For the past few days I have been detailing the high-tech wizardry available to photographers who may not always get that prize-winning shot in the heat of the moment. Once you familiarize yourself with the myriad of affordable desktop photo software programs out there that allow you to edit your pictures from the comfort of your own home, I guarantee you will look at photography in a whole new light. The high tech tools will work on just about any photo, even ones you took years ago.
In previous blogs I detailed programs, which deal with fixings problems such as lighting and blurriness. Today we move on to another problem many of us face during the holiday season—trying to capture the perfect group shot.
The holidays are an ideal time to gather the family and snap frameworthy pics of the entire clan under the same roof at the same time (a rare occurrence in most families). But the challenge of getting 22 people to not frown, not blink, and not look in 17 different directions at the same time is enough to send any photographer running for the hills. Throw in a dozen children under the age of 12 who are wired on Christmas candy and the job becomes even tougher.
Professional photographers would use a team of wranglers (though even seasoned kiddie handlers might meet their match with children who have just devoured stockings full of chocolate). The experts have another option—use a $1,000 Photoshop professional application, which employs a computer to paste together a composite photo where each family member is looking picture perfect.
If don’t have a cool grand to drop on a computer software program consider spending about $100 to get the Adobe Photoshop Elements. The latest edition has a unique feature that almost guarantees you walk away with a prize-winning shot. To get it to work you need to snap at least a half-dozen photos of the group. Then, when you get home, you pick the one photo in which most of the group looks presentable. Next, examine the shot to see who is not looking his or her best. For example, if Uncle Sal’s eyes are closed in the one shot everyone else is looking at the camera you simply fix the picture by opening one of the photos in which Uncle Sal has his eyes open and draw a line around his face.
The Photoshop Elements program will identify Uncle Sal’s face in both photos and swap the good one for the bad one, automatically. No multiple steps, no tweaking–just a simple, seamless swap. In addition to swapping faces, the application can trade entire bodies just as quickly and easily. You can even use it to put in people who weren’t actually there.
Related Articles:
The Holidays–The Perfect Photo Op
How to Get a Picture That Looks Like a Million Bucks From a $100 Camera
Holiday Gift Ideas: Compact Photo Printer
Digital Photography 101: Let’s Review—Photo Printing
Digital Photography 101: Photo Sharing