It is always a good idea, as aspiring, amateur and professional photographers, to make the most of all opportunities that come your way.
It is in this way that we can learn and grow and better ourselves, and our photographic skills.
No photographer knows everything, but when we share and learn from each other we enter into mutually beneficial relationships where everyone wins.
Last week, the South Florida Camera Club (SFCC) in Fort Lauderdale, hosted a man who has a lifetime of great, inspiring photography under his belt.
Rick McCawley spent 20 years as a photojournalist. He has been to many an interesting place, far and wide. As a staff photographer for the Miami Herald he had many fortunate opportunities to shoot incredible events such as the Miami Riots in the 1980's.
He's been to all the extremes. He's been sky high, shooting the first Shuttle Launch for the United International Press, and deep down as the first photographer to photograph the Spanish Galleon, "Nuestra Senora de Atocha", that sank off the Florida Keys in 1962.
As Rick stated in his seminar, he started his career with a bang, shooting the Miami riots, and left with a bang being part of the Pulitzer Prize winning team that covered the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.
Much of Rick's photography work has been published in Time Magazine, The New York Times, and countless other publications but his talents don't stop there. He is also a Professor of Graphic Design at BC College in Broward Country and the creator of the inspiring Digital Fine Art website www.DigitalRen.com.
Rick's seminar at the SFCC was called "Shoot, Shop and Room…20 Great Ideas to change your world". Below are the great tips he shared.
Photography
1. Experiment with Photoshop and Lightroom and decide which one works for you. If you generally do the same type of photography all the time, Lightroom is highly recommended.
2. Publish your very own photography book.
3. Keep shooting. 4. Learn to use color, texture, shadow and reflection in your photography.
Bridge
5. If using Bridge, make use of the star rating systems.
6. Learn the Photomerge stitching technique for images - It's awesome!
7. Open your pictures (Jpegs or Raw) in camera RAW and use the adjustable settings and features it offers. 8. Use the Image Processor function when outputting many files at a particular size. It will save you LOTS of time.
9. Use the Web Photo Gallery to make slideshows for your website of blog.
10. User the "Meta Data" tags to analyze your camera settings when taking the image and also input your own meta data so that your personal information is saved with each image wherever it goes.
11. Learn to Zoomify!
Photoshop
12. ALWAYS user non-destructive editing. Do all your retouching on new layers. GREAT tip! 13. Learn how to convert to Black & White.
14. Use layer masks.
15. Learn to use color and contrast to create different looks.
16. Use the gradient tool to create selective focus.
17. Learn how to change colors in an image.
Photoshop Glamour
18. Learn skin smoothing actions.
19. Learn to use the dodge and burn tools to add or change make-up, and to use light to shape. 20. Make use of the liquify tool to do body sculpting.
Rick also recommends the following:
Great Web sites
www.dpreview.com
www.blurb.com
www.photoshopuser.com
www.lynda.com
www.tv.adobe.com
www.zonezero.com
www.thephotoargus.com
www.photoattorney.com (Photo rights)
www.lightroomkillertips.com
www.digitalretouch.org
www.simpleviewer.net/products
http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/LR/Lightroom+presets,+galleries,+and+plug-ins
http://lightpainting.org http://www.lenswork.com/lensworkpodcast1-1.htm
Great Podcasts
Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips
Chase Jarvis
Magnum In Motion Video Podcasts
Photoshop Top 40 with Deke McClelland
Russell Brown Show
Photoshop User TV
D-Town TV
Photoshop Killer Tips
Photography 101
PixelPerfect LensWork
Comments (2)
Mmmm... lots of really good tips. I especially love the idea of publishing my own book. That would be great to see and give to people. Great gift idea.
As always awesome tips!! Also, great resource sites, I've just checked out a few so far but it's great to have all of the tips in one same place. The Book idea is also great for a gift that is unique and that shares a part of you as an artist with your friends, family and colleagues.
What do you think?
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