December 2016 – Black and White, Photoshop Layer Mask, Focus Modes, Infrared, Patterns

OK, I admit it.  I’m “apparently” that rare breed of photographer who doesn’t like Black and White.  The art world raves about it so it must be my problem.  I guess I just don’t understand it.  I mean, we don’t have B&W TV or Movies anymore, why should we make our photography so unrealistic by taking the color out of it.  Unrealistic, hmmm, that seems to be the same word they use to describe HDR.  Anyway, I try, I read about it, I just can’t get warmed up to it yet.  Here’s an article that may help you decide on whether to convert an image to B&W titled “Top 6 Considerations to Help You Decide on Color or Black and White for Your Image”.  It was written by Megan Kennedy and posted on the Digital Photography School.

http://digital-photography-school.com/color-black-white-considerations/

Layer masks are one of the most useful tools in photoshop.  They let you control exactly where your adjustments are applied.  They’re not that difficult to use once you understand the basics of what they do.  Here’s Aaron Nace from Phlearn (the guy with the man bun) with a tutorial on How to Use Layer Masks in Photoshop.

https://phlearn.com/use-layer-masks-photoshop

Here’s a quick article on Focus Modes.  You know, those things like AF-Single, AI Servo, Continuous and Auto.  It’s titled How to Choose the Right Focus Mode on Your Camera.  It was written by Paul Summers and posted on Picture Correct.

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-choose-the-right-focus-mode-on-your-camera/

I’m always looking for patterns in what I shoot.  The experts tell us that they make our images much more interesting.  Here’s some “Tips for Using Patterns in Photography” by Wayne Turner

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/tips-for-using-patterns-in-photography/

One area of photography I’ve always been interested in is Infrared.  I like the surreal look of the images with the strange colors it renders.  I understand some people even like it in B&W.  I had a camera converted to shoot only infrared but I sold it with all my other camera gear when I switched to Olympus so I needed a way to do it without the camera.  Here’s a way you can do it to a regular image in Photoshop.  It was posted on Light Stalking by Jason Row.  “Easily Simulate Infrared Effect in Photoshop in 7 Quick Steps”.

http://www.lightstalking.com/simulate-infrared-effect-in-photoshop/