Liz Ness Studio

Vintage Color

Liz Ness — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:35:38 +0000

Check out the May/June 2012 edition of Photoshop Elements Techniques Magazine for my tutorial on Vintage Color–includes a download so that you can follow along!

How To Create a Page Curl

Liz Ness — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:33:04 +0000

Catch up to me today at Photoshop Elements Techniques Magazine, demonstrating how to create a fun page curl.

3 Questions About Your Organization Situation

Liz Ness — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:16:58 +0000

I’m beginning work on a brand new class based on the current free, Organizing Your Photographs workshop. However, as I dive into the work, I’m wondering about the specific things that impact you when it comes to organizing your photographs. And, I have a few questions I’d like to ask you:

Is it printed photographs or digital ones that drive you crazy when it comes to organizing your photographs?
What is your specific situation–what does your current collection of photographs look like? A bundle in a box? Scatter digital files on your computer? Something else?
When it comes to organizing, what thing or things overwhelm you? Is it gathering your photographs together? The software? Something else?

Thanks so much for your input–I can’t wait to learn more about your organization situation!

Introducing SnapSeed!

Liz Ness — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:17:50 +0000

The popular iPhone application has made its way to the PC and Mac platforms and the great price ($19.99 US) for its feature set make it a “must have” for memory keeping photographers looking to quickly process/adjust their photographs.

Photography for a Cause

Liz Ness — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:11:18 +0000

This morning, Studio Member, Kevin J. Railsback posed such a great question in the forum that I just had to share:

I was thinking about this the other day so I thought I’d throw it out here for discussion.

When I first started getting into photography and now filmmaking, it was to document the places and things I had seen as a way to keep the memories alive.

Although I still do that, I’ve found that lately I’m using my work to bring abut change and to try and make a difference in this world. I was just wondering how many people find themselves using their photography to do more than just frame up on their walls or put in their scrapbook?

What was it that made you decide that your work could be used to make a difference? Was it trying to save a historic building or documenting the homeless? Was it the sad eyes staring back at you inside a cage at your local animal shelter or maybe fighting to protect a pristine piece of wilderness?

I’m just curious because I find myself shooting to make a difference now. Long gone are the days of just shooting stuff for the fun of it. Yet I find that shooting to make a difference is not only as much fun but it’s more rewarding as well.

Of course, I found myself curious, too–especially, as I get ready to plan and execute a photography-for-a-cause project myself. What projects are you involved in for a cause? Please join the conversation started by Kevin in the forum discussion: Photography for a Cause.

March Challenge: Photo an Hour

Liz Ness — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:21:53 +0000

I love challenges. They are a great way to experiment, discover, and learn so much about our own vision and perspectives. Plus, a good challenge is just plain fun!

Details, Details, Details

So, what’s this all about? Well, this challenge is a personal challenge — something to try and something to get us out with our cameras to make photographs, videos, and possibly some memories, as well.

There is nothing to win (it’s not that kind of challenge), there’s no “best in show,” and it’s really just a prompt for personal exploration, growth, and fun. If, however, you feel like sharing what you’re learning and what you’re creating, please do! It’s fun to share and see what others are doing.

How to Share

Please share your images/links to your images and your thoughts about the challenge in the Monthly Challenge forum. Then, everyone can enjoy your awesomeness (that’s a word, right?)!

The Challenge

March’s challenge is to capture a particular day by taking a photograph every hour via your choice of still photography or motion (e.g., cinemagraphs or video).

Recently, I participated in a day-in-the-life project and captured what I was doing as I lived my life via the lens every hour. And, it was both illuminating and fun to see how a typical, ordinary day comes together. So, that’s what this month’s challenge is all about–scheduled photography, fun, and a bit of discovery.

The following photograph is from a moment I captured with my iPhone. Clearly, I need some practice when it comes to metal punching! But, don’t worry, capturing a photo every hour is far easier than lining up metal punches and pounding a piece of brass!

So, grab your camera and share your vision. Most of all, have fun with the challenge!

PS: Do be safe with this one–don’t shoot and drive. Seriously, I pulled over when I took the one of Duncan and myself in the car–no accidents, all right?!

3 Pieces of Video Gear I Love

Liz Ness — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:28:40 +0000

I’ve captured a lot with my video camera, recording moments of our lives–and, the lives of friends–at 1920 x 1080 pixels. Indeed, my camera has been such an important piece of gear in my memory keeping kit that I purchased a second one–because I kept borrowing my sister’s for shots at a second angle.

When I first started using this camera a few years ago, I used free movie processing applications like Windows Movie Maker. When I outgrew the application, I moved on to Adobe Premiere Elements–which was convenient because it was packaged with Photoshop Elements. Then, when I upgraded my version of Photoshop from CS3 to CS5, I chose a package that upgraded me to Premiere Pro, as well. Meanwhile, I upgraded my PC, too, to handle it all.

Now, I’m fairly biased about my three favorite pieces of motion photography gear which includes a camera, tripod, and software:

A Sony Handycam (x2) which seems to span price, but averages around $450. This is perfect for my skill level and budget.
A Joby GorillaPod: A mini tripod that holds my cameras and allows me to place one someplace else.
And, Adobe Premiere Pro for processing, mixing, and adding a variety of effects to my footage.

So, what about you? Do you capture film or video memories and if so what are your favorite pieces of gear?

2 Requests for You (Please?)

Liz Ness — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:07:04 +0000

First off, thank you for helping us out with the last Photography Matters challenge–I can’t wait to get my free lunch! And, to spread the joy a round, I’ll be matching the cost of my lunch and donate it to our local food bank.

Next, we need your help again, please. The following photographs from me (Liz), Jackie, and my sister (Kathy) are from the White challenge. We need you to choose a winner–who wins lunch this time? Whoever it is, I’ll match the price and donate it to our local food bank, too. So, which photograph is your favorite?

Left to right: Liz’s Burning Wishes, Jackie’s W, and Kathy’s Self Portrait.

Take Our Poll

Finally, we need a new challenge. Please leave a comment with a photography challenge. Next week, I’ll choose a comment (via random drawing) that will send us out to meet the challenge. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us!

Thanks so much for your help!

How to Achieve Selective Focus Without a Tilt-Shift Lens

Liz Ness — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:36:30 +0000

I love my tilt-shift lenses and optics. However, I don’t always have my tilt-shift kit with me. For that matter, I take a lot of photographs with my iPhone. Later on, when looking over the images, it might strike me that a particular image would look great with the selective focus for which tilt-shift lenses are famous. Or, I might realize that a scene lends itself to that simulated miniaturization that sometimes happens as a result of a tilt-shift capture.

That’s what happened for the following image: I captured it while playing at a new-to-us park with my iPhone. The iPhone Instagram application has tilt-shift simulation and after playing with it, I knew that faux tilt-shift was perfect for the image. However, I wanted more control over the effect and my image. So, I went to work in Photoshop/Photoshop Elements to achieve the desired effect. As a result, the following tutorial on how to achieve selective focus without a tilt-shift lens was born. I call it the Faux Tilt-Shift effect.

The Zen Effect of Imagery

Liz Ness — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:15:20 +0000

At times, my vision for a photography is that it have a dreamy, surreal look. The effect is especially awesome for photographs that evoke a gentle mood–where contrast is soft to support a dream-like theme. It’s sort of the Zen effect of Imagery or post-processing.

The other day, my friend Heidi reminded me of this technique by asking about it. So, I thought I’d share a quick how-to video on the topic: