[jeffg]

Time for a belated hello

In an earlier lifetime, maybe 25 years ago I used to take loads of slides whilst with my trusty Praktika and several lenses whizzing around airports but kinda left the scene and never really got back into photography for years.

In the mid 90's I made a tentative return with a s/h Nikon - a fairly basic level model (have forgotten which one) and a s/h 70-210 AF lens. Never really got going however and the Nikon body developed a fault beyond economical repair . Kept the zoom lens though

Couple of years ago got a Canon A80 which introduced me to digital and have gradually become more interested again and realising the old Nikon zoom lens was compatible with the new dslr's I acquired a D50 to keep it company.

Not really sure how much of a photographer I am - shooting static aircraft is one thing but composing landscapes for example, seems a whole different kettle o' fish !

Not sure where I stand on PS (for example) processing at the moment though, tending to think that the shot should stand as it is but would interested to find out others views on the merits/ ethics of such processing.

I'll certainly be a keen observer of the gallery area, trying to pick up inspiration and tips on how to develop "an eye for a shot"

Jeff

[fionaB]

Hi Jeff and welcome to the site, dont be backwards in coming forwards now!

Fiona

[Steve]

Hello jeff and welcome to the site

Your comments about PS processing have raised previously by others and resulted in some good debate within the photo community. If you do a search on our site for that topic I think you will find some interesting reading

[stepheno]

Morning Jeff - welcome to Pixalo. I don't think it matters about PS or not as long as you like your own shots. As Steve said there are threads to search for.

[Sonsey]

Hi Jeff, good to have you at Pixalo.

[Gary Bagshawe]

yo dude, Good to have you aboard, im afraid the ps thing is a must, even if it is just to sharpen images that are captured on digital.

[lolyton]

Hi Jeffg, hope you do get inspiraion from here...i do!

The "PS thing" is entirely open to your personal choices. In the days of film (and i know they are still going) you could develop your negs, then print them. At both of these stages you can add an input into what the final output will be, e.g. leaving the neg in the dev a little longer or for a little less time, dodging and burning when in the darkroom (colour and b&w), altering colour settings on enlargers (colour) or filter grade (B&W). The list goes on and on as to how you could "traditionally" manipulate film and prints.
The PS software just enables you to manipulate things in the sameway, if you so desire also it enables you to do various techniques which would have been very tricky in the darkroom, again if you so desired.

I did notice that you shot mostly on slide film, again you can alter slide film a little during development though it is a very sensitive thing. But you could buy different films that gave you different colour saturations etc. Mostly though providing you get the exposure right what you get back is pretty much what you saw on the day with slide film. The problem with modern cameras is that often a lot of the colour is interpreted by the camera's software, yes you can change this in camera, but the results don't always match what was there. So again PS software can help by making an image more normal (a kind of negative manipulation if you like).

Basically what i am trying to say is that PS software can be your friend and help you acheive the kind of quality you were used to getting 25years ago. Or you can warp and manipulate it until you get something that looks like what people may get 250 years time. The choice is yours, but like Gary said it is a must with a digi camera i'm afraid.

Also if you want to learn some software the people on this site are very talented with it and are always ready to help out so don't be afraid to ask any questions no matter how trivial. Everybody could learn something, i know i learn things that i have overlooked all the time from this place.

Sorry if this is gobbledegook i never re-read.

And Hi again!

[Angela]

Hi Jeff and

[daveyuk]

Hello Jeff and