Sunday, December 21, 2008

Happy Chanuka!

In celebration of Chanuka, I present a picture I took of my husband lighting the menora last year.

I desperately want to learn how to a) take better pictures and b) how to use PhotoShop. I probably know about 1% of what PhotoShop can do, and am very jealous of people who know how to use even 20% more than I know. I am trying to learn from people such as Pioneer Woman (warning: addictive website. It's like crack, but for people who like horses). I've downloaded her Action sets (Set 1 and Set 2), and tried a few of them on this photograph. Still not "quite there", but it's an improvement.

This is the SOOC (straight-out-of-the-camera) shot:



This is the same picture with PW's Dim The Lights action. Pretty dramatic, but maybe a little too much.



Fresh and Colorful action:



Define and Sharpen action. Good detail.



Define and Sharpen plus Quick Edge Burn. Helps get rid of the distraction of the white window frame.



I guess the last one is the best one. I *did* upload the image to Kodak*Gallery last year, did a little bit of editing, and added a dark border. I then printed it on glossy paper in an 8x10 and put it in a matte black frame. Looks pretty good...but I feel it can look better. What do you think?

Anyways, Happy Chanuka everyone!

3 comments:

Chuck Tanowitz said...

Shooting flames is very difficult simply because it throws off your lighting so much. It's a lot to ask of yourself to come up with a good shot like that.

That said, it's a nice image.

Rhonda said...

Happy Chanukkah!

Unknown said...

HI there,

I know the wait is tough..but hang in there.My mom and Dad went crazy too when waiting for my brothers and sisters but it does happen..6 times in our house. : )

Kennedy-13 yrs old, adopted from China
http://yangzhoufundraising.blogspot.com/