Tuesday, January 12, 2010

But I Don't Even HAVE Actions!.........

I love photography. I really, really do.

I just don't understand it.

I know a good picture when I see it, and occasionally I even wind up taking a good photograph myself. But it's mostly accidental.

I have a very nice, very big, very expensive digital camera that I bought for myself when I finished my doctorate. (You wouldn't believe how many purchases were justified by the completion of that particular dissertation.)

And most of the time this very nice, very big, very expensive digital camera is set on "auto".

I should be ashamed to admit that. I AM ashamed to admit that.

Some of my favorite bloggers are people who probably don't know I exist, like Pioneer Woman (for God's sake, is there anything she CAN'T do?), a blogger who posts beautiful pictures from Alaska, and Bush Babe, who shares Australian life and culture with her readers. It was actually Bush Babe who prompted this particular post.

Their photography is wonderful, and they talk frequently about things like aperture, depth of field, light meters, texture, saturation, layers, and other things that I have not been able to get my head around.

And they talk about actions.

I know on some level that actions are things you do to digital photographs using Photoshop. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't even know if they're talking about the very nice, very big, very expensive Photoshop, or the maybe-I-can-afford-this-if-I-stop-ordering-yarn-online-every-week Photoshop Elements.

Because of the fact that even if I take an online course (like I want to), I might not be any better at photography than I was scuba diving, I am no way in Hell going to reluctant to fork over the $700 or so that the real Photoshop costs. But the snob in me doesn't want to settle for Photoshop Elements if these other folks are using the real thing.

Pioneer Woman even has her own set of actions. Did she make them up? Is she going to sell them worldwide and go on a tour for that TOO? COULD SHE PLEASE JUST SUCK AT ONE THING?

I want to take some pretty pictures. And have a bazillion followers on my blog.

Mostly I just want actions.

7 comments:

Erin Digital Photography For Moms said...

So did you know that you can use actions in Photoshop Elements? You can't create them, like PW, unfortunately (I'm pretty sure she didn't create her own anyway!), but you can definitely use them. I have some available on my blog (http://www.texaschicksblogsandpics.com/free-actions-for-photoshop-elements/) and if you google Actions for Photoshop Elements, you'll find lots that will give your photography an extra boost. And maybe give you an incentive to leave Auto! :)

Maggie said...

Okay I could've written this post. I want to LEARN photography, too. I know nothing either.

BB said...

Oh dear... sorry. I sometimes speak in shorthand and it gets me in all sorts of trouble. Here is the deal: Action are simply a whole lot of Photoshop tweaks crammed into on mouse click - basically they are cheating. So instead of REALLY knowing how to get from POint A to POint B (Straight out of the camera to the finished product) you get an express bus rather than walking.

I too don't think PW made her actions (although she definitely started them but they always need tweaking so they work for everyone). BTW I think she sucks at eating bananas. And maybe riding horses. Does that help?

Might elaborate on this more at my place soon. And as for that big ol camera. If its digital then just PLAY with it... the erase button is a magic thing. Honestly, its the best way to learn.
:-)
BB

KatyDid53 said...

I think you take perfectly lovely photos. I am in awe of them, since mine are . . . well, you've seen mine.

Evil Pixie said...

A friend of mine and I are going to be starting a blog featuring women photographers because we believe women have a unique eye. Interested? Those participating will stretch from novice to expert, and they will be from all over the world. Think of it as a digital art gallery. If you're interested - let me know.

Bragger said...

Evil Pixie - I'm not sure I'm worthy of being on a photography blog, but I'm game for anything. Just let me know!

Evil Pixie said...

Groovy! Will do! :D