You can ALWAYS learn something new [Video]

by Blake Rudis | Nov 27, 2018 | Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 2 comments

What I learned from Jim Welninski recently I am the type of person who loves to learn new things.  I read quite a few books every year, I spent a LOT of time on the “Google” researching things I don’t know, and I embrace interaction with everyone...

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 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...

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...

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...

The Color Dodge & Color Burn Blend Modes

by Blake Rudis | Feb 2, 2018 | Advanced, f64 Academy News, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 57 comments

Dodging and Burning with Blend Modes and Colors If you have spent any amount of time with me you know that I am always trying to come up with new ways of using Blend Modes.  I have recently started experimenting with the Color Dodge and Color Burn Blend Modes.   At...

5 Very Practical Tips for the Clone Stamp Tool Video

by Blake Rudis | Jan 19, 2018 | Intermediate, Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 23 comments

The Clone Stamp Tool, love it or hate it, it’s fantastic! I have conducted many tutorials that in some way shape or form involve the Clone Stamp Tool, but I don’t think I have ever given my “down and dirty” practical tips for it. Recently I...

The 5 Tone Heat Map in Photoshop

by Blake Rudis | Jan 12, 2018 | Tutorial, Video Tutorial | 69 comments

See your tones with a color-coded 5 Tone Heat Map The 5 Tone Heat Map is a concept I have been working on for quite a while.  I first started working with the idea in November of 2017 while showing the f.64 Elite community how to edit a Milky Way photo. What I...