A combination of the Windows editing program, Picasa and, this case, Picnik. Nice and simple for a beginner. The pump is near the corner of Dooley and Floyd. The signs on the walls caught my eye, but the pump would not be denied.
Had you not been post-processing at all? Your exposures are generally pretty good.
I am working on that skill as well but at this stage of my learning I want my pictures to represent what I did with the camera, as that's the most important skill in my view. No substitute for a good shot, right? So reasonable tweaks to contract/brightness, cropping, possibly a B/W conversion, is as far as I'm going. I stay away from “auto” this or “process” that. Then, I always keep untouched RAW files of anything I like so that if/when I get better at it I can go back and use what I've learned.
That said, I think the vignette really works around that antique pump. I guess it can give away your age if you remember pumps with numbers like that, eh?
Generally, little to no editing. I'm with you Charles on wanting to learn the camera first, as fully as possible. I do see the creative aspect of this project as giving me a bit more license to go nuts on the processing if the spirit moves me. Lately, I'm finding that learning the editing tools is strengthening my understanding of the camera itself and how it works, and I'm seeing how the editing process goes hand-in-hand with the on-camera photography. And some days I just need something to keep the project a little more FUN, like this one.
You know, for a long time I refused to do any post-processing. I felt like I had to be "authentic" and that digital editing was somehow fake/contrived. My goal was to get it right in-camera. I finally did open myself up to using photoshop and other editing programs, and I'm glad I did, but limiting the editing you do or not doing any can be a really good exercise in manufacturing the entire image with the camera.
Fun with contrast & sharpening! What are you using, and where is this awesome pump? Love the angle.
ReplyDeleteA combination of the Windows editing program, Picasa and, this case, Picnik. Nice and simple for a beginner. The pump is near the corner of Dooley and Floyd. The signs on the walls caught my eye, but the pump would not be denied.
ReplyDeleteHad you not been post-processing at all? Your exposures are generally pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI am working on that skill as well but at this stage of my learning I want my pictures to represent what I did with the camera, as that's the most important skill in my view. No substitute for a good shot, right? So reasonable tweaks to contract/brightness, cropping, possibly a B/W conversion, is as far as I'm going. I stay away from “auto” this or “process” that. Then, I always keep untouched RAW files of anything I like so that if/when I get better at it I can go back and use what I've learned.
That said, I think the vignette really works around that antique pump. I guess it can give away your age if you remember pumps with numbers like that, eh?
Generally, little to no editing. I'm with you Charles on wanting to learn the camera first, as fully as possible. I do see the creative aspect of this project as giving me a bit more license to go nuts on the processing if the spirit moves me. Lately, I'm finding that learning the editing tools is strengthening my understanding of the camera itself and how it works, and I'm seeing how the editing process goes hand-in-hand with the on-camera photography. And some days I just need something to keep the project a little more FUN, like this one.
ReplyDeleteI love how this turned out.
ReplyDeleteYou know, for a long time I refused to do any post-processing. I felt like I had to be "authentic" and that digital editing was somehow fake/contrived. My goal was to get it right in-camera. I finally did open myself up to using photoshop and other editing programs, and I'm glad I did, but limiting the editing you do or not doing any can be a really good exercise in manufacturing the entire image with the camera.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angie!
ReplyDeleteJess, sounds like we've gone through a similar line of thought in regards to editing.