Why Do My Photos Suck? Blake’s Video Response

by Blake Rudis | Nov 16, 2018 | Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 12 comments

Well, maybe that is a harsh title, but hear me out. We have all been in a place where we ask why our photos aren’t what we want them to be.   Whether that is because of a certain style, or a look we are trying to achieve that we can’t, or we just...

The Hard Mix Blend Mode in Photoshop (Video)

by Blake Rudis | Nov 9, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 43 comments

The Hard Mix Blend Mode is AMAZING! I could tell you all day long that the Hard Mix Blend Mode is the most fantastic Blend Mode in Photoshop, but you’d have to see it to believe it.  That is because the Hard Mix Blend Mode,  when applied “as-is” is...

How to Make your Fall Colors Pop! [Video]

by Blake Rudis | Sep 22, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial | 4 comments

Using Palette Effects 2 to Make Autumn Images Glow! I am a big fan of this time of year.  The pumpkins, the weather, the hoodies, and the snuggles under blankets… yes you read that correctly, I am a snuggler, it is one of my love languages,  so what? It is also...

Palette Effects 2.0 Top 5 Features

by Blake Rudis | Sep 20, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial | 6 comments

I am Biased, I did build it…  but here are my favorite Palette Effects 2.0 Features  It has been nearly a year and a half since I updated Palette Effects.  There are several reasons for that and while many of them lead to,  “I have been busy”,  I do...

How to find and free up disk space [Video]

by Blake Rudis | Aug 30, 2018 | Beginner, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 18 comments

Using Treesize Personal to find Heavy Files I, like many photographers, like to hoard my images.  Seriously, we could probably have a reality TV show for photographers like me.  That would be funny a guy shows up at my office, looks through my drives and says,...

The Vivid Light Blend Mode [Video]

by Blake Rudis | Aug 17, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 27 comments

A Color Grading Companion – The Vivid Light Blend Mode There are 27 blend modes in Adobe Photoshop and if you are anything like the “me before I learned them all”, you are only using three, maybe four to their maximum potential.  One of those you may...

Replacing a Sky With the Soft Light Blend Mode – Video

by Blake Rudis | Aug 3, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial | 19 comments

The Soft Light Sky Replacement Technique On my way out to Kansas City the other night, I was praying for a beautiful sunset.  I would venture to say that’s what most of us do when we take the time to go out with our cameras.   To my surprise when I got there I...

Vivitar 500mm lens, too good to be true?

by Blake Rudis | Jul 20, 2018 | Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 10 comments

Does the Vivitar 500mm lens hold up to it’s hefty $119 price tag? It is not very often that I need a 500mm lens.  I can recall a handful of times I said it would be nice, and maybe once at Indian Beach in Oregon where I NEEDED it.  Therefore, the likelihood of...

Fixing Tricky Color Temperature in ACR and Lightroom – Video Tutorial

by Blake Rudis | Jun 29, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial | 17 comments

How to fix ANY mixed lighting white balance issues in ACR and Lightroom One thing I enjoy is Interior Architecture Photography.   It is a very gratifying feeling when you photograph a huge church or cathedral and nail the composition.  But what happens when your White...

Blake’s 3 Favorite Features of the Zone System Express 5

by Blake Rudis | Jun 14, 2018 | Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 11 comments

The Creator’s Top 3 features of the Zone System Express I know, I know, I am a little biased to the Zone System Express because I created it.  It feels kind of silly, like a grade school teachers whose favorite kid in the class is their own, but hey, at least...