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Comment by GregNal posted on Picture quality - need opinion at 03/06/2011 - 19:49
Smeggypants wrote:
OK .. had a look. Sorry for being 'thick' on the 'portfolio' scene
All the pics look a little 'flat', a little 1 dimensional. They are all a little dull as said, but it's more than that.
for example .....
1] the butterfly should stand out from the grass
2] the purple flowers need some fill light
3] the bees need enhancing from the background. both fill light and contrast.
4] That Canada Goose shot is not too shabby at all, a nice composition and pose, but needs a lot more work in PP to bring it to life.
My advice ( unless the subject dictates otherwise like landscapes ) is to shoot more with larger apertures to give shallower depths of field. This gives more front to back depth and also makes the subject stand out.
Taking your butterfly on the grass shot.....
Shoot it with a wide aperture at a more oblique angle to the ground and the fore and rear ground gets thrown out of focus with some hopefully nice bokeh. The butterfly then becomes the focus of attention.
And then in PP you can enhance the deoth further by desaturating and darkening the grass slightly and lightening and slightly saturating the butterfly a bit.
Same approach with your cluster of Bees shot
As an example, look at pics #4, #9, #10 and #12 on my last set, here ...
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/smeggy-s-bmf-2011-pics---volume-2-28143
... I deliberately took the shots with a shallow DOF, but enhanced it in Post Pro.
Post Pro makes the real difference. the icing on the cake.
Thank for a lot of advice, still learning so every one is warm welcome.OK .. had a look. Sorry for being 'thick' on the 'portfolio' scene
All the pics look a little 'flat', a little 1 dimensional. They are all a little dull as said, but it's more than that.
for example .....
1] the butterfly should stand out from the grass
2] the purple flowers need some fill light
3] the bees need enhancing from the background. both fill light and contrast.
4] That Canada Goose shot is not too shabby at all, a nice composition and pose, but needs a lot more work in PP to bring it to life.
My advice ( unless the subject dictates otherwise like landscapes ) is to shoot more with larger apertures to give shallower depths of field. This gives more front to back depth and also makes the subject stand out.
Taking your butterfly on the grass shot.....
Shoot it with a wide aperture at a more oblique angle to the ground and the fore and rear ground gets thrown out of focus with some hopefully nice bokeh. The butterfly then becomes the focus of attention.
And then in PP you can enhance the deoth further by desaturating and darkening the grass slightly and lightening and slightly saturating the butterfly a bit.
Same approach with your cluster of Bees shot
As an example, look at pics #4, #9, #10 and #12 on my last set, here ...
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/smeggy-s-bmf-2011-pics---volume-2-28143
... I deliberately took the shots with a shallow DOF, but enhanced it in Post Pro.
Post Pro makes the real difference. the icing on the cake.
Coluors could be dull as monitor wasn't properly calibrated - hope that this is sorted for now and have to check how white balance and colours setting (Custom Image)in camera inluence final picture (this could lead to dull colours too)- actually keep using natural as custom image setting. As am shooting in RAW what you think about using set of white,grey and black cards?
Thanks for your time.
Comment by GregNal posted on Picture quality - need opinion at 03/06/2011 - 19:42
Thank all of you for answer.
Recalibrated monitor but didn't "recalibrated" my skills - this will take much more time than monitor.
Recalibrated monitor but didn't "recalibrated" my skills - this will take much more time than monitor.
Comment by GregNal posted on Picture quality - need opinion at 03/06/2011 - 02:15
Hi everyone.
Can someone tell how my pictures looks on your monitor?
Actually using work computer and pictures seems to bright? colours slightly "faded"?(according to what i saw during taking picture).
At home pictures looks better but not sure if my home monitor is properly calibrated or just work one is useless.
If anyone can have a look at my portfolio and tell me if it is me or technical things will appreciate.
Thanks
Can someone tell how my pictures looks on your monitor?
Actually using work computer and pictures seems to bright? colours slightly "faded"?(according to what i saw during taking picture).
At home pictures looks better but not sure if my home monitor is properly calibrated or just work one is useless.
If anyone can have a look at my portfolio and tell me if it is me or technical things will appreciate.
Thanks
Comment by GregNal posted on Picture quality - need opinion at 02/06/2011 - 02:29
Like No2 and No3
Comment by GregNal posted on Finchale Abbey at 23/05/2011 - 01:54
Very nice result, like it.
Comment by GregNal posted on Happy accident? at 05/05/2011 - 01:03
What a coincidence ...
I'm editing pics tonight. I took a break and answered your thread.... went back to pic editing and low and behold the nest two pics denoted exactly what I was trying to convey in words regarding snapping something on grass.... so ehre they are. Substitute coke cans with butterfly
note: I like taking pics of litter.
Thanks again.