Monthly Archives: December 2014
After teaching last springs Charleston workshop Jonathan sent me a nice email and a few of the great images that he captured while we were on location.

Civil War Memorial
This infrared composition that Jonathan shot in a Charleston graveyard that we visited is amazing.

Old Charleston Church
Hi Paul, Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop. I learned so much on this workshop that I am looking forward to going out with you to Las Vegas next year. I was really touched by the way you welcomed me and Gina into your group even though I was the only shooter you did not leave out the non shooters. It was a pleasure to meet you and learn from you. You are a very gifted photographer and teacher. Here are a couple of images I processed.Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and friendship.
Great Workshop!
Jonathan and Regina Davis
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Fall Smoky Mountain workshop, Foley Beach Pier, Italian Photographic Workshop, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Michigan Photographic Workshop, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Slave Cabins, Slot Canyon Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain National Park, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz BW effects 2, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
Christmas is wonderful but it can be a little sad after all the festivities are over so I hope you can join me at the Caffè Florian in Saint Marks Square in Venice for the afterglow party in April.

- Afterglow at the Florian
After processing this image in Lightroom 5.7 I brought the image into Topaz Adjust 5 to brighten the image and make it a little more festive.

Byrons Caffe Florian – Before
If you have the proper exposure you can make an image sing!!
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.
Take advantage of the introductory price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99).
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Caffe Florian, Doge's Palace, Gondola, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Piazza Navona, Rialto Bridge, Rome, Rome Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour, Vernice Carnival, Vineyards
Hope your holidays are filled with family and friends!

Christmas Eve
Often I am focused in on too many details and sometimes a wide angle lens helps me see a little more order in a chaotic world.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Christmas Eve, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
Yesterday I was able to capture a few images of the Polar Express as it headed to the North Pole. What a great day spent with a good friend and photographer Thomas Nighswander and as we waited for this Magical steam engine on its way north from Owosso Michigan. I have been wanting to capture images of Steam engines but there never seems to be enough time and old engine #1225 is a great one to start my Steam Engine series.

Polar Express Topaz B&W Effects 2 and Adjust HDR
It is a hard call deciding if I like the image as traditional Black and White or with a Sepia tone added to it. I used the HDR pallet in Topaz Adjust 5 to process both Black and Whites.

Polar Express Topaz B&W Effects 2 and Adjust HDR
Topaz has a new program called Glow that I ran this program through. It is not my normal way to process an image but it is a lot of fun. It gave the Polar Express a truly magical look as it heads to the North Pole.

Polar Express – Topaz Glow
Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.
Take advantage of the introductory price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99).
Use the coupon code ‘INTROGLOW’ and buy Click Here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Michigan Photo Workshops, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs | posted in Barns, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Engine #1225, Gilmore Car Museum, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Smokey Mountain Photographic Workshop, Steam Locomotives, Topaz Labs, Trains
This morning Charlie W and I worked on a early morning reflection image he captured during last spring’s workshop in Charleston. Charlie’s composition and exposure were great and we only needed to spend a few minutes working in Lightroom 5.7 to make the image sing.

Live Oaks Charleston processed in Lightroom
On this cold winter night I am looking forward to capturing images and working with clients in late March and early April when Charleston’s spring colors explode.

Live Oaks Charleston unprocessed
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Adobe CS6, Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ashley River, Audubon Swamp, Azaleas, Battery Park, Black and White, Bonaventure Cemetery, Boneyard, Botany Bay, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Charleston South Carolina, Crape Myrtle, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Magnolia Plantation, Magnolia Plantation, Michigan photographic workshops, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Savannah, Savannah Georgia, Sheldon Church ruins, Slave Cabins, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spanish Moss, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Wild Rose, Windows, Wisteria
Last week was the first time I had the opportunity to work with the new Photoshop Elements 13 and I was impressed by its highlight recovery. Debbie B. captured this wonderful image in Lower Antelope canyon during the Southwest workshop .

Lower Antelope Canyon Processed
If you have worked in any of the Photoshop develop modules you can work in any of the other Photoshop develop modules. They are all laid out similarly. Debbie B. emailed me this great composition that she had captured during the Southwest workshop and I walked her through the steps to process her image. The highlight recovery in Elements 13 is far superior to the highlights I have been able to recover in CS6 and Lightroom 5.7. Adobe keeps surprising me with their software magic!

Lower Antelope unprocessed
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Take advantage of the introductory price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99).
Use the coupon code ‘INTROGLOW’ to buy click here
Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Adobe CS6, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fire Canyon Arch, Fire Wave, Grand Canyon, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lower Antelope Canyon, Montepulciano in Tuscany, Natural Arch, Navajo Nation, Nik Software, Page Arizona, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop Elements 13, Piazza Navona, Pink Slot Canyon, Rome Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Upper Antelope Canyon, Valley of Fire, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Zion National Park

Vernazza and Monterosso at Night captured by Vince Cordi
Congratulations to Vincent Cordi for winning a Trafalgar trip to Northern California valued at $6,000 dollars!! For me the best part of teaching location workshops is the shared learning and travel experience where I have made lasting friendships. Having clients come home with award winning images is a bonus.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Italian Photographic Workshop, Italian Riviera, Italy, Manarola, Manarola Italy, Montepulciano in Tuscany, Paul Christopher James, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Photo Workshop 2013, Tuscan Villa, Tuscan Vineyard, Tuscany, Val d'Orcia, Venice, Venice Cafe, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
Spending time along the small streams and rivers capturing fall colors in the Smoky Mountains was a wonderful experience. By using neutral density filters I was able to slow down the water giving the image a fluid movement and not gust stopping the movement. This is balancing act waiting for the leaves to be still enough so that there is no movement in them as the water flows past the lens for several seconds. When you view the image your eye see the movement while still seeing everything you captured as crisp and sharp.

Still Waters processed with Lightroom and Topaz Clarity
Taking time out from our busy world is one of the great joys of photography. It gives me the opportunity to sit wait and watch the leaves to be still so I can capture the moment.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Cades Cove, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Dogwoods, Fall Colors, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain workshop, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Little River, Photoshop CS6, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tremont, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop