Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Or San Diego.
I’m in San Francisco for a little workshop called BlogShop.
It’s a two-day workshop to try to help me learn Photoshop.
Unfortunately for me, Photoshop is like algebra: it’s really hard, it’s not clicking without extreme mental effort, I wish I could cheat off someone else’s paper, and it will require me to just keep practice, practice, practicing it to get even a rudimentary grasp on it.
For everyone who uses Photoshop, God Bless You. Can I hire you?
For everyone who doesn’t, and wants to start editing your images, I recommend Lightroom. It’s much more point and click and user-friendly, at least for my brain. I self-taught myself, with practice, but Photoshop is another beast.
I hit up the coffee shop on our lunch break to see if a little java would help my post-lunch concentration. My latte was great even though my brain was fried.
I would have loved a piece of Crack Pie to go with my coffee.
Or some homemade chocolate brownie action in the form of a Oreo Cookie-Stuffed Brownie with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
No chocolate, but I tried my best to stay focused anyway.
As soon as I hit publish, I am going for a run and I can’t wait. It’s going to feel so good to move around and stretch my legs after a flight and sitting in all-day workshop. After that a really hot shower, dinner, and an early bedtime are in store because it all starts again tomorrow morning. My day started with a 3:30am wakeup call today in San Diego in an effort to make this a one-night rather than two-night trip in San Fran.
Have you attended any classes or events lately that were covering new-to-you subject matter? Did it come easily to you?
The workshop is excellent and it’s one of those things that there is so much information being presented and I’m likely only grasping a quarter of it, at best.
I don’t even know how much I don’t know.
The workshop today was geared more toward the basic commands and principles in Photoshop, and how to create image collages and do fun things with images rather than editing an actual picture.
If I want to create something like this, I could (sort of) begin to embark on it. And it would take me 3 hours.
If I want to edit pictures of Samoas Bars that I shot on my camera and plan to post on my blog, I’ll stick with Lightroom 3 (I will probably upgrade to version 4 sometime soon)
This is the type of workshop I could take ten times and get something new from each and every time as my basic fundamental knowledge increased, so would my comprehension of it all.
Have a great night and thanks for the KitchenAid 7-Quart Stand Mixer Giveaway entries
Hey girl! How are you? I can’t believe that your in my neck of the woods! I really need to look at taking a photography class and workshop such as this. I feel like tweaking my blog, making recipes, taking pictures, then editing them and writing a post is about all I can handle at the moment. How do you do it all? Kudos to you! I truly admire you!
I wish I could hire someone to do all the nitty gritty stuff for me at times! Can’t wait to hear what you learned!
It’s too confusing to even bother typing…you’ll know a PS image/collage when you see one, how bout that :)
Handling it all and juggling all the balls involved in blogging, YES it can be a lot! Trust me, there are days where I wonder myself how I’m going to get it done. lol
Hi, Averie! (That’s a hand wave from about 90 minutes south of where you are right now!) Even though it may be difficult for you, I must say, it is highly admirable that you are doing it anyway! I have a feeling that, like everything else you aim to do, you will come out with flying colors. Have fun and can’t wait to hear the results of your class! :-)
Thanks, Michele, for the vote of confidence. Every time I come up to San Fran, I am reminded of how CHILLY it is up here…Brrr :)
My sister is a graphic designer and she uses photoshop for everything. She gets so angry when anyone says anything offhanded about just ;earning it, as though it can be done in a couple hours. She took many many semester-long classes. I can’t imagine what the intricacies are like.
That’s awesome that you are trying to learn it on top of everything else! Not that I am surprised.
Your sister is so right and has every reason to feel passionate about it because yes, it is HARD and it’s not a weekend warrior type thing. Well not for my brain. It’s like trying to study for the SATs in a weekend Kaplan intensive. Sure, it will help and can’t hurt, but just how much? Anyone’s guess. This will give me the foundation to know more than zero and absolutely nothing; and appreciation for anyone who’s mastered it! Their brain works in a way mine struggles with!
Photoshop use to be in my job description along with other Adobe product, Page maker, which is my favorite. I have an idea: you teach me how to use camera in creative mode, I’ll work in Photoshop (I hope I didn’t forget much, although I haven’t been using it lately). That is a nightmare the manual mode in my camera! I am so frustrated and can’t get it the way I want. Well, something to take a class (or two, or three, or one hundred tree) about…:) Enjoy San Francisco!
Manual mode…I used to be so scared of it but I realized that it was just practice. Set your ISO to about 400 or so or if it’s really dark, 800ish. Set your aperture to about 3.5 to 5.0 And then just play with the dial wheel until your photo is properly exposed. Once you figure out how to properly expose a photo, you can start playing with the nuances of aperture and ISO for precise depth of field and as little grain/noise-ey ness in the pic as possible but that should get you started. That’s easier than photoshop!
Thank you Averie! It’s coming so easy from you!
That’s nice, I would like to take a course for photoshop too. It would be nice to know how to do things efficiently. I know I’m only using 10% of its capability :P
But… your photos always look wonderful!! You must be doing something right!?
I wish I knew anything about photoediting… I have a fancy camera and no idea what to do with it.
I just started training for a fabulous new teaching gig leading yoga hikes in Central Park…didn’t know if I’d be good for the hike part but it’s totally natural and I love it.
i don’t have any other versions to compare it to, but i highly suggest LR 4!! i am in love. :) PS: photoshop is SO over my head! LR is much easier on my brain haha! Have fun at your workshop Averie. I know youll soak up a lot of information to make your blog even more inspiring :)
Averie, have a great time. Hope you get a chance to enjoy a little of what San Francisco has to offer. It’s always been one of my favorite places to go.
Wow, I can’t imagine taking on photoshop. I can hardly handle aperture. Actually, I have no idea what half the settings mean. I usually only stick to two options or do nothing. Someday I’ll have the time and money to improve to lightroom.
I think LR 3 is about 50 bucks right now b/c they came out with LR4. Google it but it’s very reasonable, ebay, amazon, etc. Im sure you can pick up a very reasonable copy. Well worth every penny and it’s EASY. Well, easier by a mile!! than PS is. But everyone’s brain is different. Mine is having a real hard time with PS :)
That’s so awesome you’re in the city, jealous! :-) Sounds like a great event, I am a fan of Photoshop from my graphic design days, but have not had as much time for it as I’d like. :-(
Heck I forgot you live up here AND know PS. You should be the teacher :)
Enjoy! I just love going to a class and learning something creative. I can use photoshop, buuuut I lost both my computer and the Photoshop disc in an earthquake and, as I’m now a mature student, can’t afford to replace them right now – the insurance depreciates software to the point where making a claim is pointless. So, I have downloaded GIMP, which is free and can pretty much do everything photoshop can.. almost. I don’t love it as much, but it’s good enough for the blog. :D
Photoshop is not THAT hard. Just learn one thing at a time and soon you will amaze yourself with the photo trickery you can pull off.
This is what I just told someone else in the comments and may help you too
“think LR 3 is about 50 bucks right now b/c they came out with LR4. Google it but it’s very reasonable, ebay, amazon, etc. Im sure you can pick up a very reasonable copy. Well worth every penny and it’s EASY. Well, easier by a mile!! than PS is. But everyone’s brain is different. Mine is having a real hard time with PS :)”
Looks like a fun day and it’s always good to learn something new!
I was supposed to fly tonight but flight was cancelled so I’ll be doing the 4am wake-up tomorrow!
eek on the cancelled flight…good luck getting out EARLY!
Hope you can catch up on some sleep and enjoy your stay in San Francisco! Taking a workshop covering totally new material in a short period of time is difficult. I did it when I took my first silver soldering class ( for my jewelry making hobby), but it was 4 days so I had a little more time to practice and assimilate everything before I came home and tried it all on my own. Good luck! My husband and I will be in SF for our 16th anniversary next month–I’m getting anxious to go!
Wow that sounds so fun…the jewelry making. You are a jack of all trades! I love that!!
This looks like so much fun; I am so jealous! I am dying to go to a photography class…hoping to attend one in NYC soon! Congrats and LOVING your photography!
Thanks so much and you are in the HEART of photography and action and classes…I bet there are quiet/smaller deals to be had at community colleges, craiglist postings, etc!
so cool averie! I just know photoshop is over my head and I dont have a desire at this point to learn it, but its definitely the next step in moving forward with photography. Hope you’re learning lots and enjoying sanfran!
I think the definition of wisdom is being smart enough to know what you don’t know sometimes :) And I know it’s over my head too but am trying to advance in my photog skills too, but boy, this is a beast for my little brain to process :)
Oh hope you have a fantastic time! Sounds like an event right up your alley! Can’t wait to hear more.