Chrome / metallic rocks and Contrast Detail photoshop video tutorial

A new video tutorial added to the Rubbing Pixel website looks at a technique that not only adds contrast detail to an image but on seascapes it will also add a great Chrome / Metallic looks to the rocks when applied. The tutorial shows you the technique and it’s application on two images so you can see the result for themselves. It wont work on all images but it is a great technique to have up your sleeve.

The tutorial is free to all Rubbing Pixels members or available for purchase for $5.99. To view the tutorial please click here.

Storm Brewing The Skillion – Photoshop Tutorial Masterclass Exposure Blending

Don’t you just love when the weather guy (Tim Bailey on channel 10 for us NSW people) tells you that tomorrow will be fine but end with a late thunder storm. With summer approaching and the temperature set to sore this year I am really going to dedicate my self to chasing these storm fronts and the wild weather and lightening it creates.

This shot is taken with my new 17-40mm f4 lens @ 17mm at the Skillion, Terrigal on the Central Coast, NSW.

(Why I bought the 17-40mm f4 over the 16-35mm f2.8 will be in my next blog post)

I have made the full post production of this shot as a Masterclass photoshop tutorial that goes into exposure blending and masking in different water layers and I also cover how I go about capturing these kind of images for blending.

This tutorial is recorded in my new format at 1280 x 720 HD.
Tutorial available for immediate download for $12.95 at this link.

Exposure Blending Photoshop Tutorial Forresters Beach

Just released as promised is my new tutorial on how I edited from start to finish my Forresters Beach image. (left)

The shot is a three image exposure blend and the tutorial goes through the selection of the images and the reason behind why you exposure blend and of course the images being blended and processed. There are also a lot of useful tips and tricks used during the video on how to watch and control over exposure, copying masks and more.

The tutorial has little RAW processing and is 95% Photoshop post production and is now available for immediate download. Click here.

Tutorial is $12.95 | 65MB in size | Running time is just under 25 minutes.

Rock Fishing, Spoon Bay

Looking through some old shots from last year (2008) and found this one taken at Spoon Bay on the Central Coast of NSW.

While shooting a few young blokes came down and started to rock fish which gave the shot some added subject matter.

Post production on this was:
1.RAW file opened in PS as Smart object and two files made. One for sky and one for the foreground and then masked / blended together in Photoshop.
(RAW files exported in Pro Photo RGB colour space)
2. Each layer converted for smart filters and sky sharpened independent than foreground.
3. Foreground dodged and burnt adding depth.
4. Selective colour adjustment layer (made into clipping mask) for reducing strength of whites in foreground water.
5. Sky was slightly darkened with dodge and burn layer.
6. Selective colour adjustment layer to work on sky blue. (Also made into clipping mask).
7. Foreground layer duplicated and sharpened and then mask used to reduce sharpening on some rocks.
Done.

Photoshop work isn’t extensive, just simple tools used selectively.

Shot on Canon 1ds Mark II | 24-70mm lens

New Photoshop Tutorial: Brisbane Waters, Gosford

Another successful outing with the Canon 5D Mark II.

On this morning the cloud over the horizon wasn’t overly special and looked overcast. But I saw potential in the back light that might be created so I grabbed my gear and headed out and this is what I got…

This location will also be great on a good sunset as well. As the sun rose over my left shoulder and it will set over my right. Sometimes the back light is the best to shoot. The light is so easy to control.

I have made the post production workflow of the top image into a full video tutorial. The tutorial shows how you can open your Canon 5D Mark II RAW files in Camera RAW with CS3. (saves you upgrading to CS4 if you don’t want to). Then editing of the files in Camera RAW, stitching using PTGui to final post production in Photoshop CS3.

Like in all my tutorials nothing is missed out, you see the full post production of the image.

Instant Download for only $12.95.
So you can be watching this image come to life from start to finish in no time.
Tutorial running time: 31 min and 32 sec
Click here to view tutorial.

Landscape Photoshop Tutorials

After a good month of hard work I have finally released my latest project which is an extensive range of Landscape Photoshop Tutorials for the digital photographer. (click to view range)

When teaching landscape photography to my students on my courses I always emphasise the importance of embracing a digital workflow to take advantage of RAW image capture.

The video tutorials come in three topic areas. Masterclasses | Retouching Techniques | Tips and Tricks

In my Masterclasses the tutorials show you step by step the process from start to finish that I use to create my images starting with Adobe Camera RAW development then moving to stitching using Photomerge and then final post production in Photoshop.

In the Retouching techniques tutorials I show you Photoshop skills used to edit, adjust and enhance your digital work. The Retouching techniques can be purchased individually or in packages.

Then finally in Tips and tricks I have tutorials on topics that I use and come across in my everyday work as a landscape photographer that you may find useful.

All the tutorials are recorded in high resolution with clear audio and can be viewed on both PC and MAC. The tutorials are available as instant downloads or can be mailed out should you not wish to download them.

In total there is over 1 gig worth of tutorials available and I have plenty more Masterclasses in development along with retouching techniques and more tips and tricks. All new tutorials will be advertised on the blog.

As a special offer this tutorial titled “The Entrance” is available at a special discounted rate until Sunday the 26th of October.
(download only)