[p82d]

Hey just started playing around a bit more seriously with my new digital camera and wondered if anyone knew of any useful forums similar to this for imroving techniques and post-processing I understand theat the majority of the after effects are what most people here are using day in day out so thought I'd start here.

Here's a couple of played with pics from my visit to the zoo today - yes sad lil 20 year old still going to the zoo but hell it's brilliant - sure beats my Engineering Degree coursework!

http://www.vi2.com/uploader.php?n=53430 <= large image
http://www.vi2.com/uploader.php?n=56147
http://www.vi2.com/uploader.php?n=56571

Any crits or ideas would be appreciated
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Thanks

Lil' Pete

[Impaler]

Might be better to post this in the Random Musings section. Most folks usually post their photography in there.

Anyways, I'm not quite sure exactly what you're asking here. The vast majority of the people here use Photoshop for all image editing. From what I understand, however, you don't really need any post-production tweaking with a digital camera, since most of them feature a host of color correction features, like white balance, ISO ratings, etc.
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QED, sort of.

[p82d]

Apologies for the wrong placement - is possible for me to move the post or is it the job for a moderator?

As for post processing I was looking more at level correction and generally accenuating and color modifercation. Any where to get criticsm of work and receive advice.
_________________
Thanks

Lil' Pete

[Impaler]

Heh. This isn't incorrectly placed, it's just a little more customary to post photography-related stuff in random musings.

As for color modification, Photoshop is generally accepted as your best bet, although there are cheaper alternatives if you don't want to spend at least 500 bucks.
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QED, sort of.

[p82d]

Fortunately because of me still being a university student I was able to get the Student Version of 6.0 and that's holding me in good stead - sure I should update to 7.0 but at the moment there's more than enough to keep me learning in 6 and hell it was good enough for everyone til 7 came out!

Main thing that I'm interested in right now is tuning in to see if everyone else agrees with my feelings on compositions in all the pictures I've posted are ones I'm happy with just interested to see what differing opinions there are what balances, compositional or in color balance.

Criticsm given to other artwork hosted here for visual appeal and the like.

And apologies for my spelling and grammar this evening you wouldn't think I was a native English speaker let alone studying for a masters degree at university - depressing isn't it!
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Thanks

Lil' Pete

[Lunatique]

p82d- I think it's perfectly fine to post photography in the finished gallery section--if you take it very seriously, and feels it's as important as your drawings/paintings. If it's just for kicks and giggles, then post them at ramdom musings.

I use Photoshop to do all my digital darkroom work(contrast, color-correction, cropping). But the truth is, if you don't have a good shot to begin with, no amount of post work can save it. The key is to get a good composition, lighting, and color balance in on your original shot.

The composition of an image is only one factor that contributes to its success. Lighting is just as important, if not more so in photography. composition and color can be altered by cropping/tweaking in post work, but you can't add lighting in post work.

Working with natural lighting as you did at the zoo can be very limiting, since you can't change the location of the sun, and if you don't have a reflector, or can't move/pose your subject to another location, you are stuck with what you are given by nature. This is one of the greatest challenges for nature photographers.

[p82d]

Agreed there Lunatique, and yes I do consider the photographic work as important => the post production 'digital--darkroom' work was to cope with the situation available having access to only the camera and having tro shoot through perspex windows for most of the shots meant image improvements were made from the prints available.

From the tone of your reply I'd much appreciate it if you'd comment specifically on the images posted as I feel you would have a lot to offer in terms of compostional review.

Coupled with that here's a picture that I was very pleased in its construction:

http://www.vi2.com/uploader.php?n=57130

The combination of mournful look up to the trees that can be seen reflected off the perspex enclosure coupled with the childish animal silohuettes that appear to be there to insult the lioness further about her entrapment.
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Thanks

Lil' Pete

[Lunatique]

I like the lion image. It works well in the way you described it. It sure is kind of sad to see animals closed in like that.

As far as critiquing the images go, I think the 2nd and third images are too linear compositionally. The cropping of the lizard(?) is too uniform. Centering the subject that way can work, if you have more sophisticated lighting. If not, it's better to choose a less flat angle. The same thing goes for the duck(?) picture.

The shoe picture-- What are you trying to express with it? When shooting still life, it's important to think about what your motivation is. Is it supposed to evoke a sense of nostalgia? If so, it's better to have soft lighting, and have the shoe be among other objects. Is it a product shot? If so, then if needs to have bright lighting with vibrant colors. It is a macro shot that evokes abstract feelings? Then it should be less recognizable and more textural.

Photography with motivation and goals in mind while shooting will be much stronger than random pictures taken for the sake of taking pictures.

[p82d]

Unfortunately the penguin image is one of my favorites because of the Engineer in me - it was one of many shots trying to capture the speed of the bird sub-surface.

It's beauty for me is in showing how perfectly aerodynamic the bird is with the smooth non-turblent flow of bubbles off its back - the picture mirrors the type of aerodynamics tests we perform in windtunnels with trails of smoke.

The flat composition is there to give that feeling of speed as the bird darts past our frame of reference.

THe lizards linear composition was however decideed by the environment not me. Without the camera perpendicular to the front perspex - the perspex that the Iguana decided to lay perfectly parallel to resulted in reflections on the surface due to the intense artificial lighting in the retile house. Hoping the level adjustment and tone gives the viewers the feeling of the weight and strength of the creature
_________________
Thanks

Lil' Pete