{"id":88251,"date":"2023-11-20T07:23:58","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T11:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=88251"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:13:46","slug":"wont-you-make-my-white-skies-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2023\/11\/20\/wont-you-make-my-white-skies-blue\/","title":{"rendered":"Won’t You Make My White Skies Blue?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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The Digital Basics III Video Series<\/em>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Digital Basics III Video Series<\/h3>\n

I realized about a year ago that my digital workflow had changed significantly and was toying with the idea of writing a Digital Basics III. More recently, I have learned and begun working with two great new Photoshop Tools, the Remove Tool and the Luminance Targeted Adjustment Tool. The former is like a smarter Spot Healing Brush Tool on steroids and the latter is a huge step up from the fabulous Color Mixer Tool. During that same time frame, I came up with a new and improved 2-step noise reduction technique. I still use Divide and Conquer, Quick Masks, Layer Masks, an expanded array of personalized keyboard shortcuts, and tons of other stuff from both versions of Digital Basics. <\/p>\n

As soon as I realized that I did not want to take on another large writing project, I realized that by creating a series of videos I could much more easily share all the details of my current digital workflow and much more easily incorporate additional new tips, techniques, and tools as I went. And so, The Digital Basics III Video Series<\/em> was born. You can check out Volume I\/#1 here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

You might opt to purchase single videos or to subscribe to Volume I and save $26 by ordering the first five videos in one fell swoop. You can purchase the five videos in Volume I by clicking here<\/a>. The videos will be most valuable for folks using the latest version of Photoshop (2024) or Lightroom along with Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI.<\/p>\n

My Call<\/h3>\n

In the Colors of San Diego in Winter blog post here<\/a>, my two top favorite images were the Pelagic Cormorant pan blur (for the sharpness, the degree of blurring, and the wonderful colors), and the Brown Pelicans on cliff in predawn pink\/blue (for the soft pastel colors, the image design, and the incredible sharpness). The alert drake Wood Duck was a close third. <\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

I headed down to the lake on Sunday morning but things were pretty dead; I never even raised a lens. I’ve been swimming my half mile every day along with my 1 1\/2 mile vitamin D walk. <\/p>\n

Today is Monday 20 November 2023. I will be heading down to the lake again as soon as I publish this. Wherever you are a whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. <\/p>\n

Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT<\/a>. You will be amazed at how much you will learn! <\/p>\n

You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange\/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.<\/p>\n

If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 for example, that is available from B&H and\/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Image #1: The Photo Mechanic screen capture for today’s featured image\n