We are exited to partner with Adobe to help you learn more about video. We’re building this learning center so you can get quick access to the information you need. Working with video is fun and a business opportunity. We want to get you up and running for both the shooting and editing.
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An In-Depth Look at Selling, Budgeting, and Planning Video Projects - I recently spoke at an ASMP event in Michigan on how photographers could increase their business opportunities as well as expand into video. The goal was to offer practical advice. This class is unedited, so you hear the occasional things that go wrong in a live presentation (like people coughing in the audience). But the content is good and I hope super helpful. Please share if you know a photographer or video professional who would benefit.
Aquatic Color Zoning & Shooting with the GoPro Hero - One of my favorite ways to spend a sunny afternoon is to grab the kids, the GoPro & monopod and head for water. If you’ve owned a GoPro Hero camera and have experimented with underwater shooting in creeks and streams, you’re probably well-accustomed to the flat and somewhat colorless results that can occur, especially in full sun. Yet, the fast (fixed f/2.8) Hero lens is capturing more than appears to be present and just takes a little TLC in post to draw out the color and detail. Let’s take a look at one approach to splashing color and detail back into an underwater image using gradient masks in Adobe Photoshop CC. http://youtu.be/KEzj4UvjP88 Have fun with it, really play around with color and tone. Working with rich, aquatic color seems to allow more confidence to push the sliders way harder than usual and the results can be truly stunning.
How to Post Your Video to Vimeo - Now that you’ve learned how to edit videos and slideshows in Adobe Photoshop, we want to make sure you know the best steps to be able to share your video with clients or friends and family onto your own personal Vimeo Channel. To get started uploading your video on Vimeo, follow the steps below: Step 1: Prepare the File Before you upload the video to Vimeo, make sure you make your final edits and finishing touches, and then make sure that it is converted into a proper format. There are a wide variety of programs and websites that can convert video for free. These formats are best supported by Vimeo: .MP4 (Motion Picture Experts Group Part 14) .MPEG or .MPG (Motion Picture Experts Group) .MOV (QuickTime Movie) .AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) Step 2: Log Into Your Account The first thing that you should do is visit the Vimeo website and create an account. If you already have an account, log into it by clicking the login link. If you don’t have an account, then you will need to follow the prompts to set up your account/channel. Step 3: Uploading the Video Click the “Upload Video” button which is located on the home page of the site. You will also be able to find the same link in the navigation bar which is under the Upload heading. Step 4: The Upload Page Once you click the upload link, you will be taken to the upload page. You will need to ensure that you are permitted to upload the videos. You can only upload videos that are owned and created by you since it’s not possible to upload any videos that are copyrighted by anyone else. Step 5: Selecting the File Click the “Choose a File to Upload” button and this will launch an upload dialog box. Choose the file that you want to upload and then click on “Select.” As soon as you click the button, the video will start to be uploaded straight away. The progress bar will start to estimate how long the video will take to upload. The faster the internet speed, the faster your video will upload. Step 6: Adding the Basics Adding a description to your video will allow for viewers to know and learn more information about your video before viewing. This will display at the bottom of the video. Be sure to add a unique description to help your video to stand out. Tags allow other users to see your video by linking common and searchable words associated with your video. Other videos will then often be seen together in the “Recommended videos” sidebar if they have similar tags. Step 7: Privacy Settings Vimeo respects your videos and your right to decide who watches them. Privacy options allow you to upload videos and choose who can see them. To access the privacy settings of your video, click Settings under your video on the video page, then click the Privacy tab. You can select from the following privacy options to determine who can see your video: Anyone – Allow anyone to see this video. Only me – Make this video visible to me and no one else Only people I follow – Make my videos visible only to people I follow on Vimeo Only people I choose – I’ll select people with whom I want to share this video (Note: this setting will only work for sharing with other Vimeo members) Only people with a password – Protect this video with a password (Note: you can share password protected videos with non-Vimeo members) Hide this video from Vimeo.com (Plus + PRO only) – I want to post this video on the web but don’t want it to be available on Vimeo.com. (This will hide your video on Vimeo.com and remove it from public Albums, Channels, and Groups.) Step 8: Processing Conversion As soon as the video is uploaded, the video will then need to be processed. You can close this page if you want, and Vimeo will handle the conversion automatically. Once the video has finished converting, the service will then email you once the conversion has finished. _________________________
3 Tips for Time-Lapses Worth Keeping - I’ve fallen in love with time-lapse photography. It allows me to show change in a picture over time, and that’s makes my image more engaging and more endearing. I’ve been shooting lots of time-lapse over the last year, but I’ve only finished a handful of the sequences into video files because I often do one thing wrong that ruins the entire sequence. Here are three tips that’ll help you avoid wasting hours shooting to end up with nothing worth sharing. 1. Shoot Movement Time-lapse is most engaging when there are things moving and changing as the movie progresses. Clouds are wonderful subjects to cut your teeth on because they change quickly over time and revealing their movement in quick time is almost always impressive. Building columns of cumulus never cease to amaze me, and clouds zipping in different directions at different elevations are intriguing. Interestingly, shooting a longer interval will show more movement; that is, shooting at one frame every five seconds will show more change than shooting at one frame every second (of course, it means you need to shoot longer to get a video of any given length). 2. Manual Everything Autofocus will shift slightly from frame to frame, causing a stuttering feel to the sequence; use autofocus to set the focus, then switch it to manual. Auto white balance may change from picture to picture depending on what colors the camera sees in the frame; a red dress walking by may change the color significantly. Choose a white balance setting (ideally in degrees Kelvin). I love to use Aperture mode when shooting outside, but any of the auto exposure modes will give you trouble. Changing clouds overhead, or car headlights shining into the lens will prompt the camera to change the exposure and will make the video appear to flicker. Shoot a frame in Aperture mode to get the settings, then switch to Manual mode and dial in the settings. One thing that shouldn’t be manual is holding the camera. Use a tripod, and turn off the vibration reduction or image stabilization. 3. Shoot RawUsually When you shoot RAW you have a lot of options, including incredible highlight and shadow recovery, and Lightroom can apply adjustments to a sequence in a snap. However, Photoshop requires JPEGs to stitch a sequence together, so I export my RAWs as JPEGs to use in Photoshop. A problem with RAWs is that they are huge and fill the camera’s buffer quickly. If I am shooting at a short interval between frames (i.e. one frame per second) then the camera cannot keep up and the sequence ends up stuttering. A tip for shooting in JPEG is to activate the highlight and shadow recovery built into the camera; I set mine to the highest setting. This helps make sure that bright spots don’t get blown out, and shadow areas maintain detail. This next video shows the problem of shooting faster than your camera can write. You’ll see some stutter and apparent skipping; those are times when the buffer in the camera was too full to make the next frame. This can be conquered by leaving more time between frames (one shot every three seconds instead of one frame every second), shooting smaller images (JPEG or maybe Small RAW (on Canons)), or by buying faster cards that allow your camera to write to the card faster. The Bottom Line Time-lapse is so fun, and now that many cameras include intervalometers it’s become so simple to shoot a few minutes anywhere you go, and they can really add flavor to your slide show of still images or a vacation video. I’ve spent hours and hours shooting sequences, and if I had known these tips then more of them would have been worth keeping. I hope this helps you, too. __________________________
Exporting & Sharing Your Video From Photoshop - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this seventh (and final) episode, you’ll learn how to export your finished video project. Discover how to export both for the web and to professional video formats. The Photoshop editing interface is easy to learn and master. Can’t see the video? Click here. We have one more video to go… here’s what you might have missed. Setting up Photoshop to Edit Video Organize Your Videos with Bridge Assembling a Video Edit with Photoshop Add Sound to Your Photoshop Video Working with Transitions and Titles in Photoshop Color Correcting Video in Photoshop __________________________
What is Rolling Shutter? - Whether you call it rolling shutter, sensor shake, or just Jello… the problem remains the same. The possibility of bending and distorting your image when recording video on a DSLR or Mirrorless camera is a real issue… particularly if you pan too fast. This can lower the quality of the video you shoot and make a shot potentially unusable. This video I recorded for the DPBestflow project helps explain what it is, how to avoid it, and how big a deal it is. __________________________
Working with Video Transitions and Titles in Photoshop - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this fifth episode, you’ll learn how to enhance your project with transitions. These can be used to smooth over as you switch from one shot to the next or add emphasis. You’ll also learn how to add text to your video to add a credit or a title. Can’t see the video? Click here. Over the next two weeks, we’ll walk you through the complete editing process. ______
Developing a Concept for a Video - A key step in your videos planning is creative development. You need to think through the creative approach, define it, beat it up, and refine it. Chances are your original ideas and assumptions will be a lot stronger after you put them through a creative wringer. Here are a few things Ive learned in developing video projects. Don’t try to reinvent what already exists. You need to closely examine whats already in the web video universe or competitive marketplace. Don’t waste your time developing a concept that is identical to something thats already popular. True originality is hard, but its a rare day when the clone surpasses the original. With that said, don’t give up on your idea, refine it. Decide who you want to attract. Video and web video are increasingly niche mediums. Going after a smaller, targeted group is what its all about. You need to think long and hard about whom you want to reach. By refining your target audience, you stand a much better chance of appealing to them and capturing their attention. Whats important here is that you identify a specific group with specific interests, then develop content that fits their needs. Make sure your visuals matter. Make sure your leveraging the strengths of the medium to justify the cost (and download time). Make sure that your video is not just a talking head. Think of ways to mix video and photography to illustrate the concepts being discussed. ______
Add Sound to Your Video in Photoshop - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this fourth episode, you’ll learn how to enhance your project with sound. You’ll see how to load a music track and adjust the volume of your clips. The Photoshop editing interface is easy to learn and master. Can’t see the video? Click here. Over the next two weeks, we’ll walk you through the complete editing process. ______
A Compelling View of the Skies Above - I just got back from a conference that targeted creative professionals who do work in the government space. I had previously worked with the folks behind Airman magazine… a very cool digital magazine that’s available for free. It’s built using Adobe’s Digital Publishing platform. You can get the free magazine here. Be sure to pull it down to see how the timelapse was integrated into the digital layout (it’s very well done). The group behind the magazine produced a great timelapse to accompany the story. The video features the Maui Space Surveillance Complex is located on Mount Haleakala, a dormant volcano on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Here they track man-made objects orbiting the Earth. You can get the whole story here. The complex is located 10,000 feet above sea level on top of Haleakala, a dormant volcano on the island, that is also considered one of the best places on Earth to view space from. This time lapse sequence was captured over a three-day period by a team from Airman magazine, the U.S. Air Force’s official publication. https://vimeo.com/78583351 Can’t see the video? Click here. Timelapse photography by: Andrew Arthur Breese, Tech Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III Production Assistance by: Tech Sgt. Matthew Bates Music by: Music by:Effac L’autre Endroit (Creative Commons) ______
Assembling a Video Edit with Photoshop CC - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this third episode, you’ll learn how to build your sequence. You’ll see how to load multiple shots into the timeline and then refine each shot’s duration. The Photoshop editing interface is easy to learn and master. Can’t see the video? Click here. Over the next two weeks, we’ll walk you through the complete editing process. ______
Getting the Shot: Time-lapse - Have you ever wondered how to set up your camera to shoot time-lapse video? Let us show you the essential steps to work with an intervalometer or your camera’s menu to program the shot. This video will get you up and running in no time. Can’t see the video? Click here. ______
Get Organized Before You Edit Your Video - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this second episode, you’ll learn how to use Adobe Bridge to browse and organize video. This makes it easy to search through several drives worth of media and get your footage ready to edit. Can’t see the video? Click here. Over the next two weeks, we’ll walk you through the complete editing process. ______
Setting up Photoshop to Edit Video - Are you interested in video? Welcome to our series on how to edit video using Adobe Photoshop. In this first episode, you’ll learn how to set up Adobe Photoshop CC so it’s ready to edit multiple video files together. Over the next two weeks, we’ll walk you through the complete editing process. ______
Shooting Video? Always Look for the Focus Assist Option - The rise in affordable HD video cameras is amazing. Whether it’s a DSLR, Smartphone, or dedicated Cinema Camera, HD video seems to be everywhere. One of the greatest challenges however is focus. On a small LCD screen or LiveView panel, it’s nearly impossible to detect focus. The smaller an image, the more in focus it looks. Fortunately, many cameras are offering a focus assist feature. Here’s how it works. Compose the shot and turn OFF auto-focus. Turn on the focus assist feature. This may also be called edge detection or focus in red. Adjust the focus of the camera using a manual focus. Use the edges highlighted on the image to determine what’s in focus. Remember, depending on the depth of field your camera has, the amount of image that’s in focus can vary. In this example, I’m using the new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. Pushing the focus button twice enables this option. I also have the same feature in my Zacuto Zfinder EVF electronic viewfinder. This gives me the same functionality on most DSLRs. My portable field monitor from Marshall has the same option. Be sure to look for an option like this in your next camera or monitor. It makes all the difference in the world when shooting sharp video. Do you have something like this on your camera or monitor? Sound off in the comments below. ______
Terry White’s Top Five Features in Photoshop CC - We had Terry White on a recent podcast, and I always find his use of software to be inspiring. He is a very practical guy and has shown me many ways to get better results, with less effort. Here’s one of my favorite tutorials from Terry. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hC3T0bOaPI -A] Can’t see the video? Watch it here ______
Long Exposure Time-lapse Essentials - In order to capture a moving street shot, I turned to long exposure. To really see the lights and energy of the scene, I wanted to elongate the action. Heres the logic I applied to the shot. First I set the camera to manual mode to avoid any significant settings changes from shot to shot. With timelapse, you want to see variation over time, so the last thing you want is an aperture or shutter changing. Next I stopped the camera all the way down and shot /22. This let the least amount of light into the sensor. I set the shutter speed to create the sense of motion. In this case I found that 2.5 seconds was enough for the look I wanted. People and cars standing still (at the intersection) were relatively clear, while those in motion became a long streak. I also wanted the lights to take on a starburst. Lastly I refined the ISO to achieve a proper exposure. In this case a value of ISO 800 was needed to get the shot. This was due to the smaller sensor of the OM-D E-M1 and the fact that I was stopped down so small. Once the shot was done, assembly was easy. Weve covered these techniques already on Photofocus. Heres the highlights of my workflow. I used Adobe Camera Raw to develop the files and sync the same settings to all images. In this case a slight Clarity and Curves adjustment helped. Noise reduction was also used. An image sequence was created. The image sequence was imported into Adobe After Effects. I interpreted the sequence at 12 fps (half the frame rate I needed). I stretched the image to 200% and turned on frame blending. This forces a motion blur between shots (essentially a series os short dissolves) to emphasize the streaking. I used keyframes to create a zoom on the shot. All in all, post processing was only 10 minutes to create the shot. I am happy with the end results and continue to explore using smaller apertures and longer exposures when shooting timelapse shots of nighttime activities or subjects that involve water or wind. Disclaimer: This is just one way to shoot and process these types of scenes. ______
Getting the Best Shot- Exposure - [vimeo 79017614 w=A] When it comes to properly exposing the shot, you need to understand exposure. In this video, I shoot in manual mode and show you how to get a properly exposed video shot. This knowledge also translates seamlessly into photo shooting as well. This tutorial is part of a new series we’re launching to help photographer’s get up and running with video. We’ll have a few posts a week to help you expand your skills. Let us know what you want to learn in the comments below. Can’t see the video? Click here. ______
Setting Up Your Camera to Shoot Video - Have you ever wondered exactly which settings to choose to get the best video out of your DSLR or mirror less camera? In this video, I walk you through step by step and show you on cameras from Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic. You’ll learn how to get the videos in the right format for editing so tools like Photoshop can work with the files. This tutorial is part of a new series we’re launching to help photographer’s get up and running with video. We’ll have a few posts a week to help you expand your skills. Let us know what you want to learn in the comments below. Can’t see the video? Click here. ______
I’ve Never Watched a Video That Couldn’t Benefit From Being Shorter - The primary place video is watched these days is on mobile devices. This means small screens and lots of distractions. Add in changes in the human attention span, and I can’t emphaize enough to keep the total run time low to avoid viewer fatigue. Heres a simple idea: Keep your videos short. It is better to have five 3-minute videos than one 15-minute episode. I try to keep most client videos to less than 10 minutes (in fact less than 5 in almost all cases). With the rise of the web, videos tend to be consumed during things like work breaks, downtime, and airplane flights. Others will use them during commutes on the morning train or the subway. Think of video as portable, on-demand learning or entertainment. Here are some strategies to keeping the runtime down: Limit the number of topics covered. How may points do you need to make? I try to stick to one (with a hard limit of three). Can the video be split? If a topic runs too long, look to see if you can create shorter segments that stand alone. This way the viewer can download Part 1 and start watching it while theyre waiting for the rest to download or be released. Theres nothing wrong with multiple parts. Get a fresh opinion. Show the video to other people and note when they first look away from their screen or at their watch. Thats when they started to get bored. Shorter is better… especially when youre just getting started. ______[tabby title=”Adobe Tutorials”]
- Walk through a video project
- Arranging and Trimming Clips
- Applying filters to video clips
- Controlling audio levels in video clips
- Using keyframe with transform properties
- Terry White’s Top Five Features in Photoshop CC
- Julieanne Kost’s Favorite Features for Photographers in Photoshop CC
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- Adobe Creative Cloud for Photography
- Adobe Photoshop CC
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
- Adobe Creative Cloud for Video
- Learn more about Premiere Pro
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