SPOTLIGHT-Post Processing Before and Afters

Here is something I've never really done before, but I want to show you before and afters of some of my photography to show you the power of post processing (I am currently working with Photoshop CS3). I've come to realize that this can become a controversial topic quite quickly! Of course, if post processing is overdone, it may really takes away from the photo as a whole, but if you do it just right, I feel it can really enhance the natural beauty of whatever your subject is.

Take this before and after...I'm almost embarrassed to be showing you the before. I feel I got the exposure of the running water right, but it blew out the rocks in the foreground. With a little Levels adjustment, cropping, and stamp tool, those rocks are now gone and not distracting your attention away from the beauty of the scene. I also use Selective Color a lot! Bringing out the rich greens really adds to this photo. (of course, this is all just my opinion).

In this one, some quick Cropping, Level adjustments, and Selective Color adjustments really bring this bee alive. I usually take the dominant colors in the photo and really try to bring them out. In this photo I used the Selective Color to enhance the greens, purples, and yellows. I also used a plain Sharpening Filter on this.

 

On this dainty little Forget Me Not, I cropped the photo, used Level adjustments, and Selective Color on the yellow and blue hues. To really spotlight the flower itself and pull it out of the background, I used a Rendering->Lighting Effect->2 O'Clock Spotlight Filter.

For this guy I felt the original crop straight from the camera was nice and I really liked the composition of the whole photo, but something was missing. That's right, for me, it was drama! Some Contrast and Level adjustments later, he's really starting to pop. With a Selective Color adjustment to make the greens richer, and a Sharpening Filter, he's the guy you see here in the after photo.

And finally...pretty much the same here, Sharpening, Contrast, a small Crop, and enhancing the natural colors slightly really make this little dragonfly draw your eye.

So, just for fun, I thought I would give you some insight on how I post edit my photos. I have a certain flare for the dramatic, in case you didn't notice. I try to keep my edits as simple as I can to not take away from the original photo.

Some might say, "well if you do all of this post process work, you're not a real photographer" (I've heard it before), but I consider myself an artist, and one of the definitions of an artist is this: n- a person who displays in his work qualities required in art, such as sensibility and imagination. Imagination...something that comes from my imagination is a beautiful close up of a dragonfly showing off of his intricate details with bold colors, making a dramatic statement in a world that would otherwise not notice him. 

As always, I urge to slow down and take in your surroundings...there is a whole world out there, big and small. I hope I bring that to you.

Any questions...feel free to comment! 

SPOTLIGHT-Water Drop Photography II

As promised, here is another Spotlight Feature showcasing my water drop photography...this time going way more in depth about how I do it.

Would you like to try high speed photography like this?

 Equipment I'm working with: 

Nikon D40
Kit Lens 18-55 mm
+4 Neewer Close Up Filter
One (1) Speedlight SB600
Tripod
Remote Shutter Release
One (1) Small Glass Fish Tank
Brightly Colored Paper
One (1) Bubble Headed Eye Dropper 

Settings on my camera:

Speedlight: 1/64 (for shortest flash duration) at 14 mm with flash bent at 90 degrees

Manual Focus and Settings on D40 gives you much more control over your photo

ISO Speed: 200 (lowest on the D40, but lower is ideal)

Shutter Speed: 10/5000 Second

Aperture: F9-F11

I really like using the glass fish tank because I can put different colored paper at just about any angle (including under the tank), I can also shoot from any angle. I can shoot from above the water, level with the water, or from under the water. As stated in the last SPOTLIGHT on my water drop photography, I have also shot in a white tub, or a black tub. I also like using an eye dropper with a bubble at the top cause I have found that gives me a little more control over the water drops and how fast or how many come out at a time. I have also used a sandwich bag filled with water and a hole pricked in one of the corners. There are Drip Kits out there to take it to the next level (just Google it). Water drop photography is really all about experimentation and learning as you go. And most of all have fun with it.

I am really working with the bare DIY material for water drop photography. You can really take it up a notch by adding more Speedlights and other things. And as always...read your tutorials and you will learn something new everyday!

 Post Processing: 

I use Photoshop CS3

Minor Cropping

Some sharpening and noise reduction filters

Contrast and Brighten

Saturation Layer

Sometimes I play with Selective Colors too

If you are not familiar with Photoshop, but would like to learn how to use it, check here: http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshoptutorialsbasic/Photoshop_Basics_Tutorials_for_Photoshop_Beginners.htm

That's about it!

Any questions? Feel free to comment with questions or tips of your own!