Editing to take the photo to the next level

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

11/07/2011 05:49:34 PM · #1

Hey all. I have been experimenting with editing and tying to learn more and more but I feel like my editing can vastly improve. For example this image.

Full size original

I am happy with this shot but I know it has more potential but I am not real sure how to push it over the edge.

What do you think? What suggestions do you have. Feel free to edit if you like, I can post a larger file or the original if you like but mainly I am looking for any tips or ideas or maybe tutorials that you have found useful.

Message edited by author 2011-11-07 19:54:14.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/07/2011 07:08:50 PM · #2

It is an ancient thread (2005 is ancient on the net, right?) but the post processing mentorship thread

Heida did was one of the best learning experiences I had here. Many of the images are gone, but the steps are still there and there is a good deal of back and forth. Check it out

11/07/2011 07:11:37 PM · #3

Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:

Hey all. I have been experimenting with editing and tying to learn more and more but I feel like my editing can vastly improve. For example this image.

I am happy with this shot but I know it has more potential but I am not real sure how to push it over the edge.

What do you think? What suggestions do you have. Feel free to edit if you like, I can post a larger file or the original if you like but mainly I am looking for any tips or ideas or maybe tutorials that you have found useful.

We can't play with it unless you either post it in your workshop (with a link, of course) or post full size in your portfolio. ;D

11/07/2011 07:36:49 PM · #4

lol, oh yeah. I will post a full size to my workshop in a few.

11/07/2011 07:54:32 PM · #5

added the full size original to my first post

11/07/2011 08:00:56 PM · #6

Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:

added the full size original to my first post

Are you looking for just stuff you can do in advanced editing rules or anything goes type stuff?

I'll give it a go tomorrow morning, now it's time for my shows! ;D

11/07/2011 08:14:40 PM · #7

Anything goes. I just want to really make it stand out. I am working on a new edit now but just looking for any new tips or ways to look at it.

Garry

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/07/2011 08:18:15 PM · #8

To be honest, I like your processing from the original to the submitted entry. The two main things that jump out to me are the lighting and contrast which all seem "flat". I think it's a subtle change in the composition and lighting more than editing that would take this to the next level.

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

11/07/2011 09:31:10 PM · #9

This is what I came up with today.

Off to bed now...

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

11/07/2011 10:35:55 PM · #10

Check the full-size version :-)

R.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/07/2011 11:00:57 PM · #11

I was gonna Topaz the crap out of it, but I see Bear's already been here.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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

11/07/2011 11:03:35 PM · #12

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I was gonna Topaz the crap out of it, but I see Bear's already been here.

Not one smidgen of Topaz was used in the maiming of that image. It was all accomplished with Nik Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro, the new tools of the truly sophisticated image annihilators amongst us.

R.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

11/07/2011 11:36:27 PM · #13

Here's a quicky from me...

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/08/2011 12:05:47 AM · #14

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It was all accomplished with Nik Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro, the new tools of the truly sophisticated image annihilators amongst us.

Oh, that's different. As long as I destroy it without copying your technique, look and feel. How about Topaz Adjust 5 and Topaz B/W Effects?

HawkinsT

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Olympus 55mm f/1.2 Auto-S G-Zuiko

11/08/2011 12:37:28 AM · #15

My quick attempt:

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

11/08/2011 05:08:03 AM · #16

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It was all accomplished with Nik Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro, the new tools of the truly sophisticated image annihilators amongst us.

Oh, that's different. As long as I destroy it without copying your technique, look and feel. How about Topaz Adjust 5 and Topaz B/W Effects?

I like what this combination of editors did. I'm surprised to see adjust being used with B&W effects just because of the adjust like controls. Btw, is that a new border style in an upcoming version of B&W effects?

Silent-Shooter

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

11/08/2011 06:18:23 AM · #17

My quick bash:

Mostly applied the Dragan editing effects to it. Vignette also applied and masked out for smoke top left. Contrast applied to midtones. Kept it dark and moody with not much colour to go with the general sombre feel of the photo.

11/08/2011 07:03:51 AM · #18

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Hey Yo! When is 5 coming out to the masses?

11/08/2011 07:04:52 AM · #19

Thanks everyone. I guess a big question is, since all of you pretty much took different routes, is when you look at a photo what is your thought process on the editing? Why did you choose the steps you did? Often times I find myself doing the basics (levels, curves, exposure, etc...) but after that I usually know the feel I want but I generally just start playing with techniques and plug ins. Often I find myself doing something and not liking it so I delete that layer and try something different. I seem to be mostly shooting in the dark, like I will say lets see what this does and see if I like it where I would rather say I want it to look like this and make the appropriate steps. Is it just a matter of better learning the software and what it all does or do I just keep playing around and erasing mistakes as I figure it all out?

11/08/2011 07:08:13 AM · #20

I can't help you there. When I look at a shot, I generally have an idea of how I'd like it to look and then start playing around to acheive it. I don't always get there though. Other shots I have no clue what I want it to look like until I've played a bit. But then, I just do it for fun.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

11/08/2011 07:12:28 AM · #21

Originally posted by Kelli:

I just do it for fun.

Thankfully I got back to that point. I just want to make my shots stand out more, not just here but in general. I think I did a much better job re editing my shot, I think it now has more of the feel and emotion I was originally shooting for. I tend to rush my editing and then look back and think I should of done this or that etc...

EL-ROI

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

11/08/2011 08:22:31 AM · #22

I am a horrible PP-er and I played around with your photo last night but just with auto settings in PSE9. I got a cool cross-processed look like kelli's and liked it. But I can't claim any skill in getting there.

I think the key to making your photo look like your vision in post would be to have the steps for your vision defined in a process. So to start you could categorize several processing looks such as...

High Key
Low Key
Cross-Processed
"Acid" looking
Vintage
Gritty B&W
urban
Film-Noir
monotone
duotone

Whatever...

Then take each look you have categorized and write your own tutorial for each one, make actions, templates, etc... Shoot and process until you have mastered the look for each and then invent more. I think this will help you define your look and your own personal style as well.

Of course to get to the final image, you need to shoot for it from the start. I don't think you can shoot a high key image then expect to process it into a film-noir style portrait. Anyway, what I said might be too basic, but I think it is a start in the thought process.

Message edited by author 2011-11-08 08:23:27.

lobrin

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

11/08/2011 08:42:15 AM · #23

i will try it later and post it here.. i'm not also good but let see..