Photoshoppin'

We got Photoshop Elements! It has been a really slow start learning what does what. You can click a bunch of different buttons and make the photo look all different, but the key is making it look GOOD different. The author of one of my favorite blogs - Confessions of a Pioneer Woman - is about to launch a photography and Photoshop blog. She takes the most beautiful pictures that are really very inspiring. I love visiting her site daily to check out her awesome work. She has a few posts already with some Photoshop lessons so those techniques are what I've been playing with this far. Check it out:

Before: Nice, but with Photoshop I can make it pop...

After: POP! It's subtle but just gives the photo the edge it needs to hold it's own.


Before: We loved this picture with the rocks and vine ceiling but it showed the stinkin' TV and our photographers' bag. See them over there to the left just in front of where we're standing?

After: I can breath a sigh of relief now. That stuff really messed up the shot. I can enjoy this picture so much more with it gone.

Before: I wanted this one in an 8x10 for the house. It's really a beautiful shot alone but I had to kick it up a notch!

After: The changes are very subtle. You probably couldn't even pick them out. I cropped in closer in and I used both techniques from the above photos. I "popped" the color and bit then took out some of the chest hair that was in front of the baby's cheek. I also darkened some shadows just for kicks...I thought it would add more drama.

I've had fun so far but it's not exactly user friendly. I feel that I really need to study up on what all the buttons and features do. And so far, it seems like less is more. As with most things in life. Right? Well, with salt anyway. And toilet paper...I clog up a lot of toilets. :)