Fun with Photoshop

File this one under both "gay" and "geek."  I've been puttering around with Photoshop for years and recently realized I had gotten to the ends of my play-with-settings-and-see-what-happens style of self-training. So I've started picking up "how to" magazines.

My first project was safely in the beginner category: playing with adjustment layers, and gaining a better understanding of the uses of the various tools Photoshop has to offer.

I suppose it could've used the standard type of image they use in these magazines — something like a house by a lake — but I decided to go with something a little more interesting.  Fewer things are more interesting than semi-naked men.

ORIGINAL

hot pic but washed out

NEW & IMPROVED

3 Brightness/Contrast layers and 1 Color Balance layer later, we have a picture that's much friendlier to the eye.  As always with Photoshop, the hard part was the selection.  Separating the background from the foreground took a little work and the right tool (the Quick Selection pen) but it was worth it, I think.

Now on to bigger and better projects involving houses and lakes and stuff...

Beach Bulges

In keeping with the recent beach theme, here's a few baskets to look through.

Naked Surfer Fashion Show!

These pictures have been all over the place.  All you have to do is Google Image "naked surfer" and they pop up on half a dozen blogs — but I want to be able to find them whenever  I want to see them so they're going here too.  I'm not quite sure what fashion show these pics are from or exactly what kind of fashion is on display unless it's their killer "California blond" hairdos (thinning and totally envious here) but it looks like my kind of event.

Beach Blanket Volleyball

Ah, the volleyball boys.  Those abs, those legs, all that jumping around.  I'm a fan.

Little Surfer Boy

I'm not exactly sure why, although I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the coming of summer, but surfing and surfers have been on my mind lately.  Carefree days at the beach...the warmth of the sun when it touches your skin...the nearly-nude men.  This guy's pic, in particular, exemplifies whatever it is that I like about summertime.  Maybe it's his cute face or his dreamy expression or his hairy legs or his low-riding shorts...or maybe it's just his phallic surfboard!

Whatever the reason, I totally dig this picture.  And I thought you might too.  ;-)

Also, it seems a good inaugural image for this blog.  Woo hoo!  Summer's here!