Posting pictures on this site

[ep82]

Hello everyone.

Just wanted to ask a few simple question.
When uploading my photos onto this site, is it best to upload the origenal picture? I mean, not edited, but resized on photoshop from straight out the camera??
I tend to do alot of Photoshop work and I fear that if I post any photos on here then I will get bad reaspones/C+C. Dont get me wrong, I know that you lot are a friendly and helpful bunch but to my (beginner/graphic designer/arty) eyes they look good but to you they may look rubbish as most of you are proper pro photographers or have been doing this for a while.

I have been taken some bracketing photos (sunsets) recently and I have used photoshop to blend them into 1 photo, then added Hue, contrast, sharpened, levels and cruves. Would you think that will make the photo look too fake and make me a failure at photography?

I heard alot of people edit their photos before uploading but do they do all the things I mentioned? or do they just upload their work from the camera?

Also 1 last thing. if I was to upload it straight from the camera (but resized first) how should I resize it? do I use Image size and then just put in my pixel size and leave the resolution at 72? I find doing this way the photo gets pixelly and needs sharpening up, but even after sharpening up, it still looks abit pixelly.

Sorry about all the Q's and this long post.

 

[Slapo]

Well post a sample of what you're afraid might get bad responses.
Generally, tweaking is well accepted here, extensive photo manipulation (as in adding foreign objects to the photo) is a bit unusual and I don't think I've seen it here so far.

Try resampling your photos to 96 or 72 dpi. Which resizing/resampling method do you use?

Try one of your edited pics and we'll see.

 

[michaelgreen78]

Hello everyone.

Just wanted to ask a few simple question.
When uploading my photos onto this site, is it best to upload the origenal picture? I mean, not edited, but resized on photoshop from straight out the camera??
I tend to do alot of Photoshop work and I fear that if I post any photos on here then I will get bad reaspones/C+C. Dont get me wrong, I know that you lot are a friendly and helpful bunch but to my (beginner/graphic designer/arty) eyes they look good but to you they may look rubbish as most of you are proper pro photographers or have been doing this for a while.

I have been taken some bracketing photos (sunsets) recently and I have used photoshop to blend them into 1 photo, then added Hue, contrast, sharpened, levels and cruves. Would you think that will make the photo look too fake and make me a failure at photography?

One of the reasons for sites like this is that we can post photos, with or without manipulation, and get constructive criticism. If you wan't to know how a photo looks to others you cannot be afraid to post them here. It really is the only way to learn and go forwards with your photography.

Don't think that heavy manipulation or excessive HDR treatment to a photo will make you a failure. There are many aspects of photography and many reasons for doing it. If you enjoy your photography, that in itself is surely a success. If you achieve the look that you want in a photo, that too is a success.

I heard alot of people edit their photos before uploading but do they do all the things I mentioned? or do they just upload their work from the camera?

I almost always edit my shots as 95% are shot in RAW. No-one has exactly the same workflow so I wouldn't worry about yours being right or wrong either.

Also 1 last thing. if I was to upload it straight from the camera (but resized first) how should I resize it? do I use Image size and then just put in my pixel size and leave the resolution at 72? I find doing this way the photo gets pixelly and needs sharpening up, but even after sharpening up, it still looks abit pixelly.

Sorry about all the Q's and this long post.

If you use photoshop go to Image Size and set the longest side to 800 pixels and the resolution to 72ppi and make sure that the Constrain Proportions box is ticked. The image will then be resized to one of 800 pixels long. If you click on the magnifier button and select Actual Pixels the image will be shown at the size it is and shouldn't look pixely, unless you zoom in on it.

 

[ep82]

Ok. Thank you for you advice
I use photoshop and thats how I do it anyway(resize pictures). but I only go upto 670 because some other forums (cars) dont like them too big.

Heres a few of my work. go easy on me :baby:

first few with only sharpened, contrast and hue.

And these are my edited picutres (HDR)

 

[..MD..]

look ok to me mate now post them .

i mean in the relavent forums full size



oh and welcome


md

 

[michaelgreen78]

Well, what were you worried about?!!

The non HDR photos look good - -I like the second and third shots especially. The HDR shots are also good, with the HDR being nicely subtle and not overdone.

 

[sportysnaps]

i really hate over processed photos and digital art work that tries to call itself a photo, this is also why i hate HDR, but if done well (looks real) then the results are impressive - i think the photos above are great and show good taste as to when and how to use post processing and when to stop (if you are to call the result a photo as apposed to digital art)

welcome to the forum...

 

[Techno-Geek]

The way the forum works is if you are a complete beginner or feel you have bad pictures. People around the forum can help you get better. They look find to me though

Tony

 

[SimonTALM]

I think you need a bit more confidence mate - the photographs you've shown here are good. You've clearly got an eye for composition and your photochopping is good. I especially like the last one - looks very corporate motivational if you know what I mean

The only negative thing I can find about your images (AND I HAVE TO LOOK REALLY HARD) is that in the photo of the gate you appear to have a piece of nylon farmers cord in the bottom right that is to my eyes distracting and looks like it could have easily been moved out the way at the time of the photograph.

 

[Jimmy_Lemon]

omg omg omg - sunset over a gate! I love you!....erm....I mean...welcome

Those really are a great set of shots, look forward to seeing some more (especially sunsets over gates!)

 

[ep82]

Thank you very much for the comments everyone.
It's not that I dont have confidence, it's just that I have just started photography and I cant compare to most of you guys and gals on here. I have seen some really mind blowing photos on this site and it's just scary to post my novice photos here. The other thing is I didnt think that alot of people like processed photos and may think that my photos looks bad as I have photoshopped them. But by the sound of things, this is what alot of people do and now I feel much better. I always look up to the people on this site as I love photography and I tend to come here to get inspired and motivated to go out to get some nice shots

 

[..MD..]

your not alone looking up to people on this site belive me


md

 

[ep82]

The only negative thing I can find about your images (AND I HAVE TO LOOK REALLY HARD) is that in the photo of the gate you appear to have a piece of nylon farmers cord in the bottom right that is to my eyes distracting and looks like it could have easily been moved out the way at the time of the photograph.

Ah yeah I didnt even realised that this was there when I took the photo. I was so distracted by the sun and trying to find a good shot, when I found it, I got carried away by taking the photo and not even noticed the surrounding area. I will learn from this and hope not to make that mistake again. Oh. I was also testing out my new sigma 10-20 lens then so was doublely excited.

 

[Bikemansteve]

Welcome to the site EP82 - nowt wrong with any of your pics - I'd certainly be pleased with any of them if they were mine..........

 

[Gandhi]

Don't worry about it dude.

You should be the one happy with your images and you shouldn't worry what we think about it. I hope that respondees will offer constructive criticism and not slate you for the sake of it.

It's all very subjective. Some people like the graphic art style HDR, for example, and some hate it. Some love mono images and some hate them, some like landscapes and others birds (both varieties!) There is no right or wrong really. If it works then it's a good photo, no matter what the content/processing/sharpness/framing/bokeh/pose/lighting etc.

 

[SimonTALM]

Ah yeah I didnt even realised that this was there when I took the photo. I was so distracted by the sun and trying to find a good shot, when I found it, I got carried away by taking the photo and not even noticed the surrounding area. I will learn from this and hope not to make that mistake again. Oh. I was also testing out my new sigma 10-20 lens then so was doublely excited.

If you don't make that mistake again (i.e. you will always check the frame for unwanted things) then you'll be a far better tog than most of us on here. I am sure that even the great PeteMc has got home to kick himself for not seeing the coke can, plastic bag etc in the corner of the image.

As you seem to like sunsets (and who wouldn't) I would reccomend investing in a sunset predictor either a DEPSI card or a full blown Sun Compass from Flight Logistics (7dayshop stocks them) so you can plan and setup your shots while you have time to setup your shot and give yourself the extra time to check for stuff like this..

 

[ep82]

Thanks again everyone. What a lovely warm welcome. This just makes me want to go out and take even better photos. I think it's a really good time of year to get some decent landscape photos before the horrible weather sets in again. I have never really been into landscape photography (I used to take alot of car photos) but I think I much perfer nice scenery than cars now. I might even move onto portait soon