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Pratik Naik
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Articles written by Pratik Naik

Determining If A Photo Should Be Left In Color Or Converted To Black And White
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After a recent trip abroad, I was excited to go through and process my images. I came across an image that I felt looked great in both color and black and white. Unsure of what to do, I started questioning the criteria that I use to determine if a photo should be left in color or converted to black and white. In the process, I decided to ask my colleagues and came up with a guide.

Why I Switched From My Stock Wacom Stylus To The Classic Pen Stylus
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I've been using Wacom tablets for almost ten years now to the date. I picked one up on a whim during the holiday season and have become hooked ever since. For these past few years, I've never considered changing the stylus that came with every tablet I've used. The stock stylus always felt great to me. Recently, I decided to give the Wacom classic pen stylus a try.

Ask A Retoucher: Questions From The Industry, Answered By A Retoucher
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Aside from techniques, I have noticed that there isn't much information out there on retouching and the industry. I have been asked great questions over time that I thought people would love to know the answer to. Accordingly, I wanted to make a series to showcase them for the purpose of education and knowledge.

Should The Term "Plus Size" In The Modeling Industry Be Banned?
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Recently, American plus size model, Tara Lynn, graced the cover of Elle Spain's November issue. You can see that she did an amazing job from the cover shoot. However, every time the term "plus size" is used, I see more and more people become upset. Do you think the term should be banned or is it necessary for differentiation purposes?

This GoPro Video Of A Biker Going Down A Ridge Line Will Leave Your Palms Sweaty
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Kelly McGarry is a freeride mountain biker who strapped a GoPro to his helmet and rode away down a narrow ridge. On either side, he would have been met with a steep fall. As if this wasn't amazing enough, he proceeds to do a backflip over a 72-foot canyon gap along the way! He only came up with second place, even with such a great run.

A Magazine That Finally Says No To Photoshop
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Verily magazine is doing something completely different than all of the other magazines out there. They have decided to use no Photoshop at all for the models in the magazine. Celebrating a person's flaws rather than taking them away is their intention. They believe this is what society wants to see and they may be correct. Even more impressive is their stance on using real women as models.

Space Out With This Timelapse Video Of Telescopes Shooting Lasers Into Space
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At an altitude of nearly 14,000 ft., the observatories atop of Mauna Kea, Hawaii give a crystal clear view of space through the night sky. The contrast of satellites and lasers against the daunting view of space really makes us feel connected to something bigger. This was a recent Vimeo staff pick and definitely worth a watch, especially in full screen view.

Urban Hippie Is A Must See Fashion-Short That Is Full Of Life And Energy
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Urban Hippie is an award winning fashion-short film that is also a Vimeo staff pick. I was immediately engaged by the visuals that depict a girl's journey into her imagination. There is so much energy and life in the video that it's a must watch. The way each moment was shot was meticulous and every frame could be a photograph of its own. It recent won the the best experimental film at the LA Cinema Festival and the best visual effects award at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival.

This Video Will Show You Why You Need To Take Breaks While Retouching
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I stumbled across this video that really blew my mind. A woman ages right before your eyes and you don't realize it is happening. You can feel a change but it's gradual. Once you reach the end and look back, you can't believe how much change has happened in just 5 minutes.

Facebook Can Delete Your Personal Account If You Do Any Business On It
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Many of us in the industry are using social media in some form or another. It's a great tool in promoting our work and we tend to explore as many options as possible. Facebook is one of those options. You may be using your personal page along with a business page to promote your work. What if Facebook suddenly deleted your personal page and you lost all your contacts, messages, and more? That is what recently happened to photographer Catherine Oshanek, otherwise known as White Cedar.

Wacom Refreshes Their Tablet Lineup With The Intuos And Intuos Pro
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With a recent update, Wacom has decided to drop the name 'Bamboo' from their lineup. Instead, it is now simply called the Intuos. It comes with a new product to replace the old Bamboo lineup. Secondly, the previously known Intuos will now be called the Intuos Pro. They also have modified the design a bit. In addition, they have also released a special edition Intuos Pro.

Fashion Photographer Chris Davis Shares His Tips On Shooting Male Models
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When you think of fashion photography, you typically think of women being the main subject. It's not without reason because female models typically dominate the fashion scene. When it comes to shooting male models in fashion, there's a lack of information out there for aspiring photographers. I reached out to my friend and colleague Chris Davis who was happy to share a few tips on shooting male models in specific.

Beautiful Examples And Tips On How To Photograph Animals For The Purpose Of Adoption
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It felt like yesterday that we featured Underwater Dogs. Seth Casteel took those incredible photos and it definitely was a really memorable series of animal shots. How could you not love them? In fact, Seth is such a great animal photographer that he didn't just stop there. He's created some great tips on photographing animals for the intent of getting them adopted.

Is A Graphic Tablet Really Necessary For A Photographer To Have For Retouching?
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How important is it to have a graphic tablet and do I really need it? This is a question that I get asked quite often and wanted to elaborate on it. It may be that you've never tried one or perhaps you never got used to it and did not like the experience. Is that normal and how imperative is it that you get used to using one?

Here's A Look At The First Issues Of Various Famous Magazines
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Mental Floss posted this great article that gives us a look into how the first issues of magazines such as Time, People, Wired, Playboy, ESPN, and more looked like. It even gives a brief summary as to what each issue was about.

What Does Sports Illustrated Look For When Hiring Photographers?
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Photoshelter recently ran this great article about Sports Illustrated and what they look for in a photographer. They sat down and interviewed Brad Smith, Director of Photography at Sports Illustrated. This is an invaluable article to anyone out there who shoots sports!

Working With A Creative Retoucher On A Concept From Start To Finish
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If you've ever wondered what it would be like to work with a retoucher on a concept you've had in mind, this may be just what you're looking for. Photographer Justin Bettman wanted to create a concept but didn't have the ability to do so on his own, so he teamed up with creative retoucher and manipulator Krzysztof Rejek to bring his idea to life.