Where to start in Photoshop for a Newbie

OFFTHEROAD

I am new to Sports Photography and to Photoshop. Here is an example picture. Where would you start in Photoshop to make it better? It was a dark rainy day, so I know the photo needs some work to lighten up some areas and a few areas are out of focus and need to be cropped. I am a little overwhelmed by all the tools in Photoshop and don't where the best place to start is. Do you start with cropping and getting the canvas you want or with touching up color? I am totally self taught. Thanks for any advice.

gus

Buy Kelbys book...works fine for CS2/3.

OFFTHEROAD

Thanks

gus wrote:

Buy Kelbys book...works fine for CS2/3.

Thank you! That is just what I was looking for. There is so much information out there, but I need a source I can reference. I appreciate your help.

pathfinder

You do not specify what version of Photoshop you have in your post.

Gus' recommendation is fine if you have CS2.

If you have CS3, Kelby has a newer edition specifically for CS3 that can be a great help. I find CS3 a great deal more useful than CS2 ever was, for dozens of specific reasons.

Kelby also has a book called "Scott Kelby's 7 Point System for Photoshop" that is very task oriented, and you might find helpful.

Keep in mind that Photoshop is an immense program with lots of different ways to do things, and that most folks spend several years becoming really proficient in editing images with Photoshop.

twhite14

I actually just completed Kelby's Photoshop CS3 for Digital Photographers today and I highly recommend it. I had never used PS before and found the book to be very easy to follow. The lessons are are only 2-3 pages each so it is quick learn a technique. What is really valuable is that he takes you through the entire work flow process, from setting white balance to printing.

I also think his books on digital photography are great.

It will be the best $50 you'll ever spent!

OFFTHEROAD

Thanks again

twhite14 wrote:

I actually just completed Kelby's Photoshop CS3 for Digital Photographers today and I highly recommend it. I had never used PS before and found the book to be very easy to follow. The lessons are are only 2-3 pages each so it is quick learn a technique. What is really valuable is that he takes you through the entire work flow process, from setting white balance to printing.

I also think his books on digital photography are great.

It will be the best $50 you'll ever spent!

Thanks everyone for your help. I have CS3, I've done a lot of Graphic Design work in Adobe, just not with photos. I am familiar with the tools, but needed a good reference. Thanks for the book recommendation, I ordered it today.

i_worship_the_King

If you're impatient (like me) you may want to simply check out the tutorials here on dGrin. On the top navigation bar you'll see a "Tutorials" button, and the second grouping are a bunch of the easier tasks spelled out with pictures and everything.

For this photo you'll need the crop tool (easy to find) and this tutorial: Making images 'pop'

http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/2292454/1

Good Luck!!

KED

I have a different take on this. Your shot couldn't be sharper, and the exposure and cropping adjustments that may be called for are easily accomplished in Lightroom. Personally, I am mystified by CS3 and it's been a personal project of mine to figure it out, but for sports (which is 90% of what I shoot), LR is all I need. Your background probably gives you a leg up on understanding the Photoshop "vocabulary", but to me, for basic adjustments Photoshop is huge overkill. I think LR costs $250 now and provides file management and other tools as well. Works for me.