I'm not sure that I'm doing this in the right place or doing it the right way...AND this is my first photoshop project, so I'm very new to all that, too.

But, I have had this in mind for a long time.

Heath's eyes, as you all have noticed, were literally windows into his soul. Looking at photos, you can almost feel what he was feeling at the moment simply by looking at his eyes.

And so...





I know that artistically, its a terrible job, but i wanted this group of photos all together in one place. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make it better?

THanks!!

Oh I love it! You did a very good job with this!

Thank you so much, DeeDee!
I know what you mean about his eyes. I had a similar thought in mind when I did my last photoshop project.
I love any photo of his eyes.

Hmmm . . . you asked how to make it better? How much photoshop do you know?

Thanks!

Do you have your project posted here? I haven't had the chance - or is it the guts? - to fully check out the site here. I look around a bit, get sad, and have to stop. So I've been doing it a bit at a time. I'd love to see it if it is.

Well, I've learned how to do ..well, that. Crop, resize, put various photos together... but haven't quite figured out the effects yet. I've only been at it a couple of evenings. I have an IM friend who's been talkiing me through the basics. I am a quick learner, so if you have something in mind, I'm all ears!
And thanks!!!

I just... I don't know how to explain it... But then again, I don't think I really have to - not to y'all. This project is something I NEED. I was just looking at the picture - all those moods and expressions looking back at me...and I started bawling. For the first time in a long time. My heart's almost as heavy as 'that' day. But its healing in a way. If that makes sense.

I love this! And you've done a really good job!

Love it.. Good job.

No, I hadn't thought of it, but I can if you want.


I feel ya; it's my site, but I can't go back and read too much at one time. I was working on the redesign the other day and needed to pull up old quotes and stuff . . . and went surfing through articles . . . after a while, it just got to be too much and I've had to take a break for a few days.


Hmmm . . . well, design concept is individual to each person. For me, to come up with a concept takes a little time. It depends on the image you have in your mind and what you want to do.
If you need ideas (and I often do), look at other people's work and see if this or that is something you'd like to incorporate into your image. First know what you want to do, then you will know what you have to learn.

I don't know if you'd like to, but there are some video tutorials at these links:
http://www.adobe.com/support/photoshop/ (This one's the official adobe site.)

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials.html (This one has a lot of information, but you have to sift through what is "pay for" and what is free. However, you can still find some free info there and some free vids to watch.)


Makes perfect sense. I completely understand.

Oh, please!!

Thanks for the links! they'll be a great help!

It's really great to be able to say stuff like that and know someone else knows exactly what I mean. Most people I know would just look at me like i've gone totally batty. Thanks again for this site, Phyllis!


neverthesame5 and MrsJoker - Thank you very much!

DeeDee-I know precisely what you mean about Heath's eyes. I think you did a wonderful job. I could literally just look into his eyes for days. They're so compelling and you got such a great range of expressions. Thanks so much for sharing!

Okay. I added it in the Creative Heathen section, under Photography.


You're quite welcome. I find video tutorials very helpful. Photoshop is so extensive and I have tons more to learn.


Oh, I know. It's good to have a safe place, and after a while, you just kinda get used to knowing that everyone gets it and no one is looking at you funny.
Thank you for sharing.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! Thanks!

It's odd, I guess, to say this, but I wanted you guys to see it before I even showed it to my family.

Actually, I still haven't shown it to them. Can't really say why.

Phyllis - thanks for sharing your project! I commented over there. Talk about an inspiration!!
I've got a lot to learn! lol

You're quite welcome. Funny, I was just browsing through graphic designer's work, and thinking . . . "I'm soooo not ready, yet!" LOL I need to know so much more.

I know why you haven't shown it to your family. Your work is very close to your heart; it's a part of you. Of your love for Heath, of something sacred.
We can handle criticism of a lot of things, but not of that which we love and was created from the deepest part of our souls. That is personal.
And you want to protect it. Just in case they don't understand.

Believe me, I totally "get it".

(btw: HH is that way for me. A love letter to Heath, from my heart . . . as if it's a blending of him and me.)

Thank you for sharing this work of love (and necessity! ) with us DeeDee! And I think it's beautiful! The very idea is in itself just great - and the love you put in it is totally overshadowing any technical stuff you yourself might be less pleased with. I love it just the way it is.

I'm a total Photoshop novice too - but what Phyllis said about having an idea and then learning while trying to get as close as possible to what you want to accomplish - that's the only way I've been able learn any Photoshop skills. Having an idea, and then finding a tutorial that gives you some tips about how to do it, is so much easier for me than "learning how to use Photoshop"... Good luck with your next project - which I hope you'll post here!

Yes, KEEP POSTING!!! Please. I really look forward to seeing how you grow as you learn. And being inspired by Heath, by such love and passion, will really help you be creative. I would love to see what you continue to come up with!

Wow - you really put your finger on that and nailed it down! Exactly how I feel - just couldn't put words to it. Thanks



Thanks, guys, for all the support and tips... learning as I go sounds much easier than my 'usual' way of learning things. Learning a new way of learning is a good thing! LOL...

I've decided just to leave this one as is. I'll start a new one, and see where it goes. His eyes and his smile - or lack of it - spoke volumes... I want to remember every single one!

Thanks again - to all - for all the help and encouragement - and understanding!!
You guys rock!!

You're welcome. And yes, definitely DON'T change this one.

(btw: I remember the very first siggy I did on HB; it was a lot like that.)

I love this thread. Please, yes, do post any new projects! And I love the method of learning Photoshop---have a project in mind and try to make it. That is pretty much how I learned, although it was for work and all the tools were on a need-to-know-basis. It's such a massive program I am sure there is about half of I still don't know how to use. Such as paths.

Phyllis what you were saying about hesitations in showing one's work to family--or anyone you are uncertain if they are going to 'get it'...you summed it up just so. I feel that way about projects, or even about talking about him. You just don't know what the reception is going to be.

Kind of OT but kind of not, I met a new friend at a class the other day and we went out, and were talking about how we came to know the friends in our lives. I talked about meeting people online, on message boards, something she had never tried. She asked, what kind of message boards? I said, Oh, you know, like if you are fan of something there would be a message board about that thing...and then I took a chance and told her I had met some people on a Heath Ledger fan message board.

To my delight she said: Oh I would be interested in THAT no doubt! She went on to talk about what a wonderful person he was, how she loved his perspective on things...I just about did a double take. Chance meeting with another lover of Heath. Loved it! You just never know, do you?

Oh, paths are really important. I think this entire class was using paths every week.
We did have to join a site called "lynda.com" that is basically a site for learning photoshop and other graphic design programs. It's not cheap, but she got us a student discount for this quarter. Mine runs out tomorrow, so I'm trying to "snag" as many of the tutorials as I can tonight. LOL

If I can snag a bunch, I was thinking about uploading them somewhere that DeeDee (and you, too if you want) could see them. Gimme a little time on that.


Exactly. I'm that way with my drawing, photography, photoshop, etc . . . I'm a little that way about my singing. But I'm not that way about my writing as much, because I'm more confident in that area.

It's funny, in the work place, I could be doing a proposal or something businesslike, and I don't mind people criticizing. But my soul is not attached to that kind of stuff.

I used to be really scared when I started school, because every week, your work gets put up in front of the class and critiqued by everyone and the professor. But then, it doesn't bother me anymore, because I've had good professors that really aren't ripping things apart. They're saying . . . "I think this bothers me." or "I think it could use this or that." or . . . "It needs . . . "
Which is good, because usually you know it needs something, but aren't sure what?

But I also know they're there to help me make it better. And as another photographer or artist, they have some sort of relation in that the've been there. It's different from showing it to someone who has no connect, whatsoever. People with no connection to it have the ability to cut your soul without even "getting" how personal it is.


LOL That's wonderful. I know! It's like he's brought people together in their feelings of loss for him. The thing is, 6 or 7 years ago, I thought it was weird to meet people online. I mean, c'mon! And it had that "connotation" and stereotype of being something creepy. I can attest that it definitely CAN be that.
But on the other hand, my best friends are the ones I've met right here. And the ones I've clicked with, some of us have gone on to meet each other, travel with each other, etc... and keep in contact regularly. I'm cautious about whom I let in that way, but sometimes you just know it clicks, you know?

It's a gamble when you do it, and the first time . . . I was like "ummmm..." It's true, there are complete posers out there who are pretending to be something else, and OMG, there are those who are completely psychotic.
But sometimes, I think you can actually get a better "feel" for someone if you post with them a lot, or get to know them online, because when they can start out anonymous, people feel more comfortable letting their guard down and really being themselves without being judged by those close to them. You start out "knowing" them that way, without any pre-conceived notions.

Love this. You've done a great job.