Cool Olympic Stuff!!

Well, we are at the halfway point of the Olympic games over in Beijing and it’s already one for history books. I must first convey, once again, a big congrats to Michael Phelps for becoming the most decorated Olympian both in a single games and of all time. Way to go Michael!!

Almost as cool as that is something I have been seeing on the NBC Olympics website. For some of the events they have been displaying what’s known as Stromotion. Which is basically showing the progression of an event over time in a single image. It’s especially cool with the gymnastics events as it shows each step of the routine. I could describe it all day but you really have to see for yourself. In case you are wondering, yes, this can be easily done in Photoshop. Here’s the link.

August 18th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)

Free Expo Pass at Photoshop World

One of the biggest highlights of Photoshop World is the Tech Expo. This is where you are up close and personal with some of the biggest vendors in design and photography and purchase products with special event pricing. In addition to the vendors, you can also rub shoulders with Photoshop World instructors and other industry professionals. There are also tech expo theaters where instructors will be teaching bonus sessions in various applications. Now if you are in the area and not attending the full event you can get a free expo pass see all this cool stuff for at no cost. The expo will be open all three days of the event so don’t miss out. Sign up for your free pass here.

August 14th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)

The Real Aquaman!!

I wanted to step away from the industry news today and recognize a true sports legend. As many of you may know, history was made last night at the Olympic games in Beijing, China. American swimmer Michael Phelps became the winningest athlete in the history of the Olympic games. What’s more interesting than winning gold in every event so far is that he is also broke the world records in those events as well. This is astonishing and he’s not even done. He has about 6 more events left and could bring home even more gold. It really has been quite show and I am looking forward to more. My most sincere congratulations to Michael Phelps on his unbelievable success at these summer games.

August 13th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (5)

Evolution of Awesome!!!

I am always keeping track of what’s happening in the world of movies, especially when it comes to stunning visuals and cutting edge technology. Just recently RottenTomatoes.com posted and interesting article spotlighting 20 films that exemplify the very best in modern cinematic visual effects. These visual effects were made possible by a little piece of software. No, it’s not Photoshop, even though Photoshop is widely used in the industry. It’s a rendering program developed by those genius’s over at Pixar, known as RenderMan. This application has allowed us to peer into the future and witness a man made of liquid metal, it allowed a man to see things in bullet time, it let us witness one of the worst sea tragedies ever, and even made us all fall in love with a little rusty metal box with a personality. One can only speculate as to where we will go from here. All I can say is I can’t wait to see what’s next. Read the full article and see the entire list here. Oh, and yes I have seen every movie on the list.

August 12th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop Book of the Week

So, I have already highlighted this book once before but I wanted to call attention to it again for a couple reasons. The first is that I have been bouncing around the various forums and I am noticing that a lot of people are having similar problems and they mostly involve layers, or something related. This book is the ultimate guide for mastering layers. It’s even good to have for quick reference. The way it’s laid out makes it easy to find the solution fast. Another reason is that if you are a straight-up beginner, this is a great place to start. Simple step-by-step techniques will help you understand layer basics in context. One last reason; it’s just a cool looking book. I mean the cover is very slick. C’mon I want it just for that!!!
Seriously though, really comprehensive stuff and fun to learn. Find out more here.

August 11th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (5)

Illustrator @ Photoshop World

Numerous people have been asking where they can see tutorials I have done in Illustrator. Well one place is over at the Layers Magazine website. I have have several Illustrator tutorials over there all for free. However, if you are going to to be in Vegas for Photoshop World, I will be teaching my Illustrator Down & Dirty Tricks live at the NAPP Expo Theater on Thursday, September 4 at 1:15pm. Don’t miss the fun.

Since we are on the subject of Photoshop World I wanted to also point out another exciting aspect of the event. That is the portfolio reviews. Have your work critiqued by some of the biggest and most respected names out there. This is a rare treat because to get this kind of one on one interaction is worth the price of admission. Go here and fill out the review form if you want to have your work reviewed.

August 7th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (2)

Digital Dog In Da House!!!

Be sure to head over to Scott Kelby’s blog today because it’s guest blogger Wednesday and you know what that means…um it’s guest blogger Wednesday. This week’s guest is the Digital Dog himself Andrew Rodney. Andrew has been working with Photoshop since version 1.0.7. That’s just crazy. How many of you can say that you have been using the same same software for 20 years? I’d be willing to bet very few. In his post Andrew gets into image processing with Photoshop, Camera Raw and Lightroom and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Very interesting, especially if you teach these apps. Check it out.

Also for those of you going to Photoshop World the deadline for the Guru Awards is closing in fast. Make sure you get your work in by August 15, 2008. This is your chance to get noticed and start making a name for yourself. Hey, it worked for me!

August 6th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

New Lightroom 2 Courses

So we all know about the recent release of the new Lightroom 2 and the all-new learning center produced by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski. In addition to that, Matt has also released some new courses over at the Kelby Online Training site. One is the Lightroom 2 Power Session. This course will get you up to speed on all the newest features in the new version and have you implementing these new features in your workflow in no time. There is also Lightroom In Depth, this three part course delves into specific techniques sorting and cataloging, developing and editing, and then printing and showing your photos. These courses are for perfect whether you are just beginning or a veteran Lightroom user. Get more info on these courses here.

Also more cities have been added to the Worldwide PhotoWalk hosted by the NAPP. Check it out and see if your city has been added.

August 4th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (4)

Shake Your Groove Thing!!!

So, a few people have asked me if I am participating in the Worldwide PhotoWalk being hosted by all of us here at the NAPP. I will actually be attending the Ybor City Photowalk which is being lead by our very own Dave Cross. I think Ybor is very interesting in that there is a lot of history there. So if you live in or near the Ybor area, do come out and join us.

Also, today is the final day of the early bird special pricing for Photoshop World. Save $100 off the full conference price. If you haven’t registered yet you better hurry. Here’s the link.

Lastly, I just want to thank all the Planet fans out there for providing your comments on the tutorials. They help me know what you like and give me ideas for future tutorials. So if you see something you like or even if there is something you would like to see, please let me know. I read all the blog comments and tutorial comments. Thanks again and have a good weekend!!

August 1st, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (2)

PhotoWalkers Assemble!!!

This is a wordwide call to action. If you are a photographer, whether novice or expert, you won’t want to miss Scott Kelby’s WorldWide PhotoWalk on August 23, 2008. First of all, you may be asking, “What is a photowalk?” It’s simply a social event where a group of photographers meet at a specific place and basically just wander the streets shooting anything that is appealing. The beauty of it is that you are amongst knowledgeable people that you can learn from and bounce ideas off of. You can even collaborate and get some really cool shots. The walk ends at a restaurant or somewhere that you can all talk and critique each others shots. As mentioned, this a worldwide event being put on in more than two dozen cities so far. So check the site and see if your city is on the list. Registration is free.

Also, if you want to read an interesting post from a man who knows a thing or two about photo walking, go and check out Scott’s blog. Today he has a guest post from Jeff Revell. Jeff is a Washington DC-based photographer who has hosted several photowalks himself and can definitely get you prepared. In his post, he discusses equipment, preparing for the walk itself, and what happens after the walk. It’s a good read whether you are preparing for a photowalk or if you are just curious what it’s like. Check it out here.

July 30th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (5)