gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Posting my photos, I always get people that think you have to be incredeibly talented to pick up this hobby, but for me the hobby is not what I produce in the camera but what peace I can find when out with the camera.

So I thought I would add another photo just to show everyone that not all photos turn out that great. I shot over 1500 photos on September 10th down in Long Point, Ontario and I had a fabulous number of those turn out as keepers with just over 1300 being able to be saved some with a bit of editing of course. But this photo no matter what I tried to do was just not going to be one that I would normally keep but because I loved the simplicity of the subject matter and the shot itself, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and do a bit of editing magic. The photo is not sharp and never could be no matter what I was going to do to it, the sky was way over exposed just because this is one of those random fly bys where you are not ready and the camera is not on the right settings, but still there was just something that I could see in the photo.
So here is the original image and what I managed to edit it into, still not sharp the sky is still over exposed but there was just something in that sky that made the photo magical. So it could be printed and hung or placed on a table and unless the viewer was to get right up to the image the composition and colors just make the shot look perfect to me.
It is never about how good your images are or if they are perfect there will always be someone better, the secret is grabbing what ever camera you choose and exploring the world through the lens of that camera. The ability of the camera to slow down the fast pace of our world is what has drawn me into this hobby and in doing so allows my brain to find a place of peace where the pain I live with doesn't exist for just that little while. You do not have to be athletic, you don,t have to look a certain way or exist a certain way for this hobby to draw you in, you can just be YOU and that is the perfection.

Original put thru Nikon NX Studio

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Took that original and did a bit of a touch up in Affinity Photo and Topaz Photo AI

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Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Often times, post processing is trying to put lipstick on a pig. Nuff said, I think!

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Did this with Luminar Neo. Square is always a possibility, with"fog" helping the focus and exposure. B&W is an afterthought.

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The opening post is eloquently written and is a wonderful example of the many ways we individually find joy in our shared hobby. I personally love exploring creative results in my digital darkroom.

Thank you for this lovely photo and important message.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

I agree with you about how peaceful it is out there with a camera

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Thank you very much

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Very nicely done. Since I shoot in RAW I process everything

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

I can agree to a point, that is like saying an artist's canvas is a pig and they are putting lipstick on the canvas to dress it up. We are technically doing the same thing because no matter what format you shoot there is always some post processing done to an image even if it is done in camera the same as back in film days the prints would be developed to suit the tastes of the person doing the developing or the developing was all carbon copies if done thru a service

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

That is also another way it could have been done but it was the colors that were captured that drew me in and the way the background had almost a life of it's own

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

I use it every Sunday to recharge the battery persay

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Thanks so very much

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Thank you, there was just something I seen in this photo that even though it did not tick all the boxes on what to keep, the colors and the background just drew me in

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Super capture 🖤🤍🤍🤍🖤

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Another well-thought and expressed opinion from gtliford.

I was saddened to see Retired CPO be so dismissive of post processing. Nothing is - or has ever been - straight out of camera. PP used to "fix" is a tiny fraction of processing. Controlling the output, personal satisfaction and creative expression are what it's all about.

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Thank you