After the 4th Annual BetterPhoto.com Photography Summit ended on Saturday, I was inspired to photograph Historic Monterey in the twilight, especially after hearing Jennifer Wu's - one of the presenters - enthusiasm about the quality of light at twilight - "Love It!" I set out with two goals in mind searching for the light as directed by Ibarionex Perello in his presentation and opportunities to create extreme contrasts in perspective. As the sun was setting I had a finite amount of time to shoot. Some of the images from my photowalk are online . (I've corrected the blacks in all of the photos.) My favorite image is of a boy walking along the channel. When I came across the scene initially, I felt it needed an element of action. I set up and waited until a boy walked into frame. The contrast of the yellow leaves with the boy's blue shirt really appealed to me. Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

The image you see and the picture you create in your camera are not necessarily what appears in the in-camera JPEG or in an incorrectly processed RAW file. I'm still getting over my aversion to modifying photos in Photoshop - wanting the image to be "real." Well, there's basic digital darkroom processing in Photoshop that keeps the image "real" and there's advanced layering and more that create artistic visions. In one of my current classes, I had my eyes opened to the importance of setting a black point correctly. I saw before and after images of mine - the composition didn't change, all that changed was that black (adjust with levels), white (adjust 2nd with levels), and midtones (adjust 3rd with curves) were set correctly - and Wow. With black and white, "[w]atch for the threshold where pure black shows up. Every image is different; some look best with just a bit of black, others with a lot. But except for foggy or hazy images, there should b...

Wondering what to do with your digital photos? Like scrapbooking? Create a photo book. Most online print services offer a variety of printed photo books. Layouts are set up for you to make creating easy. Rather than use the standard layouts, with either Photoshop Elements or Photoshop, you can spice up your albums and produce a truly unique memento. Take inspiration from your favorite magazines - photography spreads in fashion and travel magazines as well as ads. Create a collage of images and captions in the right page size and upload the JPG into a full page spread - Voila! You have a magazine-style album. There are a variety of printing services you can use ( prices vary among the services and free books/discounts are frequently available ): Blurb - 80 lb. (135 gsm) coated, semi-matte paper for standard books Hardcover - 7" x 7"; 8" x 10"; 10" x 8"; 13" x 11" Inkubook - 100 lb. archival-quality silk paper Softcover - 7” x 5” (soon); 8.5...

There's a rush that comes with photographing performers. In the heat of the moment, your adrenalin is pumping. The music gets into your soul and the dance begins. Your eyes are constantly scanning the club, you're watching lines of other photographers/videographers, and you're ducking/maneuvering to avoid being in the shot while getting "the shot." When you have the luxury of getting to shoot for more than 3 songs, you're able to quickly evaluate the shots to make sure everything's working for you. As the note from the last song fades, you pack up your gear and swap stories with the rest of the team. It's amazing getting to see the angles/shots that others get and that you've gotten. Last night I had two options - my Canon 30D outfitted with my 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens and my Canon 5D outfitted with my 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens. I wasn't happy with the images I was getting from the Canon 5D setup so I traded the lens and put the extra camera ...

Everyone wants to look great on their special day - whether a wedding, birthday party, anniversary party or another event. Whether you've hired a photographer for your event or not, be sure to have this repair kit in your car (and nearby for emergencies). Pocket-sized lint brush for removing stray lint from linen napkins and stray hair from your shoulders Gal-pal for removing those white deodorant marks that almost always appear Portable stain remover for those inevitable spaghetti sauce spots and accidental red wine spills Double-sided adhesive tape for taming collars, smoothing bulging button holes Various sized/colored safety pins for securing bra straps to shirts, for hem repair, for temporarily replacing buttons, and more Duct tape for hem repair (use short lengths of tape, smoothing them out as you place them on the inside of the fabric to avoid puckering) and for preventing heels or flats from slipping off feet Clean nail polish for stopping snags in nylons from becoming...

I've been lucky to shoot local Bay Area musicians in a variety of venues - small intimate clubs, casinos, lounges, bars, etc. I've now shot nine different artists/groups - a few multiple times. I started shooting musicians in February 2007, so I'm still learning. When I began, I didn't realize how challenging shooting in low light and varied lighting situations was/is. Each location has its unique challenges - in some bars, the musicians aren't under lights; in some clubs and lounges, the musicians are under lights that change frequently. As I've been shooting, I've been referring to a variety of sites for improving my images. Some of the tips I follow - as well as a list of resources - appear below. Two tips that aren't technique related that I swear by are as follows: Become friends with the band; you may get more access and as you get to know the band you'll get better shots. Share your photos with the band. Respect band member's wishes - if ...

Thanks to my Street and People Photography class, I had my camera with me today when the birthday elves came out at WildPackets. It's been a long time since I've been at a company that celebrates a team member's birthday by decorating their cube/office (my first year at Trilogy, the crew in Training decorated my desk). While the identity of the elves is a secret (and I'm sworn to protect that secret) I captured their handiwork. Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Spring means roses; late summer, early fall means dahlias. This morning I visited a nearby garden - Elizabeth Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto - and the marsh at Shoreline. Here are some of my favorite photos from today's walks.

For my Street and People Photography class, we were instructed to carry our cameras with us wherever we go. On my way to the salon this morning, I strolled through the Palo Alto Farmer's Market and up University. While walking I looked for candids as well as color and texture. For the duration of the class - 7 more weeks - I'll be showcasing 2 to 6 photos from my daily travels. I'll be posting any interesting stills on MorgueFile (user ehensley) under a Creative Commons license.

I'm incredibly lucky to be surrounded by many talented artists - jewelers, fashion designers, and musicians. This is my perfect weekend - being able to hear live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Last night I had the opportunity to hear the Jake Morgan Band for the third time. Jake's lyrics capture your heart. If you get an opportunity to see his band, I highly recommend kicking back and staying awhile - you won't be disappointed. Listen to his tunes on his MySpace page . Photos from his gig at Betty's Rock Bar in Walnut Creek last night are now live . If you're looking to get your boogie on this weekend, don't miss my other favorite band - Livewire. They'll be at the Los Altos Fall Festival today and Orange Memorial Park in South San Francisco tomorrow. Check out Livewire's website for details. If you come out, be sure to come over and say hi! I'll be the one with the camera capturing the action and emotion of the concert. Check back in a day o...