[northumbrian1]

I'm very new to "Digital Camera" magazine. I previously bought two issues (May & June) of "Digital Camera" before I subscribed to the magazine, so I know how it looked before the makeover that came in the magazine that came through my door two days ago. I have to say to Geoff Harris, the Editor, that this issue is well thought-out and the logistics in making the changes he has, is worthy of his title as Editor! In short the magazine is absolutely superb now... Now to Photoshop, the innovative idea to put a 10-part photoshop course on the CD/DVD was inspired! First and foremost Photoshop (I have CS4 Extended Version) is a Graphic Artists dream come true since it covers everything you could wish for in illustrative design elements within the program. For photrographers who are coming to terms with Digital Photography (like I am) rather than the 'old' Nikon F3 camera stance, using 35mm film, needs a fairly steep learning curve, when one has been used to using smelly, old darkrooms, dunking one's fingers in Bromide, Hypo fixer and several copper baths to make changes to photos - as well as 'burning and dodging' highlights and shadows (or over-exposed film) in one's enlarger, whether it be a Gnome one or something more substantial in a Hospital Darkroom! Doing it all with CS4 Extended can be a minefield, if you don't know the right way to go about it. Using filters with Photoshop is about as cool as using Levels and Layers to get a desired affect. The end result surely, is to get as much of a natural-looking photographic result in one's photos without it looking like a faux photograph that has been altered entirely on a computer?

The end justifies the means. I think great photographers like David Bailey, Patrick Litchfield and Ansel Adams used whatever means was at their disposal to achieve the best most natural-looking photograph they could either by enlargement technique or by Photoshop technique. If it works, use it! And may the devil take the hindermost (for not using any technique) that enhances any photo to a status that would look great in a Salon in Buckingham Palace or elsewhere! northumbrian1