11: 13-Mar-2017

Eric sent me a method for putting borders on your image after our last meeting

Regarding placing borders around images, perhaps you would like to try this one.

Open an image in PS.& Elements then open your layers palette. There you will see the Background layer, Click on the background layer and while still holding the mouse down drag the layer down (up in the case of Elements) to the Copy layer icon which is a small square within a larger square, then release the mouse, you’ll see a grab hand when your over the copy icon. With the copy layer active click on Edit from the selection bar at the top of the screen

From the drop down menu select “Stroke”. You will now see the Stroke selection window. Select the size of the border in pixels you wish to make and then select a colour by clicking on the colour block. On the “Location” select “Centre” and leave the Blending at Normal and the Opacity at 100% for solid colours then click OK. Your border will be applied then you can save your image.

With this method one can place more borders as well, say we make a border 20.pixels wide in a colour, you can then apply another border in another colour at say 19.pixels or less as long as it’s smaller than the first border.

By adjusting the blending modes and the opacity many styles of border can be achieved.

Note. To use this method you have to make a copy of your image for the Stroke selection to become active otherwise the word Stroke will be grayed out and unavailable.

Ok – a few reads from my collection of internet trawling

Let’s start with some mantra’s for making you a better photographer that I found in Resource Magazine – you may not use them all, but it gets you thinking!

Now, how about some landscapes? Everyone loves landscapes (a bit like parfait!). Here are some articles I came across:

First – the weather will change, gloominess will increase, but that makes for more dramatic images if you think about it. The message – don’t just shoot colour – try B&W as this article in fStoppers discusses
Second – and I think this is a better message – tell a story. How many landscapes have you seen and thought – hmmm? Seen that! But if there is a story it engages us more – as this PetaPixel article tells us
Third – the city and streets are a landscape! How about using the leading lines to highlight that landscape from leading street photographer Eric Kim

Now I’m going to really get you thinking. It’s a generalisation, but after you’ve mastered the equipment and various genres you start to think about what next to push the boundaries. Some of us are seeking new horizons, and there are assorted “fine art photography” groups about the web and on Facebook or Instagram. But most are bit dull. They don’t push boundaries and stick to preconceptions as to what is a good photo. Why? Well this essay in PetaPixel may contribute to an explanation as to why photographers don’t appreciate modern art.

So with that in mind how about this article in Resource Magazine to challenge you – a series of surreal self portraits in B&W. It may not be your cup of tea – but does it make you think, challenge your pre-conceptions, inspire you to try something else? Isn’t that what a good photograph should achieve?

That should get the gray matter ticking over!11