Category Archives: topaz simplify
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.
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Topaz ReStyle is $20 off its original price of $59.99 (reducing the price to $39.99) coupon code ‘FEBRESTYLE’ click here
Like this:
Like Loading...
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
From the 26th through the 29th of October I will be back teaching in the Smoky Mountains one of our great national parks. The image of Sparks Lane was captured this april when the dogwoods were in full bloom and I am anxious to see it in its fall color.

Sparks Lane Simplify 4 Spring 2014
Throughout the smoky Mountains there are historical landmarks of the families that lived and raised their families in this area which help us make a connection with our past and sometimes our present. Last weekend I spent a few minutes with friend who’s last name is Sparks and asked if they had any connection to the Smoky Mountains. It was not surprising to find out that their family had moved to southern Indiana from Tennessee.
In October when I am capturing images on Sparks lane in the Smokies it will be fun thinking of the Sparks family members who I have spent time with capturing images of the masked characters at Carnival in Venice and at the top of St Peters Coppola in Rome.

Sparks Lane CR2 raw image Spring 2014
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz Click Here
To save 15% on the Nik collection Click Here
To save 50% on the Topaz Suite now $379.99 Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify | posted in Cades Cove, Dogwoods, Fog Bow, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Lightroom 5.6, Little River Road, Photographic Workshops, River time exposure, Smokies, Smoky Mountains Institute, Smoky Mountains National Park, Topaz Clarity, topaz simplify, Tremont, White Rainbow
The morning mist that the Smoky Mountains famous also makes it a great photographic venue. This lone tree silhouetted in the mist with the moon rising behind it in Cades Cove is a wonderful example of how the Smokies gives us unique photographic opportunities.

Moon over tree silhouetted by the morning fog
Using Topaz B&W Effects 2 in the Platinum Collection I used Platinum VI to turn this lone tree into a great B&W.

Moon over tree in Cades Cove silhouetted by morning fog Topaz B&W Effects
I used Topaz Clarity to process and pop the color which I also like but I think that the Black and White gives this image more impact.

Cades Cove tree in the morning fog

Morning fog Cades Cove processed using Topaz Clarity

Cades Cove tree – Raw CR2
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz Click Here
To save 15% on the Nik collection Click Here
To save 50% on the Topaz Suite now $379.99 Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Cades Cove, Fog Bow, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Little River Road, Ogle Cabin, Paul Christopher James, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokies, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Topaz Clarity, topaz simplify, Tremont, White Rainbow
It has been a short week after arriving home from Arts Beats and Eats on Monday night I am heading over to Rochester to set up at Art and Apples tomorrow morning. With the short week I only had time to work on a few images including this new Panoramic from Manarola that reminds me of a wonderful tapestry that are made in Italy. My booth # is 47. If you have time come by to see a few new images that I have been working on the last couple of weeks.

Manarola, Tapestry del Mare 24×60
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz Click Here
To save 15% on the Nik collection Click Here
To save 50% on the Topaz Suite now $379.99 Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs | posted in Cades Cove, Cinque Terre, Dogwoods, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lightroom 5.6, Manarola, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, topaz simplify
The 4th of July is a great day to have fun with family and friends and plan trips to our great National Parks. My images below capture the beauty of Grand Canyon and remind me of the visual treasures the parks hold for us to photograph. I have scheduled two workshops this fall in our National Parks, hope you can join us.
The Great Smoky Mountains Workshop tour October 26-29 2014
Southwest Slot Canyon Workshop tour Nov. 8-14 2014.
Hope you can join me in one of our national parks!

Shadow Lands, South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Both Topaz and Nix software can work magic on your image. Today Ihave spent a little time today working on images of the Grand Canyon that are in my Panoramic Gallery. The Topaz software that I used to finish these images makes a huge improvement over the original processing in Photoshop CS3 used just a few years ago.

Tapestry of Light, South Rim of the Grand Canyon

Raw image with a few adjustments
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz Click Here
To save 15% on the Nik collection Click Here
Save 50% on the Topaz Suite now $379.99 Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Antelope Canyon, Cades Cove, Dogwoods, Fire Canyon Arch, Fire Wave, Fog Bow, Grand Canyon, Greenbrier, Hopi Point, Little River Road, Natural Arch, Nik software, Ogle Cabin, Owl Canyon, Page Arizona, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Smokies, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains Institute, Southwest Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, The Watchman, Topaz Photo Software, topaz simplify, Tremont, Valley of Fire, Virgin River, White Rainbow, Zion National Park
Teaching and getting to know everyone in the Smoky Mountains was a great time for me. It has been busy since I have arrived home from the Smoky Mountain workshop getting ready for the spring midwest art fair circuit which starts on mothers day weekend in Birmingham. In-between the projects my thoughts drift back to the mountains and the fun that I had with everyone as a group and individually. Although I come home with many great memories and images there is always one that seems to stand out from each trip. From the Smokies it was being on top of Clingmans Dome with the cold wind whipping across the top of the mountain making tears swell up in everyone’s eyes as we waited for sunset. For the last 40 years I have enjoyed places like that and it is nice having company on those cold mountain tops. Thinking of it will always bring a warm smile and a thought; what a hardy group!

Sunset at Clingmans Dome

Sunset at Clingmans Dome – Unprocessed
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz click here
To save 15% on the Nik collection click here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Cades Cove, Dogwoods, Greenbrier, Little River Road, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains Institute, topaz simplify
When out photographing we should always look for the elements in a composition that will make our images stand out from the ordinary. It is these subtle differences that make our images special to us and others. On one of the morning shoots during the Smokey Mountain workshop the group was composing images at Cades Cove in the early morning fog. The area we were focused on started to brighten and we realized that a fog bow was forming.

Fog Bow – Cades Cove
When out capturing images I look for the best composition of the location and then for a difference that will make it stand out from other images that have been taken at that location. After walking around looking at every angle at every height and taking test image I find that it is often the soft morning light that makes an image special. Soft early morning light has always been the most important element in my images. The soft light only a few photographers are out enjoying and on this morning it was the combination of the way the light interacted with the fog to create the seldom seen fog bow also known as a white rainbow.
A fog bow is a similar phenomenon to a rainbow but it appears as a bow in fog rather than in rain. Because of the very small size of water droplets that cause fog—smaller than 0.05 millimeters (0.0020 in)—a fog bow has very weak colors, with a red outer edge and bluish inner edge. When the droplets are very small the fog bows appear white, and are called white rainbows.
Like this:
Like Loading...
1 Comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Cades Cove, Dogwoods, Fog Bow, Greenbrier, Little River Road, Photographic Workshops, Smokies, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, topaz simplify, Tremont, White Rainbow
I arrived in the Smoky Mountains for sunset along the mountain rivers tonight and captured this image of dogwoods with a 4 second time exposure giving the river its fluid motion.
When I am on the road I use my laptop to process images which has a nice screen but is hard to calibrate and should be recalibrated periodically. The two images below are an example of what an image will look like on a properly calibrated monitor and what one looks like if the screen density shifts. The density shift on the laptop was probably U. E. User Error.

Smoky Mountain – Dogwoods

Smoky Mountain – Dogwoods
The Dogwoods are in great bloom and the weather predictions are good. It is going to be a great week!!
Like this:
Like Loading...
1 Comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Dogwoods, Greenbrier, Little River Road, Ogle Cabin, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Smokies, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, topaz simplify, Tremont
While in Cades cove a couple of years ago I captured this wild pink Aster at F5.6 to keep the majority of the blooms in focus while fading out the background. The image was nice but I did not want to spend time cleaning it up so I let it sit until a couple of days ago when I decided to run it through Topaz Simplify 4. 1st I creating a layer and then in Effects I selected Painting in Presets then I selected Impressions Color. After Simplify made its changes to the layer I changed the opacity to 35% to soften the effect and this gave the image the a nice look and color boost without healing areas of the flower that I would normally.

Aster processed using Topaz Simplify
This weekend I will be heading to the Smoky Mountains to arrive a day or two ahead of my workshop group which starts on the 21st of April. The wildflowers are in great bloom in the park and the shooting will be amazing. We will have partially cloudy skies with some chance of rain with temperatures will be from the low to high 70’s during the day and drop down to the 50’s at night.

Aster Raw image unprocessed
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz click here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Little River Road, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify | posted in Dogwoods, Greenbrier, Greenbrier, Little River Road, Ogle Cabin, Photographic Workshops, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Smokies, Smokies, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains Institute, Smoky Mountains National Park, topaz simplify, Tremont