Examples of HDR Photos

The other night in my Photoshop Elements 11 Photo Editing class, we went through a technique to simulate an HDR (high dynamic range) image from a single image. Since some of the students were not that familiar with HDR, I put together a quick presentation of examples I had available.

Some of the photos here were from the typical sequence of three images used to produce an HDR photo, while others  were made from a single image. Some still retain their photographic look while others have been significantly manipulated.

https://vimeo.com/66764237

 

Photoshop Elements Keeps Track How You’ve Shared Your Photos

I’m sure you are aware that Photoshop Elements makes it easy for you to share your photos and videos with Facebook and other popular social networks. Most likely you have used this feature a lot. But do you know you can also see which photos you have shared and to whom?

This information is displayed in the History section of the Organizer’s Information tab as shown in the figure below. When you print, email or export a photo is also shown in this section.

Advanced Digital Camera Class Register Now!

Tomorrow is the last day to enroll in the Advanced Digital Camera class I will be teaching at the South Bay Adult School. The five-week class starts Monday, April 29th.

Using Your Advanced or Digital SLR Camera

This class is for those who want to learn how to use their digital SLR camera or other advanced camera that allows the user to manually set the shutter speed and aperture. The class will teach you how to use your camera in its manual mode and take advantage of its advanced features. It is a hands-on course working with your camera. Each class session consists of taking a series of photos and then reviewing the results on the computer. It proceeds from using your camera in the automatic mode to manually setting the individual controls of your camera.

Mondays 5:00-7:00 pm, beginning April 29, 2013 (5 Meetings)

Click here to register via the South Bay Adult School website.

Off Topic

Normally, I post articles about something related to digital photography or video making. But this post is different.

If you live in or near the South Bay area of Los Angeles, and you like the music of Bob Dylan, you need to come and thoroughly enjoy yourself  at the 23rd Annual Bob Dylanfest in Torrance.

This annual event is hosted by two talented local singer songwriters, Andy Hill and Renee Safier backed by their band, Hard Rain. This all day festival generally features over fifty artists singing songs from Dylan’s huge collection of work, with no song repeated.

This year the almost eight hour festival is on the Torino Plaza at the Torrance Cultural Center on May 5th. Click on the link below to find out more about this great event.

PVNET Movie Maker Video Editing Class–April 19th

I will be teaching a basic video editing course using Microsoft’s  for PVNET beginning April 19th.

Video Editing Using Microsoft’s Movie Maker

Are you finding that you are taking more and more videos with your camera or smart phone? Would you like to combine these videos into a multi-media presentation, including menus and special effects that you can share with family and friends? Or do you just want to learn about video editing? If so, this class may be for you.

In this course you will learn how to use Microsoft’s free Movie Maker to edit and enhance your videos. You will learn how to import, enhance, create, and ultimately share your multi-media presentations. Your presentations will include photos, video clips along with background music. You will learn how to share the presentation on a DVD and upload it to YouTube or other sites.

You may bring in your laptop and work with your own media. Or if you do not have a laptop, you can use one of PV NET’s computers to work with your own pictures and video clips using media loaded on the computers.

To find out more and to register, click on the link below.

http://www.palosverdes.com/edu/moviemaker.html

My Camera’s Built-in Flash Failed to Pop Up

I have a Canon 7D, which has a built-in flash that pops up when activated. Most professional photographers recommend not using this flash, because the light is too hard and creates shadows.

I know that and I do have a rotating external flash, but I confess I often use the built-in flash anyway. The other day I went to use it, but it would not pop-up no matter what I did. When I brought up the menu to adjust its options, the message said the menu could not be accessed, because there was another device attached to my hot shoe.

I tried to mount and remove my external flash several times, hoping to unstick the switch. I had already Goggled the symptoms, finding I was not the first one who had experienced such a problem.

I then called Canon technical support. I basically had tried everything they suggested. Fortunately, the Canon Service Repair Center is in Irvine, CA, which is only about 35 miles away.

This morning I drove to the repair station. I thought I knew where I was going, so I did not really follow my GPS as I got closer – a bad idea. I finally arrived and was about seven or eight numbers back in line. The wait did not take long.

I was ready to pay $100 or more and having to find my way back to the repair center after several days when my camera was fixed. I was happily surprised. They replaced the hot shoe while I waited and charged me nothing, even though my camera was significantly out of warranty.

I was very impressed with Canon service, but I have had similar experiences in the past when a Nikon camera I had at the time needed a repair. It too was out of warranty, but Nikon fixed it at no cost.

Speaking of cameras and built-in flashes, I suspect my 7D will be the last DSLR I buy that has one. When the Canon 6D came out, I was tempted to buy one, or least beginning the rationalization process to do so. The 6D, with its full frame sensor and GPS, is very attractive to me. But it does not have a built-in flash, and cannot match the speed of my 7D’s eight frames per second. And then of course, there is the issue of buying all new lenses, if I were to buy a 6D.

For now at least, I’m sticking with my 7D.

Classes Coming up at PV NET

I will be teaching two new classes starting soon for PV NET.

The “Using Your iPad for Photofraphy” class starts next week, Thursday, February 20th, and the “Video Editing Using Microsoft’s Movie Maker” starts April 19th.

You can find out more information and register for these classes by CLICKING HERE.