Making Your Pictures Pop With Photoshop

Original photo taken with my iPhone 7

Using my iPhone 7, I took this photograph recently along Interstate 26 while driving home from work.

I was struck by the billowing stack of clouds and how they seemed to have emerged from the trees. The colors stand out: the green of the trees, the white clouds and the touch of blue sky at the top.

As is, this is a pretty fine photo I feel.  It is true to the image I admired from the road.

But I know there are ways to enhance such skyscapes or landscapes.

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Solar Eclipse Was Sun-sational!

It was truly an event that lived up to all the hype! Especially in Orangeburg where the weather was ideal for the long-anticipated solar eclipse.

The photo to the right I consider the day's "money" shot because it shows the moment everyone patiently waited to see: totality!

This was the two plus minutes when the moon was completely between the sun and Earth.

This photo I took just moments after totality.  The moon and sun are separating, going in opposite directions.

I captured a bit of the "diamond" that many photographers sought.  That's the sun's bright light looking like the diamond on the ring.

Solar Eclipse Day Is Finally Here!

Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 is finally here!  My special eclipse glasses and I are ready for the very rare astronomical event.

The long anticipated solar eclipse is this afternoon and we are fortunate in America to have the path of the eclipse going through our country from Oregon to South Carolina, ending at Charleston.

SC State is having a big gathering at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium beginning at 11 a.m. I will soon be heading over. What an exciting atmosphere it should be!

"Totality"- when the moon is fully in front of the sun- will be from 2:43:02 until 2:45:24, lasting just more than 2 minutes.  When this occurs, the sun's bright corona will be seen around the moon.  Camera filters are not needed during this brief phase.

Advanced Television Production/Editing Students Take to the Studio!

Below are links to three studio productions my SC State communications students did in our Advanced Television and Production course.

Starting off, Stephen Mason and Marshall Padgett examine the ongoing NBA playoffs in this broadcast recorded in SC State's television studio on April 27, 2017. Alliyah Charles did a great job on the Tricaster, directing the show with assistance from classmate Shay Bowman.

"Quick Takes" Report Takes to the Road- Literally!

It's not exactly planes, trains and automobiles, but how about roads, cars and bridges???   These are three topics I address in my latest version of "Quick Takes" picture-in-picture project that I have my video production do at South Carolina State University.  Lead (and teach) by example, I always say!

If anyone is interested in the old Ford Thunderbird I showed in this video, get in touch with me and tell you more.  

Above is an image from Adobe Premiere Pro that shows the blending of the different video and audio channels used in producing this video.  

Delighting with Three Point Lighting!

Three point lighting is a production set up used commonly in photography, videography and cinematography. It's important for students interested in these areas to understand the importance of this concept and how to make it happen using three studio or field lights.

I had my TV production and editing students go into our studio and properly execute and photograph three point lighting.

In this photo, Isaiah Hughes (seated left) is being interviewed by Shay Bowman. Wymark Barton is operating the video camera.

The three lights are called the following: key light, side/fill light, and back/hair light.