Digital Magic
Here's a little digital magic sample to share. A before and after shot. On the left is straight from the camera, and the right after I played a bit, this is the 5 minute version, if I had been making a print I would have been a bit more fussy over it. What do you think?
posted by Wingnut at 10:18 PM
17 Comments:
I really like the colors after the modifications :) I am amateur photographer, and I try to get the shot "right" with the camera, but if you consider photoshop as a "studio", why not using it, the results are great!
Love it. I only miss film about 2%. The other 98% is in love with the whole digital thing. And as a digital design engineer, I can assure you that digital is just going to get better and better in the years to come.
Like reflex, I try to do my best with the camera, but it is SO, SO fun to get back into the frame of mind I had when I did my own B&W developing. I would take certain photos, already looking at what I was going to do in the darkroom.
Now we can do that with color, and it is a total liberation for me.
I found a guy on the internet who has many, many tips on how exactly to do certain things in Photoshop Elements, which I use, but later I found on his site a total rant on how using curves and/or the Shadows/Highlights sliders was an 'abomination.' I was taken aback. I thought the photo was the thing, not so much how you got there.
I said all of that to simply say, I love both photos. If you could only have the first one it would still be wonderful, but the second one is the kind of WOW I'm trying to learn to do in Elements with more and more of my photos.
Your posts from this whole week has been a testament to how good you are at merging the two, camera and post processing.
Oh my, nice stuff. I'm going to reciprocate and add you to Ye Olde Blogroll. I'll be back! (with apologies to Arnold.)
Thanks everyone! As I mentioned in my "back to basics" post farther below, I do try to shoot with the exposure and comp correct in the camera to start, I believe that it gives you a firm base to start with. I am defiantely not a "fix it" in photoshop shooter, but truly am an "enhance it" in photoshop type I guess, the trick is to know when to stop! You can make it different sometimes, but not necessarily better. There is a fine line as to which is which, it comes down to personal taste really.
I so love my DSLR, I barely notice that I even miss film these days, until it comes to white detail loss, and like jam said, technology is coming at us fast, I would suspect even that will improove shortly!
I use PSCS2 at work all day, and had to purchase it for home use also, a bit of a spendy purchase, but so worth it! The possibilities are endless!
Thanks for the comments everyone, I really enjoy reading them all and looking through all your blogs also!
Thanks everyone! As I mentioned in my "back to basics" post farther below, I do try to shoot with the exposure and comp correct in the camera to start, I believe that it gives you a firm base to start with. I am defiantely not a "fix it" in photoshop shooter, but truly am an "enhance it" in photoshop type I guess, the trick is to know when to stop! You can make it different sometimes, but not necessarily better. There is a fine line as to which is which, it comes down to personal taste really.
I so love my DSLR, I barely notice that I even miss film these days, until it comes to white detail loss, and like jam said, technology is coming at us fast, I would suspect even that will improove shortly!
I use PSCS2 at work all day, and had to purchase it for home use also, a bit of a spendy purchase, but so worth it! The possibilities are endless!
Thanks for the comments everyone, I really enjoy reading them all and looking through all your blogs also!
you are getting good with photoshop!
a really good magic :)
nice works...the colors and hilight look great on the after shot...but before shot is not bad, kinda nice soft tone:-)
Hello!
My first visit to your site but definitely not my last. I am one of the last Luddites that still has a flm SLR (bought in the last 3 years too - shock! Horror!!) But I have to say that I am getting increasingly spoilt with my digital compact and what I can do with editing software (PaintShopPro in my case).
I like what you've done with the contrast in the secont one - it has really brought out some interesting tones in the barrels. I used to be a great one for saturating the colour in photos, but I find that although the colours look awesome on screen, often they look just plain weird in prints, so I have been trying to leave the saturation alone except in extreme cases. My all-time favourite thing about digital is that you can shoot one image and make perfect colour or B&W prints from it with no sweat!
thanks so much mademoiselle P, nice to see you here, you are always welcome!
I agree outdoorexposure, it is nice either way, goes back to the part about how much is too much doesn't it?
Welcome Jeanne and thank you for your comments. Nothing wrong with film, I am so spoiled now with the instant gratification of digital, but miss having prints to hold and look at, I seem to store everything on the puter these days and hardly ever send things to print, sad really!
My preference is for less intense color unless I am going for the painted look. Guess I am kind of fussy about saturation. But, it really is a matter of taste, and believe me, there are those who question mine :)
thanks photo-effe and Moneteryjohn. I tend to agree John for portraits, I would definately go for the less saturated/contrasty look usually. Esp for customers. Unless it was an album cover or something like that. I also realize that everyone's monitor is adjusted differently, so this may look nothing to you guys like it does to me on mine :)
I think landscapes and flowers can definately benifit with some contrast and saturation. This is my daughter, so I was playing with the photo to make it edgy, and a bit more unusual than the average "portrait" or snapshot. (which is what it really was)
Thanks for all the comments, keep em coming please!
Hi Cyndie, I like the way you have lightened up her face at the same time as intensifying the other colours. It is amazing the difference a little PS enhancement can do.
What camera are you using Cyndie? I am starting to look around at low-end DSLRs to replace my Powershot Pro. A friend of mine has a Canon 350D and the difference in quality between the two are just amazing. Huge step up for not too much more.
Hey Rhys, as some may tell you, put a nikon top of the line DSLR in the hands of an amature, and a diposable camera in Ansel Adam's hand, and which person do you think will take the best photo?
First and foremost it's the photographer that takes the best photo, having said that.... I am shooting with a Canon 20D now. My Africa photos were done with a first edition DSLR Rebel (300D)
You will do just fine with a rebel, it's all the camera most people would ever need. You have to see this guy's site, he shoots a 350D, and wow, utterly amazing! http://gosu.co.za
Get whatever camera fits your budget, and has the basics you require, I belive as long as you stay with a major brand, you would be pleased. Keep me posted if you ge tone, they are a ton of fun!
Looks cool, you made the colors pop.
For me, I prefer the first I did often the same, but the colors are no more so soft after.
If you change the color, the best is not to show the two pictures, before and after.
So, we'll find it magnific generally speaking.
Wow they are great images!
Thanks for the advice again Cyndie. I'm not hurrying to buy something yet. Just starting to look around. I'll be sure to let you know how I get on.
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