Photo Super Hero!

Flickr is Awesome

photosup — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:09:13 +0000

The site Flickr.com is absolutely incredible.

It has an unconventional navigational interface, which I believe actually keeps people from appreciating the full wonder and functionality of the site. It is SO much more than just a photo storage and sharing site.

I just discovered a flickr user, with the most incredible collection of photos!

Have a look at some of these for example!

Photo by Trodel at Flickr under a Creative Commons Licence

Photo by Trodel

Photo from Trodels Photostream

Photo by Trodel

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Project Management Professionals

photosup — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:03:45 +0000

Project Management is a series of strategic principles and methods used to govern projects and streamline processes.

Wow, that’s one for a Dilbert comic don’t you think?

Project Management principles can be applied to a huge range of industries which is why having a project management certification can be advantageous to a number of people wishing to improve their businesses and increase their skills for their corporate jobs. The interesting thing with project management is the fact that techniques can be applied to businesses of any size and structure in order to help them run more efficiently.

In recent years there has been a trend toward a global standardization of project management certifications which not only allows more people around the world to gain an accredited certification, but allows employers to seek out candidates whom they are then assured have the correct skill set for the job at hand. Having one standard globally can help talented candidates find the right employers as well.

One such certification is the Project Management Professional (PMP Certification) offered by the Project Management Institute. Obtaining the PMP Certification, is done by sitting the PMP Exam, after completing the required coursework. It is known as being quite a grueling examination and one should be amply prepared before sitting it.

75 percent of the knowledge required for the exam comes from the PMBOK guide and with Project Management Prepcast you get a series of video tutorials to help you nail the exam. Why not head over there to check it out?

This could be a useful tool for a creative freelancer, business owner, or a corporate employee wishing to improve their project management skills or in the first step toward obtaining project management certification.

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Photoshop Tutorials: Lose Weight with Photoshop

photosup — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:02:09 +0000

1. How to remove love handles using Photoshop

There are many photoshop tutorials out there on skin retouching, removing blemishes, whitening teeth and so forth, but let’s face it (pun!) there are many more things we want to achieve with photoshop. It is such a powerful set of tools, that frankly, we can totally suspend reality if we so choose, and well, this is why magazines actually sell.

Click here to learn how to remove love handles in photoshop.

(link will open in a new window so that you can go through these other tuts without leaving this page)

2. How to Increase that Bra Size using Photoshop

(Hey it will come in useful if you want to see what you’d look like with a new pair of girls after surgery, or, or you just want to, never mind I’m not going to go there)

You can imagine that many a photo retoucher for a magazine has used similar if not exactly the same steps as these to increase the circumference of a set of bewbs when it suits the purpose of their article.

Plus, it might come in handy when it’s time to replace that facebook profile photo you’ve been hanging on to for too long.

Click here to view this tutorial

(link will open in a new window)

3. How to do an Easy Digital Nose Job in Photoshop

This one is pretty self explanatory, and surprisingly straight forward.

So if you have ever wanted to learn how to do this, you have come to the right place.

Follow this link to learn how to do an easy digital nose job in Photoshop.

Much cheaper than real rhinoplasty!

Definitely a lot less painful too!

4. How to Change Hair Color Using the Quick Mask tool

This is a super exciting tutorial, and you can imagine the weird and wonderful color combinations that you can work out with your digital brush and highlighting kit. See what you would look like with different color hair (or your friend, or as a service for a salon).

Again, how cool would this be if used on a facebook profile photo.

Email your mom from college and scare her until you’re next at home.

Follow this link to learn how to change hair color using the quick mask tool.

5. How to Apply a Realistic Looking Tatoo using Photoshop

Believe it or not, this thumbnail is a perfect example of a tattoo that has been applied using only photoshop, no ink, no needles, no blistering, and best of all, no scabbing.

Again, this one is perfect for freaking out the parents when you’re away!

Click here to learn how to apply a realistic looking tattoo using photoshop.

Right that’s it for today, if you do any of these tutorials, leave us a comment and let us know what you think of them, and we will arrange to post your results right here on Photo Super Hero.

Go forth and be creative!

Remember that Photo Super Hero, does not make use of ‘no-follow’ tags, so any comments you leave will pass link juice onto your site. Schweet. In return please retweet this post!

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HDR Photography: What is it?

photosup — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:39:22 +0000

Wikipedia defines HDR photography as “high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) and is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminances between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods. This wider dynamic range allows HDR images to more accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes, ranging from direct sunlight to faint starlight.”

In a nutshell, it means taking a photograph, with three or four different exposures, and using Adobe Photoshop or special HDR software to layer them, giving you a far more vivid picture than you would have had with just one exposure of the same scene.

Above you see the four images at varying F-stops.

Here below is the compiled HDR image.

As you can see from this image, it is an almost magical effect, giving us a far more accurate scene than a simple single exposure image, and in fact I suspect it is far more detailed than our naked eyes can see.

To produce beautiful HDR images is quite a technique to perfect almost more science than art form, but if you can get it right, you will be rewarded with really special images that will take your photography to a whole different level.

Here is another example of HDR photography by someone who has mastered the art. Philip Johnson of Australia. You can view more of his artworks after the jump.

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Panographs: Meet a Photography Genius, Ken Duncan

photosup — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:56:16 +0000

Meet a photography pioneer, Ken Duncan.

Now he may look like just an ordinary guy, but with one exception…he may not appear to be wearing any kind of discernible cape, but as a Photo Super Hero, he should be.

I first learned about this photographer and his work when visiting my brother, who lives in Australia.

We were out to dinner one evening in the Docklands area, and whilst walking around taking in the sights, we went past this photo gallery. My brother immediately recognized the work and said to me, “Now *THIS* guy, this guy is *THE* photographer in Australia. All of the classic, iconic photographs of Australia are taken by him.”

Okay, noted.

Clearly a Big Fish around here.

The reason for this post today, is that I was going through my photographs from the trip, and I suddenly remembered about the gallery we saw, and the amazing images that we’d seen there, and for a moment I struggled to recall his name.

I think I went to google and typed in “Ken Photos Australia”. I mean, sheesh I couldn’t have picked a more vague phrase then could I? Well, it turns out Google is just as impressed with Mr Duncans’ work as I was, and there he was right at the top of the search results. “Did you mean Ken Duncan?” google even asks. Hello.

Ladies and Gents, I can only dream of taking such awe-inspiring photography. Really.

It is freakishly good. What I love about his work, is that, he himself says, he shoots in the same way that ‘our eyes see’ things. Which probably explains the very personal reaction that one has when looking at his work. You really feel like you are *right* there in the scene.

On the down side, his work is that good, that Australia tourism is probably taking a nose dive, because once you have a copy of one of his books, there will be no need to go and see the country at all!

If you still don’t believe me, then take a look at Ken Duncans Website. But wa-it!! Don’t go yet, or you’ll miss out on a sneak preview.

These are some images that are available for download on his site, as desktop wallpaper. So I don’t feel bad about posting the thumbnail versions here, because they’re low-res and I’m giving him such a glowing review that I’m sure he won’t mind. Please note that all images are hosted on Photo Super Hero’s own servers so no bandwidth stealing going on here.

Impressed yet? A little information that I gleaned from his website, is that he has photographed so much more than just Australia (which is in and of itself hugely diverse). In fact he is soon to be shooting in Antarctica!! Now *those* are going to be some special photographs, sorry, Ken, PANOgraphs.

If you’re jumping up and down right now saying, “Hey! That looks just like the cover of the Midnight Oil CD, “Diesel and Dust“, well then firstly you’re giving away your age, and secondly, that’s okay because clearly you have great taste in 80’s music.

I’d be lying if I said that this CD isn’t in my car *right* now.

The Time has come…a fact’s a fact…it belongs to them…let’s give it back. (Does Rock Fingers)

Yes, Ken Duncan was the photographer who shot this iconic scene, and many subsequent shots of the band, because clearly *they* have great taste in photographers.

Bright. Colourful. Cheerful.

Isn’t this gorgeous! I’m pretty sure its in the New England area of the USA? Anybody know for sure?

Am I right? Isn’t he just the bees knees when it comes to landscape photography? Apparently he does workshops. Alright, go on. Go and see his website for yourselves.

In fact is anyone still here…? Hello (hello…hello…hello – echo).

I will definitely have some of his work hanging in my home one day.

That is a fact that you can bet on.

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Adventure Photography: 7 Examples of Exploration Photography

photosup — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:39:54 +0000

Looking at beautiful examples like this of adventure photography, makes me want to strap on a pair of well, I don’t know what they’re called, but let’s call them “spiky glacier climbing shoes” and have an adventure.

Though most of us will probably never summit Everest, we all have the opportunity to have adventures with our cameras, wherever in the world we all live.

There is poignancy and beauty to be found in even the most urban of landscapes, but admittedly, well at least for me, I find this ‘out there’ photography the most awe inspiring and captivating.

What do you think? Each image is clickable to take you to see the full size original on the National Geographic Website.

A Crystal Cave in Mexico – hands up who’s thinking about Superman *right* now!?

Kolmanskop, Namibia, A Ghost town overtaken by the desert…ooh creepy!

A Coral Garden, off the Coast of Dominica, in the Caribbean

Stars over a campsite on Mount Everest

Mountain Reflection in Tibet (who’s thinking about the movie 2012?)

Sunrise over Mount Everest (or more like ‘next to Everest’). A friend of mine once showed me a photograph taken out of the window of a plane as they went near the vicinity of Everest, it was a *very* rare cloudless day and you could just make out the peaks. The bizarre thing is that usually when you’re at 30 000 feet, you’re looking *down* on everything, but this photograph, you were clearly looking AT Everest. Just goes to show how tall it really is.

Caving in Tennessee. When you think of Tennessee (USA), the mind automatically thinks of country music. This just reminds us that there is so much more to see of the USA than what the media machine feeds us. Having personally run from a grizzly bear in remote northern Montana (yes I know you’re not supposed to run, but everyone else was, and I wasn’t about to become lunch) I can assure you there is *so* much more to the USA than what you see on television.

Right who is inspired to have some adventures of their own?? (Raises hand). At least, not in northern Montana until I’m fit again.

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7 Examples of Breathtaking Landscape Photography

photosup — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:10:09 +0000

Landscape photography is one of the avenues of photography that I would like to work on, in my own portfolio.

It gives such immense pleasure when you can see a beautiful panoramic vista in front of you, capture it perfectly and reproduce it as a poster print, canvas print or image for the web.

While many amateur photographers tend to focus on taking better portrait photographs initially, as one tends to want to take better photographs of ones family (or at least become proficient enough at photoshop to mask the major flaws!!), the area of landscape photography can be so incredibly inspiring, and can encourage us to keep expanding our skills and opening our eyes.

Here are 7 breathtaking examples of Landscape Photography

Mojave Desert

Who better than National Geographic to provide us with the inspiration to really take our photography to the next level!

One thing is for sure, Mother Earth is a beautiful, amazing, awe inspiring place and we do ourselves a great disservice to not GET OUT THERE and see more of it.

Danakil, Ethiopia

I always wonder what it must have been like for ancient explorers to see grandiose vistas, but be unable to reproduce it, and have to rely on descriptive phrases to explain it to the people back at home.

Thank goodness the camera was invented!

Big Meadow

Now follow the links by clicking on the photographs to go and see the larger versions at the National Geographic website. If you want to stay on this page while you’re doing it, you can ‘right click, open in a new tab/window’ for PC users or Cmd click on the Mac.

Guadalupe

Go and take a look at them and then come back and see if you can tell what the overall theme is with the pictures that I’ve chosen and leave your answer in the comments box below.

Yes of course they’re all landscape photographs, but what else?

Snowy Twilight

See if you can tell what the reason was that I chose these 7 photographs.

Glacier Pool

Simpson Desert

See if you can tell what the reason was that I chose these 7 photographs.

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Why Bad Photos Are Sometimes the Best Ones

photosup — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:06:01 +0000

When you first get your big DSLR camera, the temptation is absolutely enormous, and the pressure ridiculous to make *every*-*single*-*photo* (that enough emphasis for you!?) that you take PERFECT.

Let me tell you, forget it.

Not only will you not be perfect in every shot, but you shouldn’t be.

In fact every shot that ever was, could always somehow be improved by applying some or other trusted technique or even using a liberal application of Adobe Photoshop.

The point is this:

Your photographs should tell a story.
Your photographs should provoke an emotion of some kind.
Your photographs should record a memory.

Take a look at the photograph below and tell me which of the points above can be applied to it?

The twinkling lights in the background (a poor attempt at bokeh I admit) but then the photo was actually snapped by accident, clearly the little guy was eating something (chocolate coin) and he’s really happy. All of which leads us to believe it was Christmas ! There’s your story. It’s intrinsically tied to a memory because I recall him coming toward me and reaching out for the camera (causing me to hold it out of arms reach) and he just started laughing, more happy than anything to be eating that chocolate, and not really bothered about presents.

So, an example of outstanding photography, No, not even close. But a good photograph? For me? Definitely.

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When I Find it, I Share it!

photosup — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:27:43 +0000

Anytime that I find useful things on the web, I like to share them. What makes everyones lives easier, makes everyones lives, well, easier!

Imagine there was such a place that handled all of the scary paperwork around moving, handled all of the transfer of your utility accounts, and even got your quotes from various removal companies.

No need to reach for the yellow pages at all, to look for Conveyancing, or even Cheap Conveyancing, because it is all available on moveme.com. Best of all? Their service is completely free too!

There website will explain more about how they are able to provide such an amazing service for free, even getting you a Conveyancing Quote as and when you need it. Can you imagine how much simpler this service could make moving house? Once place to handle all of those nitty gritty details that we often forget about till the last minute. Sure you remember about the big things like dealing with British gas, but what about taking care of your phone, broadband, cable or satellite accounts and settings? They take care of all of it.

You can even create ‘change of address’ letters through them, to send to your bank, building society, the inland revenue, home insurance provider and to the old council, and to the new one you’re moving into. If you are selling your current home, and buying another, they will even provide you with a step by step process of legally what is required for the transaction to take place. You can even get quotes from real solicitors to help you with all the details.

They even have a handy section with downloadables, where you can get a handy moving checklist, to help you with finalising details for moving with pets, assistance for moving with disabled peoples and much much more. If you are planning to move and you live in the United Kingdom, then I highly recommend that you check them out!

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Maternity Photography: How to have successful shoot

photosup — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:13:16 +0000

Maternity and Pregnancy Photography – How to Have a Successful Shoot

By Vanessa MacLeod

A photography niche that is growing in popularity at a brilliant rate is maternity photography. Also sometimes known as pregnancy photography.

Many folks have acted with great surprise upon hearing that I am on my way to do a maternity shoot, and seem to genuinely believe that I am about to be present at the birth of somebody’s baby! While this might conjure up glamorous images of McDreamy and McSteamy from the TV Show ‘Greys Anatomy’, the actual baby, still happily housed inside the mommy’s tum is the preferred state required for a successful maternity shoot.

The whole idea behind the shoot is to capture a radiant glowing, mother to be, with a perfect fig shaped tummy.

Know when to Arrange Your Shoot: How Pregnant is the mom to be? Some mums remain resplendent and cool as a cucumber throughout pregnancy, and others pass this unforeseen point of no return and swelling (I speak from personal, intimate experience!) and are better photographed somewhere between 6 and 8 months.
Photograph the Mum-To-Be in Comfortable Surroundings: This can be at her own home, her parents home, a local park or anywhere that she feels comfortable. Make sure you discuss one or two optional locations in case you chose the park, and the weather is inclement.
Discuss Beforehand, the Number of People Involved: Make sure that you discuss beforehand, the number of people that the Mum-To-Be would like to have included in the shoot. Sometimes Mums-To-Be like to be photographed alone, or with their partners and or other children. Some will want an all-out extended family shindig, and invite the whole family and more. However, having more than 4 (depending on the number of existing children of course) people involved in the shoot, turns it into a basic family shoot, in which one person is simply puffy and pregnant, so these situations are best avoided if you want a client who loves their radiant pregnancy photos; because by limiting the numbers, you will be able to focus far better on making the Mum-To-Be look great. Wasn’t that the whole point of the shoot anyway?

Use Adobe PhotoShop Liberally: Yes, now is the time to bring out those celebrity retouching skills with wild abandon! I have yet to meet a pregnant woman who actually likes the look of herself with puffy eyes, and double chins *in every shot*. So this is your opportunity to de-pimple, de-wrinkle and brighten better than any face cream ever could! In 10 or 20 years time, your client will look back on the photographs fondly, and only remember the good things about her pregnancies, and your job will have been well done!
Use Natural Light Where Possible: natural light is far kinder than harsh lighting or flash bulb popping, which will show up every vein, stretch mark, and wrinkle. If the natural light is too bright or too blue, or whatever, then try to edit your photographs using something like Adobe Bridge’s Raw Editor, and then go to point number 4 and go wild.

The best of luck to you with your Maternity and Pregnancy Photography endeavours.

Vanessa MacLeod is an accomplished photographer, based in Cape Town, South Africa, but with a global audience. She specializes in Children and Family Portrait Photography and Equestrian Sports Photography. She also a professional graphic designer, and SEO consultant for numerous websites, and enjoys the challenges and excitement of new technological developments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_MacLeod

http://EzineArticles.com/?Maternity-and-Pregnancy-Photography—How-to-Have-a-Successful-Shoot&id=2426860

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