Post Processing SOS

Hello everyone, I have posted a couple of Barn Owl shots and recieved some criticism for my photoshop work. I have to say this is probably fair as I am quiet random with my approach. I shoot in raw and process to Jpeg in elements 9. I try to just make the picture look natuaral and balanced.

I was hoping for some advice \ tips.

Merry Christams everyone

Thanks

Phil

Thanks Jules - but I can't think what you mean!

Phil - feel free to give me a call if you wish - I don't bite much, though I have taken to beating 'layers' in to folk with an iron bar just of late

Question is should I be speaking to Jules?

(First time I have heard Mr.A being described as cuddly mind)

Difficult to offer advice here.. as stated it is better one to one, also when you post try to give as much info on the processing as you can... there are a few tricks that can be quite easy to pass on....

Phil H

LoL... but I am a smidgeon taller than Danny . Seriously I would have been offering workshops had I not kept the day job, which means I am going to be a very busy Yoda...

One of the first things to remember is that although you can compensate a bit in processing nothing can beat getting the majority right in camera....

Mr A is highly recommended, and you can always fire of a PM to me if you need the gentle approach....

Thanks for all the help. Really appreciate you all taking the time to respond. Got over excited at the weekend and bought a new lens (this has wiped me out for a while) so another workshop is out for the immediate future. I only really use photoshop for a bit of cropping and finish the image try to give it that polished look but I struggle to get the colour balance right. Sounds like layers is an area to explore. Going to spend some time, reading and practising and see how I get on.

If I am still struggling then a workshop maybe the way foward.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas again

Have a good browse througn the Matt Hagadorn (?) [ Instruction/Articles menus on the NPN main banner] from the early 2000s

eg

There was a lot of stuff about digital processing in that period of the website

Phil, I have not been doing this for very long (am only 15), and have only been shooting raw for about a year now. I find that levels is very helpful, and I am yet to learn how to use layers, although I know I should. I just find that you can end up spending so long in front of a computer and I hate that - I enjoy taking the photographs and so I try to spend as little time as possible in front of a computer.

Oscar

jules as cuddly as grizzly with a sore head !!!!

LOL not you jules !!! i still have the mental scar's from one of mr astburys sessions



Mark.G

P.S
(Jules is correct one of andys courses would be perfect for setting a good foundation on PP).

Phil - Take a look at the npn instructional articles - there's a link somewhere among the menus at the top of the forum.

The rest...Dear me .... Masking and layers!! You shouldn't have much call for those in wildlife photography... Setting the colour balance correctly (either in raw or ps) and a bit of levels/curve tweak and some sharpening is all you should need in photoslop - unless you're going for the overcooked hdr look that is!

Oscar dude, your 15?! your pictures look awesome. You should be proud. I loved the bittern in the snow. I have been experimenting with levels, setting black, white and grey.

Jules I sold my 70 - 200 and bought a 300 2.8 (why im broke) only used it briefly as the weather has been shocking. Hoping to get out and about soon, only 10 more days of christmas hols left then back to work.

Thanks Phil - for levels, I usually drag the little thing to where the black line stops (I hope you can understand this as I cannot work out how else to explain it!)

Oscar

Thanks Oscar, will try that

Phil, drag the black and white sliders while holding down Alt key, this way you will see where they are being clipped and you can adjust accordingly (or mask out those areas...tsssk). :)

Thanks again everyone, going to play with levels and post a shot and see what people think, don't hold your breath though may not arrive before christmas!

Merry Christmas