Happy New Year!

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Top 9 Amazing Stories List from 2013 (Dakota Visions Style)

It's year end, and we are all looking back to what occurred in 2013.  Here, at Dakota Visions Photography, LLC we are reminiscing about what went well, and what we can do better for 2014.  One of the items we are looking at is what posts from the See You Behind the Lens... blog did well with our readership so we can continue to build on those types of articles for 2014.

We hope you enjoy this look back at the best stories from See You Behind the Lens...

And the Top 9 Amazing Stories List from Dakota Visions Photography, LLC go to.....

Drum roll, please...

9.  Sleek, Sexy, Shiny Lines: Counts Car Show 2013

What else do you look for when a car show like this comes to town?

Read more...

8.  Angel's Snow

It was like the angels were placing each snowflake into place...  

Read more...

7.  2013 Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show Images

For this post, we are just going to cut it short on talking, and we'll just let the drool begin...  

Read more...

6.  Images from Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2013: Part I

The best way to sum up the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is to quote the infamous "Gunny" R Lee Ermey in the Victory Motorcycle TV commercial. 

"When we brought the Victory Challenge to the streets, we were not going to do it at some freaking poser parade. No way! This, is Sturgis! Let's ride."

Read more... 

5.  In My Own Words: Baby Tatanka, Part II

There is a lot of activity on the prairie, and we tried to capture some of the essence of what it is like to be in Custer State Park during this wonderful time of spring, rejuvenation, and new life.

Read more...

4.  Top 10 Amazing Photography Apps To Buy With That Holiday iTunes Gift Card

We all know those iTunes gift cards are going to start flowing.  But you are wondering what amazing photography apps you should purchase for your iPad or iPhone from the App Store?  Well look no further, here is the ultimate list of photography apps to download! 

Read more...

3.  In My Own Words:  Baby Tatanka, Part I

"Hey there everyone, my name is Baby Tatanka!  I am an American Bison born in Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, but most people just call me a buffalo.  I was just born maybe a day or two ago.  This is all new to me, so I think I'm saying that right.  Well, here - this is me."

Read more...

2.  Abstract Art in Photoshop Tutorial: Swirls with Distort

Abstract art can be one of the many uses of the 'Distort' filter in Photoshop.  Creating and making graphics with swirls to add to image backgrounds or to use as stand-alone works of art can be accomplished in just about any version of the program.  We will be using Adobe Photoshop CS6 for this beginner's tutorial.

Read more...

And the #1 Amazing Story from 2013 on See You Behind the Lens... 

Drum Roll...

1.  Exposure Guide Infographic:  Road to Exposure

Exposure is one of the primary building blocks of photography, but seldom is it so clearly explained as in this infographic.  Each portion of this infographic explains the three basic components of exposure: shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

Read more...

Digital Photography Exposure Guide infographic by Usama Nasir.

We are excited to begin our journey into 2014 to begin creating a new list of favorite stories and tutorials from 2014!  Happy New Year!

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

Subscribe to See You Behind the Lens...
by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Text Effect Photoshop Tutorial: Glossy Glass Typography

This mid-level text effect tutorial in Adobe Photoshop and the matching print screens were created in Photoshop CS6/CC.  This effect is commonly used in typography design projects.  It contains step-by-step instructions on how to create a glossy glass text, which can be saved as a PSD file and used at any time for future projects.

The finished product you will be creating from this tutorial:

Glossy Glass Text Effect

Step 1:

Create your text in a new Photoshop file.  In this example, we use Tahoma - Bold.

Step 2:

Open a new Layer Style for Bevel & Emboss.

Within the Structure section, choose the Inner Bevel with the Smooth Technique.  The depth should be set around 70% - we used 72% in this example.  The direction should be Up in a size of roughly 3px.

Note: Some items in this tutorial depend on the final size of your typography and can be adjusted as needed. 

Within the Shading portion of Bevel & Emboss, the Angle is set to 120 degrees.  The altitude is set at 65% and the Gloss Contour is set to a custom Chrome setting that we use.  We call it Glossy Shine/Chrome. make sure the Anti-aliased box is checked.  (Note: By clicking on your Gloss Contour box display photo, not the drop down arrow, you will be able to create your own glossy contour settings.)

The Highlight Mode is set at 100% pure white in Screen mode.  The Shadow Mode is set to Multiply pure black at 70%. 

Step 3:

Continue in the Layer Style/Bevel & Emboss by checking the Contour style.  We have created our own Custom Preset for this as seen below.  Make sure to have your Anti-aliased setting on and the Range around 20-25%.

Step 4:

Open the Layer Style/Stroke.  The Stroke Structure should be roughly 1px, centered in Normal Blend Mode with an Opacity of 100%.

We have created a Darker Gloss Gradient Preset to Align with Layer in a Shape Burst Style.  The angle on this should be 0 degrees at a Scale of 100%.

Step 5:

Open the Layer Style/Inner Glow to a Normal Blend Mode set at 15% Opacity with 0% Noise.  Use a white gradient as shown below.  

The Element Technique should be changed to Precise Edge with a Choke of 0% and Size of 3px.  

The Quality is set to a Conical Contour with the Anti-aliased setting selected.  The Range is set to 90% with Jitter at 0%.

Step 6:  

Open the Layer Style/Drop Shadow set at Multiply Blend Mode.  The Opacity should be set at 90% at an angle of 140 degrees.  (This is not a mistake from the earlier 120 degree setting in the Bevel & Emboss Layer Style.  This offset helps provide the glass refraction feel.)

Again, depending upon the size of your text, you may need to vary the Distance, Spread, and Size shown in the reference print screen below.  Use these numbers as a rough guide.  

The Quality Contour should be set as noted below, Anti-aliased with 0% Noise.  When using this with other layers in your project, make note to have the Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow selected.

At this time, your Glossy Glass Text Effect is complete.  If you save this as a PSD file at this time, you can recreate this text for any design project in the future.  All you have to do is add in your other layers as needed!  

We hope you have enjoyed this typography text effect tutorial, and feel free to share via the social share buttons below.  Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quote: December 19, 2013

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."  - Dorothea Lange

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

Subscribe to See You Behind the Lens...
by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC