Since I've posted all these photographs at some time or another with different post-processing I decided not to post in the photo album section. Basically, I noticed that not too many of you are taking advantage of whatever software you are using. There's a lot you can do to make your pics more interesting.

For instance, tight cropping (sort of like zooming with the software rather than a lens), putting borders on the pics, changing the native format, applying a copyright, etc.







The square format gives you that "medium format camera" feel. But tight cropping in general gives a more "portrait" feel, an up close sort of perspective.







I've been getting a lot of flack from other photographers about not using a copyright watermark so I guess I'll have to do that from now on. I'll also do the same disclaimer I always do, there is no professional camera equipment being used here. Camera is a Nikon D90 and lens is an 18-200mm zoom. Learning how to use your software is how you get presentable results.

For anybody who wants to know, I convert the NEF (or RAW) file with DxO Optics Pro, adding the black border and export it to Lightroom where I do the final tweaking, add the copyright and export it as a downsized JPEG file to whatever folder I want to stick them in.

I edit my images in Lightroom RAW format and then export into JPeg format with the watermark.

I agree spending a bit of time editing a photo can makes a huge difference.

And if you're shooting in JPG format? What are one's options then if one is a novice with limited time to devote to editing? I just tweak a little in the generic MS Office Picture Manager, but would like to try something relatively user friendly that could offer better results.

I tried RAW a long time ago, and gave up on it completely

Of course one can improve the final process with RAW, but, for the number of photos I take it becomes totally impractical.

So I just shoot at best quality JPG in whatever camera I am using, and do some processing if necessary in Photoshop

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:
And if you're shooting in JPG format? What are one's options then if one is a novice with limited time to devote to editing? I just tweak a little in the generic MS Office Picture Manager, but would like to try something relatively user friendly that could offer better results.

I haven't used it but I have read that Corel Paint Shop Pro is the most user friendly of the editing tools, and it costs almost half of what Photoshop Elements costs. If your camera allows you to make choices and edits in-camera, it might be just as useful to experiment with that option as well. It doesn't cost a penny to take ten versions of every picture and run the camera through all the options.

Many of the more powerful post-processing programs allow you to "fix" errors made at capture if shot in RAW. Underexposed pictures add significant noise to photographs, automatic white balance doesn't always make the right choice and your colors will look way off, etc. Those two aspects are the main reasons to shoot in RAW if you want to correct them after the fact. Many of the other editing options can be done on a jpg file.

Funny thing is, the more you know about post-processing, the better you get at shooting good jpg's in-camera because many of the cameras, even compact pocket cameras, give you control over things like exposure and white balance. Sharpening photos for web posting, as opposed to sharpening for prints, still means you will want to exercise some knowledge of post-processing and the limitations of jpg files. For instance, if all your photos are destined for web posting then you can set fairly high sharpening parameters in-camera. If you also regularly print your pics then you will want softer sharpening settings and only sharpen in post-processing and once the final size of the file has been made.

If the above photos look sharper than yours then it is probably because of my post-processing approach, not any inherent superiority of the equipment used.

The more powerful post-processing programs, like Photoshop CC or DxO require a lot of discernment and practice. If someone gives you a 100 tubes of oil painting colors and some brushes then you will have the same tools as a fine art painter. It doesn't mean your results will be the same as his.

If you want to shoot RAW but want a simple, and free, way to convert to JPG then there is this:

http://michaeltapesdesign.com/...t-jpeg-from-raw.html

Some photos are unrecoverable if there is only a jpg file. If you shoot RAW there is a good chance something can be recovered, maybe even perfectly fixed. Think about the old picture days, you had a negative and a print. RAW is a negative, JPG is a print is the analogy. If you have a jpg with atrocious white balance and the exposure is off by 3 f-stops, well, there's a limit to what you can do with it. If you have the RAW file it can very simply be fixed.

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:
And if you're shooting in JPG format? What are one's options then if one is a novice with limited time to devote to editing? I just tweak a little in the generic MS Office Picture Manager, but would like to try something relatively user friendly that could offer better results.

Lightroom can edit JPeg images only with Lightroom.

Its easy, user friendly and will give you a lot.

if you have an Ipad you can get the mobile version making it possible to edit photos imported on the Ipad.

Another vote for Paint Shop Pro. Very easy to use.