Plug-ins

No Other Old Car City Photo Workshop Offers This Much!

rick sammon mail for blog.jpg

Above: Old Car City. Model photography is included in my October 2015 Old Car City/Southeaster Railway Museum photo workshop. Canon 5D Mark III, 17-40mm lens.

Registration is open for my October 2015 Canon EOS Destination Workshop: Capturing the Classics: Old Cars and Antique Trains. I can't wait to return to Old Car City and the Southeastern Railway Museum - both of which are located outside of Atlanta, GA.

I'll be teaching: composition (the strongest way of seeing), "croposition" (combining composition with cropping), storytelling,  lighting, HDR – and how to use reflectors, diffusers and speedlites when photographing a model.

My friends from Canon will be there to loan you the newest cameras and lenses (including fish-eye lenses and super-wide-angle lenses) to photograph some of the oldest cars in the country. You will also have plenty of time to process your images – for our group slide show/critique session. And, you'll even get to make a print or two on Canon printers.

No other Old Car City photo workshop offers this much. In addition to the teaching, model session, processing and printing, each workshop participant will receive an autographed copy of my three favorite books: Creative Visualization for Photographers, Exploring the Light and Travel and Nature Photography. In addition, everyone will also receive a free download code for two of my on-line classes: Master the Art and Craft of Bird Photography and Master Landscape and Seascape Photography - both available in my on-line store.

All participants will also received an SD card loaded with Perfectly Clear (see my Plug-in page) for both Lightroom and Photoshop. Thanks to my friends at Athentech for your support!

Total value of these items is over $250.

rick car for blog.jpg

Above: Lounge car, Southeastern Railway Museum. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 15mm lens.

Here's a look at some of my favorite photographs from my previous trip to Old Car City and the Southeastern Railway Museum.

The lounge car photograph (above) and the mail car photograph are HDR images, created in Photomatix. I recommend Photomatix for this workshop. You can get a discount on Photomatix on my Save on Plug-ins page.

rick sammon old car 1.jpg

Above: Old Car City. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens. 

I removed some of the reality from my images in this post either by using a fish-eye lens, by altering the true color of a scene, by applying a plug-in, by shooting HDR, by selectively blurring parts of an image –  or by using a combination of all these techniques.

I can show you how to apply digital enhancements during the workshop. Of course, I'll show you how to get awesome in-camera shots, too.

Above: Southeastern Railway Museum. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens.

About removing some of the reality from a scene: When we remove some of the reality from a photograph, the photograph can - but not always - look more artistic.

Photoshop, Lightroom and plug-ins make creating artistic images relatively easy - if you have a creative vision. 

rick sammon belair for blog.jpg

Above: Old Car City. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70mm lens.

On my workshops I stress light and composition, the topics of my two latest classes on Kelby Training. The picture above (taken on my previous workshops) of our model Hanna (she's coming back for this workshop) illustrates the benefits of shooting on an overcast day, when contrast is low. It also illustrates creative composition: shooting at an angle creates a sense of depth in an image, the Bel Air insignia adds a sense of place to the image, and shooting at eye level helps the viewer of the photograph relate to the subject.

rick caddy for blob.jpg

Above: Old Car City. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens. Effects added with Nik Color Effects Pro. Several Photoshop CS6 enhancements.

Above: Old Car City.  Like abstracts? You will find them in pealing paint and in rust at Old Car City.

Another element of photography we talk about on my workshops is the importance of cropping. In the above photograph, the extremely tight crop (I know it's extreme) emphasizes the fins and tail lights of this cool Caddy.

hanna by rick for blog.jpg

Above: Southeastern Railway Museum. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens.

Yes, the railway cars and old automobiles are awesome subjects. But hey, I especially enjoy photographing people on location. That is why I was so glad our model Hanna is returning! 

I hope to see you at Old Car City and at the Southeastern Railway Museum - where we not only make good pictures, but where we also have a ton of fun.

If you can't make that workshop, all my workshops are listed here.

Explore the light,
Rick 

If you have any questions about this workshop, or any of my workshops, give me a call at 914 271-6132. Note: I'm in the Eastern Time Zone.

Take Your Photography to the Next Level: Learn Photoshop

rick sammon.jpg

Yes! Lightroom is awesome for image editing. But Photoshop is simply more powerful and versatile . . . and for some more fun.

I teach Photoshop (as well as Lightroom image editing) on my group and private workshops – on location and in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

If you want to take your photography to the next level, learn Photoshop.

The opening image for this post was created from the above image in Photoshop – with some help from Photomatix and Nik Color Efex Pro. I also teach how to use plug-ins artistically - and selectively.

Don't get me wrong. I love Lightroom. It's just that Photoshop offers more creative options for creative photographers.

Explore the light,
Rick

Plug Into Creativity with Perfect Photo Suite 8

end result.jpg

I love using all the plug-ins and stand-alone image editing programs that are available for creative photographers. They can help to awaken the artist within. That is why I teach this stuff on my workshops - as well, of course, how to get the best possible in-camera image.

The latest release in the world of stand-alone programs/plug-ins in onOne Software's Perfect Photo Suite 8, which includes Enhance, Portrait, Effects, B&W and Resize - along with Layers and Masks.

You can download this cool software from the onOne Software site.

Screen Shot 2013-11-25 at 8.06.56 AM.png

Here's a quick look at my first go-around with Perfect Photo Suite 8.

For the opening image in this post I selected Perfect Enhance and used the Cool Light effect, after which I added a custom border. What's cool about Enhance is that you can control the Brightness, Contrast, Vibrance, Temperature, Detail and Vignette – to name just few of the creative controls.

rick samnon onOne.jpg

When you remove the true color and sharpness from a scene, you remove some of the reality. when you remove some of the reality, a picture can look more artistic and creative. Plug-ins and digital imaging editing programs let you do just that, quickly and easily.

Screen Shot 2013-11-25 at 3.02.03 PM.png

I like creating new color images, but I am also having fun with Perfect B&W. Here's a tip when using Perfect Black&W: Experiment with the color filters - first - to see how they change the tones in your image. Start with filters and then play with the other creative controls.

rs1.jpg

Back to Perfect Enhance: I used it to enhance this image of the interior of a lounge car at the South East Railway Museum near Atlanta, GA.

rick sammon onOne.jpg

Sometimes, even subtle enhancements can create a more compelling image.

rick sammon wig wam o.jpg

A while back I wrote an article here on my blog, Goodbye HDR, Hello EDR. In the article I talked about the data we can pull out of RAW files.

rick sammon wig wam.jpg

Check out the two images above. I created the image with more detail using the HDR Look effect in Perfect Effects.

Have fun with Perfect Photo Suite 8. Again, you can download the stand-alone program/plug-in from the onOne Software site.

I am teaching plug-ins (and travel photography) at Photoshop World 2014 in Atlanta. I hope to see you there!

All of the plug-ins I use are listed on my Play & Save on Creative Plug-ins page.

Explore the light,
Rick

Hey: Looking for some great prices on some great gear - for you or a loved one for the holidays? Click here.

Save 10% On Any Alien Skin Plug-in Until Aug 15th

rick.jpg

Yes! I have been accused and convicted of using Performance Enhancing Plug-ins -  including plug-ins from Alien Skin Software. 

Alien Skin Software offers a bunch of cool plug-ins: Exposure 5, Blow Up 3, Snap Art 3, Bokeh 2 and Eye Candy 7.

Screen Shot 2013-08-03 at 11.26.44 AM.png

I used Exposure 5 to create the opening image for this post. You can save 10% on any Alien Skin plug-in until August 15th by using this code – RSA1308 – upon checkout from the Alien Skin web site.

Talk about variations! Exposure 5 offers endless creative options for photographers with Performance Enhancing Plug-in addictions. :-) 

rs3.jpg

Above is my original image.

Check out my Save on Plug-ins page for savings on all the plug-ins I use. 

Explore the light,
Rick

Get the Entire Nik Collection by Google for Only $149!

rick sammon cuba.jpg

Check this out! You can own the entire Nik Collection of awesome plug-ins for only $149! See my Save on Plug-in page for info. You'll find great deals on other plug-ins on that page, too. Above: Nik HDR Efex Pro.

antique plate.jpg

Above: Nik Silver Efex Pro.

rick sammon 1.jpg

Above: Midnight filter in Nik Color Efex Pro.

I'm a big fan of plug-ins, as readers of my blog know. Plug-ins can help you awaken the artist within. 

© Rick Sammon.jpg

Above: Nik Dfine. 

Explore the light,
Rick