New book and another one coming

So as you may or may not know, my educational background is in the literary arts. And in 2006, a few years after graduating from college, I wrote my first book. Since then, I have added three more to that list. However, the newest isn’t a literary work but rather a visual showcase of artistic photography. And the next one will be an SEO guide.

I’d like to that this posting opportunity to provide a little detail on each of my books, starting with the most recent.

My books

Coming soon:

A yet untitled SEO guide for simple and effective website promotion.

Currently available:

“Attirance”

This is a visual piece focused on my work with model photography and showcasing several creative images built around the art.

“Making Beautiful Photography:  A Guide for the Novice and the Enthusiast”

This  publication (available in e-book format only) seeks to help those who have a passion for digital photography by offering basic photography tips and tricks that are sure to improve anyone’s understanding of this visual art.

“Shadows and Shade”

This book centers on the emotions and circumstances that we all come to experience at some point in  our lives.

“Wishing Wells”

In the amalgamation of three sections, the reader will be taken on a journey through the stages of life, the daily challenges of our world and the mysteries of our very own minds.

Quick and effective method to remove pesky background shadows

Shadows are a double edged sword

In photography, they can be used strategically to enhance shapes and form or even the overall tone of the image. But at the same time, inconveniently located harsh and harsh shadows can just about destroy an otherwise beautiful photograph.

Some of the photos you may not want in your shot are those that appear on the background behind your subject. This can occur commonly in studio or other indoor settings.

But fear not, there is a fairly easy way to correct it with the use of Photoshop or most other common editing tools. (This works especially well with either black or white backdrops but may work adequately with other really dark or really light colors as well).

Once you’ve opened your photo and decided what shadows much be removed, select your Dodge/Burn tool in Photoshop or the equivalent in another program.

If you’re working with a white (or really light backdrop), you’ll want to use the dodge tool. The reverse is true if you’re image has a black (or really dark) backdrop.

You may need to adjust the exposure and brush size. It is best to start out with a relatively low exposure such as 25% too see how things look. You can always adjust it to a higher or lower level if need be.

Use the tool to cover over the shadowy part of the background that you want to remove and that’s really all there is to it.

It may take some trial and error but you’ll get there.

 

Help choose the new photos for my website

What do you think?

My photography and creative arts business website is going to be getting a makeover in the near future. And, I’d love to have the readers here at Creative Dreamers offer up your suggestions for a new look.

The current look of the Three Rivers Creative Arts website features six photos on the homepage that rotate in something of a slideshow. While this format will remain, I’m looking to change the featured photos and replace them with others from the various galleries on the site.

In the end, a mix of photos from the following galleries will be chosen to be included in the new homepage layout:

Landscapes

Models

Occasional Portraiture and Events

Wildlife

To have your two-cents considered, feel free to choose up to six photos from the site by providing the name of the gallery, the page number within that gallery and the number sequence in which the photo appears. See example below:

You can submit you favorites by commenting on this post.

Thanks for your feedback!

Recent photo shoot with alternative pin-up model

When I shoot with models…

I love to work with all sorts of looks. One of which, if you’re even a casual reader of this blog you probably know, is alternative models. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, that commonly includes women featuring body art and subculture styles.

Another really cool style is the classic pin up look that came out of support for U.S. troops during the wars and battles of the mid-20th century.

So, why not combine both for an amazing model photo session?

The photos below are from a recent shoot with the stunning Brittany Jordan. They were taken at my studio location in Pittsburgh and I hope you enjoy them.

This one makes use of a cool, classic vibe with the retro bar stool and the black and white coloration.

This one uses a spot color effect on her vibrant hair mixed with a classic pin up pose to have an almost Andy Warhol like quality.

Moving away from the pin up look for this one, it has sort of a sexy / naughty teacher theme if you will.

The spot color effect with a pose that accentuates the models chest makes for a fun, flirty photograph.

Last but not least, this one lends a little edge to the model’s look with the cigarette and the black fedora.

 

Winners of the first ever Creative Dreamers Blog Awards

Last month, Creative Dreamers started encouraged our readers to vote for your favorite blogs to earn the honor of the first ever “Creative Dreamers Blog Awards.”

Well, our readers have spoken and now it;s time for the results.

Blog Awards by category:

Favorite Photography Blog

lyndamichelle

Favorite Poetry Blog

Poetry Frog

Favorite Visual Design or Layout on a Blog

An Evil Nymph’s Blog

Favorite General Arts Blog

art.iculation

Favorite Drawing Blog

Drawing OWU

Favorite Subculture and Body Art Blog

Scars are Tattoos

Favorite Music or Video Blog

World Music – the Music Journey

Congratulations to all of our winners. Please fell free to brag about your accomplishments after all, our readers already have.

Three ways to bring out the color in your photos

As a photographer, I know that a lot of people are looking for ways to bring out the color in their shots to make their digital photos pop. Here are a few tips along with sample shots.

Making color pop

1. Make use of the saturation effect

- Use your photo editing software’s saturation tools to increase the saturation for more vivid colors. Be careful not to go overboard though.

2. Utilize the dodge/burn tool

- Most likely, your chosen editing software will allow you to either burn (darken) or dodge (lighten) specific areas of your photo. This can really help with bringing out the color in skies and nature scenes as well as washed out clothing or body art.

3. Go with a spot color effect

- Here, you take out the color in a photo and essentially make it black and white with the exception of the area in which you want to showcase a specific color. This takes a little work but is well worth it. My e-book “Making Beauty Photography” has a deluxe edition with links to video tutorial on several of these techniques.

Creative Dreamers honoring top blogs – “best blog awards”

As the blogger behind Creative Dreamers, I only think it is right to acknowledge and showcase some of the best blogs out there. So, based on the opinions of CD readers, and the wonderful work of others out there contributing to the ever growing blogisphere, I’m announcing the first ever Creative Dreamers Blog Awards.

Here’s how it’s all going to come together

Blog Awards will be given based on the categories below:

Favorite Photography Blog

Favorite Poetry Blog

Favorite Visual Design or Layout on a Blog

Favorite General Arts Blog

Favorite Drawing Blog

Favorite Subculure and Body Art Blog

Favorite Music or Video Blog

The categories should probably be pretty self explanatory but if you’re not sure where a blog might fit in, just ask.

Readers can nominate any blog of their choice by:

1. Liking this post.

2. Sending the URL of your nomination, along with the category you are nominating the blog for, to trcapromo@gmail.com.

You can nominate a blog up until March 1, 2013. Results will be posted by mid-March.

Winning blogs will receive free promotion on this blog as well as bragging rights they can include on their own.

The amazing artistry of Natiq

Recently, a very talented young yet experienced artist needed a place to take some photos to use as reference material for an upcoming art show to be held in early April. He found me online and  took advantage of my photography studio for rent in Pittsburgh.

He brought along with him a few samples form his portfolio and quite honestly I was blown away. I’ve always had a special admiration for anyone who can paint.

I’d like to share his work with my Creative Dreamers readers and I hope you enjoy his talent as much as I did.

Check out a sample of his work below as well as his Art of Natiq website.

Title: Why

Beautiful piercings

As anyone who follows this blog knows…

I have quite an admiration for the art of body modification. And yes, it is indeed an art.

Of course, one way in which piercings are different from tattoos is the fact that they need not be permanent but still allow one to express themselves.

With that in mind, I just decided to post a few photos of beautiful, amazing piercing work for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy.

Paparazzi, not a fan

As a serious photographer….

to be blunt, paparazzi piss me off.

These people who go around shooting anything and everything potentially notable, regardless of the consequences and how it might affect others, really get my goat. And for what, just to earn a few bucks?

As someone who believes in the art of photography, these people drive me nuts.

Here are a few of the countless reasons:

1. Many of them don’t even know good photography. Take a look at the images in the tabloids and such, many aren’t well composed, have exposure issues and are lacking some of the more basic technical elements of the art.

2. They rarely even give any thought to a person’s privacy. This includes the children of celebrities, the most fragile age group among us.

3.  A lot of them see themselves as “journalists” in some way. Now I went to school and graduated with a degree in journalism and can assure you that most of them probably don’t have the first clue of what it means to be a journalist.

Maybe someday people will wake up and stop tolerating this crime against the art of photography.