Experimenting with Photoshop 2025

Learning New Skills

I was shooting with the Nikon Z8 paired with the Tamron 35–150mm lens to test low-light performance and get a feel for the lens’s handling and rendering. At the same time, I had been scanning old film negatives, and Photoshop 2025 proved to be surprisingly capable with its newer AI-powered restoration tools.

As a learning exercise, I imported the RAW file into Photoshop 2025. I have used DXO PhotoLab almost exclusively for processing, with occasional Lightroom use. Now that I am retired and have more time to explore, I have been spending more time learning Photoshop’s tools and adjustments. The result is the artistic rendering above — a fun experiment that pushed me to learn more about the software.

Tripod and Neutral Density Filters

Date: June 20, 2025

My plan for a more distinctive beach photo did not quite work out as intended. I headed out with the Tamron 35–150mm and a +3 ND filter, hoping for a longer-exposure water effect. Unfortunately, the light was still too bright for the filter strength I had available. Even at ISO 64, I could not get the shutter speed as slow as I wanted.

Bigger waves and a closer landmark would have helped provide more context and drama. This shot was taken at f/18 with a shutter speed of 1/2 second — not enough for the smooth-water effect I was aiming for, but still a useful learning experience.