Post Production (Page 2): If you feel that is a pp issue, there are many folks on here willing to help you learn processing and there are many topics already on software. When you ask...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

John7199 wrote:

...I am wondering if I could make them better. I am in a weekly photo contest and sometimes finish 2nd or 5th.

If you feel that is a pp issue, there are many folks on here willing to help you learn processing and there are many topics already on software. When you ask for software recommendations, you get 100 different replies

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As far as I'm concerned, processing is a big part of the fun of photography. I shoot raw, so I have to process. I'm forcing myself to have fun.

You have lots of choices for processing.

Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.html

Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/

Processing for Free
https://www.darktable.org/
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59324818
https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-edit-rawtherapee/
https://www.lightstalking.com/free-photography-software/
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-photo-editor
http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-best-photoshop-alternatives-that-are-totally-free-5974500
http://lightzoneproject.org/

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

Linda From Maine wrote:

Do you think you are missing out? The single photo I see that you've posted on UHH seems quite nice. How motivated are you to learn computers, and then an editing program? Would learning computers and editing cut into your joyful time spent out exploring with your camera? Are you dissatisfied with your current results? If yes, why? Post an example here and let's talk further.

Well said. I would add: Learn to use every feature of your camera. Most of the time you can get the result you want straight out of the camera.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Ysarex wrote:

br br An example: Here's a recent photo I took. ... (show quote)

Most higher end cameras, and even the iPhone, have built in HDR options that would enable processing an image like you did. Perhaps even better.

Nikons also have a feature called Active D Lighting that can produce a similar result. You can adjust the level of correction it applies.

Thus my suggestion above to first learn what your camera can do.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

John7199 wrote:

PS current camera Nikon 5600

That is a very sophisticated camera capable of RAW image capture. You can have it save both a RAW and jpeg image, and thus experiment with the in-camera features without affecting the RAW image. The RAW image is best for post processing.

Some features, such as ADL and HDR, described above, work only with jpeg images.

Plus you can adjust many things in camera for your jpegs, from color rendition to sharpening.

And you can adjust focusing and metering modes.

BTW, in case you didn’t get it from the manual, it is best to control the D5600 using the active touch info screen. Many D5xxxx owners don’t get that and fumble through menus for picture control.

Also the D5600’s ability to change ISO by sweeping your finger across the LCD with the camera viewfinder at your eye is a unique and useful feature.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

IDguy wrote:

Most higher end cameras, and even the iPhone, have built in HDR options that would enable processing an image like you did. Perhaps even better.

Nikons also have a feature called Active D Lighting that can produce a similar result. You can adjust the level of correction it applies.

Thus my suggestion above to first learn what your camera can do.

I did much much more than what you could get from those camera functions like Nikon's ADL, Fuji's DR, Canon's HTP or ALO. They wouldn't begin to provide an equivalent result. While those functions could help with the unusually high contrast many also have negative side-effects that I was able to avoid.

Joe

greenwork Loc: Southwest Florida

Linda is spot on as usual!

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee, WA

This is just my opinion of course; I think post-processing images is literally half the fun. So if you are doing none you are missing out on half the fun.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

John7199 wrote:

Right now I do not do any post production. What am I missing? Keeping in mind that I am on a fixed income and not very computer literate do you guys have any recommendations?
Do you think that I am really missing out on something?

Adobe Photoshop Express is a great free editor if you want to try one.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

saxman71 wrote:

This is just my opinion of course; I think post-processing images is literally half the fun. So if you are doing none you are missing out on half the fun.

One person's fun may be another's excruciatingly tedious task

I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed delving into the playful side of pp, especially once I finally reached the top of that daunting (for me) learning curve: layers and layer masks.

srt101fan

John7199 wrote:

Right now I do not do any post production. What am I missing? Keeping in mind that I am on a fixed income and not very computer literate do you guys have any recommendations?
Do you think that I am really missing out on something?

The "direct" answer to your question is "maybe", or maybe "probably"?....

I agree with Linda's comments. I would add that you should temporarily forget what you might consider deficiencies in your photos and look closely at what post-processing actually has to offer. It isn't just to fix problems (like bad exposure) or increasing color saturation. It allows you to do so many creative things.

Cropping can find you some great "pictures within pictures". Conversions to Black & White offer endless possibilities. Local adjustments of light and dark offer you the ability to dodge and burn as you did in your darkroom work. Removing distracting, unwanted objects is a great way to improve some photographs. Many here are into composites, another area of unlimited creative possibilities. And the list goes on.

I suggest you subscribe to some of the UHH sections where you can see examples of what can be done with post-processing: Post-Processing Digital Images (https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-116-1.html), For Your Consideration (https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-119-1.html), and The Exploration of Digital Artistry (https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-123-1.html) come to mind. And remember, it's not an all or nothing situation. You can use some editing functions without ever getting into the more complex capabilities.

Good luck and enjoy!

greenwork Loc: Southwest Florida

Thanks for the suggestions and good advice

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

John7199 wrote:

Right now I do not do any post production. What am I missing? Keeping in mind that I am on a fixed income and not very computer literate do you guys have any recommendations?
Do you think that I am really missing out on something?

It really depends on what you photographic goals are. What do you want to achieve? What, if any, limits do you think you are hitting in your current work flow?

CaptainPhoto

John7199 wrote:

Right now I do not do any post production. What am I missing? Keeping in mind that I am on a fixed income and not very computer literate do you guys have any recommendations?
Do you think that I am really missing out on something?

John
Try a program by the name of "Smart Photo Editor" its in the $40 range and has all the tools you will ever need to post process your photos. All kinds of presets come with the program. And you don't need a really powerful computer to run the program.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

John7199 wrote:

Right now I do not do any post production. What am I missing? Keeping in mind that I am on a fixed income and not very computer literate do you guys have any recommendations?
Do you think that I am really missing out on something?

You be the judge. I can show you 100s of examples of images I've recorded with my camera, making deliberate exposure decisions to maximize the potential in the final product. Sales from this one image paid for a couple of lenses I purchased in 2018.

no post processing other than stitching together 15 images for a pano

(Download)

post processed for tone, contrast, color, shadows

(Download)