Outstanding photos

[Tone2TheBone]

You guys are coming up with some sick looking photos! I used to be into photography in high school and in college but I just point and shoot now. Anyway my question to you guys is...are you using software to "adjust" your photos after they are taken. I.e. using Photoshop or another program to autocorrect each photo that you will post online. Maybe going further than autocorrecting and manipulating contrast, brightness etc. or maybe gaussian blurring here and there manually to achieve the desired look. On photo paper images that are printed will look incredible but there's a lot of processing going on in digital cameras and I wondered if most of you manipulate the photos to come out looking the way they do in your posts.

[Ch0jin]

A quick glance at my portfolio (here) would reveal that for me at least, the answer is "Yes, Always"

I started on film and moved to digital, and I'm in the camp that thinks post processing, either minor or extreme, is part of the creative process. I recently picked up a 27" Dell Ultrasharp (simply jaw dropping for photo work) and I find myself digging out old pics from the archive and retouching them all over again now I can see things so much better (I had been using 2x17")

I will add an important fact though. I shoot in camera raw. In most cases (for me anyway) images shot in raw require some minor tweaks (unsharp mask or smart sharpen especially). I just tend to be very heavy handed in Photoshop (something I'm working on, since one of the guys I work with now refers to me as "Lens Flare Daz"

[Photomike666]

General pics get 5 mins max, sharpness brightness & contrast only

[Robert****]

I always do some processing, in order to get the best possible result.

Hey, it's like with pedals! Some people think you must go guitar -> cable -> amp, but I like to add pedals in order to get the best possible result. Works for me anyway.

[Tone2TheBone]

Rob - After I read the posts above, and before you posted, I made the same analogy in my mind as you comparing the use of Photoshop to pedal useage. And as you remember I used to loathe pedals! Having said that I got a heavy carry on bag full of them. You guys are the pros and I enjoy looking at your photos. This was something that was on my mind so thanks for posting guys keep them prize winning photos coming!

[Ch0jin]

BTW Tone, love the avatar! I've always said the Zombie Apocalypse is my time to shine

[Tig***]

This is in no way an outstanding photo, but you don't see an orbiter piggy backed on a 747 every day.
Endeavour on its way to LA, where most people don't even want it...

[Ch0jin]

That is cool as hell! I still have a model of that very setup stashed somewhere from when i was a kid!

Can anyone make out what the escort plane is?

[Tig***]

Northrup T-38. NASA astronauts fly them routinely to keep fresh and for transportation between KSC and JSC.

[Tone2TheBone]

Ch0jin - I'm with you there brother. I see you can handle your firearms. I built me my first AR-15/M4 carbine at the end of last year so yeah I'm ready for the coming zombie apocalypse! Been shooting A LOT and stocking up on ammo!

Tig - Production value! How frikken cool is that! That's one of those shots that you can't buy a ticket to BE THERE when it happens...it just does. Great shot!

[Tig***]

I wish I was at the end of the runway for this one (not mine)

[stingx]

I shoot RAW 90% of the time and always process - either in batch or, depending on content, lovingly by hand one at a time.

Some of my favorite software:

Topaz Adjust
Topaz BW
Nik Color Efex

An example of Topaz Adjust:



An example of BW:

[stingx]

Great shots of the planes, fellas. I love going to air and balloon shows. My kid really enjoys them.

[Tone2TheBone]

Great photos Sting. You make it look easy!

[markb]

Silver Efex is well worth the money if you like black and white. About 30 rolls of Tri-x in money terms.


Bel Air by Mark Bowerman, on Flickr

If you want to save money, Snapseed gives you a good sample of Nik's effects for about $20.


Tide by Mark Bowerman, on Flickr

Like Chojin says raw files stand more post processing than jpegs.

[Ch0jin]

I just started using SilverFX a couple of weeks back. It's quite awesome for B&W conversions. I really love the subtle borders and "lens fall off" vignetting you can do too.

This is one from Syria I shot a couple of years back and recently ran through SilverFX

I love that Topaz shot too StingX I'll have to check that out.



Curiosities by Ch0jiN, on Flickr