Natalia Drulle wrote:
its kinda like american idol... some people might think they are really awesome but they are tone deaf.

Well put.

Sean Baker wrote:



Well put.

i like that lol

yeah ive been told oh that image looks awesome, look at her hair, oh look at this. But then i come on here and go hang on most of this looks way better than mine. But i suppose its all about learning and expanded on what i already know.

Natalia Drulle wrote:
its kinda like american idol... some people might think they are really awesome but they are tone deaf.

I think a good measure is people asking for your work. If people are willing to pay for a service.... odds are that the work is good, enough

the trick is finding out if you(not directed at you personally)are tone deaf

Digi Directors wrote:
Photoshop wizard is a broad term.

You have the gambit from retouchers to full on photo-manipulators to matte painters.

So if you are not a good photo-manipulator but are a good retoucher, I think you can have the title "wizard" here (and vice-versa).

There are people who are fabulous at photo manipulation and there are people who are ninjas at retouching, but don't know how to prep an image for print.  Then there are people who are color correcting fiends and know exactly what the algorithms are for high pass filters and what the CMYK, RGB and K values of skin tones are.

And then there are the people who are learning what they're good at and how to become great at whatever aspect of retouching they're focused on.  They will have an average, run of the mill portfolio that doesn't jump out for anything in particular save maybe one or two images.

And then there are people who have downloaded photoshop and apply filters to their whimsy because they "look cool" without any intention of getting better (or just don't know better).  They will stand out because well, it's hard to look away from a train wreck.

Talissa Bolitho wrote:
So i ask you, what makes you a photoshop wizard?

Picking the label when you sign up on MM.  Aside from that, I think it's whether or not people think you're good and are willing to hire you for your services. There are certainly a fair share of GWPs(GuysWithPhotoShop) around. But we were all GWP at one time or another. Everyone has to start somewhere. I think it's important not to discourage someone just because they are new to the field.

Sean Baker wrote:
Some say the standards are being gradually raised - it's probably about as likely as consolidating all the 'retouch my RAW files' threads, but here's hoping.

As for myself, I've no illusions about my skillset and where I stand - I think the Wizard moniker is far from applicable.

On a related note, I've always wondered when we would finally see a YouTube MM 'tribute', cued to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".

Natalia Drulle wrote:
its kinda like american idol... some people might think they are really awesome but they are tone deaf.

I think a good measure is people asking for your work. If people are willing to pay for a service.... odds are that the work is good, enough

the trick is finding out if you(not directed at you personally)are tone deaf

I have the photographer title here. Doesn't mean I'm good enough to make a living from it (or even good for that matter) but they don't have "Snapshooter" accounts so I'm stuck. Some like what I do, most don't care, and others tell me to sell my equipment....usually to them for next to nothing. I enjoy it as a hobby.

I guess the same could be said for PS Wizard here. If you are capable of putting out something even remotely better than the original, then go for it. Then you come in to this Forum and learn as much as you can while practicing along with everywhere else you can find information. You get better. Eventually, enough people see your work as good enough that you will feel like that "Wizard" title might be true afterall.

If you enjoy it, I say go for it. What do you have to lose?

Heavenly Creatures 2 wrote:

Picking the label when you sign up on MM.  Aside from that, I think it's whether or not people think you're good and are willing to hire you for your services. There are certainly a fair share of GWPs(GuysWithPhotoShop) around. But we were all GWP at one time or another. Everyone has to start somewhere. I think it's important not to discourage someone just because they are new to the field.

I reckon, the place to start is with the camera

LeDeux Art wrote:
it seems insane for a person to work on images but not take pictures

lol rlly? I've been doing it all wrong then because I haven't touch a camera EVER!

To the OP - In this site, anyone with 4 pictures can be a wizard, because it's an amateur friendly site... so don't worry too much about it.

x

Talissa Bolitho wrote:
So i ask you, what makes you a photoshop wizard?

Model Mayhem makes you one. There are no camera wizards, no llamaing wizards, no makeup wizards. Why are there Photoshop wizards? Ask the mods. They're the ones who came up with that witless designation.

Talissa Bolitho wrote:
So i ask you, what makes you a photoshop wizard?

i think what several people have said is right on the money such as implying that being a true wizard is to say he is one who knows the program intimately enough to know when it isn't the best tool..and knowing ACR..knowing printing, CMYK - being able to "see the problem from many viewpoints" etc..it all adds to your mastery of the program...and therefore...i submit that it can be viewed as one who knows what every function does and is able to not only call on those functions and use them correctly but knows WHY he called on them and why say he chose a particular function (even grouping them into recipes and sub-steps within methods), and what will happen when he does. To having every function at his command, one could also add the ability to be creative while doing so to this line of thought. one could also add the ability not only to have total control and be creative, but also the ability to do work that sells or work that is saturated with emotion, with an eye for movement, composition, all the aspects of a visual work of art. - work that other people admire. but it all comes back to knowing the program and being Better at being creative because of it. i think personally the creative requirement is necessary for success if you are that type of person or seeking to be creative, but a wizard can be just one who knows the program and can do what the client (who may be the creative input) wants done. sometimes a client recognizes your ability to be creative and gives you looser reigns or more general assignments leaving you to fill in the blanks. but that's not necessarily a requirement for the title of wizard.

Natalia_Taffarel wrote:

lol rlly? I've been doing it all wrong then because I haven't touch a camera EVER!

To the OP - In this site, anyone with 4 pictures can be a wizard, because it's an amateur friendly site... so don't worry too much about it.

x

aye.....

One person gets a crack copy of PS and suddenly they are a "wizard" if they apply a action set to a image to make it whatever. The difference is though, a true "wizard" (ok I really hate the term wizard here) in whatever they excell at can make a "ok" pic fabulous, a basic shot a fantastic illustration, a concept from a art director a perfect gaming card...need I go on? Ya just have to do triaje to most of the whatsys!

But like Natalia said its a amateur friendly site so you will get the bad and the ugly....the bold and the beautiful (ok its on in the background so sue me! )

Rafael Telles wrote:
Actually I like the term PHOTO EDITOR as it's been used in bemodel. What do you people think?

I think people think too much.

There are many people here with the title "MODEL" that has just as much variables as "WIZARD".

Sometimes a title is just a title.

Natalia Drulle wrote:
its kinda like american idol... some people might think they are really awesome but they are tone deaf.

+1

ShadowLight wrote:
why do you care what the "label" is?

You don't care what labels people put on you? (Think before you answer.)

Peano wrote:

You don't care what labels people put on you? (Think before you answer.)

actually I don't

got too much narcissism

LeDeux Art wrote:
it seems insane for a person to work on images but not take pictures

I did "l33t grafixs" for YEARS before I got a DSLR. I started getting models because I always had composites or manipuloations in mind but I was the only one available. I signed up here as a photographer.

LeDeux Art wrote:

I reckon, the place to start is with the camera

I started just the exact opposite.  But I am now doing photography and LOVE LOVE IT!  Also I practice both.....I have to keep up the retouching, practicing, learning new things, etc.  They both come hand in hand and def. help each other out, that's for sure!