0627ramram32 Loc: Orange County, CA, USA

Several times in the months since I joined I have been intrigued by a photograph whose beauty came not just from the initial exposure, but as well from what plainly was some very artful post. I have asked picture's author to tell me the steps he took to get the lovely effect. Only once have I received an answer, and that was vague.

It occurs to me that I'm stepping on toes, here; that what a person does on the computer is to be admired, but not revealed. That's disappointing, really, if it's true. But certainly not upsetting to the point that it spoils my enjoyment of and learning from this wonderful forum; it's just a little less than it could be, is all.

sustersick Loc: West Point, Nebraska

Hi, there is no boundaries, you can ask anything, as for me I am not threaten by telling how I take or PP my Photos and I know that many Photographers here are willing to tell you how to take a particular photograph.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

I have no reservations telling what I did. Problem is half the time I can't remember. I usually process 150-400 pictures at a time and will cull the better ones (+/- 80%), semi process those and cull to maybe another 50% and then more processing until I get to the ones I really want to work with. I generally crop first, then make minor adjustments and last would be clarity, sharpen, color enhance and noise reduction.

This is the system that works for me and I'm sure others have their work progression that they prefer.

Another thing to consider is that each photograph is unique. The post that works on one may not work on another to obtain similar results.

Larry

treadwl Loc: South Florida

Ask away. Most here will tell all. Did you try sending a private message to the individual or just post an answer on the thread?

I belong to several photography forums and most photographers are eager to tell how something was accomplished. So don't hold back.

Larry

0627ramram32 Loc: Orange County, CA, USA

Thanks, Larry! I use a similar work-flow, but one that's a bit more merciless in the early stages. I just ole Wheezer1
would break loose with his secret formula for turning the sky in his church pic such an impossible but nevertheless glorious cobalt without destroying the building's brilliant whites. Do I want to copy him? Damn right I do, it's a beautiful image.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

RamRam / Larry - an interesting question and response. I was working on my own 200+ pictures from a shooting on Friday and reading Larry's workflow, I saw that mine is nearly the same. Removing the near / exact duplicates and anything obviously inferior is an important first step so that you're focusing post processing efforts (i.e., time & effort & storage) only on those images that will result in something to keep / share.

I've found the RAW file sizes I'm now generating require a ruthless cull of anything that won't be edited and kept long term as a JPEG. Otherwise, I fear I'll have to open my own data center in my 2nd bedroom to hold the storage area network for pictures (and music, etc).. :-)

/paul

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Taking what LarryWild said, think of how you would explain to a Martial visiting for the first time how to put on a coat. For a good laugh try it with someone, they must do exactly and ONLY what your words command.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

I have had the same experience as you. You will get responses to this question that say ask anything, no limits but that isn't quite true. My experience with PM is 9 out of 10 get no response.

After careful observation I think the reasons for this are simple: 1. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you can explain to others how to do it. Most people start to work on processing a photo and stop when it meets their idea. What goes on in the middle is often forgotten.
2. Many people on UHH are just not good writers. Good spellling and grammar are often not part of their style. Some because English is not their first language, some because of our "progressive" school system. Thier answers are short and often cryptic. 3. Some folks are just too busy to sit down and waste time typing out a long response like this. All understandable reasons.

I'm not sure if this helps you but it is what it is. The folks on here are good hearted and will help as much as they can but there are practical limits rather than boundries.

If this gets someone upset, understand I'm just saying what I see.

Old Redeye Loc: San Mateo, CA

One more reason is that sometimes we just don't go back to that page and don't see the question.

waterbug49307 Loc: All over, currently Big Rapids Michigan

I believe the majority would love to help you but some of us are not every good at computers - and sometimes just a simple reply is not that simple! I for one am trying to learn my software program, some say use you tube and watch tutorials - i have to pause it every few seconds to write down the instuctions, same thing when I'm reading a book with the instructions. Some of us just s really really slow learning the process to edit in these new to us programs......

eospaddy Loc: Liverpool UK

you was probably just unlucky in the person you chose to ask a question as some hoggers are more responsive and helpful than others, but on a whole the non helpful and no it all types are few and far between round here !

ole sarg Loc: south florida

The beauty of digital is that one can see what one has done almost instantly, there is no cost to film, no cost to processing.

But at what point does one become the blind squirrel who finds a nut in the forest every once in awhile?

To shoot as many as 400 photos in a day means that if one is shooting a 10 hour day one is shooting 40 pics per hour or one pic every six minutes. I guess in that kind of a shooting environment one becomes the blind squirrel!

ole sarg Loc: south florida

The beauty of digital is that one can see what one has done almost instantly, there is no cost to film, no cost to processing.

But at what point does one become the blind squirrel who finds a nut in the forest every once in awhile?

To shoot as many as 400 photos in a day means that if one is shooting a 10 hour day one is shooting 40 pics per hour or one pic every six minutes. I guess in that kind of a shooting environment one becomes the blind squirrel!

northsidejoe Loc: pittsburgh

I am truly sorry of your experience that you have had on your post most ever one on uhh will be more than willing to help you, I for one Feeling your way around here can some times be confusing a thread may only last one hour. I have realized after some time on the forum how to keep up with things a little better It takes time.
I AM GUILTING OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN THINGS VERY WELL putting things into type is a story in it self.
hang in there you will be fine saying hello from Pittsburgh

CurreyPhoto Loc: Reddick, Florida

Additionally, there are many brands of editing software and different versions even within a given brand. So, explaining how I make a cobalt blue sky from a powder blue one may not be of any use to you. I guess it really comes down to experimentation on your part. You've seen the picture so you know it's possible. Figure out how to change a color in your software and start making changes until the sky is the way you want it. If other parts of the picture are also being affected then figure out how to block the change in another area of the picture. This usually involves either masking the areas you don't want to change or selecting only the areas you want to change. Sometimes the hue of your selected color can be narrowed so as not to affect similar colors in your picture.

I know this is exactly the kind of vague answer you are complaining about, but under the circumstances, this may the best we can do. Perhaps you could post an example of a picture with a sky you would like to change and let our better retouchers have a go at it. Then they could explain exactly what they did to achieve the result.