Skin Tone Retouching: Correct Colors and Match Tones
From Michael Woloszynowicz YouTube Published on Apr 16, 2014 In this video Toronto, Canada based Michael Woloszynowicz will be performing skin tone retouching with color matching and tonal correction using an intuitive technique he created involving solid fill layers and tonal averaging. While skin tone retouching can be done using hue/saturation and curves adjustments, it can be a very tedious, long drawn out affair. Unless done carefully, it can also result in blotches that may not show up until the image is printed. As an alternative, this approach to skin tone retouching is both simple and effective and serves as another tool for your hybrid storytelling
Read moreMigrating Aperture To Lightroom
With the release of OS X Yosemite later this year, Apple will cease the development of its professional photo editing application, Aperture. Bummer. Users of Aperture will be transitioned to Photos, a new app that was introduced during the Apple WWDC keynote recently. The new Photos application integrates many of the advanced photo editing features that were previously found in Aperture and will replace iPhoto on the new OS X as well. The question is which Aperture features will be retained, and which will simply be eliminated. “With the introduction of the new Photos app and iCloud Photo Library, enabling you to safely store
Read moreFrequency Separation Retouching Your Portraits
We have our studio portrait beautifully lit and composed just the way we want it. However, thanks in no small part to our excellent lighting, our remarkably sharp lenses and our high megapixel camera, there are a few problems. The model did not have perfect skin so there are a few zits. Flaws that detract from the final image. We need to retouch the file. Everyone knows there are literally thousands of ways to approach the retouching of a photograph. It is a huge business, ranging all the way from top professional retouching laboratories down to solo freelancers retouching AutoTrader ads. Just check YouTube or
Read moreNew Nikon D810 & Capture NX-D
For those of you not yet convinced about using a mirrorless camera for your hybrid storytelling, Nikon comes to the party with the new Nikon D810. More evolutionary than revolutionary, the Nikon D810 features: Product Highlights 36.3MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor No Optical Low Pass Filter EXPEED 4 Image Processor 3.2″ 1,229k-Dot LCD Monitor Full HD 1080p Video at 60/30/24 fps Continuous Shooting at up to 5 fps in FX Mode Expandable Sensitivity to ISO 51200 (12,500 normal range) Multi-CAM 3500FX AF Sensor w/ 51 Points Electronic Front Curtain Shutter External Mic and Headphone Inputs $3,300 and available in July, 2014 Basically, this looks to be
Read moreMastering Portrait Lighting
One of the hardest things most people find to do in the studio is mastering portrait lighting. Many, sadly, feel that unless you have four or five lights in some arcane secret lighting setup, the results aren’t any good. Some people are afraid to try studio lighting in any form, fearing the arcane art is more than they are capable of dealing with. They are both wrong. After years studying the subject myself and working with both simple and complex lighting setups, I can tell you that for most portraits all you need is one single light and the knowledge
Read moreSony A7S Review: First Look
Sony A7s Review from Matthew Allard ACS on Vimeo. We have been waiting on it, and now here it is. Matthew Allard has been in Singapore this week covering the Broadcast Asia show and for the duration of his trip he’s had a production model a7S with him on loan from Sony. In that time he has put together the 37 minute long review you see above. Matthew says he tried to be as comprehensive as possible shooting in as many real world situations as he could. I, for one, am very glad he did. So many “First Look Reviews” are little more than surface fluff,
Read moreJoe McNally: The Rule of Thirds
In this video, Joe deconstructs the setup of a recent location shoot in Mexico and explains the importance of following the Rule of Thirds, especially for publication photography. Published on May 29, 2014 From Joe McNally’s own website at JoeMcNally.Com we learn Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose career has spanned 30 years and included assignments in over 50 countries. He has shot cover stories for TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, New York, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and Men’s Journal. He has been at various times in his career a contract photographer for Sports Illustrated, a staff photographer
Read moreTintype Masters – Part Three
Yosemite from Ian Ruhter : Alchemist on Vimeo. “My greatest failure in life came when I lost the ability to believe in my own dreams. It had taken a year and a half to return to Yosemite after enduring one of my most heartbreaking experiences. In an unexpected twist of fate I regained the courage to try again after seeing the world through a child’s eyes. Since the release of the Silver & Light film we have accomplished more than we ever thought possible. We could have never made it this far without the support of people like you.” –
Read moreAlien Skin Exposure 6
Alien Skin Software has just released Alien Skin Exposure 6, integrating the features of stand alone product “Bokeh” into the already powerful film emulation and “look” software add-on. I’ve used Exposure myself a number of years now as I have not found a better way to execute quick film emulations. I’m not necessarily looking for something new. In fact, often what I am after is a quick way to correct a digital image back to what I am used to seeing in my former color slide film work. Kodachrome baby. Nothing like good old Kodak Kodachrome, now as extinct as the dinosaurs in the
Read moreGoogle’s Self Driving Electric Car: The Ultimate Photography Platform?
Looking for something different to photograph? Need a mobile platform to photograph from? How about a self driving electric car? Keep your eyes peeled on the streets of San Francisco, where you will surely see several of the test versions of the Google Self Driving electric car. Nothing is quite as unsettling as seeing the infamous San Francisco hills traversed by a self driving car. With no driver, no steering wheel, and no brake peddle! This self driving electric car technology is much more than a luxury, it is fast becoming a necessity. When was the last time you drove the
Read moreA7S vs 5D Mark III: Low Light & Quiet Shutter Tests
Many expect the soon to be released A7S to be a “game changer” for independent film makers. No doubt we will be seeing hundreds of Sony A7S vs 5D Mark III tests. While the truth of these forecasts remains to be seen there is no question the A7S brings some strong features to the playing field. I would even call them revolutionary features, packaged as they are all in one single camera. A Silent Shutter is certainly one of them. To my knowledge a first for a full frame 35mm camera. Many thanks to Chuljae Lee for uploading the video above
Read moreCineGear Expo LA 2014
PMG MultiRotors from TheCameraForum on Vimeo. PMG MultiRotors, from Cinegear LA 2014. Once again this year, CineGear LA 2014 proved to be a big hit. Right outside the main entrance, I ran into the baddest multi rotor ‘copter I have ever seen. No, make that THREE of them, ranging in lift capacity from 100 lbs to an incredible 200 lb lifting monster with fifteen inch props. Yep, you read that right. A multi rotor that could lift ME AND MY CAMERA! The company doing all this marvelous technology? www.pmgmultirotors.com I didn’t get a chance to hear these bad boys fired up
Read moreWorking With 4k: The Joys Of Ken Burns
Working with 4k can be challenging, but it does have benefits. Published on Apr 17, 2014, from (are you ready for this name?) Hillbillygriptruck via YouTube. After finishing a GH4 shootout video, his talent asked if he cut together a music video from the footage without all the camera info. The footage from the original camera test was a handful of locked down shots that wouldn’t have made a very interesting edit. However, he had a geeky thought… “Hmm, the 4k files have so much resolution, I wonder if i could do a pan and scan on the 4k footage to fake multiple
Read moreLightworks for Apple OS X Public Beta
Joining the ranks of the Apple video editing suite contenders is Lightworks who today announced the availability of a Public Beta of their version 11.5. Lightworks has been a favorite for editing film for many years, originally starting life as an MS-DOS based application for the IBM PC. Lightworks has stayed that course until today, primarily an NLE for Windows and Linux based PC’s. Lightworks editing credits are extensive! http://www.imdb.com/company/co0050900/ Getting Started with Lightworks The newest Lightworks software installers and User Guides are available on the Downloads page. Once you have activated your website account and installed Lightworks, you will need to sign in
Read moreA Friend For Life?
Buddy for Life from Daomay on Vimeo. “Sometime we forget that after school it is ok to take the kids out to the beach with his or her friend for an hour or two instead of sitting in front of the TV or play with the ipad. So in two hour I was able to capture the joy and smile on their face… somehow nature smile back at the kids. All I did was took my fs700 and an old $250 old Sigma 50mm f1.5. We all had fun….I came home had dinner and edit this short little film for
Read moreNet Neutrality: Why Should We Care?
Net neutrality. Speak the words, savor the flavor of freedom as it rolls off your tongue. Net neutrality. As a photographer, those are becoming the most important two words you will hear in this decade. Net neutrality means all internet traffic is considered equal, from whatever the source, and none shall be given a preference in speed of delivery or preferential routing between internet host and your personal computer/smartphone/tablet/heart monitoring device. Net neutrality means that delivery of your photographs and videos has the same speed and routing as Netflix or Amazon. Net neutrality. It is an important pair of words. This
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