Show Us Your RAW Conversions, BEFORE And AFTER

Not that this thread needs a random bump, but if you were on the fence about getting into RAW (and use Macs), Apple just dropped the price of Aperture to $79.99 [USD, that is].

http://www.dpreview.co​m …10610appleapert​ureapp.asp

That's one HECK of a price!

Bit of "dust spot" removal, colour temp alteration and graduated filter exposure lift.

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jasestu wrote in post #11589830
Bit of "dust spot" removal, colour temp alteration and graduated filter exposure lift.

Nice way of saving the photo lol. Came out nice and natural.

I'm a total advocate for RAW, so here is a very quick edit I did just for this thread


Hideous before, looks totally hopeless:

That was indeed a nice quick improvement!

Got it to pop a bit more without looking clownish, I think.

waterrockets wrote in post #11601982
Got it to pop a bit more without looking clownish, I think.

How come you were shooting at f25 1/15 for this shot? For a different look?

I'd say for a panning shot (use a slow shutter speed to show background motion blur) and, judging by the scene dynamics, it came out pretty good!

The narrow aperture both enables the slow shutter speed and also helps more of the subject to be in focus.

tonylong wrote in post #11602621
I'd say for a panning shot (use a slow shutter speed to show background motion blur) and, judging by the scene dynamics, it came out pretty good!

The narrow aperture both enables the slow shutter speed and also helps more of the subject to be in focus.

Thanks.

Yeah, I like to use narrow aperture for these shots for the reasons you mention, as well as with a panning shot, I think it looks better to have the background be in focus. That makes the panning streaks more defined, and allows the viewer to make out a bit more of what they are. If the aperture is too big, they're streaked blurs, and not as dramatic. It seems you lose a bit of the sense of speed and motion that way.

For the one below, I went for subject isolation a bit more and allowed myself to guarantee I'd get the shot with a fast shutter. The problem is that everything is frozen. I honestly wish now that I'd taken the risk on panning it and possibly missing the shot. If I'd have gotten this one as a pan, it would have been really cool. But, alas, I'm a wuss. As such, I haven't done much tuning to this one...

Still learning a lot.

jasestu wrote in post #11589830
Bit of "dust spot" removal, colour temp alteration and graduated filter exposure lift.

Very nice recovery! The result looks so much more real and more flattering.

subtle but i think i made it pop a bit more

FSUnoles wrote in post #11637236
subtle but i think i made it pop a bit more

Wow, nice results. I'm surprised the colors came out so much without touching Vibrance or Saturation.

DigiNon wrote in post #11637262
Wow, nice results. I'm surprised the colors came out so much without touching Vibrance or Saturation.

Nah, must have tweaked sats individually with the HSL sliders... Surely?

DigiNon wrote in post #11637262
Wow, nice results. I'm surprised the colors came out so much without touching Vibrance or Saturation.

the curves is powerfull

Here goes ...