Kyle Ellis Photography & Design

Live: The Roxy Theatre

thisiskyle — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:57:55 +0000

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to cover the concerts of Chris Lightfoot and Jason Hemmens at the legendary Roxy Theatre on Sunset Blvd. It was my first time there and hopefully not my last. Upon entering the iconic venue, you can feel the rich history of those who have played there before. Having the opportunity to capture live music through photography is something I could definitely get used to. As for now…enjoy the photos!

If Not Now, When?

thisiskyle — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:07:00 +0000

A little inspiration from the band Incubus.

Art & Texture (Architecture)

thisiskyle — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:13:44 +0000

I think I have a thing for buildings. I like the way they create shapes and space; how their lines lead from one to another. Below are a few shots I have accumulated during my trips to downtown L.A. and various pockets of random corporate buildings. Enjoy!

Shortcuts for Your [Digital] Life

thisiskyle — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:25:12 +0000

While I sit here waiting for a “yes, you can post that” from some recent clients, I thought it might be nice to tell you about something I love. Keyboard shortcuts! Some have called me a fool for my misguided affection while others have joined the revolution and are cruising through Photoshop at the speed of pixelated light. Below are a number of shortcuts I use for both my photography and design work (they’re universal!) and have helped me become more efficient at what I do.

Learn them. Love them. Buy me gifts? Enjoy!

::Disclaimer:: The below shortcuts are for “actions” you might repeatedly do rather than tools you might often use. Also they are geared towards Mac users, so if you use a PC… quit and go buy a Mac! Kidding, substitute “Ctrl” for “Cmd” and “Alt” for “Opt”. ::End Disclaimer::

Shortcuts:

Cmd + N = New Document

Cmd + Shift + N = Create New Layer

Cmd + Plus/Minus = Zoom In/Out

Cmd + 0 = Zoom to Fit Screen

Cmd + Opt + 0 = Zoom to 100%

Numbers 1-0 = Change Layer Opacity (1=10%…0=100%)

Cmd + T = Free Transform Mode

D Key = Default Foreground & Background Colors (Black and White)

Opt + Delete = Fill Layer w/ Foreground Color

Cmd + Delete = Fill Layer w/ Background Color

Cmd + D = Deselect Selection

Cmd + Shift + D = Reselect Previous Selection

Cmd + J = Duplicate Layer

Shift + Plus/Minus = Change Layer Mode

Cmd + [ / ] = Move Selected Layer Up/Down in Layer Palet

Cmd + Opt + A = Select All Layers

More Tidbits:

Merge Layers without Merging Layers (Huh?):

Make sure bottom layer (usually named background) is unlocked (double click to unlock).
Select all layers using Cmd + Opt + A.
Right click on bottom layer and select “Merge Layers”. If done correctly…you will now have a new layer titled “Layer Name (Merged)” while also maintaining your original layers.

[While in Free Transform Mode] Shift + Dragging = Layer Scaling (keep dimensions of layer)

[While in Free Transform Mode] Shift + Opt + Dragging = Layer Scaling from Center

Holding Shift while dragging an image into another document will place said image into the center of said document.

Backgrounds Abound

thisiskyle — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:37:38 +0000

When it comes to backgrounds…I like to make my own. Since Photoshop is a beast of a program, it’s fairly easy to design something to fit your needs. Below are five backgrounds that are completely free for personal and commercial use. All you have to do is click on them and download them to wherever you download things. Enjoy!

Public Service Announcement

thisiskyle — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:16:19 +0000

One of my favorite Jay-Z lyrics.

One Year…A Go

thisiskyle — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 01:07:01 +0000

One year ago, I made the journey of a lifetime. Thankfully, I have had a lot of opportunities to explore and capture some of my new surroundings. Below are some of my favorite images from said surroundings. From Malibu to Disneyland, California has so many places to check out that I could do a “new places” post every week…and I haven’t even been north yet! The last few images were taken with the “always there” iPhone and edited using various apps. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings and the new places I get to check out. Happy Anniversary (to me)!

Nyla Hammond Music

thisiskyle — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:30:52 +0000

Say hello to my friend Nyla. I had the privilege of meeting her during my first trip to California and instantly knew she had soul. Nyla is currently making her way through the local LA music scene, so I decided to help her out and provide a few promotional images for her to use. We had a great time trying out different styles and ideas to get the images she needed for future posters and billboards (you gotta dream big, right?!). The entire day was a success and I can’t wait to shoot more! Be sure to check out her blog and as always…enjoy the photos!