Photoshop Techniques for Photographers: Extending the Dynamic Range of Focus

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Learn how to create the image you saw in your mind’s eye when you first captured the scene by extending the dynamic range of focus in your photographs. Vincent Versace increases your understanding of how the human eye works while guiding you through a series of cutting edge techniques that will take your Photoshop skills to new heights. You’ll see the world through new eyes and be able to enhance your own photos with a new suite of actions, plugins, and presets!

Introduction (10:21) There's more to high dynamic range photography than just exposure. Join Vincent in this first lesson to learn the theory behind harvesting images for extending the dynamic range of focus in your photographs.
How the Camera Sees the World (05:33) Learn the reasons why a camera lens sees the world differently from the way the human eye sees the world so that you can take the pre-emptive steps to capture all of the images you will need to create a final image that truly matches your vision.
Using the Wacom Tablet Presets (01:40) Wacom tablet presets are provided with this lesson so that you can use the same settings as Vincent.
Image Mapping (16:59) Vincent explains his technique for creating an image map that describes the changes you want to make to the image right on the image itself. Image maps not only help you organize your thoughts and intentions, but also document the process.
Solve the Biggest Problems First (12:07) It is critical to start by tackling the biggest problems first so that they don't travel all the way through the process.
Aligning Elements from Multiple Captures (09:39) When combining multiple captures into the final image with extended focus, careful attention must be paid to achieving seamless alignment of key visual elements.
Bending Pixels (07:54) Sometimes we need to bend objects in one capture to match the appearance of the same object in our base image. Of course, it is always better to avoid this during the capture stage of the process, but thankfully Photoshop gives us the tools to bend pixels to our will.
Adding Texture to the Background (08:03) When capturing the original images it is important to include background textures that can be harvested later for the final image. Additional background texture helps extend focus further into the scene.
Creating an Exit Strategy (04:33) You always want to preserve all the work you have done, but also provide yourself a way to go all the way back to the beginning should the need arise. Keeping your layers grouped and organized is key.
Addressing the Color Cast (24:40) Learn a fantastic technique for defining the white point, black point, and midpoint in your image so that you can be in control of the inherent color cast.
Introducing Warmth, Tonal Contrast, and Sharpness with Plugins (16:15) Continue building the lighting by introducing warmth using the skylight filter, followed by enhancing contrast and sharpening using plugins from Nik Software.
Applying Sharpening with Photoshop Tools Only (11:03) The previous lesson applied sharpening using a third party plugin, but you can achieve similar results using just the tools that come with Photoshop CS5.
Enhancing Color with LAB (06:42) Learn an excellent technique for increasing saturation using the LAB color space.
Finishing the Image (17:09) Everything we've done up to this point has been to prepare the image to receive the dark and the light that will bring out the vision we saw in our mind's eye when we originally captured the scene.

Course Time: 02 Hours 32 Minutes

B. Shaw

Apr 3 2013

Vincent. I am an educator. You are a master educator. My highest praise. Simply superb. I thought I understood the physics of psychophysiological human perception and its relation to our work. Wrong! Thank you so much. This has completely inspired me again at 63 years old and having regained my sight after almost going blind.
F.

Jan 28 2013

Just when you are ready to go one step further, Vincent Versace is going to take you there in a way you hardly expect and it isn't gonna be just one little set of "tips". Watching and understanding Vincent's videos raises your photography/optical physics and software manipulation IQ level. He makes college level classes look like kindergarten classes and he presents everything to you in a way that not only you totally understand, but holds you spell bound. A MUST see and highly recommended!!
J. Brown

Jan 10 2013

Simply amazing! Watched the course through twice already, as this is very detailed. The great part is he explains the why of the various techniques and approaches. More training by this guy...PLEASE!!!
D. Thompson

Dec 29 2012

What an excellent tutorial! Vincent explains what it is he is going to do, and very importantly WHY he is taking that approach. Then, as he demonstrates the technique, he reinforces why it is he is taking the approach he has chosen. So, not only do you witness how Vincent works his image to achieve fantastic results, you get to understand the theory behind what he does. The tutorial is one of the most detailed I have ever seen, and is a masterclass in using the power of Photoshop's tools to really enhance the image. I will definitely look at more of Vincent's tutorials - they are a treasure trove of information. More like this please! DT
L. Fluty

Jul 29 2012

Really in depth tutorial. It really showed what it takes to get the most out of your photos. Loved it and will be using it as a reference tool in the future.
S.

Mar 31 2012

This is one course that I will have to go over again. Thanks Vincent for a very well explained course. I just have to now start writing notes.
G. Holgersen

Mar 14 2012

I always knew that there was something more in the photo I chose to work with. This is a wonderful example of what can be done with Photoshop to see my vision of what's there.
N. Fiennes

Feb 17 2012

Just when I thought I knew a lot about Photoshop I watch Vincent work and realise just how much more I have to learn. This course is one of the best on Kelby Training, and that's saying a lot when you consider the quality of the lessons on the site. The techniques for correcting unwanted elements of the image and colour matching two images are so useful.
T. Gibson

Feb 15 2012

Best course by far available here.
M. Liu

Feb 10 2012

The Best. Fantastic!
T. Blackwell

Feb 10 2012

I absolutely love the in depth teaching methods of Mr Versace as well as Mr Margulis. This is the type of training I enjoy and get the most from. Thanks, and great class. Looking forward to more of these types of training classes
D. James

Feb 10 2012

Fantastic Video..Thanks very much Vincent and the team from Kelby.
K. Olds

Feb 7 2012

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Your Instructor

Vincent Versace

Photographer & Teacher

Vincent Versace is a recipient of the 1998 Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment and the 2001 Shellenberg fine art award. His work is part of the permanent collection of...VIEW FULL BIO»

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