Are all these shots great post work? (Page 2): One of the great things living in the digital photography age is not only are the camera sensors and processors improving, but the...

agambrell

One of the great things living in the digital photography age is not only are the camera sensors and processors improving, but the processing software keeps advancing. As your skill with the software improves you can go back and take another pass at some of your favorite images and with your improved skill and the software advancements make some real differences in the look of the image.

I do segregate my family and personal photos from what I consider my "art" photos. I'll dump a slightly out of focus art photo in a second, but an out of focus, blurry, under-exposed photo of one of the kids blowing out the candles on a birthday cake is always a keeper. It's those that I will work on with every available software function to make as good as possible. I've even been known to smooth out lines in grandma's face before sharing the photos.

davefales Loc: Virginia

James Van Ells wrote:

Many times the camera cannot capture what our eyes see because of the limited dynamic range of the sensors. As photographers, we can change the image in post processing to try to match what we saw in the moment. But, we can also go too far. As Socrates said, "all things in moderation".

I've read the dynamic range of a DSLR sensor is about 1/1000th of the range of the human eye. I suspect that figure is out of date as sensor technology constantly improves. Regardless, that leaves lots of room for improvement in pp.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

You take a picture with a camera. You make a picture with Photoshop.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I think a lot of the pictures you are looking at are shot in camera RAW at the lowest possible ISO. Add proper exposure, appropriate shutter speeds and the use of steadying techniques and equipment like vibration reduction lenses or cameras, shutting off auto focus, sturdy tripods, remote shutter releases and mirror lock-up and you will probably have the reasons why these pictures are better (I'm talking about detail, not subject or framing) than what you are getting. Post processing may help, but photos taken in this manner usually need only a modicum of post processing. Learn these techniques and I will bet that you will see a noticeable improvement in your photography without buying any new equipment. Of course, better equipment helps, but only if you have the technique first.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

imagemeister wrote:

It boils down to Knowledge ( mostly from experience), software, and quality camera/lens.

DRG777 Loc: Metro Detroit

I Photoshop anything that I am going to print or post to make the most of it. However, if I didn't think it was a good subject, composition, or shot in camera, then I would not waste my time post processing it.

Bob Boner

dcampbell52 wrote:

While many of the images have been "post proc... (show quote)

Amen to that. Darkroom work made as many changes to images as the post processing tools we now have. And it was harder to do.

Do folks like Ansel Adam's works?

TheDman Loc: USA

DRG777 wrote:

I Photoshop anything that I am going to print or post to make the most of it. However, if I didn't think it was a good subject, composition, or shot in camera, then I would not waste my time post processing it.

I'll even go a step further and say that I shoot to gather the raw materials that will allow me to create the shot I've envisioned in my head. I'm usually not concerned with getting as close to the final shot as I possible in camera; I just need the data that will get me there.

JPL

fullyexposed wrote:

I see a lot of work that is being posted and I am ... (show quote)

There are 2 things in photography that are the most important for producing the great shots you want. One is composition, the other is post processing. Work on this and your results will improve more than you can imagine.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Any of my "straight" photographs are run through PS using techniques I learned and still use in the darkroom. Exposure, burning, dodging, vignetting. I'm pretty disciplined in that respect. However, others, which are restorations, fantasies, colorizations are fun types where anything goes.

Advice, any photo editing software will allow you to accomplish edits through any number of ways. Some steps are better performed in a certain sequence. First off, don't try to learn everything at one time. Work on things in stages. Don't progress on until you fully understand what you just accomplished. Build on each step. There are videos, some better than others, regarding the optimum procedures to follow. It's going to be a learning process every time you work on a photograph. Just don't get discouraged.
--Bob

fullyexposed wrote:

I see a lot of work that is being posted and I am ... (show quote)

woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

Personally, I'm not very good with the PP. I just started using PS cc on the clound, but still just the basics. I enter a lot of contest and things, and find that the ones that are selected are always the ones that are super PP and are really not even the picture that was taken. I wish they could set catagories so that the people without the PP skills can compete on their level. I think I do a good job at capturing what I see, but can't PP like the Pros

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

woodsliv wrote:

Personally, I'm not very good with the PP. I just started using PS cc on the clound, but still just the basics. I enter a lot of contest and things, and find that the ones that are selected are always the ones that are super PP and are really not even the picture that was taken. I wish they could set catagories so that the people without the PP skills can compete on their level. I think I do a good job at capturing what I see, but can't PP like the Pros

Practice makes perfect. Good PP skills are a reward in themselves, and a lifetime of learning for some like myself.

You might want to start with basic RAW editing in Lightroom. That is 99% of what i do.

Remember that all the famous photographers like Ansel Adams relied heavily on their PP (darkroom) skills to complete their artistic vision.

I find working on my images every bit as rewarding as taking them. At any rate, keep working, and most of all, enjoy the journey.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

moonhawk wrote:

Practice makes perfect. Good PP skills are a reward in themselves, and a lifetime of learning for some like myself.

You might want to start with basic RAW editing in Lightroom. That is 99% of what i do.

Remember that all the famous photographers like Ansel Adams relied heavily on their PP (darkroom) skills to complete their artistic vision.

I find working on my images every bit as rewarding as taking them. At any rate, keep working, and most of all, enjoy the journey.

I wholeheartedly agree. While I have practically every editing/processing software out there, including all of the Nikon software plus Corel, AutoCAD (Autodesk), Portrait Pro and others (including older versions of Photoshop, I've been using (almost exclusively) Lightroom (a year or so before they went to the CC version) and LR/Photoshop since the Cloud came out. I use both constantly and always look at ANY Anthony Morganti videos. The new video from B&H about Lightroom Best practices by Tim Grey is absolutely great (even for old time LR users). Link provided here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=20125
This link was provided by another member of the UGH community in a post elsewhere on the site and is really good at giving a look at the best way to take advantage of some of the LR features including exporting to PS.

fullyexposed Loc: Illinois

I want to thank everyone that helped me answer my questions. I think I need to make more time to get out and just take a lot more photographs. All of this information has been very helpful. I will start watching more of the videos as well to learn my post software better. I look forward to posting some images in the future and getting some good honest feedback. I have thick skin, so I know I can take it.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

fullyexposed wrote:

I see a lot of work that is being posted and I am ... (show quote)

You've got a great program. Just remember; "Rome wasn't built in a day"!

For most of my photos I use Capture One Pro just because it's faster and great. For times when I need to "pixel poke" it's Paint Shop Pro and I happen to have the same X9 Ultimate program you do. Figure this. We're saving money and getting excellent prints! You have to be happy about Paint Shop Pro!