As 2008, year winding down i am reflecting on the ups and down of the year. I started my recovery from Back surgery, Hurricane Ike hit my little town of Orange Texas, I evacuated twice to Dallas. Photography and my family was the only thing to keep me sane and happy. I did meet and started working with KMG management, CIDA, and Mr. Hilton Kelley. They have beena great team of folks to work with and for. Alot of new things are coming in 2009. So stay tuned and see how we gonna set 2009 on fire. I am just gonna post some images no special order, no special point just some re-caps of 2008. This is an image of Don Giannatti and I from the lighting essentials Workshop in Houston.

Photoshop and Photography

I was recently asked a common question which is simple to understand but hard to explain. Q: Can you fix another photographers image with photoshop? A: Simply, YES!!!! BUT: No matter how good someone is at photoshop. If the Photography is bad upfront sorry only Jesus and a pray is gonna save it. Photoshop is a tool used for photography, design and graphics. Dealing with photography. It is meant to Enhance an image. not to fix mistake or unskillful work. I look around alot at other folks images and i must say it is very sad to me how many folks call them selves photographers and every image they shoot has over done, destructive and just plain bad photography. I am not say i am the best at what i do but I feel I am not the worst. If an image is garbage right out the camera it's a garbage image. 1. We as photographers have to learn and care about the art of it and strive to get better. Not strive to take alot of thick T&A images. (T&A= Tits and A$$) 2. We have to learn how to do proper beauty retouching. Tell tell sign are look at the eyes for sharpness. Look at the hair line for nice blend. Look for colors that pop. Look at the background and see the mistakes. 3. We have to learn how to light an image and just just snap it a pray for good exposure. There is a thick line between lighting and image and simply exposing it. When you really learn the difference expose will not be enough anymore. 4. Ask your self, if i had a client who need images ASAP. Could i give them raw images right out the camera, with no Photoshop or adjustments. Would the client ever book me again. Here are a few great photoshoppers and photographers: Today's lesson, all these images where top notch right out the camera. www.joeyl.com - this kid is on 18. www.davehillphoto.com - this guy goes hard. http://dustinsnipes.com/blog/ http://www.amydresser.com/ - a master http://lyndonwade.com/ http://www.timtadder.com/ - a master http://www.dongiannatti.com/ - a good guy and friend http://www.dbrownphotos.net/- another Texas superstar http://mjs-exp.com/ - shoot big time blakc celebs http://www.platonphoto.com/

All Images have photoshop done to them.