1st e-session - C&C please

[tracyvb]

Okay so here it goes. Hopefully I can get these up here correctly. ;) C&C please. I want to learn. :)
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THANKS!!!

[tracyvb]

K, couldn't figure out how to get them all on one page so a couple more
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[tracyvb]

One more and I'll stop - I had to get an opion on this one - They like scary movies - I thought this looked a little spooky
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scrap it?

[Kathy H]

No don't scrap the last one, I like it!:D
Your poses and composition look fine but the photos could use a little "pop" turn on your "image editing" and folks here will show you some examples of editing that will make your images shine more.:)

[antiskeptic87]

Nice pics! Happy couple! :)
Would love to see the contrast bumped a bit. I agree with Kathy above - Image editing is reeeeeeally helpful because other members can show you a great result from some PP and describe exactly how to do it too! I loveee it.
Great photos though - you did well :)

[tracyvb]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree especially after I looked around here after posting. :oops:

Any advice on editing would be GREAT!!

Thanks again!

[Kathy H]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree especially after I looked around here after posting. :oops:

Any advice on editing would be GREAT!!

Thanks again!
I'm at work right now but I'll try to give it a shot tonight.:D

[rasmussen4]

Okay, I KNOW that park....it's in Lincoln, on A st. right? Used to go there with my girlfriend (now wife) back in college and sit in that little gazebo till the wee hours. I love that little park.

[tracyvb]

I'm at work right now but I'll try to give it a shot tonight.:D

Great, thank you so much. Very much appreciated!

[tracyvb]

Okay, I KNOW that park....it's in Lincoln, on A st. right? Used to go there with my girlfriend (now wife) back in college and sit in that little gazebo till the wee hours. I love that little park.

E St actually, but I don't know if I'd sit in there at night. ;) There were quite a few creepy lerkers while we were taking the pics during the day. The park is very pretty though. It will be even better in the spring!

[antiskeptic87]

Again - love these photos. I had a little shot at it for you (if thats ok?)
I was kind of limited with programs coz I'm at work but I just bumped some contrast and saturation, also sharpened a bit. Also, I'm a bit of a vignette nerd - so I added one to each B&W. You have a real eye for composition!

[antiskeptic87]

Hmmm just looked at my edits again.. possibly a bit TOO much contrast.. but eh, done now! hahah :)

[tracyvb]

I get it. Can I make those fixes with the RAW files, right?

[tracyvb]

hmmmmmmmmm, stupid question but how do you add a vignette? :oops:

[antiskeptic87]

Ooooohh!! Not a stupid question at all!!! I didn't know either up until a couple of months ago.
I don't have photoshop here at work and I can't remember how to do it off the top of my head. (MAYBE ANOTHER MEMBER COULD HELP THERE??? ) BUT - I use a program called PhotoScape at work because it's smaller and I find things like vignette's easier to use. I'm pretty sure Vignette is in the Lens Perspective (or a similar name) option on photoshop.
On PhotoScape (which is also free), the Vignette is the filters section.
Also - I don't shoot in RAW so I'm not sure if you can edit them the same way. I really need to learn more about RAW.. Sorry, just realised how vague this whole post has been! Hope it has helped you in some way!

[tracyvb]

You have, thanks so much! I LOVE THIS FORUM!!! I took an online photography course, should probably go for Photoshop next ... maybe in my "spare" time, lol

[antiskeptic87]

Oh online photography course? I'd really like to do one of those! Just to get the basics and stuff, you know. Who was that through?
Oh and I love this forum too!

[rasmussen4]

E st., right! :) Anyways I always loved that park. Yea, shady characters aside, it was a nice isolated little area at night. I always liked wandering around downtown after hours, though. As for online photography courses, antiskeptic87, I can personally recommend proudphotography.com (there's a link to it in my sig), since I work as one of their instructors. So if you're looking, check them out!

[tracyvb]

I took an online course through Southeast Community College. Here is the link. It was REALLY pretty basic though but you know enough to get more questions answered. http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/oic/render.cgi?webname=sccne&handler=courseListDepartment&departmentCode=DP

If you already get the basics (exposure, compensation) they don't really get into much more detail than that unless you ask specific questions. I would have liked to learn more about lighting and they didn't really get into any details.

[sinitry23]

Very nice for your 1st E-session.

The 3rd pic in my opinion is a bit under exposed and the tree to the right is distracting. Maybe you can remove that tree in photoshop and keep the moon?

[tracyvb]

Very nice for your 1st E-session.

The 3rd pic in my opinion is a bit under exposed and the tree to the right is distracting. Maybe you can remove that tree in photoshop and keep the moon?

I can't wait until I have time to try out everyone's suggestions for pp. Thanks for your input!

[rammy]

Nice start, well done. Some C&C for you, hope you take these as ideas for the future :-)

1) Lead in from left so swap the positions and have that dead space on the left leading to the couple. Not a good wall, style wise - Line going through the middle of the frame and the boring brickwork.
2) Pole sticking out the back of the ladies head. Her right arm looks weird, see what I mean? It does not connect to her body in the shot and she looks like she is reaching. Arm around the waist probably better? Couple too central.
3) Nice idea - Couple is too centred and as other post, underexposed and distracting tree on the right. Tilted horizon. Maybe too far away? You can "just about" tell it's them. Maybe a little closer. Also get very close, shoot up at them with the moon in the top right?
4) Separation - The edge of the guy is blending into the bush on their right. Have them at the top step with the lighter background. He could have worn shoes ;-) :-)
5) Nice idea - Needs straightening and would be my fave one.

Agree that they all need contrast adjustments, Try the "Auto" button in Camera Raw first to learn what sliders are changed, note them down. Then reset and go back and move each slider one by one and learn what effect they have on the image.

Hope suggestions taken as IMHO :-)

[wernersl]

K, couldn't figure out how to get them all on one page so a couple more
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Hope you dont mind the edit, but gave this shot a little more pop. Was a bit flat. Adjusted levels for contrast, boosted saturation and dodged the bushes a little. the skin tones are still a little too hot, but you get the idea.

[wernersl]

K, couldn't figure out how to get them all on one page so a couple more
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tried to save this one...

[tracyvb]

Hope suggestions taken as IMHO :-)

Thank you so much! I appreciate all the comments! It's so hard to get used to seeing some of those things until you get an expert eye on things. Practice, practice, practice I guess!

I guess I should have had my 3 yr old look at all of them... I really liked one shot of the two of them and he walks up and says "look he has antlers" sure enough a huge merger I didn't even notice right away! stinker!

Thanks wernersl for the example. I can't wait to go home and try myself!

Thanks again!

[antiskeptic87]

E st., right! :) Anyways I always loved that park. Yea, shady characters aside, it was a nice isolated little area at night. I always liked wandering around downtown after hours, though. As for online photography courses, antiskeptic87, I can personally recommend proudphotography.com (there's a link to it in my sig), since I work as one of their instructors. So if you're looking, check them out!

Thank you - will do! Thanks also for your link Tracy.
(Will be looking forward to seeing more of your work over the next few weeks!)

[zimbo10]

Hi, i find the easiest way to get a Vignette is to use Apples Apertuer software. It is much easier to use than photoshop. good luck

[wernersl]

Thanks wernersl for the example. I can't wait to go home and try myself!

Thanks again!

not a problem.

[Morto]

hi Tracy, I was playing around with the different effects in photoshop, hope you like it.

[tracyvb]

ohhhhhhh, I do!! How did you....???

[Morto]

Thanks Tracy,

It was pretty simple.
Select a section from the picture and use the Blur effect.
Then, I selected where the hand is and sharpen the selected area.
After that, I used the lens correction from the distort effect and
changed the vignette amount, so it gives the shadow feel around the picture.

There is many different effects you can do with PS.
I am a beginner myself in photography and photoshop.
Hope we can learn more from each other.

Good Luck,

BTW, love the compositions on the set that you did.