autumn 'scape

[greygoose]

im not sure how to proceed with the post processing here. its hard because the sky is there then you have the trees and the grass and it always seems as if i have to either sacrifice one for the other. this photo seems a lil "dark" any idea how i can bring it back to life?


iso 500
1/800
f/ 7.1
evaluative metering

canon 24-70L @ 34mm

for future shooting what could i have changed in my settings to make this photo pop out more right out the camera?



http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t264/gs_greygoose/november/IMG_0295.jpg

[chauncey]

I would start with levels and curves while setting your color balance. You might not need more than that.

Your exposure looks decent so I assume that you exposed to the right.

[Flo]

Is this too much???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/emmaloudawg/black%20n%20whites/IMG_0295.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

I will respond only to the issue of what to do in future shooting to make your pictures better right out of the camera.

Presuming that you have Adobe Camera RAW or another RAW processing program, such as DPP, I would suggest shooting RAW. Then you have the full suite of controls that can be applied to the image after it has been downloaded from the camera, AND you can usually recover blown out highlights to some extent.

I would also recommend leaving the EXIF data in your posted images so that critics know more of your camera settings without having to ask for them (don't use "Save for Web"!).

[bckane]

greyg, photo dont look that bad just needs a little PP. looking at the picture, how does the picture compare to what you seen.? Does look a little dull but can always be fixed with software.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/bckane/IMG_02952.jpg

[dlw3]

You asked:
for future shooting what could i have changed in my settings to make this photo pop out more right out the camera?

IMHO,
Always shoot with ISO100;
Always shoot scenics with as small an aperture as possible, f16, f32, f64 and so on.
Always pack a heavy tripod. If you don't get tired packing it, it ain't heavy enough.

[Broncobear]

You asked:
for future shooting what could i have changed in my settings to make this photo pop out more right out the camera?

IMHO,
Always shoot with ISO100;
Always shoot scenics with as small an aperture as possible, f16, f32, f64 and so on.
Always pack a heavy tripod. If you don't get tired packing it, it ain't heavy enough.

I have to respectfully disagree with this advice.

The ISO should depend on what your looking to stand out ...

if it's sky...I tend to do ISO 100 like this. which is also almost wide open...(pls note I meant this shot to be a bit dark on foreground)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/1661088042_feb8334083_o.jpg


If the foreground is more my subject then I vary the ISO because AV and TV are my crucial parts of my exposure.

this shot had an ISO of 320 but a AV of F13...I like F11 of F13 for foreground landscape shots..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/1509189549_4318e143ff_o.jpg

[Robert_Lay]

You're both right.
I would agree with the general rule of using as low an ISO setting as is practical, because it gives you the optimum noise performance. Furthermore, there are probably some arcane issues that no one even talks about that are less of a problem with low ISO.

Likewise, there are times when you need a small aperture and a fast shutter speed and on those occasions, it may be best to raise the ISO to accommodate that. They wouldn't have put the adjustment on the camera if it was never to be used.

[mgreenlee]

I would also recommend leaving the EXIF data in your posted images so that critics know more of your camera settings without having to ask for them (don't use "Save for Web"!).
Bob, by "Save for Web" it strips out EXIF? Also, what's your method of reading the data i.e. opening the posters image in CS? Thanks,

[Robert_Lay]

Bob, by "Save for Web" it strips out EXIF? Also, what's your method of reading the data i.e. opening the posters image in CS? Thanks,
Exactly - that is, the "Save for Web" feature in PSCS2 does strip out the EXIF. I think PSCS3 does it the same way, but not sure. I never use the feature.

I save posted images by doing right click on the image, pick "Save Picture As..." and save it in "My Pictures", which is my working folder for all images and from which I open the image in PS.

[greygoose]

flo and bckane can you both share how you did the PP on those images? they both look incredible. wow. im amazed