shoppin with photos

it is QUITE frightening how much one can manipulate a photograph. As much fun as it is to see the different ways a picture can look, the program is quite intimidating.

We are told to just sit there and work for HOURS and HOURS on end and mess around but how do we do that when we don't know what all the factors mean?
lynda.com is where it's at!
This comprehensive site which gives quite the tutorial is very helpful in order to understand exactly what one is doing which is a very exciting concept. Even the small difference of this picture:

to an adorable portrayal of  my pup!