Posted by Mark Zelinka on January 27, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I was wondering how much a super-sharp presentation factors into the selection of weekly picks. Some people use specialized techniques (like Marc Adamus') to produce very sharp posts, while others like myself, who don't own Photoshop (I use Lightroom), can't. So are there WP winners out there who didn't use special techniques?
And a related question - Are there any techniques using Lightroom to get very sharp web posts?
Posted by Dan Borzynski on January 27, 2009 at 5:22 PM
I'm not a moderator, so take this for what it might be worth.
From what I have seen of the editor's picks, sharpness is a factor, but not nowhere near the only or even a prime consideration. I've seen a fair number of images that are somewhat soft. I think it really comes down if there are two equally good images, and one is sharp and the other *should* be sharper, the former would be picked. That is just a guess though.
Composition and eye appeal seems to be the primary factors. There are definitely images I would not have selected as WPs, but none that I felt didn't deserve it - it is more a matter of taste than anything else.
As to your question about sharpening in Lightroom: I haven't got a clue. I haven't used that program.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 27, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Most of Marc's techniques and all of mine can be performed in Photoshop Elements, which is usually $70-$80, with a discounted upgrade path to full Photoshop if you ever decide to move up.
Posted by John Mumaw on January 27, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Lightroom 2 has an Output Sharpening option available in the Output Settings of the Web Gallery module. A bit more info. on that here.
Posted by Lon Overacker on January 28, 2009 at 3:14 AM
Mark,
Dan might not be a moderator, but what he wrote pretty much nailed it. I can only speak for myself and not the other moderators. The pick's are called "editor's picks" and it simply boils down to an image that the moderator (or moderators) feel is the best image in any given week. There's no list of criteria (other than you must be a member and the image must follow the posting guidelines for the particular gallery it's posted in.)
In recent memory, I can't think of any images that were selected for the weekly pick that weren't technically excellent. Exposure control, sharpness, color, contrast are factors as well as composition, emotional impact and the "wow" factor.
There may be 150 images or more posted every week in ES&S and I personally haven't used web sharpness in any considerations or picks. Lighting, composition, subject matter, emotional appeal, etc. usually jump out first (first impressions) If sharpness is noticed right away, it usually means the image is lacking in those former areas and things like sharpness, tilted horizon and hot spots get noticed quicker because the impact of the image just isn't there.
I don't have any specific examples to answer your question, but YES, there have been weekly winners that don't use any specialized techniques. It does happen that an image can come right out of the camera, or off film, and little has to be done other than re-sizing and converting to jpg for web display.
I can't help you with Lightroom, Jim makes a good suggestion with PS Elements.
Hope this helps a little,
Lon
Posted by Mark Zelinka on January 28, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Thank you all for the helpful answers! Elements is affordable and a great way to go.
Discussion
5 repliesAnd a related question - Are there any techniques using Lightroom to get very sharp web posts?
From what I have seen of the editor's picks, sharpness is a factor, but not nowhere near the only or even a prime consideration. I've seen a fair number of images that are somewhat soft. I think it really comes down if there are two equally good images, and one is sharp and the other *should* be sharper, the former would be picked. That is just a guess though.
Composition and eye appeal seems to be the primary factors. There are definitely images I would not have selected as WPs, but none that I felt didn't deserve it - it is more a matter of taste than anything else.
As to your question about sharpening in Lightroom: I haven't got a clue. I haven't used that program.
Dan might not be a moderator, but what he wrote pretty much nailed it. I can only speak for myself and not the other moderators. The pick's are called "editor's picks" and it simply boils down to an image that the moderator (or moderators) feel is the best image in any given week. There's no list of criteria (other than you must be a member and the image must follow the posting guidelines for the particular gallery it's posted in.)
In recent memory, I can't think of any images that were selected for the weekly pick that weren't technically excellent. Exposure control, sharpness, color, contrast are factors as well as composition, emotional impact and the "wow" factor.
There may be 150 images or more posted every week in ES&S and I personally haven't used web sharpness in any considerations or picks. Lighting, composition, subject matter, emotional appeal, etc. usually jump out first (first impressions) If sharpness is noticed right away, it usually means the image is lacking in those former areas and things like sharpness, tilted horizon and hot spots get noticed quicker because the impact of the image just isn't there.
I don't have any specific examples to answer your question, but YES, there have been weekly winners that don't use any specialized techniques. It does happen that an image can come right out of the camera, or off film, and little has to be done other than re-sizing and converting to jpg for web display.
I can't help you with Lightroom, Jim makes a good suggestion with PS Elements.
Hope this helps a little,
Lon
Mark