Carli-Art photography: wannab

Showing posts with label wannab. Show all posts

Horses need not apply....

I would really like to take some interesting portraits of some interesting people. Maybe odd people, or actually odd is probably the wrong word but different. So people with hobbies that involve bondage and jelly, or girls that like pretending their boys with pieces of fruit. A guy that is married to his tractor or a couple who live with their horse.

Inspiration probably from the iconic Portfolio publication, my friend gave me issue 42 so quite an oldie but man a goody. Never though portraiture was really my thing and although its not my strength, in a way isn't fashion portraiture just of the identity you are giving someone rather than the identity that maybe they themselves own? I have always thought about the actual model. So if they weren't there in your studio or on your location dressed in clothes you gave them to wear and looking like you or the art director wanted them to; what would they be doing or what would they look like. Ordinary people I am sure. Portraits of models with no make up maybe. Nothing unique or exciting in that. Maybe I could find out a secret about them, something that they did outside of modeling. A thought anyway.

Apply if your interested in being snapped, whenever, wherever and however. Horses need not apply.

Live and Kicking...

No I am not talking about that old skooool Saturday morning program (although I did love that show) I am referencing the fact that today my sparkly new website went live.

I am sadly very excited and even sadder keep finding myself logging onto my own site and having a browse, as if something is going to change or its suddenly not going to be there! Anyway should you have a mo or two then check it out - it SHOULD be easy to browse through and even easier to find information that you want so fingers crossed that for the audience, the site works.

www.carli-art.co.uk

I feel a little odd today. I keep having massively elated moments where I get dizzy about the fab new site (shut up about that already I hear you cry) and then really low moments where I wander where its all going and if I am ever going to finish the huge pile of editing I currently have staring at me.

The thing is the editing isn't screaming its tapping, consistently and accurately against the inside of my head slowly driving me insane and even more frustrating, making me feel ever so slightly panicky that there 'Just isn't enough time.' (Said like that Rabbit out of Alice in Wonderland) In reality, there probably is. Or I need to stop procrastinating by doing blog posts and checking facebook and actually get on with processing in Photoshop.

Anyway, one thing which is almost complete is the Chocolate Blonde PR shoot which was photographed last week at Stratstone Harley Davidson in Chingford. Not decided my final view on the images yet but take a look and let me know what you think.

I will be interviewing Chocolate here soon so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Right I'm off to do some work, and eat something chocolate based. Always guaranteed to put a smile on my face for at least 5 minutes.

Fancy some action?

One of the simplest things to do in Photoshop is setting up an Action - an automated task that you can assign to a batch of images, a whole folder of images or just a few that you pick. This could be something as simple as a certain way of saving things or resizing to certain dimensions but can go as far as your imagination will take you really.

I use actions to apply logos to my work when putting on social networking sites or shareware and I also commonly use it when doing particular events, adding a set standard 'curve' action to adhere to all images which I know in general, will work with everythi

ng. The other thing I tend to use it for is saving files when I am editing each one, saves you saving as each time and saves loads of time for more important stuff! (Like making a cuppa while all your work saves!)

The 'Action' tab can be found alongside the history tab and within the same palette. If yours is not visible then add it in your view function.

Basically what you are doing is recording an Action and then saving it so that you can use it on a load of other files later.

First you need to decide what action you are

saving, for this purpose I am picking 'Curves'. Open up one of the files from the batch of images you are going to edit and you think

will need a similar curve action on.

Once opened go to your Action Tab and click on the 'New' Icon as illustrated. Save your Action as something memorable - you can even colour code it if you wish to group your actions later. Once saved it is instantly recording and anything you do to that image will be saved within the 'Action.'

So curves - open up the curves (CTRL M or in Adjustments) and do a

standard curve that you like for contrast. Now save the image and close. Now stop the action using the stop button as illustrated.

Your action is now saved.

Now your going to want to apply this curves action to a whole bunch of images to save you a load of time where you could be otherwise watching the JK show or making yourself a coffee. Either way it saves you time and your mouse finger!

So still in photoshop, with action stopped and image closed, go to File - Automate - Batch. Once here you will be able to select the 'Action' you require (plus a load of automated pre loaded actions) and then the folder to which this action should apply.

You can then select how to save the images. So do nothing and they stay open or save them to a specific folder or location. You can even go as far as specifying different file names or extensions.