Susan Tuttle - Photo Craft: Creative Mixed Media and Digital Approaches to Transforming Your Photographs

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Hello, you!

Photography changed my life. Im madly convinced it can change yours, too.

I dont typically start off letters with such profound declarations, but in this case I felt it was necessary. Grab a cup of (insert-your-favorite-beverage-here) and Ill tell you a bit about this life-changing stuff. Though we just met, I feel as if were practically old friends anyway and Im just so very excited to share this with you.

You see, somewhere along the way I stopped snapping pictures and began seeing things. Like, really, truly seeing things. It was kind of like being reborn, but in a far less messy or dramatic fashion. Keep in mind, there was no one magic moment when I knew this, no symphony playing some amazing score to accompany the realization, and certainly no fireworks exploded over my head. Although, how cool would that have been?

Anyway, I digress.

What began as noticing these seemingly small glimpses of extraordinary beauty turned into an all-out scavenger hunt. Why wait for the loveliness to appear in front of me? I began seeking it. I began documenting it with my camera. I began to appreciate the things I already had and stopped wanting the things I didnt have. Well, mostly. Truth is, I didnt stop wanting, but I realized happiness wasnt in those things I thought would bring me some misguided sense of fulfillment. I already had all I needed.

Ohfriends! Its an absolutely amazing world out there! And Im not just talking about exotic trips to far-off lands. Its beyond amazing in your own backyard; it really, really is! You just have to look a little. When my bipolar brain veers off track and I begin to forget that, my photos are there to remind me.

Im coming dangerously close to a weepy-eyed Oprah moment here, so before we each start passing the tissues around, let me just say that once I allowed photography to open my eyes, my perceptions changed and with that, my emotions changed. Before I could even put what was happening to me together, photography had already helped make this bipolar girl a bit more stable. As the sayings go, Thoughts become things, and We are what we think, and all that jazz we kind of already know but too often dismiss.

Im pretty convinced my camera has superpowers. It staves off depression when it shows me how raindrops on a spider web glisten like diamonds, it wards off my evil hermit-like tendencies when I am out and about, and it gives me a sense of purpose when I have forgotten my place in this world. As an artist, photography has improved my technical skills tenfold. There are so many mini-art lessons within each photo session: color theory, composition, design, light the list goes on and on. As a photographer, art has given me a more creative vision, a sense of uniqueness and the confidence to try things that others may not. And for me, photography and art are a creative match made in heaven. It is my sincere hope that this book will help you see that too. As the Lensbaby slogan goes, See in a new way.

Ill tell you a little secret: It doesnt really matter what kind of camera you have; whether you work it manually or set it to auto mode, you have the ability to create great images. Ill show you some fun and unique ways to incorporate your photos into your mixed-media art. Photographers, this is a totally great chance to offer some unique and artistic products to your clients or to just let loose and get your hands dirty. Susan guides you through a ton of amazing ways to enhance your photographs digitally. Through her easy-to-follow guidance, these techniques can elevate an average photograph to extraordinary.

As Michael Toms said, You have a creative contribution to make. Your life, and mine, will be better if you do.

And I for onecouldnt be happier about it.

Warmly,

Christy

Hello, hello.

For my ninth birthday I received a Kodak 110 camera with attachable flash packsremember those? As I looked through the viewfinder, I began to feel the stirrings of my love for photography and attempted to capture aspects of my world that I could feel resonating somewhere within me. Id photograph flowers, hot air balloons, animals and friends and family. I was disappointed, however, when my printed film came back looking less than stellar, bearing little or no likeness to what I had felt and seen through the little plastic square of my camera. Perhaps you have had a similar experience. The limitations of the equipment eventually put a hold on my love of taking photos, but my passion still remained, dormant, waiting and resurfacing full throttle in 2003 when I received my first digital camera after my son was born.

Due to technological advances in digital photography and software, creating stunning photographs has never been easier than it is in this day and age. Even todays most basic cameras can produce stunning artistic imagery. Within the pages of this book, Christy and I aim to show you that creative photography is a result of following your artistic instincts and creative vision combined with the use of technology, however basic. We will guide you through both digital (via Photoshop Elements) and mixed-media photo manipulation techniques. Included are stepped-out, technique-based tutorials, inspirational tips, explorations of iPhoneography, unique photo shoot ideas, skill-enhancing assignments and stellar contributions from other artists. Many of the mixed-media and digital projects are presented as mirrors of each other, meaning, they demonstrate how similar results can be achieved through either medium.

Once you manipulate a photograph via one of my digital projects, you might consider taking that altered photo and using it as imagery for one of Christys mixed-media projects. The projects within this book have a lot of crossover potential, so keep that in mind as you explore its pages.

I created my digital projects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 9.0, which is available for both Macs and PCs. These projects are compatible with both earlier and subsequent versions of Photoshop Elements. Readers who are using Adobe Photoshop, including Photoshop CS, will also find the projects to be compatible with their software (though the instructions may vary).

Please note that the iPhoneography apps mentioned throughout the book may or may not be compatible with your particular edition of the iPhone/iPod Touch. You can find similar or more-current versions of these apps via an app called AppAdvice (search the Photography category).

You will also find a helpful reference section of essential digital tools and techniques in the front of the book.

There are many ways to approach an artistic task in Photoshop. As you explore the digital activities in this book, you will begin to discover your own ways of carrying out the techniques and take pleasure in adding personal, artistic touches that reflect your unique, creative voice.