Category Archives: Crape Myrtle
I have finished an eBook of images from Charleston using the Topaz Labs software. I am using it as a promotional giveaway to help promote Topaz software and my workshops and would be grateful if you share it with your friends.
To download “A Photographer’s View of Charleston” click on the link below
A Photographers View of Charleston
Charleston is an American treasure, rich in our early history. This beautiful city shows visitors what southern charm and grace were like in the colonies. When you photograph the streets around Battery Park, you capture images of homes and churches that were built before the signing on the Declaration of Independence. Stroll through my collection of favorite images in this eBook.
Topaz Labs software plug-ins for Photoshop and Lightroom were used to give my images the finishing touches that make them sing and make you will feel like you are there.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, 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, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Foley Beach Pier, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Paul Christopher James, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Savannah, Savannah Georgia, Sheldon Church ruins, Slave Cabins, Spanish Moss, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Clean 3, Topaz Labs, Topaz Simplify, topaz simplify, Wild Rose, Windows, Wisteria, Wrought Iron
On cold winter nights like this I find my thoughts wandering to the warm shooting locations that I have planned for this spring. In late March and early April Charleston emerges from its winter sleep and explodes in vibrant color. Hope you are able to join me Charleston for early an early spring location shoot in some of Americas best gardens.
Southern Charm – Charleston Spring
In lightroom 5.7 I used the Develop module to for a few basic adjustments and then exported Southern Charm into Topaz Clarity to make this image pop.
Southern Charm – Charleston Spring – Raw adj. in lightroom
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Ashley River, Audubon Swamp, Azaleas, Battery Park, Black and White, Bonaventure Cemetery, Boneyard, Botany Bay, Bridge of Angles, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Foley Beach Pier, Italian Photographic Workshop, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Sheldon Church ruins, Slave Cabins, Slot Canyon Workshops, Southwest Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spanish Moss, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Carnival - Photographic Workshop Tour, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Wild Rose, Windows
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
The churches in and around Charlestons are some of the oldest in our country and the photographic opportunities are amazing. I found the ruins of this old church during my last visit to Charleston and am looking forward to spend more time photographing the grounds during next springs photographic location workshop.
Sheldon Church processed using Nik HDR efex pro 2
To process this image I used the Deep 1 preset in Nik software HDR Efex Pro 2
Sheldon Church processed using Nik HDR efex pro 2
All images need a little post processing. If an image is exposed properly it can be turned into a great image you can hang on your wall in a few minutes. This is the unprocessed raw CR2 file that took me 10 minutes to process.
Canon Raw CR2 file
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Adobe CS6, 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, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Foley Beach Pier, Italian Photographic Workshop, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Michigan photographic workshops, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Savannah, Savannah Georgia, Seagulls, Sheldon Church ruins, Slave Cabins, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Spanish Moss, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Wild Rose, Windows, Wisteria
Over the last 20 years I have been able to spend a week or two capturing images in Charleston on my way home from the Florida art shows and each time I find something new to photograph or something old that stands out for me.
Foley Beach Pier Processed using Topaz Clarity and Topaz Clarity
This year the light at sunset at Foley beach pier was exceptional. There is always something special about capturing an ocean pier at sunset but there was a little nicer glow and I enjoyed the motion of the water in the longer exposures at the end of the day.
Foley Beach unprocessed
To process this image I used Topaz Clarity and Detail to make the image look as close to how I had remembered it.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Foley Beach Pier, Live Oak, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Wild Rose, Windows
Pick your location for sunset. When you are composing your images walk around and enjoy the area where you are capturing images. Check out the angles and enjoy each location and plan out where you will want to be at sunset. There were compositions I wanted to capture in the gardens close to the Ashley River and had noticed Wild Roses in bloom along the water’s edge that I wanted to capture at sunset.
Sunset on the Ashley River
This hedge of Wild Roses went on for over 50 yards and it was easy to find a section for the foreground that flowed nicely. Often the best light of sunsets only lasts 10 to 15 minutes when the setting sun lights up the clouds.
Sunset on the Ashley River, Unprocessed
To process this image I used the white picker in CS6 camera raw and then use Topaz Clarity to enhance the Colors and Contrast.
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1 Comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Adobe CS6, Ashley River, Battery Park, Black and White, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Dogwood Tree, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Photographic Workshops, Topaz Clarity, Wild Rose
Charleston is one of my favorite places to teach and from late March through early April is a great time to catch the spring bloom. On the way in to Charleston last night I was able to check out a new location that friend suggested I photograph. The old Sheldon Church framed by live oaks and Spanish Moss has a haunting feel. I have been capturing images in Charleston for 20 years and there is always something new to photograph.
Sheldon Church, Charleston
After capturing this image I used Photoshop to Clone and Heal the ramp and a few other distracting objects before turning it into a black and white in Topaz BW Effects 2 to create the shadows, highlights and great textures.
Sheldon Church-Raw Image
The raw unprocessed image give me a nice starting point.
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3 Comments | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Azaleas, Battery Park, Black and White, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Charleston South Carolina, Crape Myrtle, Depth of field, Nik software, Topaz Clarity
Charleston if full of wonderful wrought iron gates and textured walls from america’s early history. These gates and walls invite you to spend time photographing them.
After capturing this image I used Topaz BW Effects 2 to create the shadows, highlights and great textures in this Black and White image.
Gated Charleston
This raw unprocessed image is a nice image until you see it along side the processed black and white.
Charleston Doors
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Azaleas, Battery Park, Black and White, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Nik software, Slave Cabins, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify
An old traveling and photography friend from my Navy days liked the three window image from Charleston that I posted a couple of days ago and asked if it would look good in Black and White. This image casts some wonderful shadows created by the Morning Sun and I think it does look better as a Black and White than it did in color.
Three Windows. Charleston-Silver Efex Pro
To process this image I used Silver Efex Pro 2 part of the Nik Software suite makes this image pop the way the old B&W films would and for this image I used the following settings shown in the screen capture. Green filter, Kodak 100 TMAX Pro, Copper Toner 16, Burn All Edges Image Border-Off.
Silver Efex Pro 2 work flow
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Azaleas, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Nik software, Slave Cabins, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Windows, Wisteria
Most of the images that I display at the art fair are captured in the time between sunrise and sunset when the light is soft and has that ethereal feel to it. Often when the sun has crested the horizon just after the soft light in the morning or in the few minutes just before sunset the sun rays will create wonderful shadows and highlights. When the sun is creating this play between highlight and shadows is a great time to capture images.
Three Windows of Charleston processed with Topaz software
The image below is the Raw unprocessed image.
Three Windows of Charleston-Raw unprocessed image
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Azaleas, Capturing Highlights and Shadows, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Crape Myrtle, Nik software, Photographic Workshops, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Windows
