Roland's Weather and Photos: September 2012

This photo was actually 4 separate photos stitched together to make 1 large image.
I then increased the contrast and saturation in post processing.
Am I cheating here? Or is it a normal thing to do?

The all too Common Question...

Just the other day, I was having a discussion with someone about photography, before I could even get started on explaining some of the very simple ways of composing the image to get the most out of any camera, I was asked the dreaded question: "Do you use Photoshop?".

I was a little bit annoyed that Photoshop had become a household name in image editing (I use the GIMP), but I was also a little more annoyed about a misconception that has been flying around since cameras and computers were partnered, the idea that any image, no matter how badly it was taken can become the most beautiful image ever with just a few clicks of a mouse and the use of an editor.
I shall attempt to clear that misconception up now.

Getting it right the first time!

Before any post production is even thought about. I try to get the photo done right the first time around.
Before I take any photo I ensure that I know what I am getting out of my photos.
I make sure my camera is set up correctly, I make sure I have the correct angles, and I then make sure I have my composition perfect before I can even think about pressing the shutter button. You can't turn the camera around or change the focus or change the lighting in post production. You have to get it right.

Then, and only then, may the photo be prepared for the second step of post production. Remember: There is no such thing as an unsuck filter.

I got this photo right the first time. This photo was produced entirely in the camera and has not been edited in any way, shape, or form.
Photo is of Almond Blossom behind Eastern Suburbs Christadelphian Hall.

How much is too much?

"That photo looks great, how much Photoshopping did it take?"

I confess. Every single image you see on my blog has been post processed. Each for various reasons which I will list now:

I enhanced the contrast to make the rust
Stand out a lot more.

To enhance the brightness and contrast. Because I have a very cheap camera, it produces a dull image with little contrast. I need to bring out the defining colours in my photograph and ensure that it is pleasing to the eye.

To remove distracting elements. While I strive to ensure that I get the composition perfectly right every single time, it is sometimes impossible. Often I will crop out unwanted sections of the photograph. I try to ensure my photos conform to compositional rules as much as possible. And often, I need to crop for maximum impact.

This image was processed to add effect.
It is actually two images stitched together, cropped
and then de-saturated and colourised to bring out the
character of the image.

To add effect.
Some images are meant to convey emotion.

Subtly altering the composition or
colour range of the photograph

can have huge effect on the viewer.

To widen the photo. I will often take panoramas as they are able to make a nice wide view that allows the eye to sweep across the scene. Look at the image on the right, I widened it by taking to adjacent photos, and stitching them together.

My favourite city photo. I used a small amount of processing. The rest was all from getting it right the first time.

It is very important to get the photo right the first time, but post production really helps get the image to its final phase of its development: Being the photograph that you were envisioning all along. People are what make the photograph what it is. The camera and the processing software are just tools to get that result.

What the professionals say:

I am lucky to have befriended some professional photographers. Here is what one of them, Glenn Casey of Case by Case Photography has to say about post processing images:

"Post processing is an important step in photography.
Anything you do to the photo from taking it until final showing is part of Post Processing.

The important thing is to get the image right in the first place. Photoshop cannot make a bad picture good. If you get your composition, lighting and focus correct, then your photo does not need a lot of work
Look at the pic of the beach I did for sunset the other day, and compared to the back of the camera, and there is a not a lot of difference. People ask me if I use photoshop, yes I do but I don't go overboard with it."

In Conclusion

Yes, I use post production in all of my photos. It is a normal thing to do. Post processing your image is not just a digital thing either. Ansel Adams, a famous Landscape Photographer of yesteryear used all the tools available to him in a darkroom. He could adjust brightness and contrast, crop, and a slew of other things. Post production is an essential part of photography, and I will continue to use it to obtain the results I want. But remember. You have to get it right the first time.

Thank You for Reading. Drop me an email if you have anything you wish to discuss.

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Recommended Sites:

These are links to pages or discussion groups dealing with our weather in Western Australia, especially severe weather.

The WA Weather Group

The WAWG is a good site for those who don't want to sign up for social networks just to get into discussions. It is a site aimed at all people who are interested in the weather, regardless of their prior knowledge.

Perth Weather Live
Perth Weather Live is a valuable resource in weather. Steve Brooks, the owner of the site often goes and chases down the storms to ensure that the systems are accurately measured.

The Facebook Page is a valuable source of weather warnings and updates, so if you check social media often, stay in the weather loop by liking the page.

More to come!