Post Processing Discussion

So, I am in a group on Facebook that discusses photography issues. One such discussion started last night about correcting glare from studio lighting and people's glasses. A few good suggestions were posted about what they should have done and what they should do the next time they photograph someone with glasses. But very little about how to fix in post.

I think people prefer to get whatever shot they can, take it quickly and go fix it in post. My feeling is to try and get a good angle while I'm shooting. The less time I can spend at a computer fixing stupid things like glare, blown out hilights, etc. the happier I would be.

While it's nice having the power of great software at your fingertips to fix things you've done in the field, sometimes it's nice to look at them in Lightroom and not have to do much to them at all.

What are your thoughts on this?

I always try to eliminate the glare on the glasses in the shot, not in the computer. Only real way to do it in PS is to cut paste the lens area out and replace it.

Tilt the glasses a little, raise/lower the light, change the angle of the light....it's all about light angle for the reflection when shooting.

Try to get it right in camera. Use PE to improve the image.

DagoImaging wrote in post #18272454
I always try to eliminate the glare on the glasses in the shot, not in the computer. Only real way to do it in PS is to cut paste the lens area out and replace it.

Tilt the glasses a little, raise/lower the light, change the angle of the light....it's all about light angle for the reflection when shooting.

Yup, my suggestion was to tilt the glasses while others mentioned moving the light to differentiate the angles.

It doesn't take a genius to utilize Canon Utility Software, tethered in live view...
you can fiddle around to your heart's content to get that lighting spot-on.

photosbytw wrote in post #18272462
Try to get it right in camera. Use PE to improve the image.

My Photoshop uses involve mostly converting to B&W using Silver Efex. Every once in a while I need to slightly straighten an image but that's about all I do with single images.

chauncey wrote in post #18272466
It doesn't take a genius to utilize Canon Utility Software, tethered in live view...
you can fiddle around to your heart's content to get that lighting spot-on.

I haven't actually tried that move yet. I'd like to tether my 40D/5D Mark II with my smart phone. That would be nice.

CameraMan wrote in post #18272468
My Photoshop uses involve mostly converting to B&W using Silver Efex. Every once in a while I need to slightly straighten an image but that's about all I do with single images.

That and spot healing tool for specks, dirt or otherwise.

I love the NIK collection. I'm not sure what I'm going to when the latest edition of pscc wont allow me to use

I'll tether in the studio but I've not tried it in the field. I generally carry too much gear with me as it is.

photosbytw wrote in post #18272475
That and spot healing tool for specks, dirt or otherwise.

I love the NIK collection. I'm not sure what I'm going to when the latest edition of pscc wont allow me to use

Looks like I am sticking with PS6 then because I LOVE Silver Efex!!!

Please don't demonise time spent at a computer. Post-processing time is what turns good captures into great images.

Damo77 wrote in post #18272554
Please don't demonize time spent at a computer. Post-processing time is what turns good captures into great images.

I'm not demonizing it. I think it's just better to take the best shot you can with the camera and not have to spend hours fixing it at the computer. I'm all for creativity at the computer. But it starts with a good image coming from the camera. If you're spending 45 minutes to 2 hours fixing it before making a great image out of it then it's not worth it. Believe me. There have been many times I've looked at an image on my camera screen and thought it looked great but then found it to be really bad looking at it on the computer. If possible, I usually went back out and shot whatever it was that I messed up. I did this before I started doing portraits because you only get one take with those for the most part. Try asking a client to come back out and shoot because you caught a glare on their glasses. Even if you do it for free the second time, they may be put off by it. Get it right in camera then do the magic in Post.

I post process everything....everythi​ng. I've yet to have a client photo take more than 20 min and thats at the extreme end of things. If you know your software then it should really take 5-10 min on average.

I have spent 30-60min on a landscape fine art print, mainly because I couldn't decide the direction I wanted to go.

DagoImaging wrote in post #18272635
I post process everything....everythi​ng. I've yet to have a client photo take more than 20 min and thats at the extreme end of things. If you know your software then it should really take 5-10 min on average.

I have spent 30-60min on a landscape fine art print, mainly because I couldn't decide the direction I wanted to go.

Personally...........i​f I take more than a minute or two, I know I did something wrong.

photosbytw wrote in post #18272727
Personally...........i​f I take more than a minute or two, I know I did something wrong.

And it shows in your gallery. I urge you to take more time and pride in your images.