Editing Photos

So, I'm playing around with my photos from Ireland and I was recommended the website picnik.com. It's amazing what a little editing can do for a photo! But I feel like it's cheating and a lot of times, it's way too overdone and looks "photochopped." I was just curious- do you still edit your photos or do you just keep them as you shot them? Mostly I've just been doing a little color boost to brighten them up and make the colors more vibrant. Other photos, I've given them the "vintage" look. Here's a few examples, tell me if you think it's too much editing!

Original



Edited- The colors were brightened and then it was given a "vintage" look.



Original



Edited- Colors brightened.



Original



Edited- Colors brightened.



Original



Edited- Colors brightened.



Original.



Edited- colors brightened.



Original.



Edited- colors brightened and given a "vintage" look.

Re: Editing Photos

I shoot in Raw and always edit my photos but just minimal processing most of the time unless I'm going for an artistic change. I'd agree that the processing was pushed too far in these examples. I'm not familiar with the program you've mentioned. Is is a push-button solution where it makes one change - on or off, or can you dial back how intense the change is? A little bit of color boost can be good but these all seem to have gone too far.

You've got some nice shots though - definately worth trying some different options for processing.

Re: Editing Photos

Re: Editing Photos

I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop Elements for processing. Lightroom is great for processing RAW format photos but may be more than you need for .jpg images. Photoshop Elements would give you much of the same functionality with some additional features. You don't need the full blown version of Photoshop. Elements is available at a reasonable price with rebates - shop around and you can probably get one for $50 - $70. You can learn the basics on your own but a class isn't a bad idea if you want to get started quickly.

If you want to send me a couple of the original images I'll try a little processing on them and will send them back so you can see the difference. PM me if you want my e-mail address.

Message edited 8/17/2011 9:54:07 AM.

Re: Editing Photos

the only thing i do is brighten the colors/black&white/sepia... using picasa

Message edited 8/17/2011 3:25:14 PM.

Re: Editing Photos

The second photo looks good with the edit.
I use picnik too (for fun, not to make professional looking pics) - there is an option to make your edit semi-transparent, which usually looks more "real".

Re: Editing Photos

i think its more then fine to use if your just doing it for fun. I see no reason to invest in elements unless you really want to start learning how to edit and then if you want to be a pro go for lightroom and/or photoshop. Unless of course you get a free copy or something.

Have fun with it

Re: Editing Photos

Re: Editing Photos

Re: Editing Photos

Where do you take your camera classes and what kind of camera do you have?

Re: Editing Photos

Re: Editing Photos

Those are some nice contrast tweaks that you have done on the photos. I liked the way it brings out the colors. Nice work on the photos.

Re: Editing Photos

I'm a month late on this but those look nice. I usually do 2 things first for all my pictures that I plan on sending out anywhere:
1. Set the white balance
2. Try and recover darkened lowlights and blown out highlights (the former is easier than the latter).

I will boost the overall exposure if I feel that the picture is too dark. I try not to boost the colors too much since sometimes you get unnatural effects.

I will often clean up blemishes (snot and scratches on my kids faces).

If I'm really feeling creative I will try and play

Image Attachment(s):

Re: Editing Photos

Ungh..I miss my Mac and my photoshop elements.


Personally I feel the trend in photography is going toward these really over=processed looks, which I don't like.

I feel like a lot of people don't know the basics about lighting and exposure and then blow the highlights and desaturate the colors and call it art.

Anyway, one thing to remember is there really is no "original" of a photo. I learned photography with B&W film in a darkroom, so there were already 3 steps to the process - 1) you had to take a good picture using good exposure, composition, etc 2) you had to develop the film so that it the negatives would hae sufficient high and low lights, contrast, etc, and the chemicals, times you used could easily alter that. 3) You actually printed it in the darkroom. There's no "regular" way to print. you always have to make decisions about exposure time, filters, etc.

So with that experience in mind, I think of the RAW image you get when you click the shutter as one step in the process. You always want to look at highlights and lowlights, contrast, color, etc.

I used to have Elements but I was never very expert with it. Then my computer died.

I rarely would work on a photo to create effects, etc.

A few exceptions from a wedding I shot:

I feel like this is an overdone effect, but I liked it for the album. I desaturated the rest of the photo to make the bout stand out:


The FG was spinning, so the photo was kind of odd and her face isn't QUITE in focus. I usually never do this, but I unfocused part of the background to enhance the spinning effect and call attention to her face:
I think it kind of "Saved" what would have been a junky photo but was cute.

I faded the colors out away from the FG. I just liked this little girl in a gray world look:

Message edited 9/21/2011 7:06:41 PM.

Re: Editing Photos

processing can be good or it can be bad no in between with that. Sometimes the moment is more important than the technique but it should never be about the "effects." I personally like lomography or vintage looks but I don't put them in my photographs typically. I think a family portrait or a general portrait should be about the composition, feeling and the subject not the special effects. IF its a action shot, or something telling me a story you can be more liberal.

Always say you can't polish a turd.

Re: Editing Photos