By Peter Phun, on August 30th, 2010%
And because so many of you requested this, I’m sharing how to add yourself to a group picture using Photoshop Elements 7.
Start by downloading the files.
Then follow along.
Adding myself to a group shot with PSE 7 from Peter Phun on Vimeo.
A quick tutorial on how to add yourself in a group photo using Photoshop Elements . . . → Read More: Adding yourself to a group shot Photoshop Elements 7
By Peter Phun, on August 27th, 2010%

You probably don’t have many pictures of yourself while on vacation.
After all you’re the one who’s always behind the camera.
Even in this age of camera self-timers and after market wireless remotes, including yourself is problematic at times.
Even after you’ve set everything on the camera and all that’s needed is for someone to press the shutter, it never seems to quite work the way you want, isn’t it?
If you have access to Adobe Photoshop CS3 and above, here’s a simple way of adding yourself in a picture.
Remember, I don’t consider myself a photoshop guru even though I play one in real life.
Besides, I prefer to shoot everything in the camera than fix it in Photoshop, but that’s just me.
Whenever you enter the back-end realm of post production a.k.a. as the digital darkroom, things can get complicated real fast.
Adobe software versions change almost as quickly as I change my underpants, that’s why I always skip every other version and upgrade once every 2 years.
If I weren’t teaching, I probably wouldn’t upgrade as often. Continue reading Including yourself in vacation pictures

By Peter Phun, on August 23rd, 2010%

Earlier this year, I met a very talented budding actress by the name of Victoria Walcott who needed some headshots.
Available light–Portraiture in available light requires an awareness of locations and times. Generally speaking available light portraits have to be very “static” because light levels tend to be so low. With today’s DSLR’s low light ability, a fast lens and some practice can give pleasing results. ISO 200 1/40 sec @ f 2.8 100 mm macro 2. 8 lens. See the catchlight in Victoria’s eyes where the main light is a large window on the left.
I tend to pack a lot of gear when I work. I may not use them all, but I sure like to have them at my disposal even if it means they are in my trunk.
Force of habit from working at the newspaper. I never knew what assignment I would draw, so I had all kinds of “stuff” in my trunk.
For this particular shoot, I kept it simple.
Needless to say, picking a good location can save you the hassle of bringing in lots of lighting equipment.
This is what I had to work with:
- A large window facing north
- My grey muslin backdrop
- 1 lightstand with reflector secured by a clamp.
- 1 shoot-through umbrella with Canon 580EX Speedlite triggered by off-camera sync cord
If you plan to shoot with available light, consider what lens you have, the shutter speed you can hand hold and if your camera’s noise level at high ISO is acceptable.
Consider having your subject sit or lay down. It might help them relax especially if it’s your first time working with them.
Once you’re sure you have something you like, don’t stop there. That’s when should push on and try something different or even outrageous.
Why? Continue reading Using available light & one flash for a portrait

By Peter Phun, on October 28th, 2009%
The title of this should be of interest to the majority of you.
Ask any pro who’s been burned and they’ll tell you even though they may have this tool, they never live and die by it.
I have it only as a last resort.
Yesterday one of my students shot something in class.
In between her completing her shoot and her getting to her computer to download, something went awry.
My guess? She probably shut the camera off before it stopped writing or she pulled the card out of the camera before turning off the camera.
Continue reading Is there anything scarier than not seeing your images?


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