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Subject Matter Isn't Important

I want to paint the air in which the bridge, the house and the boat lie. The beauty of the air in which they are, and that is nothing other than impossible.

To me, the motif is an insignificant factor; what I want to reproduce is what lies between the motif and me.

Claude Monet

Many photographers pay attention to the subject matter inside the frame, and largely ignore everything else.

But, there's so much more with which to play, to worry about, to scoff at, to plead for, to relish.

When you open Photoshop Elements and are looking at a photograph, you have many judgments and decisions before you.

Even if you "got it" mostly in the camera, there's still work to be done.

What you saw, thought, and felt may not be emanating from the photograph, yet.

Evaluate

Evaluate the following.

Light

Light is the key ingredient.

Ugliness in great light makes a great photograph.

Beauty in lousy light makes junk.

Go to Beecher's Handouts / Light / 5.1 - Introduction.

Go to Great Ingredients Make Great Photographs.

Overall Exposure & Contrast

Go to Levels Introduction.

Go to Beecher's Handouts / Lighting Contrast / 6.1 - Introduction.

Local Exposure

Go to Burning & Dodging Introduction.

Color

Go to Color Correction Introduction.

Go to Basic Photo Filter Adjustment Layers.

Claude Monet said,

Etc.

Read

Beecher's Handouts

Books

History (PDFs):

Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph (Introduction) Diane Arbus

The Hand Camera–Its Present Importance Alfred Stieglitz

The Photographer's Eye (Introduction) John Szarkowski

Photography Lady Eastlake

PATH: Ways-of-Working in Photography

Look

Go to NYC Photography Exhibits.

Go to Over 300 Master Photographers.

Connect

Go to In Person and Online.

Exhibit

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