Software can be the alternative to expensive equipment that cannot be afforded. It is also a good teaching tool. A less than good shot can be altered to see if it could be improved on a later try. You can also make lemonade out of lemons. I had taken several shots in a very bright situation with the camera set wrong (neither the menu nor the image could be seen in the viewfinder in the bright light, did not have a hoodman at the time). However, in PSE I was able to make some of those very overexposed pictures into black and white etchings. (This is why I never delete pictures from my camera until I see them in the computer.)
A Nikon E995, only 5MP. Of course, not as good as the Pentax K-1000 film camera I had (and still have).
In some situations a polarizing filter will help. The problem is the high contrast between the sky and the foreground. Exposing for the one will change the other. The eye adjusts automatically and sees the blue in the sky, the camera does not have as high a dynamic range. If you have a program that will do it, expose for the foreground. Then in post processing select the sky and adjust the lighting lower. Also if your camera has it, use HDR.
thank you for all the welcomes.
Hello,
I'm new to Ugly Hedgehog but not to photography. Have had SLR's since the 70s. Live in So. California, so there are a lot of photo opportunities. Have used PSE since my first PC (it came with the computer). So far have seen no reason to use any other program for editing as does as much as I want. Now up to version 15. Currently use a Pentax K-50 as main camera, Canon 2500 as purse camera. No real interest in going to another manufacturer as have Pentax mount lenses and don't want the expense ( am retired) of new system. My first interchangeable lens camera was an Argus C3 Rangefinder. First true SLR was a Canon FL-QL (still have it, mostly unused now). Am a member of a camera club/class that meets for critique once a month on Wednesdays, outings on the other Wednesdays when in session. Also meet once a month at the Senior Center for another one. No particular subjects or style, except tend to be minimalist. Not much of a portrait shooter.
FYI
Could not find the post re Photomerge I saw before.
Problem was only able to merge two shots. Had problems with PSE 14 in using photomerge the way 11 worked. Finally found out that you need to select the images in Edit Expert mode, then go to Guided to actually do the photomerge. PSE no longer has that available in Expert mode. The drop down menu still shows it, but is greyed out. Guided mode will not let you select images.
I'm new to Ugly Hedgehog.