Category Archives: Photoshop
Summer in Provence is a time when the region’s fields are bursting with colour and fragrance, when their perfumed lavender and dazzling sunflowers are in full bloom.

Sunflowers in Provence
The iconic symbol of Provence, violet-coloured lavender and brilliant yellow sunflower fields are usually in flower from the end of June to mid August. The peak time being in early July when we will be there capturing its beauty!
Provence Photographic Workshop Tour
July 2-6, 2017 $950.00/ Limited to 8 Students

Sunflowers in Provence
Both of these images were Focus stacked (also known as focal plane merging focus blending) a digital image processing technique which combines multiple images taken at different focal distances and give the blended image a greater depth of field (DOF) than any of the individual images.
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Provence, Provence Photo Workshop, Sunflowers, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Focus Stack, France, Lightroom, Paul Christopher James, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop, Provence Photo Workshop, Selective focus, Sunflowers, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs
There is still time to for the adventurous photographer to join me on this workshop to Pisa and the Cinque Terre

Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Field of Miracles is a walled 8.87-hectare area located in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, recognized as an important center of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. The Field of Miracles is considered sacred by the Catholic Church. The square is dominated by four great religious edifices: the Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistery, the Leaning Tower and the Monumental Cemetery. Partly paved and partly grassed, the Piazza of Miracles is also the site of the New Hospital of the Holy Spirit, which houses the Sinopias Museum and the Cathedral Museum.

Anyone Gelato by the Leaning Tower
The name Piazza dei Miracoli was coined by the Italian writer and poet Gabriele d’Annunzio who, in his novel Forse che sì forse che no (1910), described the square as the “prato dei Miracoli,” or “meadow of miracles”. In 1987, the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Leave a comment | tags: Cinque Terre Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Field of Miracles, Italian Photographic Workshop, Leaning Tower, Lightroom, Photoshop, Pisa, Pisa Baptistry, Pisa Cathedral, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs
Sunrise anywhere on the planet is always a great time to start shooting. The rain and mist mixed with this morning’s soft light in Michigan would have made for great location shooting. With a little luck we will have a variety of weather for the Italian and French workshops coming up in 6 weeks.

Awakening – Montepulciano, Italy
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Leave a comment | tags: Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre photo workshop, Florence, Focus Stack, HDR, lavender fields, Lens Correction, Lightroom, Montepulciano, Perspective, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Provence Photo Workshop, San Gimignano, Selective focus, Siena, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Vineyard, Val d'Orcia, Wheat fields
It doesn’t matter how many times I walk the historic streets of the Battery in Charleston, there is always one window or doorway that stands out a little more than the rest. This historic window on Meeting is always beautiful, and this year I was able to capture it with the perfectly blooming wisteria transforming it.

Wisteria Window – Battery Park, Charleston
Using the transform tool I was able to change the perspective of this window. To boost the color and contrast I used Topaz Clarity.

Wisteria Window – Battery Park, Charleston
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Lightroom, Perspective, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Photoshop CS6, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs, Transform
Everyone has surrealistic experiences and we say “wasn’t that amazing?”. Photographers search for places like Mono Lake where we can have that experience as we enjoy a special sunrise, the light changing over ancient lakes and mountain ranges. After these brisk morning shoots as I am relaxing over breakfast, my thinking is usually like that of an excited little kid; let’s do it again!!
Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour March 13 – March 17, 2016

Mono Lake Sunrise
Shooting into the sun created a lot of noise in the shadow areas which I was able to recover using DeNoise 6.
Topaz DeNoise is designed to let you shoot anywhere in any light and still get crisp, clear and noise-free images. Specializing in extremely noisy high ISO images, DeNoise removes distracting image noise while preserving image detail, giving you the image you wanted without the noise you don�t.
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Leave a comment | posted in HDR, High Sierras, Lightroom, Mono Lake, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz DeNoise 6, Topaz Labs, Valley of Fire
This morning I spent some time with Deborah Bondar going over Lightroom’s workflow, processing this image she captured in the Val d’Orcia. Lightroom is a great program where you can take a raw image off your card and in less than 10 minutes you can turn it into a wall hanger.
From June 18 – June 23 2016 I will be teaching a workshop in the Val d’Orcia when the wheat field will be golden in the early morning and late afternoon light.
This is an amazing location where we can capture images and drink in the Tuscan lifestyle. We will be spending three night at an old Roman bath in the middle of the Val d’Orcia. Hope you can join me!

Val d’Orcia – Tuscany Italy – processed in Lightroom

Val d’Orcia – Tuscany Italy – uprocessed
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Lightroom, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop, San Gimignano, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Harvest, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Val d'Orcia
Today is an exciting day!! I am on my way out the door to the airport and after a long flight which will include a few naps and a little reading I will arrive in Italy. Venice has become an old friend and it will be great sharing her with new friends and to photograph her in the afternoon and evening light. What a Great Day!!

Evening in Venice Processed with Topaz B&W Effects 2
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Rome photo workshop, Topaz BW Effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Caffe Florian, Doge's Palace, Gondola, Lightroom, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Topaz B&W Effects 2, Topaz Labs, Vaporetto, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Vernice Carnival