Catch My Interview Today on The Digital Photography Show

I did a radio interview yesterday with Scott Sherman over at "The Digital Photography Show" about the new CS3 beta release, and the interview is now online (and you can listen to it right there online) at their Web site. We talked a little bit about Lightroom as well, and a lot of different Photoshop topics, plus once the show was "officially" over, we had to sneak in a little chat about our mutually favortie TV show, ABC's "Lost." If you haven't checked out "The Digital Photography Show," before, this is a great time to put them on your "must listen to" list, because they've got a great thing going, and their audience is growing by leaps and bounds because of it. Thanks to Scott and everyone over there, for having me on. :)

The Most Awaited Photoshop Book of the Year!

You've heard me talk about reknown nature and people photographer Vincent Versace many times here in my blog, in my seminars and books (he's that guy I always call "Vinny"), and now I'm delighted to announce that his just-released book, "Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography" (from New Riders Press) is now in bookstores nationwide. Well, I got my copy a couple of weeks ago, and it does just an amazing job of capturing the excitement and impact of Vincent's live sessions. Not only that, the Photoshop techniques he shares are only found here, and they're presented as only Vincent can, but the book goes beyond technique; it teaches you how to see, and how to transfer your vision to the photo through in-camera techniques and Photoshop, to create images that are truly cinematic in nature (henceforth the book's name).

Congratulations to Vinny for breaking new boundries, and creating a book that captivates, challenges, entertains, informs, and delights. Find it at your local bookstore, or on Amazon.com.

Better Looking Icons for Photoshop CS3

The new icon for Photoshop CS3 Public Beta has caused it's share of controversery (which is odd becuase the icons usually get little if any notice, so something must be up). Personally, the icon doesn't bother me nearly as much as the CS3 Splash Screen, but if the icon bugs you, don't worry---the community is already come to the rescue, with mutliple site offering free icon replacements.

Check out http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=35930
or http://www.macthemesforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=16778576
or: http://www.macthemesforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=16778580
or:http://www.artofadambetts.com/weblog/?p=169

Larry Becker Tops Himself This Christmas!

My Buddy (and NAPP Executive Director) Larry Becker, really got me something very original, and very cool this Christmas. Larry know's I'm a fan of the "What the Duck" comic strip (which I've featured here in my blog), and he got the strip's author and artist, Aaron Johnson, to create a custom strip for me (shown above--click on it for a much larger view), and larry printed it out, and had it framed and mounted. I was just so tickled!!! Thanks Larry for raising the bar, even in Christmas Gift Giving. :)

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a safe, warm and wonderful fun-filled Holiday Season. :)

Scott

Dan's Done It Again!!!

My personal hero of color correction and Curves, Dan Margulis (author of the kick-butt "Photoshop Lab Color Book") has done it again with the new 5th edition of the industry Bible on color correction, called "Professional Photoshop: the Classic Guide to Color Correction, 5th edition." This book is getting nothing but rave reviews, and if you really want to understand color correction, and start using Curves like a pro, this is the book. Period! You can find it at your local Barnes & Noble, Borders, or at Amazon.com.

Another Cool Blog

Blogs put out by companies are really more like "marketing blogs," but this one, called "Manage This" from Extensis, manages to provide good, interesting content without clobbering you with marketing hype. There's lots of good info, especially if you're into type and typography, but it's much more than just a type blog. There's info on Adobe, photography, and just some really interesting stuff. Worth checking out at http://blog.extensis.com/

Corey's Photoshop Blog Now Online!

NAPP's own Corey Barker (AKA: "The Photoshop Laddie"), has started his own daily Photoshop blog on PlanetPhotoshop.com (which is now run by the Laddie himself). Each week day, the Laddie posts the latest Photoshop news, comments, etc. but besides his blog, he's also got some very cool tutorials there as well.

In other "Laddie" news, Corey started his own video podcast for Photoshop Elements users, called "Photoshop Elements Killer Tips" (shown above) and it's already jumped up to #54 on Apple's top 100 tech podcasts. If you use Elements (or know someone who does), send them the Laddie's way at by clicking here (by the way--although these video shows are called "Podcasts" you DO NOT need an iPod to watch them--you can watch them right on your computer (even at full screen size) in Apple's free iTunes software for Mac or PC (you can also click the Subscribe button once you're in iTunes, so you get each episode automatically downloaded each week). Congrats to the Lad for making sure he doesn't get much sleep. ;-)

Photoshop Contest Deadline Just Days Away

Actually, it's exactly 11 days away, so get those entries in for your chance to win some great prizes, with the grand prize being an all expense paid trip to Rome, Italy, where you (and a friend) get to go for inspiration to create a cover for Photoshop User magazine. This contest (called "The Photoshop User Awards") is open to everyone, and if you don't enter, you'll wish you did.

I'm one of the official judges for the contest, and as a judge I can tell you this: it's not a contest where the image with the most "Photoshopping skills" wins---instead the judges always seem to react to the images with the most visual impact in each category. So, if you've got some cool looking illustration, or beautiful photography, some really well done collage, or nice restored image, you should definitely enter. For full details, visit the "Photoshop User Awards Website." I really hope you'll enter, because ya really just "never know," and you might be the next one on your way to Rome!

Cool Site for Flash Users

It's called "The Strobist." I just found out about this site, went there last night, I have to say--it's a really nice resource (and community) for users of dedicated flash units. Lots of good info, nice articles, and tips on using flash. Definitely worth visiting if you're into flash and want tips on getting better results.

Live From New York, It's…well…me.

Blogging to you live from Manhattan, in a Starbucks at the corner of Broadway and Union E 17th and Union. I'm up here for some meetings, and then later today I'm heading over to B&H Photo to spend my children's college fund on photo goodies. ;-)

While I'm there, I'm taping a "mini-tour" of B&H for next week's Photoshop TV episode. My meeting starts in 15 minutes, so here's a quick look at what's going on:

** The new episode of Photoshop TV has a special look at Photoshop CS3, so make sure you turn in to see Matt and Dave show off its cool new features.

** Lots of good CS3 info out there (like Colin's Smith's Photoshop Cafe, and our buddy Richard Harrington's Podcast), and BareFetas.com, which is a site that does Mac- speed testing, and the results of running CS3 on an Intel-based Mac are pretty stunning.

** I finished Joe McNally's DVD called "The Speed of Light" on Nikon Flash techniques (the one I mentioned a couple of weeks ago), and it was brilliant. Joe is absolutely amazing, and he really makes you realize that with a couple (OK, three) SB-800 flash units, you can get real studio-like results out on location. The video itself is a look at Joe out shooting different projects, using one, two, and three flash units, and seeing how he sets everything up, and how he gets the results he does is amazing. Note: this really isn't a "push this button, change this menu" kind of video. It's more like a really well produced documentary about a pro shooting, and how he uses SB-800s in the field to create award-winning work, but it also includes Joe's own commentary, and diagrams of exactly how and where he set the lighting to make each shot. It's incredibly inspiring. You can buy it at B&H Photo for $24.95

He Will Be Missed

I'm very sad to tell you that beloved Photoshop legend Bruce Fraser passed away this past weekend after battling terminal lung cancer. I use the word "beloved" to describe Bruce, because I think it's the best word to describe how the untold thousands of people he's helped around the world truly feel about him.

I really wanted to write something myself, but Adobe Product Manager John Nack did such a beautiful tribute to Bruce on his blog and I think it says a lot about Bruce, as an icon in our industry, and as a person. So, if you'll take a moment to follow this link to gain some insight into a man whose life was spent helping and teaching others.

Also, if you might add his lovely wife Angela to your prayers, I'd be very grateful.

NAPP Launches Photoshop CS3 Learning Center

It's our biggest and most comprehensive Photoshop learning center yet. Here's what you'll find there: More than 12 videos on the new features from "The Photoshop Guys," The "Photoshop Lad" and Adobe's own Terry White. There's also a video interview with Adobe's Photoshop Product Manger John Nack, and I did an in-depth article on all the most important new features.

We have extra video content exclusively for NAPP members as well, and we just launched a members-only online discussion forum, moderated by "The Laddy!"

Plus (get this), you can sign up for a totally FREE seven-day online training course from our buddy Dave Cross. No strings attached! :-)

Plus there's loads of other stuff, so go there right away to learn all the cool new stuff!!! The learning center is at http://www.photoshopuser.com/cs3

Adobe Announces Photoshop CS3 Free Public Beta Version: Download it Tomorrow!

Yup, it's true----Adobe made history today by announcing a free downloadable version of Photoshop CS3 months before the actual finished product ships (the announcement was today, but it will be available for actual download sometime tomorrow). Read Adobe's Press Release for the full details.

Our hats off to Adobe for taking this big risk (releasing Photoshop CS3 early), and breaking the mold to do what they really felt was the right thing to do for their customers. :-)

A New Planet Photoshop is Born, with "The Laddy" As Its Ruler!

Corey Barker, (AKA "The Photoshop Lad" or "The Laddy" for short), is the man behind the new rebirth of PlanetPhotoshop.com. The site is completely made-over from top to bottom with easier navigation of the hundreds of video clips, articles, and tutorials, and it introduces Corey's own daily Photoshop blog. Congrats to the Laddy on the big launch! Check it out at PlanetPhotoshop.com.

Totally Free, Totally Awesome Actions

The site PanosFX.com has just some amazing free actions, you can download and start using right now. These aren't your typical run-of-the-mill cheezy special effect actions--this guy (his name is Panos Efstathiadis and he's based in Greece) put some amazing time and detail into them. The one shown here, takes your photo and puts it into a plasma TV screen, and you can choose lots of different customization options, including which name to put on the TV itself. There's also a nice one for the holidays, that puts your photo inside a snow globe. Very clever stuff. While you're there, check out the actions he does charge for---they're even better, and his prices are pretty darn incredible (some of those actions might make a nice Photoshop-related gift for the Photoshop freak on your holiday list).

Photoshop Legend Bruce Fraser Receives NAPP's First-ever "Lifetime Achievement Award"

Bruce Fraser, renown Photoshop author, trainer, and digital imaging industry consultant was just awarded NAPP's first-ever "Lifetime Achievement Award." Read the full press release by clicking here, but besides what you'll read in the release, I personally am so delighted that Bruce was chosen to receive this distinction. His contributions to our industry, including being the bottomline on sharpening, color management, and Camera Raw, have changed the way we all work, and it couldn't go to a more of a true gentleman than he. My congratulations go to Bruce on this very special day! :-) (photo credit: Jeff Schewe).

Something's Happening Over at....

....PlanetPhotoshop.com. Corey Barker (AKA: "The Photoshop Lad") has taken over the tutorial packed site, and apparently something big (a relauch perhaps?) is about to take place. Want to know exactly when we'll "witness the birth of the new planet?" Click right here, and see when the bright flash of light is set to go off.

NEW: Dave Cross's Online Photoshop Class for Beginners

If you want to really understand Photoshop from the ground up, then you should sign up for Dave Cross's 21-day "Photoshop For Beginner's Online Course." The class is just five-minutes a day, so it's perfect for busy people, and Dave is such a brilliant teacher, and makes everything so easy, you'll be amazed at how far you'll come in just three weeks. The public pays $69.99, but since your a NAPP member, you get the course at a huge discount (only $39.99), and you can enroll right now and start Dave's course today (if you click the enroll link above, you'll see Dave's full course curriculum). Kudos to Dave for coming up with such a handy, fast, and fun way to learn Photoshop.

How to Clean Your Digital Camera

Larry Becker (NAPP's Exec Director) turned me on to this site, run by a professional certified camera repair tech, that shows how the step-by-step instructions for cleaning the inside of your digital SLR camera (removing dust, spots, cleaning the sensor, etc.). The site is very well done, with lots of comprehensive info, just make sure you read the ENTIRE front page, including their directions on what to do in what order. You can find the site at http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

Back From Hawaii

Well, it's good to be back home. Who am I kidding? It stinks to leave the balmy shores of Maui, and return just in time to watch my Buccaneers lose once again, this time 6-17 to our division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. Some things never change. :-)

Seriouly though, it is great to be back, and thanks again to everyone who came out to my Honolulu seminar. Also, I was lucky enough to go shooting in Maui with Photoshop World instructor Randy Hufford (he runs Maui's Institute of Visual Arts---the same place Matt taught just a few weeks ago). I haven't processed any of the photos yet, but if I get anything decent, I'll post it here.

I'll have more posts later this morning, so just back then, but just wanted to say hi for now! :-)

-Scott
Hawaiian Lava God

Update from Hawaii

OK, by now you've probably noticed that I'm still on vacation, but that's coming to an end, so by Monday I'll be totally recharged and back to blogging daily. I had a wonderful time at my seminar in Honolulu on Monday. Thanks to everybody who came to the seminar (over 415 of you) for our first-ever sold-out standing-room only event in Hawaii. It was just the most fun crowd to present to, and it was great seeing some old friends, and making some new ones. :-)

Thanks to everyone here in Hawaii for their gracious hospitality, and I wish you all a great weekend, and we'll see you next week!

Mahalo and Aloha!

Scott

NAPP's Photo Gear Help Desk

I don't know if you've ever have a chance to try it, but the next time you have a question about which lens to buy, or which camera accessory works with what, or any photo-gear question, NAPP has a dedicated photo-gear help desk manned by the absolute perfect person for the job: Laurie Excell (AKA "The Equipment Lady"). You've heard me talk about Laurie numerous times on Photoshop TV (and here on my blog), and now we're lucky enough to have her answering photography gear questions just for NAPP members. You can access her wealth of knowledge through the Photo Gear Desk link on the member's home page. I can't tell you how thrilled am I to have Laurie on our team (by the way, Laurie is a kick-butt Photoshop instructor, too and I'm trying to find a way to work her into an upcoming Photoshop World. You will love her teaching style!)