Photoshopping

I’ve been doing a little learning in PhotoShop lately and playing and just having a high time with some of my photos. I will probably be doing a little blogging about it every now and again. I want to journal my progress. I doubt there will be much journaling in the sense of writing, but journaling in the sense of posting my SOOC and editions to see what I’ve learned. Don’t hesitate to speak up. I’m open to commentary about the photos. Just because I post it doesn’t mean it’s my favorite either. Maybe I’ll put up a post one day of “really bad edit ideas” if I think to save them, that is.

For today, I share with you the CowBoy in all his just-turned-I-do-it-myself-fourness. Because these days, don’t even offer to help or a melt down may make you wish you hadn’t even thought to offer to help.

For this set of photo edits I chose to use some of Pioneer Woman’s Actions. If you have PhotoShop CS3 and don’t already have Ree’s Action Set 1 you should go get it. She offers it for free on her site.

Here’s the SOOC (straight out of the camera shot):

Notice the small scar under his chin? It has been fading drastically over the last month so I don’t think it is permanent, but I brushed it out. The other cut is almost gone since I took the photo on May 7th, but that is what happens (on a small scale) when you get too close to the cat. Here’s a bit of advice: never, ever, ever put your face down to hug a cat while he’s playing with string; he’ll probably forget your face is not attached to the string.

Anyway, here’s the shot after I took out the scar and scratch and lightened it up just a bit. (I used the clone tool to get rid of the larger scratch. I’m still not sure if there was a better way to do it. Remember, I’m learning.)

Now it’s time to play. I almost said show and tell, but I don’t really now how to tell you about them as these are actions (a predefined/saved set of edits to get a prescribed effect). Which means all the settings are stored and you just hit “play” and the set of stored edits are automatically applied.

I’ll just list which action I applied to each one.

Soft and Faded

Black & White

PW’s Black & White

Notice the touch of color in this one. I like this one a lot.

Vintage

My own bright version which has no name

post edited @ 4:22 to add this photo

Which one is your favorite? I’d love to read what you have to say.

Notice: no matter what I do to the photo his eyes just stand out. Even when he is sad or hurt or crying his eyes are the brightest, happiest eyes I have ever seen. Only when he is sick do they look pale and weak. That’s how I always know something is not right.

Here’s CowBoy’s whole set on flickr along with more comments from me.

Thank you, Pioneer Woman; I’m having a ton of fun!