Treatments...Before and After

[Michael]

I'm always amazed at some of the above average photographs that I see straight from the camera, and how with varying amounts of "processing" and treatments, they transform into simply off-the-chart, amazing images.

I'm very weak with post-processing techniques other than simple levels, saturation and contrast adjustments, but I'd like to see some of your images, both right out of the camera and then how you applied cropping, adjustments and treatments in "post" to make the images really "pop", and take them to the next level.

Michael

[doncom]

I'm looking forward to seeing some examples here. I have no experience at all beyond very basic stuff.

I would love to find a good photoshop class that I could attend. Perhaps some of the TBH talented could do an online class.

[Jaspro]

I don't have any fancy editing software. I am usuing an upgraded version of Flickr's picnik program. Here is my feeble attempt.


Before



After

[Wildman]

I read this week in an photo magazine, "I have vivid dreams so why should I not see my dreams vividly?"

One of the things I enjoy as much as taking the photos is "developing" the photo.

I am using a 30 day trial of Photoshop Lightroom right now and have to say that I am going to purchase the software. It is simple to use and the results are, well see for yourself.




Before



After



Before



After



Cropped

[texag93]

Before





After

[Michael]

Awesome examples!

Jason, that's a great transformation to illustrate what I was talking about.

I'm with you, Danny, on developing the photo. That's exactly what I was thinking about when I was pondering the question.

Not to herd cats on my own thread, but one question I have on the cropping of your first photo. We've heard so much about the "rule of thirds", and Russell Graves, and others discussing utilizing space in the direction the subject is looking (in this case, to the right of the frame). Simply out of curiosity, and not attempting to be critical, is there a reason you chose to offset the lizzard to the right side of the frame, instead of the left?

Like Don, I'm certainly anxious to see more examples.

Michael

[Wildman]

Yes. I don't care about the "rule of thirds" I care about the best crop I can get.

The crop was to address the issue of the back wall behind the lizard. I cropped to get the "green" and get the background out of the photo. This allowed for the other aspects of the photo, like the blues around the eyes to "pop". Getting rid of the "Whites and Greys" make for a background that will get other colors like, the blues, but also the yellow tints to be brought out in the vegetation.

[texag93]

Before



After

[Sika]

Great topic, Michael! Photo manipulation has always appealed to me. Digital art is very cool. Of course, I'm just barely scratching the surface of Photoshop's capabilities.

















Did this one for Legdog using one of his images.

[Casey]

This is definitely a little extreme. Aside from levels, saturation, curves for contrast and then some sharpening, I did a multiply blend with a layer mask in order to darken bright spots on my boy's knee and shirt. I also blurred a bit of the background. Lastly, I took the liberty of loppin' off the dogs pinky. I saw no good reason to let him ruin the picture by lettin' it hang out!!

This is still one of my all time favorite shots!!!

[Sika]

Another one I did using one of Legdog's images (I pray he doesn't mind.)

[texag93]

Nice edit Casey.

[Michael]

Thanks Danny. I suspected as much when I was looking at it earlier. I've been faced with the same issue, myself, when trying to decide whether to crop along "traditional" lines, or make use of the best background to make the subject stand out.

Courtney, your creative eye that is so obvious in your Flickr stream always amazes me, and some of your shots, like the barbed wire above and lots of your B&W stuff, leave me wondering what you saw in the original that inspired you to apply the appropriate treatment. My fear is that is just creative genius that a person either has, or doesn't!

Michael

[Gerald S]

My fear is that is just creative genius that a person either has, or doesn't!

Michael

I hear ya! The left side of my brain is constantly fighting with the right side.

[Solocam]

I just mess with it until I think it looks good to me. I really dont know what I am doing. This is one I just did. Critique away...

Before



After





Before



After