Help Please
May 7, 2017 03:58:29 #
These seem to be a little out of focus, very soft, could be the distance to subject or something else, not sure, what do you guys and gals think. Feel free to download and play, please repost with a description of how you did what you did, so we all can learn to be better. I presently use GIMP, as I can't afford PhotoShop. Thanks in advance to all that help and comment.
May 7, 2017 04:10:18 #
Looks to me it needs a little more contrast, there's a program that google puts out and you can download it free! It's called nikcollection , once you get it you will love it. I use light room and nikcollection together. Im sure there are tutorals on you tube . Good luck, Kelson.
May 7, 2017 04:52:10 #
Kelson wrote:
Looks to me it needs a little more contrast, there's a program that google puts out and you can download it free! It's called nikcollection , once you get it you will love it. I use light room and nikcollection together. Im sure there are tutorals on you tube . Good luck, Kelson.
Thanks I'll check it out
May 7, 2017 05:24:04 #
PhotoNoob wrote:
These seem to be a little out of focus, very soft, could be the distance to subject or something else, not sure, what do you guys and gals think. Feel free to download and play, please repost with a description of how you did what you did, so we all can learn to be better. I presently use GIMP, as I can't afford PhotoShop. Thanks in advance to all that help and comment.
I agree with you about the softness, this and the low contrast could be caused by the weather conditions.
May 7, 2017 05:38:07 #
May 7, 2017 05:55:22 #
May 7, 2017 06:28:38 #
Lightroom, Photoshop and many other programs have a means of "de-hazing" the image. That is what is needed here, I think. Long distance, mountains in the background, clouds, etc. all adds up to a hazy image, especially at the far distances. Just my opinion.
May 7, 2017 06:36:20 #
This is my 1-st attempt to improve your pictures.
PhotoNoob wrote:
These seem to be a little out of focus, very soft, could be the distance to subject or something else, not sure, what do you guys and gals think. Feel free to download and play, please repost with a description of how you did what you did, so we all can learn to be better. I presently use GIMP, as I can't afford PhotoShop. Thanks in advance to all that help and comment.
May 7, 2017 06:50:41 #
PhotoNoob wrote:
These seem to be a little out of focus, very soft, could be the distance to subject or something else, not sure, what do you guys and gals think. Feel free to download and play, please repost with a description of how you did what you did, so we all can learn to be better. I presently use GIMP, as I can't afford PhotoShop. Thanks in advance to all that help and comment.
T2i, F/8, Spot meter, 300MM 1/1000 shutter, Shutter priority, Auto wb, ISO 200.
Why spot meter and where did you set the spot? With the even light, Eval or even center weight focus would be better.
Why shutter priority? There is nothing moving. Aperture priority would seem more appropriate.
For a 300mm lens, and I'm guessing it's the 70-300. For setting in general I would used aperture priority at f/11 and still stay with a reasonable ISO and shutter. At least two stops from the 5.6 max to get to the lens sweet spot. Most lens are not the best at their extremes, so shooting 300 may have been in the softest setting.
I general most concerned about where you spot metered.
To the picture. I used Lightroom as it is closest I gave to what gimp an do(or so Gimpers try to tell me. :) ) First off I leveled it. The just some basic slider movement added some highlights and nudged the shadows.
Hope this helps.
May 7, 2017 07:14:27 #
This is my 2-nd attempt.
Kelson wrote:
Looks to me it needs a little more contrast, there's a program that google puts out and you can download it free! It's called nikcollection , once you get it you will love it. I use light room and nikcollection together. Im sure there are tutorals on you tube . Good luck, Kelson.
May 7, 2017 23:55:50 #
Lightroom and Photoshop have a haze filter. That's what you need. I don't use GIMP and don't know its capabilities. Maybe it has a haze filter or a workaround that does something similar. Go to their GIMP forum and see if someone has figured out a way to filter haze with it.
I'm not sure if this is much of an improvement. I used a graduated filter on just the sky. I added just a touch of haze filter to the sky and adjusted contrast and exposure very minimally. Less is more in my book. I didn't try to do any sharpening. In most cases it makes the picture look harsh to me. Like I said, less is more.
The bottom line is the light wasn't good when you shot it and there isn't much to do that can save it in post processing. You have to start with something reasonably good to get good results. Not your fault. The light wasn't optimal. The only thing to do would be to wait for a day when there was better light.
I'm not sure if this is much of an improvement. I used a graduated filter on just the sky. I added just a touch of haze filter to the sky and adjusted contrast and exposure very minimally. Less is more in my book. I didn't try to do any sharpening. In most cases it makes the picture look harsh to me. Like I said, less is more.
The bottom line is the light wasn't good when you shot it and there isn't much to do that can save it in post processing. You have to start with something reasonably good to get good results. Not your fault. The light wasn't optimal. The only thing to do would be to wait for a day when there was better light.
May 8, 2017 06:21:48 #
Here is another view of your 1st photo posted using PS CC 2017 . I used camera raw , some noise in the trees at the end , some burn tool , some paint tool with different colors , some sharpening , some auto contrast , some brightness . Not sure if I forget any steps since I go thru these step rather quickly . You may like my changes or you may not , that is fine . I know we all have different monitors and different likes . Tommy
May 8, 2017 06:58:22 #
ICN3S
Loc: Cave Junction, OR
Try using the dehaze slider in lightroom.....it may help bring out the details. Also playing with highlights and shadows may give it the extra "pop" .
May 8, 2017 07:43:57 #
PhotoNoob wrote:
These seem to be a little out of focus, very soft, could be the distance to subject or something else, not sure, what do you guys and gals think. Feel free to download and play, please repost with a description of how you did what you did, so we all can learn to be better. I presently use GIMP, as I can't afford PhotoShop. Thanks in advance to all that help and comment.
Good morning, PhotoNoob! I too do not have PhotoShop. I fixed your fine photos on my MAC using iPhoto. Be careful when composing your image, pay attention when viewing through your camera. Looking at the horizon, try to keep it straight.
What I did in iPhoto was basic: 1. Straighten photo 2. Boost Color 3. Increase exposure 4. Add slight contrast 5. Increase definition 6. Increase highlights. No cropping made.
= or - overide on your camera will be very helpful to use. You can see your photo become lighter or darker in the camera before you snap you shutter. You'll do fine with your future photos. Just keep in practice! AP
May 8, 2017 10:32:52 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
Lots of atmospheric haze between you and the mountains. And cameras normally focus on the "near" part of the scene as a priority. Plus low contrast doesn't help the focus algorithm to work. Manual focus on some distant contrasty subject might help. Also using the hyper-focal technique would help. Too complicated for me to describe but there's lots of free tutorials.
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