NoBs Digital Dogbowl
The NoBs Digital Dogbowl Newsletter:
Keeping you up to date and informed on the latest, coolest, and outrageous happenings inside the world of NoBS Photo Success.
Loaded with Free photography tips, Photoshop tutorials, photo reviews,
and other totally relevant essentials. Be sure to check out the whole thing!
Hungry for more? Visit our digital photography forum.
December 2008 Digital Dogbowl
Peace On Earth and a Bed For All
A big thank you to all who participated in this year's fundraiser for SCAW (Sleeping Children Around the World). $4760 was raised this year; that total includes a $1000 donation from Rob and James. That total will be enough to purchase 136 bedkits for needy children.
"Congratulations to you all, thanks again. Thank you to all the moderators who donated as well, it was very generous. Maybe next year we can make the goal," said James.
Business Portrait Tutorial
Diversification in products and services we offer as photographers can make all the difference in a photography studio's bottom line. One such offering which is low hassle, quick, and profitable is shooting business portraits. If you haven't done these yet, you're in luck because this month NoBS co-founder James Hodgins brings us yet another incredibly useful tutorial on just how to do a business portrait. It's a quick and simple setup, and as usual James makes it look VERY easy. To view the tutorial, click on this link.
Props For NoBS Member
A big shoutout and props go to NoBS member, Boerneman (aka Jason Abbott) who was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to attend SPA in January. Jason was nominated by Steve and Shelley Harrington, who, as we all know, are extremely respected among senior photographers. To read a little more about Jason's nomination click here.
NoBS Interview: Mama Shan Canfield
This month's radio interview brings us none other than Mama Shan, who you may know these days as the inventor of the Lollipop action.
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with Expert Mama Shan Canfield
of VTalkRadio Photography Spotlight Sponsor www.nobsphotosuccess.com |
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NoBS Book Club
Move over Oprah, there's a new bookworm in town and her name is Lisa Marie. Ok, ok, maybe Oprah doesn't have to start looking over her shoulder quite yet.
But, we digress. NoBS moderator, lisamphoto (aka Lisa Marie) has thrown down the gauntlet looking for any NoBS member willing to participate in a photography book club. All you have to do is pick a book about a legendary photographer, read it, and then present a report to the rest of the gang.
To learn a little bit more and to see who is participating, read more here.
design|house Updates and Announcements
If you saw the recent special edition announcement of the NoBS Dogbowl, you saw the great deals our vendors are offering NoBS members only. NoBS vendor, member, and moderator Andy Armstrong also made some announcements recently regarding a couple of workshops he will be involved in with fellow NoBS member Mike Long of Times Two Studios. To read up a bit more on the workshop details as well as to get more info on Andy's design|house products click on this special NoBS/design|house newsletter link.
Quick Photoshop For the Eggnog Head
Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Soloist, and oh hail the Mordaf the great forest spirit to all out there recovering from our holiday cheer. Since I am into Christmas Cookie overload my Photoshop note will be short since I am hiding from my inlaws as is one of my holiday traditions.
Hot Keys: These are those keyboard shortcuts that perform Photoshop functions which just help to speed up your work. They are different from Actions in that they just do one function. Some of the more common and that can be used for other computer programs. Of course before I give these, keep in mind that if you are windows (like me) or Mac the keys have two different names. Ctrl will mean Command for Mac, Atl will mean Option (or that silly apple key) so to save time and keystrokes I will be speaking in Windows.
The most common ones are Copy (Ctrl + C) Paste (Ctrl + V) Select all (Ctrl + A) can be used in not only Photoshop but other programs too like Word and Excel. The same is for our friend the one step undo Ctrl + Z that works great and for Photoshop can do and undo as many times as you push it.
Some other key combos that I use are Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E in Layers to make a Merge Visible layer. You just go to the top of your layer pallet and do the left side keyboard dance to make a new layer of all the visible layers while keeping all the layers. This comes in handy for sharpening or other effects.
A cool one is Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ~ which makes a selection of the highlights in the image. These can be copied to a new layer and colored or the selection can be adjusted to reduce the blowout.
Ctrl + J can make a copy of a selected layer or just a selection to a new layer.
If you are using the selection (or other tools) and need to move to another section of the image hold down the spacebar. The tool will change to a hand which by holding down the mouse button you can move the image and when you release the spacebar you will have your working tool back.
Well, I hear someone calling my name so I guess it is time to find a new hiding spot. Have a great holiday and God Bless you all.
NoBS Member of the Month & Photo of the Month: BLINN
I have always been interested in photography as a hobby. In December 2004 I bought my first ever SLR camera, a Canon Digital Rebel. I wanted a good camera that would take good pictures, I never intended to start a business nor did I ever imagine that I would be shooting weddings. After all, I knew nothing about photography. I remembered the awesome photos we got from our wedding back in 2001; our photographer shot our entire wedding digitally and we had a great experience with our wedding photographer (Rob Provencher…he was amazing!!) Someday, just someday I wished I would be able to capture images like Rob. Then one day it all came together and my photography business began.
Photo of the Month
Jump Start 2009!
Esteemed NoBS member, Sandy Puc, recently announced her latest venture, the 2009 National Charity Model Search. This contest is open to all photographers and benefits NILMDTS, a nonprofit organization Sandy founded. Both the winning photographer and model receive fantastic prizes and this venture is sure to bring in some much-needed business during the slow winter months. To see the NoBS link, click here. To get more detailed information on Sandy's upcoming 2009 seminars and on the contest, go to Sandy Puc's Models.
To round out what has been a memorable year of monthly success interviews, Rob this month brings us an interview with none other than Brian Little, an esteemed member of the NoBS community who also happens to be a rockin' senior photographer and designer. To catch the interview, click on this link.
Contests are a fantastic way to promote your studio as well as to reach a new audience. Who doesn't eat up the opportunity to show off their baby or pet in the hopes of maybe becoming famous?!? Longtime NoBS member Maria Sauserman recently shared her Pet Contest experience and how it has helped her business. To read more click here.
NoBS co-founder Rob Provencher is on the lookout for alternative coffee table books. Rob shared a recent experience he had with an online book company, My Publisher. To see his recent experience, click here. If you have a company you can recommend, please feel free to post it!
Lighting For The Small Studio
This MacGyver-esque thread comes to us courtesy of new NoBS member, Mar. He has a small studio and in order to save conserve space, he constructed an elaborate sliding wall mount system for his lights. To see pictures of his setup and his explanation, go here.
At this point you should already be planning or about to start announcing your specials for Valentine's Day 2009. Are you stumped for ideas? NoBS member, photosensitive (aka Denise Rehse Watson) put the feelers out in this thread to get some ideas for the first promo of the New Year.
Have you been or are you curious about what it takes for a print to merit in competition? Here's an old post from James, which excerpts from International Print Competition News the necessary elements of a merit print. Click here . If you haven't competed before, make it one of your 2009 goals to do so. It raises the level of your photography and helps you distance yourself from the pack.
Do You Know The Golden Rule Of Composition?
One of the key concepts of composition in photography is the rule of thirds. If you are just starting your photography training, you'll need to practice composing your shots until it becomes second nature to apply this golden rule. It generally tends to create visually pleasing composition, so you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by practicing. To learn a little more about it, go to this link .
Here's a quick workflow video from James. Watch his demonstration on keeping your workflow basic and quick, which should free you up do other things like setting your new goals for 2009:)
We know there are some brave folks out there willing to step out on a limb and make some goals and resolutions for the New Year. Are you one of them? To join in on the fun and to see how far you've come since this time last year, go to this NoBS link.
Here they are: all of the portraits selected by our members as Photo of the Months for 2008. Congratulations to all of our winners!