PS skills and feedback in forums

I recognize that my skill level in PS is limiting my overall photo results easily as much as my camera skills. I have seen images in the forums that also could be much better with some improved processing. Would others like to see more feedback in regards to processing images? Obviously individually we are responsible for seeking increased knowledge and skills. We aren't going to get better at PS or whatever imaging program one uses without working and studying but I think some targeted suggestions on images posted in the forums would give members a guide and make them see their own images in a new light. Does this make any sense to others? Maybe there are other ways to do this instead of in the forums? My guess is that if some of the image prcessing gurus here processed an image from one of the less experienced imaging processing people they would be blown away by the difference and they would be eager to spend more time playing and learning image processing.

Most of the Photoshop issues I see here tend to be of a very basic nature. Usually, unsharp masking is needed, although on occasion, too much is applied. Next would be some adjustments in levels. Yes, curves would be better, but a lot of readers are running Elements 4 or prior. More advanced techniques can be learned as needed, but half the battle seems to be recognizing when they are needed. The other thing is simply experience, which takes time to acquire.

I think a lot of people are hesitant to take someone's photo, rework it and then repost it. You never know how people are going to react. Someone may react well to doing that, while others may get pretty ticked off for. If this is something you would like to be done to your photos, put a line in the post to say so. Your suggestion is a good idea, but I think permission to do so needs to be stated with the image.

I actually think recently it was made NPN policy not to rework someone's photo without asking and obtaining permission first. I agree that I would love to improve my PS skills. I have PS elements 2.0 (I think that's the version). On a couple of ocassions I have sat down at the computer vowing to learn more, and got bored with it. I think upgrading to a better version and taking a class is the only way for me to improve greatly. And no classes are offered nearby. So...I have decided to do the best I can to get the best shot possible in camera (make sure my tripod is steady and my exposure is correct), and then just use the basic PS stuff. I have seen some specific suggestions here that go right over my head, so I don't think that would help me. Unless someone is sitting next to me at the computer I'm pretty lost when it comes to that kind of instruction!

Sorry if this is too off-topic, but for people who can't afford to buy/upgrade PS (like myself), there is a free program called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program, http://www.gimp.org/) which provides just about every feature that PS provides, including curves. And there is an impressive amount of documentation and tutorials online, considering that it's freeware.

But to address the original post, I personally appreciate suggestions regarding post-processing, although I will strive to get shots as good as I can to begin with. Especially since my post-processing skills are even weaker than my photography skills. Also, I have no qualms about others tinkering with my posted images, so I will probably include a statement to that effect with future posts.

My intention wasn't to have people going in and taking peoples files and reprocessing them....although looking back at my post I realized that could be construed as what I was saying. If I was looking to have someone have a go at one of my images I would send them an unaltered file so I would see the full benefit. I know that whatever image processing software one is using it is difficult to master. My statement about seeing what an experienced person can do with an image compared to what someone like myself can do with the same image might inspire us to put in the time to improve our image processing skills. Several months ago I came to the conclusion that my image processing skills needed more work than image capture. I have spent time trying to improve my image processing skills. To me they have improved 100% and that gets me about 10% of the way up the learning curve . But seeing the difference on the same images is inspirational to me and will get me to spend more time and effort working my way up the learning curve.

Bill

Bill. Although I make every effort to take the perfect in-camera image, the basic workflow in post processing for me is to crop, and then go down the line in the adjustments, i.e. levels, curves, brightness, hue and occasionally shadows/highlights. Very rarely do I use any of the other adjustments. Then I clone out dirt spots from the uncleaned camera sensor, if necessary, and any distracting elements. Save it as a TIFF. After resizing the image for the web and saving as a JPEG, I use the sharpening tool before posting.

If posting in photo art... well, now that's a lot more complicated, varied, creative and just plain fun!

Bill, general casual discussion on approaches to working on a given image we might all select as a subject would certainly be enlightening to many, even if they have had a fair amount of experience. Photoshop is an enormously complex tool at the graphics arts level while photographers can get by using just a small amount of its capabilites.

However I think a more serious approach is better suited for a classroom setting with a bunch of personal computers. But online through the lens of a discussion forum the process is likely to be too awkward. Th worst issue is how different each person's monitor might actually be displaying an image with absolutely no way for each of us to really know the relationship between different monitors hundreds and thousands of miles distant. Calibrated or not my experience is monitors do tend to vary as low end monitor calibration tools can give rather crude results. If everyone had $2000+ high end calibrated imaging workstations that could work over an internet connection but not between a bunch of we peons. ...David

There are lots of great "tutorials" posted hereon NPN too , for learning new stuff.
Sandy R

Many of my comments are aimed at technical issues with posted images and less with the aesthetics. I always feel a little uncertain if that's what the person (poster) was looking for, but it's a place I like to go, so I go there. If you're looking for technical/processing recommendations on your posts, say so in your narrative about the picture and hopefully people will contribute recommendations in that regard.

Photoshop is the digital equvalent of the darkroom in the film days. You either opted to let a great lab process your film or you setup a darkroom in the bathroom. PS lets you avoid all that mess. And it is NOT complicated, but the options are almost uncountable. I know of five ways to sharpen a photo in PS/CS2 thanks to colleagues who have shared and I have never taken one class. I rarely burn an image to eliminate glare, I just go into the correct color channel and disperse the glare. Scott Kelby has published innumerable books that are easy to read and practice. No excuse for a dedicated digital photog not owning and using PS/CS2. Not using PS puts a photog at a distinct disadvantage on all the sites I've been in.

And I dislike intensely someone reworking my photos. Grrrrrr. Generally they just recrop or over-highlight the image to their personal satisfaction, of which I have little interest (sorry for the outburst).