In this two-step tutorial I'll demonstrate how to smoothen skin through the use of various filters, and several techniques to re-sharpen your smoothened photo and add texture to the skin so it doesn't appear too edited.

The goal of this tutorial is to teach you several skin smoothing techniques that you can use to remove blemishes, wrinkles, and essentially emulate what the 'professionals' do when they modify model photos.

• Examine image carefully.
  Consider the following:
  • Composition
  • Color balance
  • Tonality
  • Dust, dirt, or scratches

Corrective Lighting Techniques for Portraits.  A portrait photographer’s primary objective is to idealize his subject. The subject’s appearance can be made more flattering through posing, lighting, and camera angle. In many instances, more than one of the following suggestions will be employed. Evaluate each subject individually.

Using ambient light:

• Camera profile- take a picture of color checker on the passport.
   
• White balance camera. Use color checker passport, take picture of white card on passport, select image.
   
• Meter room- Meter will give ISO, and F-stop. Then meter under chin of subject towards camera. Don’t rely upon meter in camera, can give false readings, use hand meter.

Table of Contents

I.    Introduction

II.    What and Why of Chromakey

III.    Studio and Camera Setup

IV.    Selection and Replacement

I.  Introduction

This paper provides a simple introduction to the use of chromakey backgrounds.  It describes a little about what chromakey is, why it's used, how it's used, and simple directions to get you started.  It expects the reader to have basic skills in using computers, printers, Windows and Photoshop software, and their cameras.

This paper covers only one simple method for making selections and replacing backgrounds while referring the reader to other sources for more methods and details.
 

Ahhhhh... what a challeng you have undertaken, yet what a GREAT learnning experience!!!

The sport of Gymkhana consists of timed events on horseback, where riders compete for accuracy/speed while either turning "poles", "Barrels", or focusing on precision with an event such as "Keyhole".

Today, the riders will be competing in 6 different events.  Washington Poles, Quadrangle (Poles), Single Barrel, Precision Barrels, Cloverleav Barrels, and Keyhole (a precision chalk lined key on the ground). They will be competing in the following categories: Novice, A, AA, and AAA, with AAA being the fastest group.

Based upon my own experience, after watching/photographing for many hours/days/months/years of my own daughter competing in gymkhana events, I think I have a few pointers to offer regarding photographing horses & riders.

In the photography world, model releases have become a requirement. Even the AV Fair’s rules, every picture entered may be called to present a release. I personally, could not be bother with them. Lately, I have been changing my tune about releases.  However, I needed something that is quick and painless with customizations to the text. I found a iOS application called “Easy Release” for both the iPhone and iPad. You can view it in iTunes. The price is $9.99, which I think is a bit expensive, but I purchased it anyways.

There are many ways to create a black and white image from a color image.  These are only a few of the many.

(Handout given at the August 23, 2011 Monochrome Workshop)