Welcome

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Everyone,

I just want to voice my thanks to Jon, Annie, and everyone who created this sub-forum and the Technique topic. What a great idea. I know I for one will spend a fair amount of time hanging out here as photography is the principal reason I use PSE. I have nothing against creative graphics or scrapping, but I have had an over 50 year love affair with photography. In my mind the image is king. It goes way back in time to at least the caves at Lascaux, France (http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/). While digital photography greatly adds to the ease and quality, photography is still 85% seeing.

Cheers,

Bob

[selawela]

Yes, thanks for this sub-forum. I too will be spending time here. I love all the different creations by people that are posted in the galleries to admire & enjoy, from scrapping to creative graphics as Bob mentioned, but I tend to be drawn to portraits of people and even our four-legged friends!

I am desiring to improve my photography skills so I can then apply PSE and hopefully achieve something artistic and beautiful..that's the goal, anyway!

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

I love all the different creations by people that are posted in the galleries to admire & enjoy, from scrapping to creative graphics as Bob mentioned, but I tend to be drawn to portraits of people and even our four-legged friends!


Hi Selawela,

Glad to see you in this sub-forum. If they gave a Yousef Karsh award for fine portraits, you would always be in the running. How do you do your lights?

Cheers,

Bob

[selawela]

Okay, Bob, here is the thing...first of all, I have a huge grin from ear to ear, because of your compliment! Second, this is how "green" I am to all of this...I had to Google Yousef Karsh! Now I must learn about him! Thirdly -- don't laugh -- "How do I do my lights?" I have no idea!!!! They just happen! All kidding aside, that's why I am in this thread, because I love taking portraits of people, but I don't know anything about photography...well, just basic stuff, anyway.

So I am hoping that more people will post with questions and I'll be lurking to read the answers!

I bought myself a little book called, "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby, and I am starting with his book on the road to my education here. If you can think of any other books that you could recommend, please pass on the info.

Wow, thanks again, Bob, for the nice compliment!

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

I bought myself a little book called, "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby, and I am starting with his book on the road to my education here. If you can think of any other books that you could recommend, please pass on the info.

Wow, thanks again, Bob, for the nice compliment!
Hi Selawela,

If you only get one book on digital photography I would vote for Jeff Wignall's: The Joy of Digital Photography. It the most complete book on photography with which a beginner can feel comfortable. It is such a beautiful volume it could easily be a "coffee table" book. And, most unusually for an author with an international reputation, Jeff answers his e.mail! I use it in my class on Digital Photography. Not only did Jeff answer my questions (as someone who was using his book as a text book this is not too surprising), but a number of the student's got replies from him! Last, but far from least, Jeff is an excellent writer. You will love his style.

Cheers,

Bob

[selawela]

Thanks, Bob. I'm going check that out right now. Sounds great! Thanks for the recommendation. Amazon.com, here I come!

EDIT: Just ordered it!!! Yeah!

[Not4wood]

I'm impressed!

As a student of Portraiture I'll be honest here and say I've never heard of Yousef Karsh and just now Googled his name. What an impressive portfolio. He has photographed history with all of the names, and I'm sure there are things which isn't listed.

Are we going to have a separate topic under Techniques for Portraits or just go with the flow??

Granted I haven't done portraiture in many a long years but since I've picked up my camera again I have been having the urge. I figured I would start of slowly with this medium and do sceneries then progress to portraits. Nah, I have already shot my first one and am working on it in PE5. Will be posting it soon.

[Not4wood]

My first portrait using Digital Media.

I retouched it, and I have watched a couple of the tutorials from the Elements Users page and have solved some of the problems with this image. My next tutorial will be watched tomorrow night to try and remove the shadow on the top left of this.

Here is my first portrait called the Doctor is in.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/5/3/1/4/DrFecher_editedcopy_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=624&c=member&imageuser=15314)

Using the built in Flash on my Nikon D80. Poor lighting since I got the light shadow even though I did shoot facing into a corner. See, I didn't forget everything it just didn't work in this case. LOL

[Cmcburnett]

If you only get one book on digital photography I would vote for Jeff Wignall's: The Joy of Digital Photography. Cheers, Bob

Thanks Bob, I will put the book on my Christmas list.;)