Hello Everyone.
I have just begun to be a photo fan since my rose photography has taken off with people wanting to buy my pictures and framing them. Who knew? I am a rose gardener with approximately 200+ roses in my yard. I have been photographing them for over a year and a half and entering rose photo contests and won Best of Show last year at the annual rose convention of the American Rose Society. My winning photo will be highlighted in the society's magazine...again who knew? Well, the genesis story is that I am now hooked on photography of all sorts and my learning curve is steep, meaning I have loads to learn. My question is - is there a quick and dirty way for me to learn adobe photoshop without spending tons of money.
French Lace - Floribunda Rose
Welcome to the group. You'll find lots of helpful folks here.
Hello,
I am so excited to be here. I have been reading loads of posts in the last two months and found the information shared really helpful. For example, I saw the moon last night and thought that I would photograph it tonight. Lo and behold, there was a forum on it. I am taking all the advice and trying it myself tonight. I, then decided to join this forum.
rfbccb
Loc: Central Mississippi
Welcome to UHH. Your learning experience here can only be controlled by the amount you want to learn.
This the place to learn. This is probably not the easiest way to learn, but when I first got Photoshop, I tried one thing at a time. All day, one thing. Next day, tried something different, all day. Etc,etc,etc, can do lots of things, but still learning more. Rocco can probably help you along.
FotoFan wrote:
My question is - is there a quick and dirty way for me to learn adobe photoshop without spending tons of money.
The answer is to download a free, fully functional, 30-day trial version from Adobe. I can guarantee you that you'll have problems learning everything in a mere 30 days.
On the other hand, after six months of analyzing CS5 and Corel Paintshop Pro X4, I found only one thing that CS5 does that PSP X4 does not, and that one thing is something that I would use maybe once a decade.
PSP X4 also has a free, fully functional, 30-day trial version.
When you get ready to buy, PSP X4 is $79.99 but often on sale for $40. CS5 is always $699.
Thank you for your welcome and good advice. I'm very sure that the discussions here will be so helpful to me. I'm the kind of personality who jumps into the most complex and then backs up to learn the basic. So hence, I purchased Photoshop CS5 because the pros were also using them. I have a Nikon D60 which by pro standard is a starter camera but I'm still learning its function - so many functions and so little time. I already have Aperture from the Apple store and can navigate okay there, but photoshop CS5 is a whole different animal in its complexity - but do like its capabilities which I have yet to take on. I agree - one thing a day is good advice. Thanks All.
FotoFan wrote:
Thank you for your welcome and good advice. I'm very sure that the discussions here will be so helpful to me. I'm the kind of personality who jumps into the most complex and then backs up to learn the basic. So hence, I purchased Photoshop CS5 because the pros were also using them. I have a Nikon D60 which by pro standard is a starter camera but I'm still learning its function - so many functions and so little time. I already have Aperture from the Apple store and can navigate okay there, but photoshop CS5 is a whole different animal in its complexity - but do like its capabilities which I have yet to take on. I agree - one thing a day is good advice. Thanks All.
Thank you for your welcome and good advice. I'm ve... (
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I can help talk you through any process in cs5 that you are trying to learn ... there are tons in there ... it's my absolute favorite editing program and I have several. Just ask a question in a thread or feel free to PM me anytime.. I'll be happy to help.
Here are some great tutorials
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs5/getting-started-with-photoshop-touch-for-photoshop-cs5/
If you live in San Diego I know a free photoshop class..........
Nice pic, good light and colour. you have a greatrelationship with your subject.
RE: "quick and dirty way to learn photoshop", There really isn't any. If there were it would ill serve you for it could not lead to optimum photographs of your subject.
The rule of primacy in learnind states that what you are taught first will be most believed. Our minds can't erase so bad teaching can only be overwritten by good, hoping right will win the recall conflict.
To your point, See the image dispassionately, be critical, find what specifically you want to change and to what. Look at your posted pic...what's wrong with it. Now you have defined what you want CS5 to do.
As you explore the tools you begin to learn what each does or doesn't do. By trial you see the paint brush is not a good colour management tool. As you edit more pix you improve because you know because you discovered, If you ask an 'expert' how-to and by chance get the right answer it will soon be forgot for your mind has no foundation for the solution.
Further, your own evaluate/solve learning will focus on your unique area and style. Do you need to know a 15 step technique to remove a face shadow, 3D, vanishing points, text graphics. Teach yourself only what you need now. Do so as fast as you want but mever sloppy dirty.
All said, at adobe.com you can find some tool explanations and vids from experts which can help early on.
In any forum be succinct, 'why can't I do this to that using these tools'? There will come a haystack of answers, theories, questions and guesses, but there will be a needle in there somewhere.
Repeating, your rose photograph is lovely. If you learn photography with the same passion you have for blooms the result will be stunning.
You certainly can photograph roses. The exposure and composition look great.
Go to all the tutorials, set aside one hour per day to try things out. But I think you will find that a good camera, a good picture, and an adequate app is all you need. Processing real to life pictures of flowers isn't tough. Just be sure your close up pictures are in focus unless you mean to purposeful put a spin on it. Sometimes I like a slight blur (increase the noise factor) because I do watercolors. It makes it look like a painting.
Thank you for the offer of help. I am sure I will ask for your help soon. By the way, what is PM? You said to send you a PM for any questions on photoshop (for Photogirl57).
FotoFan wrote:
Thank you for the offer of help. I am sure I will ask for your help soon. By the way, what is PM? You said to send you a PM for any questions on photoshop (for Photogirl57).
I think she meant Private Message.
I knew I was going to feel stupid once I found out what it meant. Oh Duh!
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