Chapter 2. Image-Enhancement Artistry

WE'RE ALL ARTISTS, creative individuals who use the tools at our disposal to create unique images. As digital photographers, we have two creative tools: our camera and Photoshop. In my workshops, I say that today, photography is a 50-50 deal: 50 percent image capture, 50 percent Photoshop. Photoshop lets you use your creativity and imagination to transform your images into works of art. With a few clicks of a mouse or taps of a stylus, you can give your pictures more impact and correct mistakes in composition and exposure. These aren't new tricks. Traditional "wet" darkroom artists have been using techniques to accomplish these goals almost since the beginning of photography.

In this chapter, we'll look at some basic artistic image enhancements. I've chosen picturesa wildlife shot, a landscape, a portrait, an outdoor action scene, and an indoor low-light scenethat are typical of photographs you probably have. When reading this chapter and looking at my examples, keep your own pictures in mind and try to visualize how you can transform them.

LET'S EXPLORE!