[stupot]

here's a few more from my early morning jaunt to Lyme Regis, was experimenting with some ND grads and a sunrise filter

All comments welcome

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.

[Dabhand16]

A very profitable trip here Stu, ended up with an interesting set.

I like the original one you posted before and #1 in this set, although I think next time you go there it might be worth seeing what a lower horizon and the sun on the third would do. I think it would give a better compositon. A small crop of the sea might improve on what you have got here, but overall a really nice set and some reference images for your info when playing with the filters.

[silver]

v nice set

Sil

PS,. contrast is a matter of taste so ignore the fact I would probably boost it a little on 4,5 + 7

[Charlotte]

The ND grad has given an interesting effect to the sky, stupot, but has also caused major underexposure in no's 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 3, 6 + 8 to a lesser degree. I'd say sunrise isn't the best time to use ND, i.e. low light, as it has reduced your exposure by 1 or 2 stops. As a result, they look a bit flat. I like the angle of view you used, very effective on the clouds especially, and the sunrise colours are lovely, particularly in no. 1. The compositions look pretty good too. Overall, a nice set to go home with

[Charlotte]

A thought occurred to me stupot ... are you shooting RAW or jpg? I ask because it looks like you shoot RAW but don't process your pic's on PC? RAW's do tend to come out flat + need at least some tweaking, but if you don't intend to post-process, then it's best to shoot in jpg, as the camera does the processing for you. If I'm on the wrong track here, just ignore me

[stupot]

I do shoot i raw but my post-processing skills are very crude at the mo. I tend to go at it like a bull in a china shop. really need to get the photoshop books out and continue past the first chapter . I dont think my monitor helps because images i edit on here (desktop) look totally different on friends pc's. so could do with calibrating it. I'm very lazy need to get and do these things.

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by stupot

I do shoot i raw but my post-processing skills are very crude at the mo. I tend to go at it like a bull in a china shop. really need to get the photoshop books out and continue past the first chapter . I dont think my monitor helps because images i edit on here (desktop) look totally different on friends pc's. so could do with calibrating it. I'm very lazy need to get and do these things.

Know what you mean getting around to doing things stupot, I'm the same - seem to do more planning than doing

Before you learn the PS tools + get bogged down in books, best thing to do first is study the pic to decide in what ways it needs improving. It's a good idea to have a workflow in a specific order which you use each time you edit, that way it becomes routine + less of an ominous task. E.g. in the following order: white balance, exposure (lightness), contrast, colour corrections, saturation, sharpening. That's my basic workflow, which obviously varies according to the type of pic etc. Cropping usually comes either first or last for me, i.e. if I can't decide on a crop before I start processing, then I leave it 'til last. Sometimes the end crop will have an affect on your decision on how to process, and vice versa.

THEN you can decide which tools you need for the job.

Re: learning PS I would experiment 'blindly' for a while before reading any books of PS from start to finish. I tend to do this too + in this way never seem to get down to 'doing' very much, but I would avoid this approach with PS at all costs!! otherwise you'll never get the actual practice. Or you could go tool by tool + follow from the book with practical application on the PC as you go along.

But if you experiment on your own for a bit, you will get to know the tools which you'll most likely + most often need - you don't need to learn them ALL.

You definitely have an eye for a pic stupot, + you're good with composition (which is what I'm trying to get my head round at the moment). Don't get bogged down with processing, but yes we all need to learn it, I think, to get the most out of our hard work with the camera

I'm also learning post-processing at the mo', so I know what you're going through. It's easy for me (or any viewer) to look at a pic + criticise it; it's a different matter to get it right oneself Anyway, good luck with getting to grips with PS

Oh, your monitor - yes, I need to calibrate mine too, but in the meantime, I've manually 'calibrated' it by the 'test pattern' on the pixalo home page, i.e. check the white looks white + the black looks black. There's also a good one here.

In the learning process, whatever you do, don't stop shooting

[stupot]

Wow thats a reply, thank you Charlotte, some good advice in there which i will take on board. Monitor calibrating link looks excellent so will have a go with that later (on laptop at mo).

cheers
Stuart

[stupot]

Charlotte just tried to add to your Rep points for that reply but was told that 'I need to spread it around first'

[Charlotte]

You're welcome stupot Hold that thought ... and get spreading

[P-E]

A very nice set and all interesting to look at