Training Needs Practice Too

Posted 6 Comments by dogear6

I’ve been discussing with my favorite boy toy about learning Photoshop CS next year.  I use Photoshop Elements 9 for basic repairs and tweaks to my photos, but as I get more advanced, its limitations become more apparent.

I’ve improved my skills in Elements, but my concern with using CS is that I can do all the training I want, but if I don’t practice it consistently, I doubt I’ll remember much for the few times that I use it.

It’s like this at work too.  I use an advanced software package for tax return preparation.  It’s the top in its field, but it’s not very easy to use.  That doesn’t bother me, as I use it nearly every day.  If I can learn Corptax, I can learn CS – that doesn’t bother me – it’s retaining it that I have issues with.

So I’m still considering how much more Photoshop skills I want to spend my time in training.  Here’s an example of something I improved with Photoshop.  Because I was so close to the building, it had way too much curve in the lines (keystone effect).  The lights were a little too light and the darks a little too dark, all of which were corrected with simple commands.

This was something else I improved in Photoshop.  The fence was way curved, and again the darks too dark and the lights too light.  I also dialed up the detail to make the bricks more noticeable.  Nothing major, but enough to improve it nicely.

Today’s photo was taken earlier this year.  The photo itself was pretty blah, but I used it to experiment with changes in Photoshop.  This one is tad bit creepy, but much more interesting than how it looked without adjustment.

© 2011 dogear6 llc

Word for tomorrow – SURPRISE.  If you prefer to work ahead, see the list for the week under “A Word A Day”.

Photoshop & Lightroom

dogear6 View All →

I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.

6 Comments Leave a comment ›

  1. I don’t find the last photo to be creepy at all. IMHO: If you PS the light pole out it would be ART.
    I love it! ~ Lynda

  2. CS5 is nice, but I encourage you to explore Ligthroom. You can download the latest version for a free 30 day trial and it is much less expensive than CS5. I used to use Photoshop, but after Adobe came out with Lightroom, there’s very little I use CS5 anymore, beyond maybe some HDR work. I can do everything (and likely more) I need to for photo editing in Lightroom and the workflow is MUCH easier. Additionally, you can always go back to the original if you want, something that isn’t always possible in CS5, which is why you always have to make a duplicate to work from. Give it a try – you might like it!

    • Great suggestion – I’d looked at it once but it didn’t look to be robust enough. I’ll have to look into it again. I’ve been impressed by a number of pictures that you posted and was surprised when you told me you’d done it by bumping up the ISO and doing a light edit in Lightroom.

      Thanks!

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