Post processing style

[Nostromo]

Over the last few months, my pp style has changed from being quite punchy, (not saturated) to a less contrasty and flatter style. I used to push the levels in lr, but not so much now.
I don't know if I'm being subconscious influenced by other people's photos or just..... I don't know really, a natural evolution.
Does anybody else change their processing style?

 

[droj]

Yes it might vary over time one way or the other, but always within sensible bounds - and what those sensible bounds are is personal. But equally it might vary from image to image. It has to relate to what you want the image to say in any particular instance.

A thing to beware of possibly might be drama for drama's sake - there should rather be an underlying purpose, if that makes any sense?

 

[Cagey75]

I'm a sucker for punchy high contrast images with good texture. I've never liked the crushed black flat look that seems to be very popular across IG, not for my own images at least. It can work, but it can easily be over done too. Like that phase of Teal & Orange processing that everyone seemed to be doing a year or so back, just didn't do anything for me. I can admire other people's style but I don't think it really rubs off on me. When I open an image up for process I don't really have a look in mind, I just go with how I feel in that moment. I would probably process the same image differently another day, but I only ever process once.

 

[Nostromo]

I must admit that most (well a good proportion) of my photos are macro insects. I try to keep these as true to life as I can.
Other things like flowers, I've started to make more arty, I won't use the term fine art, I'm not that good .

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Yes it might vary over time one way or the other, but always within sensible bounds - and what those sensible bounds are is personal. But equally it might vary from image to image. It has to relate to what you want the image to say in any particular instance.

A thing to beware of possibly might be drama for drama's sake - there should rather be an underlying purpose, if that makes any sense?

This^^

My own style when doing black and white is high contrast and has been for the past ten years or so. I may revisit the same images in 10 or 20 years time and do a more subtle interpretation of them if I want them to say something else or present them in a different context or to a different audience.

The same can apply to the darkroom of course - Bill Brandt’s later versions of his earlier photographs were printed a lot darker than the originals I believe.

 

[Cagey75]

I must admit that most (well a good proportion) of my photos are macro insects. I try to keep these as true to life as I can.
Other things like flowers, I've started to make more arty, I won't use the term fine art, I'm not that good .

I shoot a fair bit of macro too, and try to keep it natural enough. Now and then I'll play with an image a bit though and if I like the result, I'll use it. It's that simple. PP is a very personal thing, just go with the flow and never mind how others do it. I still watch tutorials and grab some cool ideas but I won't try to process like anyone else in general.

 

[Scirocco_09]

I’m always evolving mine. It’s natural to refine your skills over the years and tastes also change. I like a natural style with a hint of production, whether it’s toning to reflect the season (colder for winter, warmer for summer) or subtle vignette to enhance the mood. Looking back I used to be quite heavy handed, I wouldn’t push sliders anywhere near as hard now - subtlety is key

 

[Cagey75]

I’m always evolving mine. It’s natural to refine your skills over the years and tastes also change. I like a natural style with a hint of production, whether it’s toning to reflect the season (colder for winter, warmer for summer) or subtle vignette to enhance the mood. Looking back I used to be quite heavy handed, I wouldn’t push sliders anywhere near as hard now - subtlety is key

But you are conscious of not pushing those sliders Sometimes pushing them way up can work, take B&W - for that 'pop' of contrast that really suits some B&W images. I'mma push contrast, clarity, texture all the way up - ok, maybe not, but I won't be watching the amounts, I'll be watching the image itself. If full on contrast works to my eye it stays.

 

[Scirocco_09]

But you are conscious of not pushing those sliders Sometimes pushing them way up can work, take B&W - for that 'pop' of contrast that really suits some B&W images. I'mma push contrast, clarity, texture all the way up - ok, maybe not, but I won't be watching the amounts, I'll be watching the image itself. If full on contrast works to my eye it stays.

I think you can get away with a lot more processing in B&W. As it isn’t a natural way of seeing things you don’t have to worry about it being especially realistic.

 

[Cagey75]

I think you can get away with a lot more processing in B&W. As it isn’t a natural way of seeing things you don’t have to worry about it being especially realistic.

Definitely, I was semi-serious about how much more I sometimes push an image converted to B&W. Not all images suit B&W of course, it is another side I do like to over do.

 

[LeeRatters]

I think I've always had my own sort of look to my images. All my car stuff is pretty similar looking. I tend to do a lot more landscapes now so it's rather the subjects have changed which has resulted in my photostream looking a little different rather than actual PP!

 

[wibbly]

I've probably spent more money on presets looking for that 'signature look' than I have on camera gear over the years... I'm a real sucker for them for some reason. But I've now come to slowly realise they do naff all for my photos and stick to pretty much a basic edit on my camera profile.