack and Ed a simple thank you email.

Designing the form

I wanted to keep the form small enough to carry in my bag yet big enough for the model to fill out. I chose to use legal size; 8.5 x 14, paper and print 4 to a sheet. The final form size is 6.5 x 3.75. Using concepts from Terry White’s conditional text tutorial, I made the Photographer’s name, address and phone number conditional text. Now I can print the form for other photographers without changing my design.

Creating the Pad

Larry Becker’s post, “Invite Models to your Pad” gives great advice about creating a pad for your model release forms. After reading it, I went to Staples to have them make a pad for me. The only problem, Staples has a 3 day turn around. I called Office Depot and they have a one day turn around. My last call was to Kinkos. They have a 4hr turnaround! I went there and the staff was great. I explained what I needed and they suggested an alternative option. For 30 cents a sheet they can print the form on a carbon paper. At first this sounded expensive but then I realized I’m printing 4 forms to a sheet. The cost would be $5.00 for a total of 80 forms or 6 cents a form. The downside, the forms would be individual not a pad. I decided to stick with my original plan  and have them make a pad for me. The cost is about $9.00.

Street Photography

I can’t wait to go on the NAPP Photo Safari with Moose and Joe. I really can’t post anything on the actual shoot until we go. Look for my review later in the week.

Moral of the Post

Integrate lessons you are taught by different instructors!

A few quick notes.

• set your image size to 100 ppi.
• use Adobe RGB 1998 as your color space.
• save your image to jpg at the highest setting.
• be creative!
• template download

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Skills taught:

• increase canvas size
• drag an image in place using Shift key as you click with the mouse and drag
• use of Photoshop’s animated window
• saving the file as a GIF

(OK I said a little mistake, the Shift key is the same on a PC as it is on a MAC )

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