I think I’m one of the rare photographers today that has a serious allergic reaction to Photoshop. Sure, I use it, but do I really use it? Not so much. I tend to photograph digitally the same way I did with film. Plan it out, double check everything, know my gear inside and out, then shoot. Yes, I have large cards to store a lot of files, but I don’t use the spray and pray method. Getting it right in the camera is very important to me, so that when it does come time to do some editing, it’s very simple (read: Fast). The less time I spend on the computer means more time for photographing new things.

I used Photoshop mainly for minor tweaks and re-saving. When Lightroom was introduced, that became my weapon of choice. It was easier for me to understand, without the multitude of other tools staring at me accusingly because I didn’t ever use them. It offered me the fastest and smartest method for my personal workflow. I enjoy working in Lightroom. And yet, I felt a little guilty that I wasn’t using all the tools at my disposal.

There seem to be a million tutorials and books out there on Photoshop. For me, they all seemed to start somewhere in the middle, as if I missed out on the first week of class and was never going to catch up. I’d learn how to do something, then discover there were five different methods to do the same thing! Which one was right? If I poked at this button instead, would I have to start all over? Sigh. It became nothing but a study in frustration. The allergic symptoms increased to the point where that little blue button on my desktop had collected so much digital dust, I ended up deleting it.

Enter Zazzle.

I got into the swing of designing all sorts of cool items with my photographic pieces. Mouse pads and coffee mugs and others. The things patrons had requested and so much more. Yet, there were items I really wanted to design but didn’t feel like my pieces would fit them very well. My fingers began to itch. I wanted to do something else. Something…designy. I could maybe learn how to use Illustrator, but upon opening that program, the old Photoshop allergies started anew. Another massive program that I had less of a clue about probably wouldn’t be the best idea to start off with. Well, I did know a little about Photoshop. It was enough to get me started anyway. I’d just work through the frustrating parts and figure it out.

Apparently, whatever mental road blocks had built up in my head had all been smoothed out and I was able to make some very simple designs with a minimum of cursing. I followed a few tutorials over and over again until I really understood why I was doing what they were telling me to do. Isn’t that a problem with most tutorials? They tell you how, but not why! I started to look forward to making something new. Even if it ended up nothing like what I wanted it to, I learned how to go back and fix what needed to be or just go in a different direction.

I certainly won’t tell you that I can just whip through five or six designs in ten minutes. It takes me a lo-o-o-ong time to do even something simple. But, I found a style I’m comfortable with and am expanding out from there. Learning more every day with fewer *headbangdesk* moments. The pen tool is still my nemesis, but I’ll get there eventually.

It felt good to throw some of these simple designs into my Zazzle store. They’re cute and look good on the products I have available. But there’s a lot of great designers on there. I mean, REALLY great. As long as I’m learning and progressing, I’m okay with cute and simple. My main medium is photography, afterall, and that I’m comfortable with.

You can imagine my complete shock when I received an email from Zazzle a few days ago stating that one of my newest designs had won a Today’s Best Award! I can tell you that sweet little spring chick singing after he popped out of his egg gave me fits into the wee hours of the morning trying to get it right (see image at top of post). So, I guess I must have done something right. My very first TBA! I call it my Chicken Award. When I got home I rushed to see the email again and to check it out in the daily listing. Shock doesn’t begin to describe my reaction when I saw not only my little chick in the listing, but also my Shamrock Sun (see below)!

Shamrock Sun Necklace #2 by sbworkman
Make custom silver necklaces on Zazzle.

Orange Dahlia

It’s early January and we’ve experienced everything from snow to freezing rain, even some beautifully warm (okay, warm-ish) days that carry a hint of spring. What a tease! Especially now that the skies are gloomy and the rain will soon turn back into snow. In all probability…lots of snow.

To keep you warm in the cold days ahead, please enjoy this photograph of a bright orange dahlia. May it bring a smile to your face, a little warmth into your heart, and thoughts of spring to your mind.

Petal Tubes

We made it! Happy 2012 everyone!

With a new year comes new experiences, new adventures. This year will be no exception. For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to shake things up some, from the style and medium of my art (more on that experiment later), to how that work is displayed at shows and galleries, and researching ideas for new products.

Over the last few years I’ve fielded a lot of requests for specific items with my artwork on them, things like coffee mugs, magnets, calendars. There’s even been some requests for cell phone cases, laptop bags, and ceramic tiles! To create all these products on my own would be impossible, but as the requests came more frequently, a solution sprang to mind (here’s where all that research comes in).

So…

Now that the calendar has officially changed, I would like to formally announce the opening of the Shannon Workman Photography Store! I’ve partnered with Zazzle in order to provide the highest quality, and largest variety, of custom-made products featuring some of the most requested fine art pieces from several different series, including: Abstraction, Shattered, and Flora. I’m so excited to finally be able to fulfill your requests in such a creative way!

New items will be added on a regular basis, so if there’s a product you like, but don’t see it in the store, just drop me a line here and I’ll do my best to accommodate you! Happy Shopping!

"Reaching"

Sometimes you just want to create something special for a friend or family member. This photograph was made specifically for a friend to bring a little bit of joy and color into her day.

The flower itself is a type of dahlia that starts off a dark purple in the very center and as it begins to radiate out the color changes through pinks and whites with speckles of a darker color on the tubes.

"Burlesque"

This Saturday, November 26th, 2011 is Small Business Saturday. Remember to support your local artists and artisans, as we are all small businesses (even if we hate to admit it ).

In fact, take this special coupon code SBS10 to use at sbworkman.com for 10% off any order, this Saturday only!

"Natural Confusion"

"Going Inside"

I love details. And texture. And seeing things just a little bit differently than other people might.

These spectacular blooms are a type of Ball Dahlia, with petals that curl into tubes radiating out from the center.

"Judy's Rose"

Two weeks ago today, I lost someone very special in my life to the horrible disease of cancer. This photograph is for her.

We love you and miss you Aunt Judy.

"The Reading"

Happy Halloween! Hope everyone has an enjoyable, and safe, holiday and I hope you enjoyed this series of photographs leading up to Halloween!

"Ritual"

And now for today’s photograph:

"Searching"

"Dead Heat"

Is it getting hot in here? Only 3 more days ’til Halloween!