Tag Archives: education 5 Ways to Max Out Your Kit Lens 5 Ways to Max Out Your Kit Lens Kit lenses are a great option to add to your purchase of a new camera. Camera bodies can be bought by themselves, but if you’re just getting started, an affordable kit lens is a great way to go. By... 
Thanks for the great tips. I put my kit lens back on recently to shoot a large family. I’m going to like trying these tips out. But I will miss the 
These tips are very helpful. I have the kit lens and a 50mm f/1.8 that I ordered with my camera. I’m not using either of them to their full potential right now. Thanks. 
Kent – your tips are awesome here. I have been toying with whether or not to get rid of my 50mm 1.4 because I just haven’t found its sweet spot yet (I tend to like close ups and faces). Would love some tips on how to use prime lenses too as I haven’t quite gotten the knack of it. I tend to use my 28-300mm almost all the time 
Hi Jenny,
Kent, I tried posting a photo taken with my kit lens, guess HTML doesn’t work here?
You should be able to add an html URL link. 
Great tips! I feel like I am ready to move up from my kit lenses and have been especially frustrated with them lately. I never shoot at f/8 with my kit lens (same range) and now I am excited to go take some photos to see if I can find sharper focus. Thanks! 
“Don’t zoom in tight, go wide. Zooming in further reduces the amount of light entering the camera” That only applies if you’re shooting wide open, due to the variable max aperture of the lens. If you’re stopped down to f/8, it doesn’t matter whether you’re at 18mm or 55mm. But zooming out will lessen the effects of camera shake and photographer movement on slower shutter speeds. 
thanks for the free ebook..:) 
It is good to see someone not bring negative about the kit lens. It is still probably the most versatile lens I own and I feel that it helped take some of my best pictures. Remember, it’s not what you have… It’s how you use it! 
Enjoying your site and learning from it. I downloaded the ebook yesterday but it isn’t in my downloads. I guess I had to save it. Is it possible to download it again? Thanks
You got it!
You’re welcome, hope you enjoy!
Yes you should be able to. Also, you should have received an email which also has a link to the download. 
good advice. 
Good advice Kent .. whilst the favourite lens in my kitbag is a 50mm prime it’s a manual lens and not suited to all the work I want to do. I regularly use kit lenses (18-55 & 50-200) and have always been happy with the results. As always the correlation between f-stop, focal length and ISO is important but if you can bring them all together the results can still be excellent. 
[...] I enjoy the photography tips and ideas from Kent Weakley. This one is especially important for the non-professional photographer who primarily uses the lens that came with the camera body – 5 Ways to Max Out Your Kit Lens – http://kentweakley.com/blog/5-ways-max-out-kit-lens/ [...]  Night Photography eClass ~ Not Too late Night Photography eClass ~ Not Too Late It’s Not Too Late to sign up for the Night Photography eClass. WHY, you ask? This course is designed for you to work at your own pace. All the lessons WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 60 DAYS, until August 8, 2011. This... by Kent Weakley show 1 comment 
Awesome well Done   Photo Tip ~ Swapping Colors in Photoshop Photo Tip ~ Swapping Colors in Photoshop Looking to change the color of a particular item within your photo? Perhaps a shirt, flower, or logo needs to have it’s hue adjusted. In this video tip I will show you how to quickly select a colored area and then... by Kent Weakley show 44 comments 
1) Working with channels…ugh! But then again, anything you teach is going to be worthwhile! 
The fact that I don’t have it! 
Great tip! I have used PS since it first came out, but I still have problems with masking. I know how to select, make a mask, and apply a mask, but the issue for me is masking hair. I have watched numerous tuts by Adobe and others and the still do not work. Any secret tips? 
Hi Kent, Will I really liked you video. Very helpful. But I have to say,”Idon’t own Photo Shop. Boy I sure need one. As you can tell on my blog. 1)I need to learn to crop & add a bored to my photos. 2) I would love to be able to take portrait photo and Make it black/white, then only have a couple colors in it, such as, like a hat & shoes, etc. To use for reference paintings. 
Very specific instructions for Tilt and Shift to make that creative “miniaturizing effect.” It would also be helpful to include any shortcuts or instructions for us “Mac” users! Thanks! 
1) Layers, masking – just like you used in this Photo Tip 
I’d like to understand the process of layer masks. So many times I need to mask out the fine details of horse’s manes and tails. If I could understand each step of the way, and what the program is doing as you go through the process of creating a layer mask, it would be helpful. I’ve read and studied and watched people do them, but have no idea how to do it, or what is happening. 
I find batch processing, selective actions (like blurring only the background) and curves to be the most difficult tasks in photoshop. I really look forward to an e book on photoshop! Thanks Kent! 
Sweet mothers! I had no idea it was that simple…thank you so much for sharing this technique. Here is what I would love to see: 1. Making brushes that can be enlarged without becoming fuzzy when you are working on a print document versus a web document Looking forward to your ebook and LOVE the blog! 
working with blend modes when combining 2 images extracting an image from the background the pen tool I really appreciated the video on changing the color of an item. 
1) You just answered it-what an easier way to select than the lasso tool! Awesome!I would love to know also the best way to select a part of the picture and remove it without just painting over it. 
Kent,
Kent, 
1. Selecting/masking hair – why is it always so painful? 
1) Im always having trouble with making a picture dramatic, like making colors more dramatic, and its making me crazy… i always start, and end up quitting in the middle. im doing a god job with blending, blurring and retouching but a lot of stuff are giving my trouble… Greeting from Serbia. 
Thank you. I had a duh moment watching this. LOL 1. Layers 
Thank you for that tutorial. I had no clue that could be done. 
Wow! You just answered one of my questions, which was: Can’t wait to learn more about your ebook! Thanks! 
1-masking – particularly if you want to isolate something like a bird so you can put it on a brochure 
Great tip! I’ve often wondered how that was done! 1. I’d love to know more about downloading and installing on my version of PS more filters. 2. I use PS more for graphics than photos. I’d love more photo editing tips. 3. Enhancing color without it looking bizarre! Thanks Kent. Can’t wait for the ebook. 
1) Gradient maps/gradient tool – when, how and why to use them Love the hints, tips and tutorials. I’ve learned so much since I discovered your blog and e-courses. Thanks and please keep it going. 
Kent, My biggest issue is I don’t own photoshop yet. I downloaded the trial version and it overwhelmed me so much I never pursued. I can’t wait for your ebook. Short of having a private tutor sit over my shoulder telling me how to use PS, this book will be just the boost I need to take the photoshop plunge. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise. I enjoy your Composition Class and your blog so much. 
1. hdr without overdoing it. 
Wow! My Photoshopping skills are not quite there yet, but I’m going to have to try this just to see if I can do it! You make it seem so easy!! I still don’t fully grasp working with layers & masks… but I’m learning in baby steps! 
Great tutorial! and I plan to give this one a try on some photos of my daughters. Thanks michelle 
My three things would be: Thanks! 
Photoshop seems to be an ongoing, forever learning process. I have learned a lot through trial and error, but I need some handholding with…ahem…the following: masks, layers, curves; & why does the program change everything in the photo except the very thing I’ve lassod and want to change? Same thing with the magic wand tool; channels…I don’t get it. Also, composites (combining 2 or more photos). Sometimes I even manage to get the results I want but am not quite sure how I got there! Weird…I know. You have your job cut out for you in trying to educate many of us who have that “deer caught in the headlights stare” when it comes to photoshop! I just need a recipe(s). The above photo tip is great!
Ooops! You asked for the top 3 things that frustrate us most. In my earlier post, I got a little carried away. Sorry! 
Kent, the tutorial was awesome. I have always used the magic lasso tool and yes, it can be a pain. My 3 wishes: Blending Modes – combining photographs By the way, love the Night Photo eClass 1 and cant’ wait to start eClass 2 today. 
Thank you so much for the color tip! This will come in handy. And about…well, you know… 1) Curves in detail. What’s actually happening when we pick a spot on the curve and move it? What part of the photo does it affect and what’s does each direction we move it actually do? 2) Workflow…curves, saturation, brightness, spot heal, sharpening. Is there a best order in which to edit a photo? 3) Exposure adjustment. In particular, is there a way to adjust the exposure of a particular area of a photo?
oh my goodness that was so easy. Now, does it work with elements? I’m not sure I know enough to know what I don’t know! LOL I have never used the lasso tool. Not sure how to use that. I guess that is about it right now. Can’t think of anything else. 
1. – changing dull skys to blue especially if you have objects with lots of detail that show the sky through like link naked branches.
I love all your tips though I don’t have Photoshop! Maybe one day… 
Hello Kent, That was a wonderful tip on changing a selected color. I didn’t know about using a mask to wipe out the affect on an unwanted area. The areas that I have difficulty with are: 
I love that trick on changing colors! Here are my 3 things that I’d like to understand more about Photoshop:
Thank you! Now I know how to do one more improvement 1. Selective color..does the photo have to be color to begin with? I have a B&W photo I wanted to add a touch of color to. 2. Merging two photos together to make one great photo 3. The cloning tool, I just can’t it to work! 
In PS I would like to see more about: HDR Use of the different tools to eliminate unwanted objects (for example a light pole in the center of a great shot) The a tool to infill the affected area. Tools to smooth ones face or touch up blemishes. 
Creating accurate architectural perspective and using all of the rubber stamp options well. This was a great refresher on the change color feature, fyi. 
Well, there are a few things I don’t understand. 1. What are smart objects and smart filters? Love your tips! Thanks! 
I’d like to know more about layers in Photoshop used for Astrophotography.
oops 
i’d like to know how to work the quick selection tool to select a figure properly, 
It seems like everyone has different advice about sharpening. “Use unsharp mask”, “use smart sharpening”, “sharpen lightness channel in LAB”, etc., and the numbers for radius, amount, and threshold always very considerably. What, in your opinion is the best way.
I’m an unsharpen mask guy. Yes, there are several ways to go about it, but that’s how I do it. And it’s the very last step.  Featured Photographer ~ Nancy Maxwell Featured Photographer ~ Nancy Maxwell Growing up in Texas, pictures were a big part of my life. I can remember holidays, family reunions, everyday events where a simple point and shoot camera was ever-present among my family. Photos marked the years and after losing some dear loved ones, it became even more important to... 
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