Taking and editing pictures (DUW)

[Mike41793]

I use iPhoto to edit all my pictures. But I wish I could afford photoshop ;P

Just download it from online. Or if youre a student at a university then usually your school will offer a package of a bunch of different software programs at an extreme discount.

[reptileexperts]

Lightroom = best post processing, Photoshop is OK if you want to make dramatic effects and such, but "photographers" use lighroom, designers use photoshop :-)

[Solarsoldier001]

Lightroom. I have to check that out XD

[reptileexperts]

you can download a FULL 30 day trial from Adobe's website. I use it as my main source of photowork, I use photoshop for creating some images, but that's mainly when I want to create a certain effect (example - Out of Frame)





For my HDR work that I showed some of, I use photomatix pro 4.0, and all my editing is done on a macbook pro with the screen profiled specifically for Adobe / print for what it's worth.

[crepers86]

I have been into editing music for a long while. I do a lot of editing and mastering for garage and indy bands. I love it because I get a lot of GOOD free music that hasn't been tainted by the record industry. I have here recently gotten into trying to figure out video editing. I Want to learn to work adobe photo shop which I have on my computer. I think I lot of the effects you can do like making the the 3d effects in those two bird photos are awesome I Want to learn how to do some stuff like that. or take photos of people and make it look like they are all in the same room. but make it look realistic like

[reptileexperts]

Check out Photogavin on youtube, just search his video channel and watch away. This will give you a lot of help when it comes to post processing work. If you want to know more about the 3D effect - also check out Gavin's Video on "out of frame" he uses a Rally Car in his example, and gives you a link to be able to download the images he used so you can practice and try and get the same effect. You need to be at least a LITTLE bit comfortable with layers in photoshop before you start trying to manipulate multiple factors at once.

As far as video editing? You don't do that kind of work in Adobe Photoshop, you would do that in a program made specifically for video. Adobe After Effects can add some sweet stuff into videos, and is used by a lot of people (including myself to an extent), but what I typically use as a golden standard for video editing is final cut pro X on mac, and then utilize Motion X as a 3D animator for creating intros to videos, or adding some effects. MOST of your work, including retiming clips for slow motion, adding explosions, clouds, dust, dirt, whatever! Can be done in either Adobe After Effects, or Apples' Final Cut Pro X, You don't need the full Final Cut Suite, thats really professional stuff and is very much an overkill, so IF you have a mac, check out Final Cut Pro X, will run about 100 last I checked, not too bad for all the crazy things you can do with it. I'll grab some links for some of the video I've produced / shot / edited for some clients recently, and show you some simple examples of things that can be done with little training, lots of patience, and a good computer / camera.

[Solarsoldier001]

This is so amazing. I really don't have any appeal with doing the out of frame thing with photoshop. But more for making my photos look the best they can look. Thank you for letting me know of some programs that are good. Now all I need is a really good camera for the price and I'll be excited XD

[reptileexperts]

What kind of camera are you looking for and what's your budget?

[Solarsoldier001]

I actually use my iPhone all the time. I recently purchased a canon power shoot a2300 I think. I like that for a snap and shoot. Maybe next year I'll be able to afford a $450-$500 camera. I like the canons I've had them in the past. Always a reliable camera and usually always takes really nice pictures. I really love taking photos on the go. And I don't like a camera that has a lagging shutter I like fast picture taking. But I'm an amateur when it comes to photography I just enjoy doing it. Although any opinions would be much appreciated.

[reptileexperts]

Well, if you want the feel of a DSLR with some of the convinience of a point and shoot, you may want to look into the Canon G series, they have some pretty sweet cameras, and they preform at a level you can grow to appreciate. They aren't the fastest in the world of cameras, but they are up there on an entry level DSLR range. Price wise - $400-$550 typically.

I just ordered a new Nikon 1 J1. It's Nikons entry into the Mirrorless camera world. It's a step up from typical point and shoot, faster than anything in its class, and has a superb auto-focus system. Not sure yet if it will live up to the hype, I'll play with it tonight though and find out! It has a LOT of negatives out there, and there are probably better options for people who do not have money vested in Nikon gear, but as I have a Nikon 500mm Lens, and plenty of other primes, I am excited with the potential this camera offers me.

If you want to shake things up, consider the Lumix GF3. Great entry line into the step up from point and shoot, is a mirrorless camera, and has speed you want, but again, not as fast as the Nikon. This is, of course, in reference to shooting speeds as in FPS, the Nikon 1 series shoots an astonishing 60 FPS full resolution images. Insane! my $3000 DSLR shoots 6FPS as a comparsion. . . If you want speed as far as time from powering on the camera to being able to take the picture, the nikon 1 series comes in just under 2 seconds from power and the image being taken, a DSLR of course is micro seconds... but these are large bulky cameras.

If I mentioned a term you're not familiar with, let me know and I'll better clarify this for you.