I caught up with Photoshop Guy Dave Cross yesterday in between his PSW Photoshop Wars competition and onOne booth demo. A friendly, down to earth guy, Cross told me about his unique approach to photography these days, and offered some fantastic advice for Photoshop users.
When I asked him what his current focus was in his photography work, Cross told me he’s come realize his style is to go out and take photos “with Photoshop in mind,” previsualizing how he’ll manipulate and transform the images he’s making. This “Photoshopotography” as he calls it allows him to be inspired not only by what he’s shooting, but also by the capabilities of the program itself. He echoed Scott Kelby’s advice about standing out from the crowd, saying about his seminar audiences, “I got the biggest feedback when I presented something that was different.”
©Dave Cross
Cross’ favorite part of PSW is teaching and seeing “familiar faces” from past conferences. “I love teaching classes in front of a live audience” and “helping people out.” What’s his advice for Photoshop-ers? First, solidify your layers and selection skills. Second, don’t be afraid to experiment. The preview button and the cancel button give you “the freedom to experiment and discover new things to start incorporating into your work… A lot of people feel like they don’t have time to experiment, and I tell them, ‘Take eight seconds’” to try out a new technique or tool. Cross made the excellent point that you don’t have to spend hours trying something new to discover a new trick or workflow adjustment. When looking at a tutorial, he says, go back and watch it a second time and “go off the suggested steps” a bit. That way, you can incorporate a few minutes of experimentation into your daily learning process.
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