PSA: How to Edit Pictures

[P Arkus]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Just stumbled upon this photo...



What kind of editing does this involve??? I dont know what everyone's opinion is on this, but I think the pic is simply incredible!!!

[darkmanCANADA]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

^^^ that is HDR. Usually you take 3-5 shots from under exposed to over exposed at a 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments. Then you mash it together in Photomatix or Photoshop. I think it is more of an artistic thing. There are some really overdone pictures out there that look like cartoons. Some good examples even out the darker areas with the lighter areas. Google "bad HDR pictures".

[MusicalGenius]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

That pic is an HDR for sure, but it looks like it's just had the compression and tone mapping maxed out.

[onceover]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Looks like crap. HDR was designed to enhance areas that would normally be too bright or dark with a single exposure. Now all people do is turn it up to maximum contrast and saturation and think it looks good.

Theres programs out there that will mimic the effect of an overdone HDR with a single photo

[P Arkus]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

I guess i'm the only one who thinks that pic looks good

[martin13]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

photo link is disabled but this is an example of a proper HDR image...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thepret...in/set-340265/
and another


edit: there are a lot of good ones here too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/surrealize/

[bonfire]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Even that I don't like.

I like that as a painting, doesn't look like a photo to me. So much detail is lost. It is a neat image, it just isn't a photo. To me at least.

That RS4 picture could have been shot similar to that, with a polarizer, some lighting, a gradient filter, and just minor bits of editing. Instead of just boosting the contrast and crushing the blacks. Look at how 'wavy' the image is. Nothing about it is consistent, exposure is varying all over it, especially in the middle of the car and it has terrible vignetting.

I still think everyone should spend the $50 and buy a film camera (something like a Canon AE1), spend a little time playing with it. It forces you to slow down, compose an image, think about the lighting, understand what is going on. Because you can't just shoot, look at the image, re-adjust and try again. Don't get me wrong digital is awesome, it allows you to perfect an image, especially when you have taken the time to compose it correctly. But that is just the grouchy photo snob in me. Shooting should be fun and enjoyable, so do whatever you find enjoyable and do whatever the hell you like to the photos as long as they please you. Having fun is the name of the game.

I kind of gave up on digital as of late, been shooting almost exclusively medium format (120 film) film, with a Yashica TLR.
One of these,

It is really frustrating. But fun, and the results are decent. The bigger film has incredible detail.

Really want to shoot 8"x10" at some point. Think that would be super cool.
Something like this

[darkmanCANADA]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

^^^I too have gone partially back to film (Minolta x-700 & Lomo cameras). Primarily B/W. I agree with bonfire's comments. You should slow down and think about what you are shooting. I would really like to do more film but getting them developed is a pain. Last week I tried to take some ilford film to Blacks and they said their B/W backlog is 5-6 weeks. Where else can I take non-C41 B/W to get developed? Unless I do it myself.

[bonfire]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Don's photo. (couple people I know use bluemoon in the states)

That being said, I think they closed their Cow-town location. But they do mail order services I believe.

I develop at home for non C-41 as much as I can. I really enjoy it. What I don't understand is the scanning prices.

I take a roll of C-41 120 film to Don's to get developed it is like $4.25 and put onto a CD is I think $5. If I develop it myself, and take there to get scanned it is $10... I often get my 35mm done at Wal-Mart because I am not Ansel, so really what is the point of paying huge prices, when I can get it developed and on a disc for around $5. But their scan rates are $.50 a frame, so I shoot a roll of 36 it is $13, London Drugs is $1 a frame. So a roll of 36 is $36...! How it costs so much more is beyond me.

I find Don's for B/W is 2-3 days, they send it to their lab in Winnipeg. London Drugs sends their **** everywhere and so does blacks. London drugs used to send all of their Canada film to Toronto.

I went on Kijiji got all I need for developing negatives except for some of the chemicals for under $20. Then spent $40 on chemicals, I would say I could develop 50 rolls with the volume I got. Next purchase is going to be a scanner. I just have rolls and rolls of film waiting to be developed.

Debated getting an enlarger but just no space for it. Going to need to pick up some trays if I end up buying a Large Format.

We should start a thread, to post your favorite picture, that you've taken. Recently, otherwise it gets insane. But I feel there are a bunch of people on this forum who have interest in photography.

[PRY4SNO]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

I too believe in film... have a big ziplock bag of slides in my freezer dying to be exposed but my F100 shutter took a shat on me in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. :(

And lately I've just been too lazy to shoot with my D90, haven't been as motivated about the car I guess. Think it's time to take a trip somewhere!

Anyone know of a good place in Edmonton to take my SLR in for repair? Was thinking McBain camera or Vistek, but am open to suggestions.

[darkmanCANADA]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

If you can't get it repaired try searching on www.KEH.com for a used one. Anywhere between $150-$250 for a decent working body.

[PRY4SNO]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Went hiking in Banff with floater and his PJK04 S4 had to take a few shots. Here are the edited ones.

[MusicalGenius]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

^

To me that looks like you tried to recover the highlights too much, it gives an unnatural halo effect.

[P Arkus]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

lol fvck me I know nothing about photography. I love those pics hahaha

[bonfire]

Re: PSA: How to Edit Pictures

Yeah the clouds have a strange feel to them, very much like boosting the highlights. Or if you are in Lightroom, if you play with the recovery, you get a similar look.

Were the clouds kind of blown out? Adjusted the exposure down to get them right, then boosted either highlights or recovery to get everything back in order.

Decent picture otherwise.