THE PP GAME!

Don't try this at home kids!!
 
I thought the pic was good, shame there wasn`t more entries, im a bit busy at the mo, so if you want to put another up that would be good, lets keep the thread going
 
Flying giraffe said:
I thought the pic was good, shame there wasn`t more entries, im a bit busy at the mo, so if you want to put another up that would be good, lets keep the thread going
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Rob - where are you - unless I have read this wrong but Neil is saying can you put another one up - isn't he?
 
riiiight - here's a start, colourful mood this morning for me.

img42822hdr3editblursky.jpg


HDR of 3 exposures (-2, 0 and +2) increased saturation quite a bit
then took this + the three copies into PS
overlayed darker version with soft light blend mode at opacity to suit
overlayed light version at low opacity to suit
maybe did something to the moon (see if you can spot it) ;)
blurred the sky to try to remove some of the noise I'd introduced.
de-saturated slightly.
 
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All in PE10.
Using ReDynamix plugin tweaked with a bit of HDR
Separate layers to brush saturation on each of tree greens, tree trunk & branches, grass, sky to bring out oranges, bits in hedge rows to give a more three dimensional feel and finally a slight vignette but in Picasa.
Tried sharpening but not good so none applied
That's it :thumbs:

PS Enhanced the moon a bit :whistling:


TPSingleTreeMyEdit_zps189a5740.jpg
 
The goblin said:
Bleugh I was trying a hdr version this morning but it was pants as I don't really know what I'm doing! No point trying again as you've done a great job already :coat:
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Is that a French swear word :clap:

Come on Marsha have a go -we need a bit more activity in this thread :clap:
 
quick edit
sharpen and sliders in raw
added new moon (but not on Monday)
auto toned grass only
done
IMG_4282ppgame_zpsb55b1ad2.jpg
 
DayDreamer said:
Is that a French swear word :clap:
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Yup, well it's cleaner than what I would generally use:nono:

DayDreamer said:
Come on Marsha have a go -we need a bit more activity in this thread :clap:
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All right, all right!

Here's my go:
IMG_4282_zpsa34fd1fb.jpg


Detail in the tree and foreground regained using Topaz Detail, no tweaking of sliders just one of the presets.

Then into the B&W 2, and converted using the platinum 4 preset with a little splash of colour along the orange horizon painted back in.

High pass sharpen in PS and posted.
 
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CLICK FOR HI-RES
Sky banding is Imgur overly compressing the image... not on original.


No button pushing preset nonsense from me.

Shadow recovery in Lightroom (RAW file)
Black and white conversion layer in PS, with heavy yellow bias.
Copied original colour version over the top in a new layer, and selected blend to colour.

That's it.

Less is more IMO.
 
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David nice edit and I agree about not using pre-sets as it takes away the fun but if others like to use pre-sets that is their choice.

And how can I stop myself pushing the sliders too far as I take your point less can in some circumstances be more.
 
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The goblin said:
I've hardly used Topaz before now and this is the response:shrug:
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We make a special exception for you :thumbs:

Because we is gentlemen so you can press any button you like :lol:
 
I'm not sure it really matters how anyones (sp?) results are achieved.....

There are no rules (written or implied) as far as I'm aware as to what software or procedures are allowed to be used. It's supposed to be a fun opportunity to practice some editing techniques, on photos you may not take / be able to take yourself, and also to see your own photos edited in a different style to what you might do yourself.
 
overbez said:
I'm not sure it really matters how anyones (sp?) results are achieved.....

There are no rules (written or implied) as far as I'm aware as to what software or procedures are allowed to be used. It's supposed to be a fun opportunity to practice some editing techniques, on photos you may not take / be able to take yourself, and also to see your own photos edited in a different style to what you might do yourself.
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I don't think anyone is saying anything other than what you feel? Are they? Certainly my post wasn't meant to provoke confrontation as believe me it's the last thing I need in my state of health :)

I feel, for me, I have tried so many free trials and come to the conclusion I find more satisfaction in the manual approach but have not the slightest problem with those who wish to do it any other way. After all it is a wonderful pastime on which I spend many hours and without which & my laptop my life would be very empty as I am regularly housebound.

My own edits for my personal collection are very very diverse depending on what mood I was in when I was doing the edit.
 
Sorry John - was mainly referring to Davids (to my mind) slightly elitist "No button pushing preset nonsense from me." statement.

I must admit I have a fairly static MO regards image editing, and in my main editing programmes I do often start with one of the presets, and maybe alter the sliders from there to my taste.

I think they're useful to get a feel for what's possible and to give you a head-start into a style you like and suits your images. And therefore use of presets should not really be dismissed as nonsense.

I'd appreciate if David could maybe give a slightly greater explanation of his method and reasons for as the result achieved is great, with probably a fraction of the time spent that I did!
 
Thanks for that Graham as I was feeling guilty as there is such a good friendly exchange on the forum and especially so on this thread :love: If you look back on my entries I have sure 'gone off on one' and some have been picked for that round. Shock horror :eek:

When I edit I am like the Mad Professor hitting every button and slider often in multiple programmes and genuinely don't have a clue how I reached the end result. Sometimes I spend a long time and at the end think what a load of carp and bin it. Other times I do a quick one and feel that's it.

I'm also a sucker for downloading trials of everything I see mentioned or find when Googling :clap:.
 
DayDreamer said:
Because we is gentlemen so you can press any button you like :lol:
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I let you off:)

overbez said:
I'm not sure it really matters how anyones (sp?) results are achieved.....

There are no rules (written or implied) as far as I'm aware as to what software or procedures are allowed to be used. It's supposed to be a fun opportunity to practice some editing techniques, on photos you may not take / be able to take yourself, and also to see your own photos edited in a different style to what you might do yourself.
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This is exactly the point of this thread! For me it's learning. I have learnt I need to learn a hell of a lot more about photoshop and the magic that it can do in the right hands! I have learnt loads via this thread and invested a fair bit since starting out in pp!

DayDreamer said:
I feel, for me, I have tried so many free trials and come to the conclusion I find more satisfaction in the manual approach but have not the slightest problem with those who wish to do it any other way. After all it is a wonderful pastime on which I spend many hours and without which & my laptop my life would be very empty as I am regularly housebound.

My own edits for my personal collection are very very diverse depending on what mood I was in when I was doing the edit.
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I spend far too many hours at fiddling with photos. Time spent on this thread is rare and rushed. But I agree with you without my pc and photoshop I think I would be lost! But I would have more time for sorting through my photos before tweaking them!

overbez said:
I must admit I have a fairly static MO regards image editing, and in my main editing programmes I do often start with one of the presets, and maybe alter the sliders from there to my taste.

I think they're useful to get a feel for what's possible and to give you a head-start into a style you like and suits your images. And therefore use of presets should not really be dismissed as nonsense.
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I do every photo differently! I always try to tweak any preset, but time is very rarely on my side!
 
I once talked to a well known artist - well he was but I can't remember his name but he made a good living from it. I said to him how do you know when a painting is finished to which he said he never did really know. When he felt it was about finished it was put on the wall and left for him to look at, now and again, over a day, week or more until he felt he needed to tweak, or call it done.

I guess we could be the same as the artist - I certainly never quite know when to stop and tend to overdo it especially my entries on this thread. If there was a 'add on' to LR4 (which I am using more and more) that stopped the slider going beyond a certain point I would install it.

But being honest I wished the sliders would go further than -/+ 100 :lol:
 
overbez said:
Sorry John - was mainly referring to Davids (to my mind) slightly elitist "No button pushing preset nonsense from me." statement.
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I'm sorry.. but elitism has nothing to do with it. How is selecting what appears best from a list of presets or thumbnails in a piece of software showing any skill in post processing? (not that this is what this thread is about admittedly) How is working like that teaching you anything, or making you better at your job, or pass-time? It's not elitist to suggest that people should take some control of their processing instead of choosing from a bunch of cookie cutter presets.

I wasn't even referring to YOU in particular anyway.

overbez said:
I'd appreciate if David could maybe give a slightly greater explanation of his method and reasons for as the result achieved is great, with probably a fraction of the time spent that I did!
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After calling me elitist? No.. no I won't. You call me elitist for suggesting going beyond presets, yet want me to explain my "elitist" methods? :)


I'm sorry if you think it's elitist, but post processing these days seems to be running an image through Silver FX or Topaz, or this plug in or that plug in. No skill.. no finesse.
 
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Pookeyhead said:
I'm sorry.. but elitism has nothing to do with it. How is selecting what appears best from a list of presets or thumbnails in a piece of software showing any skill in post processing? (not that this is what this thread is about admittedly) How is working like that teaching you anything, or making you better at your job, or pass-time? It's not elitist to suggest that people should take some control of their processing instead of choosing from a bunch of cookie cutter presets.

I wasn't even referring to YOU in particular anyway.



After calling me elitist? No.. no I won't. You call me elitist for suggesting going beyond presets, yet want me to explain my "elitist" methods? :)


I'm sorry if you think it's elitist, but post processing these days seems to be running an image through Silver FX or Topaz, or this plug in or that plug in. No skill.. no finesse.
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We live in a democracy so folks can do what they want - surely :shrug:

You sure have no reason to justify what you do nor do they - surely :shrug:

This thread is for everyone of every skill level, whether they wish to learn more, or whether they wish to keep using whatever technique they do. Not everyone is that bothered about learning 'new' skills. So my attitude is accept the thread for what it is a bit of 'light hearted' fun.
 
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Just because someone uses a preset doesn't mean they can't do it manually, things like silver effx speed up workflow, if your processing a few thousand images a day it's time saved, it can mean the difference between finishing a job on time or not. Yes it's fine to spend half hour tweeking a fine art print, but for every one of 500 shots thats a lot of time, and times money.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Just because someone uses a preset doesn't mean they can't do it manually, things like silver effx speed up workflow, if your processing a few thousand images a day it's time saved, it can mean the difference between finishing a job on time or not. Yes it's fine to spend half hour tweeking a fine art print, but for every one of 500 shots thats a lot of time, and times money.
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And in my case time is a rare and precious commodity I just don't have much of!

I can't imagine processing that many photos, need to figure out a better working practice as I'm very behind with ask my photos!

This thread is about learning, seeing what others can do and having a bit of fun! It's not about criticising what others do unless it's constructive!
 
Rob - when are you closing this one - usually 4/5 days 'ish :shrug:
 
And the winner is...... John :)

Well done, it was a close call, I also really like David and Neils treatment and it wasn't easy to choose a clear winner.

Neil you could have won it, if only you'd remembered to put the kid with the fishing rod on your moon ;)

John, I look forward to seeing what you put up.

Thanks everyone for giving it a go. :thumbs:
 
Very well done John... :clap:
 
Well thank you Rob :thumbs:

Like last time I am putting up two very different types of photograph and hope no one minds as it does widen the range of people to who it may appeal? I apologise for lack of RAW files but they were taken with my old travel zoom a Panasonic TZ8 which I felt took a very reasonable quality shot. Shame the person pressing the shutter wasn't up to much :D

I have recently, for the first time, carried out edits even though they are about two years old. I never saw much in them but after learning a bit more PP, from TP, I feel they edit up quite well. I found, for me, the secret was in the cropping and with one turning to B&W (never used to do) which suited it well.

These are the reference shots and fuller size Jpegs up soon as I can.

I will call it on one or the other - but it will be whichever has produced to me the best edit. I will call it Friday evening around 8.30 p.m.

TPMaintenanceMenOriginal_zpsf960100b.jpg


TPTwoBoatsOriginal_zps6087f962.jpg


https://www.dropbox.com/s/azmvsjxf47j7thw/TP Maintenance Men Original.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g56xqxbhfe8vpw2/TP Two Boats Original.JPG
 
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No one having a go so I thought I would put my edits up now to bump the thread up:lol:

Will explain more on how I did at end of run - if anyone wants me to :shrug:

BathMaintenanceMenTZ8_zps876b7827.jpg


TotnesTwoBoatsTZ8_zpsf8d3e71b.jpg
 
hi john, just finished the first edit
opened in raw so i could use the sliders
warmed up a touch
sharpened and adjusted sliders to suit
the slight hdr on boat only
noise reduction in and blended for the boat to keep detail
done

TPTwoBoatsppedit_zps687879f0.jpg
 
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:thumbs: Nice one Neil I like the way the subtle HDR is used
 
thanks John
second one now
very quick this one
sliders in raw
b/w conversion with a gritty effect
high pass with soft overlay
done
TPMaintenanceMenppedit_zpsfdb18434.jpg
 
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TP-Two-Boats-rob-edit

Adjusted: Highlights, shadows and clarity in ACR.
Used the tone curve tool in ACR to adjust contrast
Slight Crop (keeping original ratio)
Duplicated layer, ran high pass filter, changed layer to overlay and lowered opacity to about 50%
Then I used Silver Efex - sorry ;) to convert to b/w
Added a very subtle vignette
Finished by adding the black borders, I'm a sucker for them at the moment :)
 
Rob L;5435106Then I used Silver Efex - sorry ;) to convert to b/w Finished by adding the black borders said:
Don't be sorry - it's only because I can't afford to buy extras that I get jealous of you guys who sometimes have all the plug ins going :nono:

Interesting you say you have a thing about borders 'at the moment' as I have tried to find my 'house style' but go from liking one thing then another. Been through the border thing, then the vignette thing & now into B&W so especially like your edit a standard to which I aspire. But can it be done without the Silver Efex & similar :thinking:
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Flying giraffe said:
hi john, just finished the first edit
opened in raw so i could use the sliders
warmed up a touch
sharpened and adjusted sliders to suit
the slight hdr on boat only
noise reduction in and blended for the boat to keep detail
done

TPTwoBoatsppedit_zps687879f0.jpg
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MAN!

I was going to come in and get involved but after seeing yours Neil I know I'll be spending a long time on it LOL

Nicely done.
 
Phil Young said:
MAN!

I was going to come in and get involved but after seeing yours Neil I know I'll be spending a long time on it LOL

Nicely done.
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We ought to ask Neil to submit his edits, in future, just before the closing time if they are putting others off from having a go :D
 
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