This is my first time using PS Elements - and I think I might have saved that beach picture by using it. BUT... can someone give me a couple of pointers? I want to put my aperture, ss, and ISO - but I don't know how to find them in PS Elements. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Also... constructive criticism on them? The first of each is right out of the camera, no post processing. The second of each is played with in PS - but not sure what I 'should' be doing - just experimenting with lightening, darkening, saturation, etc.

Lauren
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00159.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00159_edited-1.jpg


Nathan (on his 10th birthday I might add)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00158.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00158_edited-1.jpg

Adn dh with the kids at the beach at sunset. I was trying different settings and trying to hold the camera really still... I know Nate's eyes are half closed... oops.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00222.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DawnofMotherhood/DSC00222_edited-1.jpg

i think the pp did great for the beach photo...

looks to me like you are underexposing across the board. try to open up your aperture more or slow down your SS. maybe raise your ISO. a tripod can help with slower ss's.

pp is great...but it helps to have the correct exposure first yk?

on to pp...

#1 ended up with a blue cast to it, not sure what you did but i think i'd go back to the original and try some "curves" and maybe adjust "levels." not sure if you have those settings in elements but i find that most photos do not need more saturation they need a curves boost and some level adjustment, if anything once i get proper sooc exposure.

if you have curves, you want to make a slight S shape out of the line...it'll make sense once you see the graph. if it isn't part of elements i'm not sure. i use cs2 so there are some differences.

#2 looks way over processed. maybe too much saturation and color?

sorry if i sounded short...i'm really tired. long day ;)

Tracey, you have had a busy day!!! :) Don't appologize!

I need to figure out where I can find the settings (ISO, ap and ss) so I can post the three or four I did at a time.

I know that #2 didn't work out right with the pp - I am just not sure what to do. This was in the middle of the day - both pictures of Lauren and Nate were taken in a shaded area - but there was a LOT of light. And the pictures I took of dh holding Lauren while watching a dolphin show... in full sun... all of them (I was taking multiples with changes in ap and ss settings) had blowouts.

Right now I am reading Understanding Exposure and trying to figure out how it all works with my camera. I put a couple of books that teach Elements on my Christmas list, as well as a tripod. I did ok with not moving the camera, but sometimes the kids would be too rambunxious to wait while I steadied before shooting.

I will get this... I will get this.

oh you'll absolutely get it ;) no doubt.

the way i find my exif data...i save the sooc to my computer in the "pictures" area, make sense? then when i look at the entire file of thumbprints in windows, i can hover over one photo and the data appears at the bottom of my screen. not sure if it is vista that does it or not but it works for me...

maybe you have something similar?

oh you'll absolutely get it ;) no doubt.

the way i find my exif data...i save the sooc to my computer in the "pictures" area, make sense? then when i look at the entire file of thumbprints in windows, i can hover over one photo and the data appears at the bottom of my screen. not sure if it is vista that does it or not but it works for me...

maybe you have something similar?

It isn't working for me.... hmmmm....

I have a series of like 5 pictures where I made adjustments and you can see the difference in each picture, but the sun blew out the highlighs even on the ones where dh's face was very dark.

Heather, I don't have much CC... but I'd love to do some "assignments" to help learn my camera--interested?

Heather, I don't have much CC... but I'd love to do some "assignments" to help learn my camera--interested?

ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY!!!!

I'd much rather do something liek that here with you guys than at ilp - been lurking a while (even before I got my camera) and while it's informative, I am so not even ready to ask for help there. :lol: And I usually have really thick skin.

ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY!!!!

I'd much rather do something liek that here with you guys than at ilp - been lurking a while (even before I got my camera) and while it's informative, I am so not even ready to ask for help there. :lol: And I usually have really thick skin.

I don't lurk there much anymore (save the lurking for the running boards ;) ) so will you find an assignment there, or come up with one, and post it here? I'd love to do it!

I will do this either tonight or tomorrow. DH is late getting home, so I may need to be extra attentive tonight - he's usually pretty worn out after a long day like today has been. So it might have to wait until he's back at work tomrrow morning.

I love this idea too. I probably won't be able to participate until after the holidays, but if it's an ongoing thing, I'm totally in!

Heather, so glad you're having fun with your new camera. :)

Heather, I was having a terrible time finding my exif data too. I discovered if I RIGHT clicked on the photo and went to properties, everything was in there.