Photoshop World – Las Vegas 2013

Photoshop World Vegas 2013_Talke

Just arrived back from my one day visit to Photoshop World in Las Vegas. It is going on until Friday…so attend if you can! I did not have time to take any classes this year, so I just went out for the exhibit. I love the PSW Exhibits….booths from lots of companies, speakers non-stop at various locations, meet and chat with some of the best photogs in the business and see some good friends.

My favorite part of the exhibit is the Westcott booth. The have two models that pose all day! Whew…feel for them. Ever pose for 20 mins? 1-6 PM would be tough!!! They are pre-lit and pose non-stop for you! Lighting styles vary and they are using Westcott products. Last year I shot Frankenstein and his bride. This year, this cool model was done up in a jungle style. Love that head dress. You get to photograph as much as you want and get that paparazzi feeling. Afterwards you can enter the “Shootout Contest” by Westcott and may win some great prizes! Winners may be featured in future Westcoot catalogs, print material and on the web with name recognition and a website link. Great stuff!

The shot was my fav of the day…I took hundreds…and post processed it in Photoshop. I shot this with my D800 + 70-200 f/2.8 lens. I must say the D800 for portraits in unreal!! Have fun!

Review: Photoshop Compositing Secrets – by Matt Kloskowski


This past week I picked up a copy of Matt Klowskowski’s “Photoshop Compositing Secrets” – Unlocking the Key to Perfect Selections and Amazing Photoshop Effects for Totally Realistic Composites. I have been learning to shoot portraits more and more these days. I love composite sports portraits and in the past year found an artist/photographer called Joel Grimes. I truly love his work. I have been trying to accomplish such portraits, but have come up short without the proper tutorial. I picked up bits and pieces…more info was needed.

A month or ago I heard that Matt Kloskowski (@mattkloskowski) was coming out with a compositing book. I was excited to finally get some super inside scoops! I picked up the book and after reading through it was amazed! Wonderful book Matt!!! I would call this my favorite photo tutorial book to date!! The book contains 16 fantastic Chapters and a whopping total of 381 pages filled with tons of great secrets:

1. Selection Secrets
2. Basic Composite
3. Creating Motion
4. Senior Portrait
5. Professional Office
6. Family Group Portrait
7. Studio Sports Portrait
8. Live Concert
9. Multiple-Exposure Action Photo
10. Movie Poster
11. Ultra-Gungg/Edgy HDR Background
12. Sports Template
13. Single Photo Composite
14. One Person-Mulitple Poses
15. Adding Illustration
16. Advanced Commercial Compositing

Matt gives you all the details from lighting, photo set up and photoshop settings. All done in an easy and simple picture filled way…so you can create your own art and fantastic composites. Here you can see some of the shots used in the tutorials…great work!

Now my skill level for composites if very very low…I did a quick attempt after reading Matt’s Chapter 13 – Single Photo Composite I learned how to do this in 5 minutes!

If this style is of interest to you and you want to learn compositing…go pick up Matt’s book! I will give it 10 Selections out of 10 Selections! Kudos Matt!! You can also find lots of great photography tutorials over at Kelby Training