Category Archives: Edisto Beach
This beautiful city is known as the “Holy City” because of the abundance of churches on the city skyline. As they approached Charleston from the sea, the colonial sailors could see 20 church steeples. Charleston boasts over 400 places of worship of many different denominations throughout the city, religion is deeply embedded in this city’s rich culture.
This Steepled church in the historic Battery Park section of Charleston is one of my favorite to take clients to during the blue light hour.
Charleston Steeple – Battery Park
Charleston Photographic Workshop Tour
April 3 – April 7, 2016
$695/ Limited to 8 Students
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs | posted in Angel Oak, Ashley River, Audubon Swamp, Battery Park, Blue Light Hour, Boneyard, Botany Bay, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Charleston South Carolina, Depth of field, Edisto Beach, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs
Along the South Carolina coast there are stretches of shore line where the ocean has reclaimed some of the land and the trees stand in the water like skeletons from our past. These skeletons will stand for a while against the forces of nature but will eventually be toppled over to be reclaimed by the winds and tides.
Topaz Labs Star Effects helped to give me this nice starburst of the sun as it peeked out from behind the tree. The Star Effects software also brought out the halo effect.
To capture the dynamic range of this image I took three images. I used a three images burst setting the exposures for +2 stops,0, and -2 stops. This allowed me to blend the 3 images in an HDR program which gave me detail in the shadows and highlights.
Botany Bay’s Skeleton trees processed with Topaz Labs Star Effects
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Leave a comment | posted in Boneyard, Botany Bay, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Edisto Beach, Edisto Island, Photographic Workshops, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs Star Effects
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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Topaz ReStyle is $20 off its original price of $59.99 (reducing the price to $39.99) coupon code ‘FEBRESTYLE’ click here
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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
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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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 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
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
Botany Bay_Boneyard South Carolina
Next spring On April 2-3 2015 I am going to be giving a 1 day workshop at Botany Bay also known as the Boneyard just South of Charleston, South Carolina. This will immediately follow the Charleston Spring workshop March 29th through April 2nd 2015. The Bone Yard which is over an hour drive from where we stay in Charleston is too far to drive back and forth for either a sunrise or sunset location shoot. Several clients have been asking to spend time in the Bone Yard and I have decided to schedule a one day class immediately following the Charleston workshop to enjoy this rugged stretch on National Seashore on Edisto Island.
Botany Bay_Boneyard South Carolina
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Adobe CS6, Audubon Swamp, Battery Park, Boneyard, Botany Bay, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Cypress Trees, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Foley Beach Pier, Magnolia Plantation, Nik software, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify, Wild Rose, Windows, Wisteria
Photographic Workshops 