Whenever I read about or try to use Photoshop I cannot but help think of the pictures of the old Soviet leadership on top of Lenin’s tomb and how at different stages different people would disappear from photographs depending on the political moods in Moscow.
The four-part series by Cameron Moll was interesting to read through and experiment with and for me it was something that I could reallyappreciate simply because throughout my life I have also been a huge model-maker – planes, ships, figures etc – and the notions of shading, aging, creating a more realistic patinaon a plane or figure to make it stand out from simply being ‘ a model’ is a big part of building and finishing the model. But it also took me a long time and lots of practiceseto develop the skill of painting on the correct shading on a figure leaning on his rifle or riding a horse or weathering a model tank to look as though it had been exposed to the elements for months. I get the same sense with Photoshopand the many elements that you can deploy in working on an image or photograph. Like everything else it takes practice, but simply recalling my years of making models – damn the effects can be great once you hone the skills.
I have to admit that I have not read every single word in the Eismann book but once again I can see the value of at least becoming comfortable with the basic skill-sets that she discusses. I think my biggest concern with this type of book relates to something that I touched on in my last post and that is the time issue for someone like me to really hone this skill. I can appreciate its benefits and would like to spend a lot longer on any number of these various links, execisesand tasks that can help someone learn the skills but how do I fit this in with everything else I am trying to do espeically as I come somewhat late to this issue in as much as I don’t have a background per se in this type of work and I know that I am constantly playing catch-up. Perhaps I juts need to accept the fact that, as has been discussed before, I form part of that bridging generation and that I should feel comfortable that the next generation will be able to work with this type of technology in their sleep and that will benefit all of us. But at least I will know what Photoshop is and the potential that it holds.
Alan
