With Photoshop open, click on File heading at the top left of the menu bar and select Open. You will be directed to the most recent location of images or folders last used to open a file. Navigate to the folder location or image you wish to open. If files are arranged in a list format, you can change to thumbnail view to see a mini version of each image. Make your selection and click on the Open button.
With an image from your recent pictures open, study the brightness and contrast of the image. Does it appear to be the way you remember snapping the image?
Our mind's eye can recall specific "feelings" or "moods" that made you decide to capture this scene. If you are not getting that same instinctive feeling about what is in front of you, maybe it needs to be adjusted a tiny bit.
Adobe® Photoshop Class #5
Most images that come from your digital camera could stand to be "tweaked." As a matter of preference, I generally review everything I shoot for clarity, color, brightness and contrast within the detail. Some of these elements will be part of our next discussion. We will learn to make a simple contrast adjustments. Like the last lessons, we still need to recap the beginning portions...
The Brightness/Contrast menu gives you the power to modify the brightness up or down in your image. Brightness is usually controlled by your camera's meter or computer. It evaluates the lighting along with other considerations to give you a normal exposure. If the camera's settings, situation shading, or other key conditions "fool" the meter, the image will be less than perfectly exposed.
Likewise, the contrast of the image can either be too great or just not enough. Similar conditions affect the metering as well here. In either case, the Brightness/Contrast menu can help you correct the image.
By sliding either adjuster, the image will dramatically change. Play with extreme movements so you can see the power of this tool... but I'm sure you will find that little adjustments will greatly improve your valuable images.
Enjoy the next lesson....
I will demonstrate with one of my pictures of Meredith Bay in the springtime last year. As I have mentioned before, this image is warm since it was captured in the early morning, during that magical light that only happens at the beginning and end of the day... mainly because the sun is shinning through more layers of the atmosphere than at noon time.
The menu we will use in this lesson is called the Brightness/Contrast menu. It is located under the Image heading in the top menu bar, then down to Adjustments, right to Brightness/Contrast. This simple adjustment takes care of many of the problems that don't make the image a true "keeper."
