Many of you will know I just hate editing my photos. I try as hard as I can to get things right in camera, but mainly fail. Which is why the vast majority of my photos either get deleted or bunged on an ssd, never to be seen again. I have been culling the collection and have been ruthless so far. It got me thinking, maybe all my photos aren’t really that bad? So despite the fact I have had photoshop for years, I actually watched, read and followed some tutorials today. I have to say that it’s not as daunting as I thought it would be, and after a mere twenty minutes of following some simple instructions I’m actually blown away with how simple it is to totally change the look and feel. I wish I had just sat down and started learning this stuff years ago!!!
The picture is rather crap, I chose it on purpose for this very reason. And even though it has been improved, I know it is still crap. But it was just for practise.
Like you, I used to snap away on a camera, trying to get things right before hitting the ‘take photo’ button, then deleting a majority of them . As well as completing a freebie photography course (A Year With My Camera - very good and highly recommended), I went down the rabbit hole of YouTube looking for hints and tips about general photography, I happened upon Mark Denney. He simplifies the post processing using Lightroom Classic. I’ve now found myself not only thinking more about photography principles and techniques with the camera, I’m now at the computer more doing minor tweaks and adjustments.
If I can give you one tip Darren, forget jpeg and work with RAW’s. You can do sooooo much more with a RAW in Photoshop than you can a jpeg First thing I do when I download all the photos (jpeg + raws) from a shoot is to delete all the jpegs. If I want a jpeg I’ll create one from my edited RAW. It’s one of the things I miss from my old Mavic 2 Pro, you could choose to shoot in RAW only.
I am not a professional photographer in any way, but as long as you get the subject and as much background in the frame as you need within reasonable constraints , in editing the image can be cropped, rotated, contrast, colour saturation etc to get the look you want.
I find I can do more than I ever need just on my Android Samsung S24 Ultra, other phones Android or Apple can usually do the same. Photoshop is for professionals who want to manipulate and create composite images. I have used it in the past, but basic editing is niw everybodies playground, its not hard, but its not simple, have a go and have fun with just built in phone apps
Photoshop is the main one. But over the years I’ve tried loads, mainly in rhe hope I’ll find something that does what I want for me. In otherwords, I’m lazy and just didn’t want to put the effort in. Very strange as I spent countless hours locked away in the darkroom, nose stuck in books and breathing smelly chemicals until my first acceptable print appeared in the developer tray!!!
Hi, I used to simply stick with “Auto” on my, DSLR, camera then attended a local adult education course that teased me away and explained a bit more.
As for editing I use Affinity Photo 2, initially a steep learning curves but following a tutorial or two things now are vastly improved. Agree that RAW gives more editing options but you can still do a lot with JPG.
Use RAW in Adobe Lightroom. I find it easier to use that PS and you can setup presets so you can quick edit the whole shoot.
Also if you can always look at changing the black, shadows and highlights. I do loads of edits using google photos on my phone. Its a really easy and quick way to get photos looking good.
Quick example… I wanted the sea to pop a little more
For photos I use Adobe Lightoom Classic (desktop) but most often I use the Mobile version which I have setup to sync automatically with the Desktop (syncs the files and the edits which are non-destructive yo the original file) Yes I know it costs money and there are lots of alternatives …but there are several reasons I like it.
There are actually 4 different versions of Lightroom from Web based , to Cloud/ local storage based to Classic (Desktop) to Mobile,
It has improved even more recently with auto masking selection and layers of sorts and AI object removal / regeneration.
You can also batch process and bulk process and save presets etc.
Photoshop is hard work compared to Lightroom which is geared up to quickly processes multiple images and aimed at Photography rather than graphic design.
Had a long weekend self-catering in the lighthouse with some people a few years back, brilliant place, loved it. Well, perhaps not being kept awake all night by that bloody foghorn, but apart from that…
First thing I do when I download all the photos (jpeg + raws) from a shoot is to delete all the jpegs. If I want a jpeg I’ll create one from my edited RAW. It’s one of the things I miss from my old Mavic 2 Pro, you could choose to shoot in RAW only.
what editor are you using? Not that it natters just wondered. I use affinity photo
