And the Award for Special Effects Goes to...

It’s a very interesting digital age in which we live. I won’t go into depth about how someone can post a picture of going somewhere and doing anything without even being there, but there it is, as proven on a multitude of social media sites.

With that being said, there are some pretty nice programs available for photographers to utilize. For example, you captured the “defining moment” but if there is a small flaw in the image, Photoshop it out. Using Lightroom, you can change the dynamics of a shot to give it a more creative edge. Of course, these are two very simplistic examples of what these programs are capable of doing.

One program I really enjoy using is Impressions from Topaz Labs. This software plug-in allows the photographer to take an image and manipulate it to look like a painting or drawing. I find that there are times when images call for this and I like the painterly effect as in my photo, shown here, of the old chapel in Cataloochee Valley.

To be honest, none of these programs will turn a poor photo into a good one, but with the right image, they can create a unique and creative piece of art.

"And the Award for Special Effects Goes to…" post processing programs and your imagination.

Jennifer