Perth --- the Prettiest Town in Ontario

[Xterra]

I love having a healthy debating environment, where people are free to speak out their own opinion. I never take offence of any critiques, since I have nothing to defend of, I am a beginner. Different opinions help me improve. As return, I enjoy giving critiques. I hope people find my opinions are useful.

Anyway, I found this forum is very original-oriented. I mean, photographers here tend to remain their photos as original (as shot) as possible. I can see this from you guy's statement of PS. However, I have to disagree with the popular believings of you guys have towards PS. I perfer art. I would like my photos reflect my heart, my view, and my impression of the world that I live within. To achieve that, I am not afraid of using any techs I have. From time to time, you guys will see my style is very different from rest of you. I consider this as a good thing. People need alternatives.

Post process is the most important step of creating a photo. One should not limit himself/herself to certain rule, such as the one popularly believed here. I agree that when PS, it should not be artifical. But, what is beyong that is you need to achieve the effect that you had in your mind when the photo taken. Then talk about how to acheive it flawlessly in PS, right? Do NOT cut yourself off from food, just because there is a risk of chok! many of you have gotten into this, I dare to point out?

To demostrate I was right, I will challange you. I will post an original photo I took recently, I invite everyone to PS it to as possibly good as it should be in your mind. We then all post here. We compare. How does it sound? If you guys up to the challange, I will post it.

Anyone in?

 

[Xterra]

最初由 fad 发布
halfyoyo: no offense taken and I agree with star that we need more critiques in this forum. From my own perspective, I like over-saturated color more and I tend to do that in PS. Probably I need to reflect on that and try not to abuse it everywhere.

Xterra: like your #1/4. #2 would be much better if you don't over-PS it.

I will post my #2 original here, make it better? Star agreed, so he can try that too.

I don't have it here at office, but I will post it up once I get home.

 

[阿瓜]

百花齐放，百家争鸣!
I will take your challenge. (when I have time. )
安大师曾说, 49%拍片, 51%后期. 我信安大师!

 

[Xterra]

This is the original photo for fad and star. You two can make it in whatever style you like.

fresh out from camera, raw->jpg in PS. no edit whatsoever.

now, guys, your turn!

 

[Xterra]

最初由 阿瓜 发布
百花齐放，百家争鸣!
I will take your challenge. (when I have time. )
安大师曾说, 49%拍片, 51%后期. 我信安大师!

anyone else on?

 

[fad]

最初由 Xterra 发布
This is the original photo for fad and star. You two can make it in whatever style you like.

fresh out from camera, raw->jpg in PS. no edit whatsoever.

now, guys, your turn!

Frankly speaking, I think you should give this one up and either do another exposure or come back at another time. The problem I see is too much noise-- could be due to high ISO and exposore/light contrast. Also it appears to be quite soft.

Anyway, I don't have good PS skill but this is what I come up with:

 

[阿瓜]

here is mine.

 

[startrack]

Xterra:
这我就不掺和了,我习惯把精力放在曝光和构图上.ps不行,实话说也不感兴趣.
等以后兴趣转变了,还得向大家请教

 

[Xterra]

最初由 fad 发布


Frankly speaking, I think you should give this one up and either do another exposure or come back at another time. The problem I see is too much noise-- could be due to high ISO and exposore/light contrast. Also it appears to be quite soft.

Anyway, I don't have good PS skill but this is what I come up with:

Wow, you are fast! I thought it would be another day or two.

I can see you cropped it, used level, then sharpened it. Well, your post process is ordinary. Since the original photo is an excellent photo by its own (sweating...), there is not much post process needed, to be an oridinary photo. I think my version is better. Its dreamy effect brings mood into it and make it like a fairy land. (at least this is what I tried to achieve.)

Noise? where? do you see it in my photo? just kidding. but there is a point. don't give up photo easily. you will never get the same photo again. the light condition changes, the weather, surroundings and etc none stays the same. Besides, post processing is to perfect the inperfect originals. that is what it is all about.

Now, do you agree I did not over PS my photo?

photography is an art, is a way to express one's heart and view of his/her world. am I right?

 

[GangW]

最初由 halfyoyo 发布




这是PS运用的一个境界！

反观这里不少人PS用的有些过，比如花哨的frame,过度锐化，过多过大的喧宾夺主的前景等。

还有就是过度依赖高价镜头的背景虚化，而忽略在突出主体方面其它技巧的运用（比如构图比例，透视变化，线条，颜色，形状等）。

呵呵，偶砖砸多了，可能会伤及无辜，这里先行道歉了！

下面这本新书，讲了不少
http://www.stockbbs.net/show.asp?id=23067

Thanks very much for the comments. The comments/critiques are always welcome for my pictures.

PS is a very important tool for digital photography, there are a lots of functions in it and it is fun to learn. I am learning!

The pictures in the post are the travel pictures so they should not be seen as be heavily PSed.

 

[GangW]

Xterra: very nice pictures of Ottawa.

Yes, photography is an art, and also a technology, a craft working, and it can be a profession, a hobby, a business,

 

[Xterra]

最初由 阿瓜 发布
here is mine.

Agua, your editing is interesting indeed. Let me guess what you try to achieve....hmmm.... you chose to desaturate majarity of the photo, yet left the peace tower and the firework. you intend to create an echo, the colorful firework at top left corner coordinates the colorful peace towner. am I right? The idea is interesting, but you forgot that this two interesting points where your viewers will land their eyes on are too far apart from each other. this forces viewers rolling their eyes often to get the impression you intend to do. Viewers are likely to leave before they get it. To me, I find good photos always lead viewer's eyes to a spot where the focus point is. a good photo is never busy, and always makes people love it at the very first glance.

 

[Xterra]

最初由 startrack 发布
Xterra:
这我就不掺和了,我习惯把精力放在曝光和构图上.ps不行,实话说也不感兴趣.
等以后兴趣转变了,还得向大家请教

yeah, for the appilcations you do, I understand. street photography does not need much post processing. the critical moment is when you press the shutter.

However, it does not hurt to learn some at the side, right?

 

[fad]

I think you are wrong. My PS skill is not ordinary, it's below ordinary.

阿瓜's version would work better if you include more audience on the bottom and and also more fireworks in the sky (yes I know I asked for too much). But no doubt he did a better PS job.

 

[Xterra]

最初由 halfyoyo 发布




这是PS运用的一个境界！

反观这里不少人PS用的有些过，比如花哨的frame,过度锐化，过多过大的喧宾夺主的前景等。

还有就是过度依赖高价镜头的背景虚化，而忽略在突出主体方面其它技巧的运用（比如构图比例，透视变化，线条，颜色，形状等）。

呵呵，偶砖砸多了，可能会伤及无辜，这里先行道歉了！

下面这本新书，讲了不少
http://www.stockbbs.net/show.asp?id=23067

hmmm.... I totally agree with you about the PS part. Never over kill. When I start learning PS, at the beginning, I tend to over kill. slowly, I am getting better everyday. now, I am way better than I was.

For rest part, I also agree.