help with editing, please? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/22/2006 04:31:31 PM · #1

Ok I'm driving myself crazy. In an effort to follow some of the critiques by members on how to improve my photos, I've been working on a couple examples. I am not sure I'm making any progress. I am going to post the original (at the original size and resolution) and and a save for web pp example. If any of you can give me a better pp example than I have I'd appreciate it.

Oh and by the way I'm using PS elements 2.0--so my abilities are a bit limited. Until I can save up a little for CS2 (I'll be a student again soon and can buy it at a large discount), PS elements will have to do.

Neither of these photos were taken in RAW...I just recently discovered the advantages of this.

Ok here it goes:
original

edited

original

edited

Edit:
added second edited image
Also, just to clarify--if you feel my edited version looks amazingly better let me know. If you feel there is something I'm doing or not doing that would help, I'd appreciate that too.

I really am trying to improve my photoshop skills...so any advice would be appreciated.

Message edited by author 2006-06-22 16:38:19.

missinseattle

Nikon D200

06/22/2006 04:54:57 PM · #2

I actually think your original of the otter looks better then the edit. The edit is too dark to me.
And I think I feel the same way about the first one too lol. I like the original better.

amandalore

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/22/2006 04:55:56 PM · #3

well, your edited house looks a lot better, from the thumbnail, I didn't think it would, but when clicking on it, I was impressed that you managed to darken the photo while keeping the house "lit"

the otter though, I can't tell much of a difference and I feel that the otter is a bit dark, especially its face... looks like a tricky photo, maybe dodging, but then again, that might ruin your colors.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/22/2006 04:56:51 PM · #4

that's what i thought too...i just can't seem to get the images to go the direction I want with the tools I'm using.

TrynityRose

Nikon D100

06/22/2006 04:58:27 PM · #5

The first image just needs more of a levels adjustment since your whites arent really white. I had a play with it.

I think the otter shot isnt really going to be improved much with PP. It's just not a great shot to begin with.

missinseattle

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/22/2006 05:00:44 PM · #6

Here's my go at the otter.

I adjusted the curves and bumped up the saturation on the whole picture. I'm not great at editing myself but You can probably apply another layer to bring out the different colors. I'd do it but I don't have the time at the moment.

amandalore

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/22/2006 05:09:41 PM · #7

here's my try at it

though, I guess I cheated, I realize you only have 2.0, but maybe you can see what people do here and try to translate it to your program

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/22/2006 05:26:29 PM · #8

Thanks for trying amanda, I think the water is too blue. I used to be proud of this picture, but now I'm beginning to think it's not so great. Regardless, the more I edit these photos the more they are starting to run together. I appreciate your efforts

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

06/22/2006 05:38:37 PM · #9

Just a suggestion for the house picture: try duplicating the layer twice and setting the layer mode for each of the duplicates to multiply. Increase the contrast of the background layer and erase the portion of the top layer that includes the house and the foreground. Flatten the image and apply some unsharp mask at amount 20, radius 70, threshold 0. Just a suggestion, as I feel that it could benefit from some more contrast.

Have fun experimenting. It's where you learn the most.

amandalore

Canon EOS-40D

06/22/2006 05:44:39 PM · #10

Originally posted by anmldoc:

lol, that's funny, I uploaded my first try and then decided the water wasn't blue enough, so I bumped the blue saturation way up....

just goes to show...

fotomann_forever

06/22/2006 06:04:08 PM · #11

Quick edit. I left details with the pic in my workshop folder.

Not a bad photo, just kinda flat, which is common when shooting around water.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/22/2006 06:17:57 PM · #12

How's this?

Tygerr

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/22/2006 06:40:02 PM · #13

Here's my go at the otter...

Details can be found on the photo description in my workshop.

PS. I added links to some great tutorials and tip threads. I've always found them very helpful. Thanks moodville and jdannels.

Message edited by author 2006-06-22 18:43:19.

Giorgio

Canon EOS-70D

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS for Canon EF

06/22/2006 07:08:24 PM · #14

maybe this one?

06/22/2006 10:26:20 PM · #15

I think I do like the way that Giorgio managed the sea otter. Gonna have to study that one.
With regards to the house--I think Bear_Music managed to get a more pleasing version than I did. Thank you all for your help. I appreciate your input.

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM for Nikon

06/22/2006 10:29:51 PM · #16

Oh and thanks Tygerr for your help too. After looking at them again I think you really brought out a nice deep blue and helped the otter stand out. I appreciate the tutorials you listed.

kgeary

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/23/2006 08:25:29 AM · #17

Myself....i would go b/w on the otter. The blue is distracting and everyone knows the damn thing is in water...just convert it to b/w so the emphasis is on your subject.

MPRPRO

Olympus E-5

06/23/2006 08:38:14 AM · #18

Originally posted by anmldoc:

Quick question, do you like what you are doing?

Advice from others who truely want to help is wonderful, it points out to us things we never thought of before and gives us insites to things we never knew.

Approval, well that's something only really valued if we don't need it. Chew on that a little while I now expound on photography. LOL

In Photoshop E2 and CS2 I think there is an inherent flaw for people just starting out. If you just take a big picture and save it for the web at say 640x640, it doesn't really save it like the original, it does lose a lot in the translation. As you continue in this addiction you will find if you boost the saturation in the original a little more then normal, when the picture is saved for the web it will look more like what it is you shot. Also a bit of Un-sharpen mask will help after is is sized down.

Another good way to reduce the size of the image for the challenges is to reduce size in steps first.

Go to Image>image size> set the type of reduction to BI Smoother and step down by percentage a little at a time. This holds true for enlarging an image except you use BiSharper as you increase the size by percentage a little at a time.

Just my little comment. Or don't, lol. Be well and welcome to the club of obsessed photographers. :)

Mike

Message edited by author 2006-06-23 08:40:36.