Cook’s Collaborative Edge

I want to put up a quick pointer to George Barr’s wonderful book From Camera to Computer–New from Rocky Nook: How to Make Fine Photographs Through Examples, Tips, and Techniques from Rocky Nook press.

I am working full time and regret that I have not the opportunity to do the justice that this book deserves. But let me quickly point out why it is mine personal favorite of the year. I have up-to-date versions of the basic photographic digital tools but I have been learning to use them on the fly. This means that while I have never taken a course in Photoshop i learn only by dipping into it a little here and there.

What I do have our 15,000 color negatives from Russia in the 1990s and the Himalaya from 1998 through 2003. Using an Epson V. 700 scanner and digital ice I have managed to scan these in the past year and put them into Lightroom catalogs. It is with tools like Barr’s book that I learn here and there. In this case I want to recommend Chapter 8 Stony Park from page 98 through page 109. Here Barr shows how to use digital tools to bring out blurred and hazzy mountain backgrounds and in effect step-by-step shows how to use Photoshop to improve landscape pictures especially those with the high range of light and low in contrast. In this case the Canadian Rockies and in my case the Himalaya. What Barr does is show how to take an existing photograph and guide the reader through a series of well illustrated tips on how he would use Photoshop to improve the image. What I see in this chapter makes me absolutely salivate for the opportunity to apply it large-scale to my Himalayan collection. My images… a smattering at least are here. Nepal images here. And Tibet.

For anyone in a situation remotely similar to mine where learning must be piecemeal, Barr’s instructions on making fine photographs through examples tips and techniques are quite invaluable. Without hesitation I can say that this book would make a wonderful Christmas gift.

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