Advice please

[jim_j]

Another couple from the summer, these are straight out of the camera, and just wondering if anyone has any views on pp to bring out the best in them. Still very much a newbie with camera and photoshop. Would like to add a frame to the second one, not sure how to do it yet, but might enhance the image a bit more. Cheers for you thoughts.

[Sodeju]

Shame they are not really in focus.

[jim_j]

Unfortunately I didn't have a tripod at the time, but any pp advice would still be appreciated, particularly workflow suggestions. This is still a very steep learning curve for me so any input from so much talent in this forum is greatly appreciated.

[LordV]

Good ones !
Focus looks fine to me and the colours certainly "pop" already.
I'm not quite a purist but always think a good photograph normally looks good with very little processing. It's more important to look for good composition, angles and light when taking the photograph than to learn more PP.

Having said that I do take many photographs (esp flowers) that don't quite satisfy me and will then try to rescue them in PP.
I normally firstly try playing with levels in PS eg changing the black point or moving the middle slider around. If I'm still not happy then I will often try image manipulation. A favourite one being to use glowing edges faded to about 30% and then levels corrected which emphasises textures.

Brian V.

[bhphotographycdn]

Nice work

[jim_j]

Thks for the comments guys, much appreciated, and as rightly said, I was more interested in the focus than on composition at the time, but still quite happy with the results.

[loeee]

I too think that the focus looks fine. Of course, there's no depth of field to speak of, but we expect that with macro. I'd crop the first one to get the flowers off-center, and maybe run levels and a very light usm on both of them. But Brian is right, they both look pretty nice straight from the camera, which means you are definitely doing something right.

[jim_j]

Hi Loeee thanks for the advice, I'll give your suggestions a go at the weekend, good to have another little project for Photoshop, best way to learn, especially if it's your own images, but difficult for me to do without the guidance of generous camels like yourself.

[loeee]

Well, I learned from generous Camels, so just paying it forward (and I'd guess I'm about 1/2 step ahead of you in this field)

[jim_j]

It's such a great forum, starting to get a bit addicted at the moment. I need to get out and shoot more.....

[Athena]

I also agree that the focus is fine on them If you've resized for the web, you may want to run a very low USM on them because resizing makes images a touch soft. But really they look fine to me.

Agree with loeee on cropping the first one, but must say that these are very good for your beginning images. You're off on the right foot for sure.

[jim_j]

Thks for encouragement Athena, always appreciated. I will try your suggestions at the weekend, never used usm either so all good to force me out of my comfort zone and get to grips with all these features. I was in software development for 30 years so I really do resist having to learn any new software, too much like work.

[jim_j]

Hi guys, did a little bit of cropping and usm at 30% - any views. I'd like to put a frame around it just to see how that works as well.

[Athena]

I would suggest cropping from the other side to put the flower in the upper right third of the frame.

I'm not one to help with frames, as I am not very fond of digital frames. But some of the photographers here on the Camel do them well and I am sure would be willing to help you figure it out. I am not sure though if macro is the section to find those people. Maybe in the digital art section?

[Sodeju]

Originally Posted by loeee

Of course, there's no depth of field to speak of, but we expect that with macro.

Not anymore, we don't (excuse the double negative...)! There's this m.o. called focus stacking. Macro and shallow DoF are not inextricably condemned to eachother anymore.

Focus stacking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Helicon Focus - extended depth of field, focus stacking, 3D visualization

[GOLDENORFE]

good shots, agree with athena, crop from other side. the darker area would make the flowers standout more.
phil

[jim_j]

Thks for the input Phil, I will definitely give it a go over the weekend and post the results. Thnks to you & Athena I would never have thought about cropping from that side.