My brother has tried time and again to teach me to use Photoshop. His hands move the mouse in fluid motions and he transforms photos effortlessly. He works for the Honolulu Police Department and he uses his talents quietly without fanfare. In this day of super technology he often has to go to court and testify that photos have not been altered.The only problem is he doesn't realize that everything he tries to teach me goes right over my head. It's like my first year of teaching first grade when I realized that children had to be taught how to sit properly in a chair, how to hold a pencil correctly, how to walk in a straight line, etc.
When he opens a layer on Photoshop and tells me I can do this magic thing or that magic thing, I'm awed. Then he opens another layer and I'm stupefied. "It's easy," he says. However, the moment he leaves and I try to duplicate it, I haven't a clue. There's too much to learn, too much to remember and it's frustrating. I'm going to have to corner him someday and write down everything he says.

When he saw that this photo had a glare from the sun it took seconds for him to correct it.

Then I could use it on my post. If he had more than the 10 minutes he gave me because he needed to get home after the Marathon, I'll bet he could have taken 20 years off our faces, too.

thelaughinghousewife couldn't see any difference between the first and the second so I thought I'd add this photo which I did myself. I turned the photo into a cutout.

Here's a photo I thought I'd have to delete.
With a few clicks on something or other he was able to lighten only parts of the photo and bring back color on other parts. How the heck did he do that?
Then there was this photo.
He's told me that the important thing is not for me to know everything now. It's for me to know that it's possible and that I can learn to do it.
Arrrrghhhhhh!
I wonder what I can cook for him to get him back here to give me another lesson.... hmmmmm....
Photoshop is complex and it intimidates me a lot. I only use it for uploading photos and haven't figured out the tricks and wonder if I ever will.
ReplyDeleteYour brother and my son should get together, these guys who know what they're doing. Me? I don't even have Photoshop. I'm not into perfection. hehe
ReplyDeleteYour description of trying to learn it quickly reminds me of your lesson-giving to Mrs. H. Frustrating, eh?
Hope you are feeling better, Kay. Be well soon.
Ha! You can't be that sick if you're worrying about Photoshop!
ReplyDeleteI think I know the basics, but the stuff you wrote about are beyond my abilities right now.
Maybe, Ed can give you longer lessons when he visits next summer.
Kay: It really is terribly complex! It's magical but I think you really need a course to teach you how to use it.
ReplyDeleteDina: Actually, Mrs. H was great because she doesn't give up. I liked working with her. Even Tif worked on her computer.
Gigi: Ed? Nope, no way. He's not as patient as my brother. They're both not really teachers. They have a hard time breaking things down to make it truly easier to learn.
Am I sick? Oh definitely and I'm not doing myself any favors by staying up to work on my blog either. Art is not happy with me about this. Speaking of which, I'm going to bed right now.
Impressive! I have to confess, though, that I can't see any difference between the first two photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay! Can you send your brother to me to teach me how to photoshop? LOL
ReplyDeletewell, I learned photoshop over the years by my son patiently showing me the tools and practicing. What your bro is doing is using tools-enhance lighting-contrast and brightness. There are videos online to teach this stuff or community ed. classes. You are a teacher, show your bro how to teach you. lol! but it's difficult to learn without actually doing it yourself while he watches. Watching him click here and there is not teaching. good luck.
ReplyDeleteI am dying to learn PS ...i know the few basics but would love to learn more.Soon i will be going to my moms place where if both me any my brother(yes,here too a brother,they are good at it ,it seems!)get time he has promised me to teach few such tricks.
ReplyDeleteLucky you ,you have just the right person to teach you!!It looks tough initially but actually it is not.
I've never used Photoshop. Would love to try it one day.
ReplyDeleteAfter your brother has succeeded in explaining to you how to use photoshop, please pass the information on to the rest of us!!!!! It's amazing what he can do with a single photo.
ReplyDeleteKay, your brother is a genius with Photoshop! Photoshop is complex as Kay Dennison posted. My son-in-law uses it all the time and he tried to show me some things-the basics I got the other things not so much! I have also learned you have to work with it alot of retain what you have learned! Love your header picture-just beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI've never used Photoshop, but have wanted to ever since I started playing with photography. I do some editing of my photos through Picasa, but would love to try Photoshop, but I'm not sure my aging brain is up to the challenge!! Always love your photos anyway!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day, Kay!
Sylvia
the laughing housewife: The first photo is actually lighter and washed out by the sun coming through. My brother is sticky about stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteReader Wil: I know for a fact that he would LOVE to see the Netherlands. When he's done teaching me, I'll have to send him your way.
Lin: Actually he's already successfully taught me the lighten-darken and contrast. That much I can do. I can also clone and heal. It's when I need to only fix certain parts that I'm lost.
Kavita: Don't you love brothers? I wish I had a sister, too but I do love my brother. He's always there if I need his help.
Bobbie: I've seen Photoshop classes being taught in Adult Education places. Maybe one of these days....
Jean: He did all that in less than 5 minutes. In 10 minutes he'd be able to modify a person so they weigh 30 pounds less, move one head to another person, delete a person from the photo, etc. Scary...
Sherri: That's what I have to do. Play with it more and not be afraid of it, I guess. That's what he told me. To think he taught himself to do all that.
Sylvia: The only thing I've been able to do with my photos is to lighten or darken the whole thing. I just can't seem to remember how to darken or lighten a small part of the photo. I can also make a photo like a painting. Hmmm.. Maybe I will play with it some more. We're never too old to learn. Granted I forget a lot...
one more thing I have to learn too, Kay. Btw, is that a 'macro' photo you did in your blog header today? It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteChristine: Oh dear... I can't remember if I remembered to use the macro setting. I was fooling around with the camera while waiting for Art to appear. It probably is though.
ReplyDeleteKay -- I love the photo you did. It came out very impressionistic! Sometimes accidents are lovely!
ReplyDeleteUH has an extension program class several times a year on beginning photoshop -- it might be worth your while to sign up. If I were staying we could do it together.
Wow, I am very impressed by Photoshop. Ashton and I (well, I was talked into it by Ashton)just purchased Photoshop and she loves it. Me, I just got it uploaded (I don't even know the correct "terms")and thats as far as I have gotten! I am amazed when Ashton helps me with blog stuff and when I ask her what she did she justs says "nothing"!
ReplyDeleteYes, the "help" of tech-types can be impenetrable! Here's a hint, Kay:
ReplyDeleteDownload Picasa from Google. It's easy to fix problems such as you show in your post. ART looks great - I'm so impressed by his accomplishment!!
And thanks to your brother for what he does for all of us here on Oahu-
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
You need time with him. Remember back to your teaching days when the rule was "I do, we do, you do", guided practice.
ReplyDeletePhotoshop is too complicated for me too! I just use the tools I get from Picasa. Very easy!
ReplyDeleteI bought Photoshop for Rachel. I just installed it on my new laptop and need to start playing with it. All I need is time . . . It's amazing what it can do!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I am not the only one that goes brain dead when my son tries to teach me the same thing, I guess you can't teach some old dog new tricks (meaning me. my son and your brother would get along just fine, Hope you are feeling better. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeletePhotoshop is very involved. I try to look at the tutorials and they make my head hurt. But there are some simple editing functions that I use in Photo Shop Elements which is what I have. I do like the header that you played with...Michelle
ReplyDeleteYeah I've tried playing with photoshop but it just ends up making me crazy. I have enough stuff in my head right now. Funny! Maybe one of these days I'll spend some time playing with it 'cause I think that is what you have to do.
ReplyDelete