 | Post Processing |
| Post Processing |
Post Processing | ||||
| Your thoughts-how your mind works | ||||
| Camille (cnut) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #1 Added: 2005-06-28 12:06:49 | |||
| I am really struggling trying to figure this one out. The good thing is I have nothing set in stone and the bad thing is I have nothing set in stone, well other than brightness and contrast improvements and a little cropping. There are times (a few) when I do IMO a lot of PP. Anyone care to share their opinions? Examples but not limited to: Why do you crop the way you do? Why you clone out elements? What is your favorite PP thing to do? The use of artistic filters; when and when not to use them. Where do you draw the line at too much / too little? Should we draw a line at all, even if the line is dotted? When does a processed photograph cross the line and enter into another realm of art? If and when it does, what would you now call it? I am looking for what are the criteria you use to make your judgments. Tell me how your mind works. Maybe you just do it intuitively or maybe not. If you have examples please do share. | ||||
| Bob Wallace (BobTrips) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #2 Added: 2005-06-28 13:03:05 | |||
| I start by trying to get it 'right' in the camera. But shooting on the go while traveling means that lots of times one has to take what they get, there's no opportunity to 'arrange' the scene. Bracketing helps a lot. And I'm also trying to get myself to 'over frame' a bit. To pull back from the tightest possible framing and give myself a little room for adjustments later. (This is a hard thing to do after years of shooting slides where you got no opportunity for PP.) So when I get the shot back to the computer I first straighten, if necessary. Then I crop to make the 'subject' as prominent as possible. Contrast boosting and sharpening are almost always required as I keep those settings low in my camera. Sharpening is done last after I've resized the shot for the intended purpose. Cloning. I'll remove things that don't 'belong' in the shot, especially something that is very transient. If I'm shooting a scene and a distracting bird flies into the frame or if someone sticks an elbow into the scene they get cloned away. And sometimes I'll clone out background distractions that interfere. But I'm hesitant to alter a shot in anyway that removes 'reality'. (The Pig logo is an exception. ;o) | ||||
| Ali Watters (Ali) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #3 Added: 2005-06-28 13:19:39 | |||
| Here are a few examples from the workshops; Distortion
This image is typical of buildings taken with a wide angle from street level. We don't see buildings like this from the same angle - due to the shape of the retina and/or some clever processing by the brian. Both Bob's and Adrian's revisions put the building back straight. Cloning out distractions
I thought this image was pretty much as good as it would get - but the little bundle of sticks in the corner does draw the eye - with the cloning it's noticeble difference it makes. Cross over to Art? Many photos start as art - so I don't think there is a problem with continuing along that path in search of the perfect image... though in the realm of photo journalism it wouldn't be acceptable to do many of the edits that we make. Magnum Photo Journalist Using Digital Cameras - reading this article gives the impression that the photo journalist is almost continually shooting - how much would we regard the selection of one image out of thousands as distorting reality? [Edited: 13:22 - Ali - typo] | ||||
| Camille (cnut) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #4 Added: 2005-06-28 15:28:22 | |||
| Now this is what I am talking about, thanks guys. I hope to hear from some others. | ||||
| Ben Wouters (baw) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #5 Added: 2005-06-28 16:09:25 | |||
| Presently my aim is to get an as good as possible out of camera (ooc) shot as possible. Im trying to improve my composition, lighting, dof control etc. All my shots posted here are ooc. When making prints i do some basic pp'ing, like cropping, levels and sharpening. I believe pp'ing is an integral part of the digital workflow, but i'm presently not spending much time on it. First i want to get the basics right. [Edited: 16:10 - baw ] | ||||
| Andy Leach (RedAndy) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #6 Added: 2005-06-28 17:45:23 | |||
| Crop - to try and focus attention on what the image is about. Clone - not something I've done much of in the past, I'm learning to do more here. I guess anything that distracts attention from the main photo. How much I would do depends on my aim for the imag, if it's just for me, to remind me of a place then I wouldn't do any at all, if it's for show then I'd do a bit more :) Favourite PP - hmm, after cropping probably playing with the saturation Artistic filters - I use them whenever I think it enhances the image, which turns out to not be very often. I'll post one soon that I played with heavily ( wish I had the original here as now I can see how much I killed some it :( ) Drawing the line - if it's not in court or photojournalism then for me there is no line. If I'm trying to show a place/person etc then there is a line ( and cropping/cloning out wires crosses it ) but otherwise I see no problem with heavy manipulation. Photography vs Art - the infernal question. We could call it phart I guess ;o) More generaly my workflow used to be:
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| Bob Wallace (BobTrips) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #7 Added: 2005-06-30 01:01:28 | |||
 Like Ben says - primarily I need to be a better photographer, but I'm finding that working on cloning, cropping and lighting based on feedback on the workshops is making me think a great deal more when taking a photo in the first place. I really found this to be true when I started posting and critiquing on Trek Earth. I thought I would learn more from getting feedback on my shots but I think I actually learned more by critiquing other people's photos. Most of us can look at a photo and declare that we like it or don't like it. But when you have to verbalize what you like/don't like, what might improve it, .... That's when you (or at least I) concentrate. I don't get the same exercise when I critique my own photos. There's often an "emotional" layer that can cloud my vision. I was there and I bring that extra experience to the photo which may cause me to overlook something important. | ||||
| Jacqueline (Jackie) Post Count: Joined: | Msg: #8 Added: 2005-07-01 22:20:37 | |||
| Hey Camille, I think you know most of my thoughts on this, we have talked once or twice. On the cropping , I believe it is up to you how you crop your picture, what do you want people to see How did you see it, what does it mean to you. But 1 thing is for sure, You want your subject to stand out. People should not have to try to figure it out, your eyes should be drawn to the subject or lead to it somehow. Cloning ...well... I have a plane shot that had part of another plane in it, I was able to get rid of the other wing...another perfect example, My Paul picture, got rid of the back ground, I think you saw it both ways. Makes a big difference. I agree though you should do everything you can in the camera to get the picture right,saves time in the long run. On the subject of filters, we really dont need them anymore you can pretty much do what you want in the computer. I use to play a lot when I shot film. Just havent done it with the digital yet .... The line.... I dont know how to answer that myself, To me most of the time my pictures are artistic, at least I look at it that way. your turn... Well thats all from Jackie's corner. | ||||
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