Post your 'before' and 'after' pictures

I think I'm going to like this forum. Post-processing can make a dramatic change to a picture. Let us demonstrate it! Post your unprocessed picture (either a jpeg straight from the camera, or a RAW conversion using the standard profile and no corrections).

Here is an example. First, the standard uncorrected conversion using ViewNX 2 software:



and here is my interpretation of this picture:



I work with Photoshop CC and Nik Plugins, mostly using Nik. I don't remember all the details (though I could probably recreate the processing in about 5 minutes), but I think this is what I did.

First, I applied lens correction (geometric distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration) in ACR and changed the profile from 'Adobe standard' to 'Camera standard'. Then I switched to Color Efex Pro 4 and applied Pro Contrast to deepen and lighten the light, Brilliance/Warmth to increase saturation, a touch of Graduated Neutral Density to balance water and sky and the one I like a lot: Skylight Filter, to make the picture look like sunrise, though it was almost 10 am. I also cropped the image a little to improve (in my opinion) the composition.

This one I shot today and was fairly little work compared to others. I opened up fully and captured as much light as possible within my shutter limitation for these shots.

This is the LR import with zero editing.



Lens correction first. Then set the black and white point, kills shadows and highlights to get the tones out, adjust exposure, contrast and WB. Tweak vibrance and clarity while adjusting white and black points to prevent clipping. Apply gradient filters to tweak the sky and lower part separately. To finish; sharpen.



To add; I curved the RGB channel too, which is why the tones pop.

Good topic @Felisek. Lets see what I can come up with.

J-see said:

This one I shot today and was fairly little work compared to others. I opened up fully and captured as much light as possible within my shutter limitation for these shots.

This is the LR import with zero editing.

View attachment 133975

Lens correction first. Then set the black and white point, kills shadows and highlights to get the tones out, adjust exposure, contrast and WB. Tweak vibrance and clarity while adjusting white and black points to prevent clipping. Apply gradient filters to tweak the sky and lower part separately. To finish; sharpen.

View attachment 133976

Click to expand...

I hat to say it J-see, but i like the first one better.

Blended first 2 shots into 3rd shot using PS and Nik.

RON said:

I hat to say it J-see, but i like the first one better.

Click to expand...

The unedited version?

Next time I'll show you my originals first, it could save me a lot of time and effort.

While going back in the history to save the original version for this post I accidentally deleted the whole process history; which is all too easy in LR. Really; TOO easy. But since you like it unedited, I'll save myself the effort of processing it again.

J-see said:

The unedited version?

Next time I'll show you my originals first, it could save me a lot of time and effort.

While going back in the history to save the original version for this post I accidentally deleted the whole process history; which is all too easy in LR. Really; TOO easy. But since you like it unedited, I'll save myself the effort of processing it again.

Click to expand...

LOL J-see. I'm with Ron on this one. The darker version adds a little mystery.
Sorry!

Have spent hours fiddling with some shots just to discover that i liked them better before I messed with them. That is the reason my keeper file gets reviewed every 6months. it is a chance to apply new things I have learnt or correct my past edits. Then, and only then, do i consider printing, which is my ultimate goal for all my better photos.
And remember, it does not matter what we think. You are the ultimate arbitrator of your work. it is your vision and only you can decide it's ultimate outcome. I would say that your low light photos appear to be on the right track and you produce some fine work.

Blacktop said:

LOL J-see. I'm with Ron on this one. The darker version adds a little mystery.
Sorry!

Click to expand...

These are test shots to see if I can shoot everything at night using ISO 100 which is why I get all tones out in post. But I'll store it unedited from now on.

Felisek said:

I think I'm going to like this forum. Post-processing can make a dramatic change to a picture. Let us demonstrate it! Post your unprocessed picture (either a jpeg straight from the camera, or a RAW conversion using the standard profile and no corrections).

Here is an example. First, the standard uncorrected conversion using ViewNX 2 software:

View attachment 133971

and here is my interpretation of this picture:

View attachment 133972

I work with Photoshop CC and Nik Plugins, mostly using Nik. I don't remember all the details (though I could probably recreate the processing in about 5 minutes), but I think this is what I did.

First, I applied lens correction (geometric distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration) in ACR and changed the profile from 'Adobe standard' to 'Camera standard'. Then I switched to Color Efex Pro 4 and applied Pro Contrast to deepen and lighten the light, Brilliance/Warmth to increase saturation, a touch of Graduated Neutral Density to balance water and sky and the one I like a lot: Skylight Filter, to make the picture look like sunrise, though it was almost 10 am. I also cropped the image a little to improve (in my opinion) the composition.

Click to expand...

I really like the "Tonal contrast" filter. Have you tried that one yet?

RON said:

Have spent hours fiddling with some shots just to discover that i liked them better before I messed with them. That is the reason my keeper file gets reviewed every 6months. it is a chance to apply new things I have learnt or correct my past edits. Then, and only then, do i consider printing, which is my ultimate goal for all my better photos.
And remember, it does not matter what we think. You are the ultimate arbitrator of your work. it is your vision and only you can decide it's ultimate outcome. I would say that you low light photos appear to be on the right track and you produce some fine work.

Click to expand...

I'm doing the same. Every so often I go through my survivors and kill what no longer meets my new standards and if I learned a thing or two more by that time, I reprocess those that could benefit of that.

RON said:

Have spent hours fiddling with some shots just to discover that i liked them better before I messed with them. That is the reason my keeper file gets reviewed every 6months. it is a chance to apply new things I have learnt or correct my past edits. Then, and only then, do i consider printing, which is my ultimate goal for all my better photos.
And remember, it does not matter what we think. You are the ultimate arbitrator of your work. it is your vision and only you can decide it's ultimate outcome. I would say that your low light photos appear to be on the right track and you produce some fine work.

Click to expand...

You are right Ron. I was really tempted to go back and re-edit a lot of my earlier stuff, but I don't have time for that. If I go back and want something to print, then yes. I would re do them, but it would be silly to re do it all now, when maybe 6 months from now I'll learn so much more. What am I going to do? Re edit thousands of shots every six months? I would rather spend that time shooting new things.

I seldom do anything involved, but often have to take shots in less than favorable conditions -- bugs, birds, and flowers don't take direction well. I can usually rescue something; I guess this qualifies with the spirit of the thread.

Blacktop said:

You are right Ron. I was really tempted to go back and re-edit a lot of my earlier stuff, but I don't have time for that. If I go back and want something to print, then yes. I would re do them, but it would be silly to re do it all now, when maybe 6 months from now I'll learn so much more. What am I going to do? Re edit thousands of shots every six months? I would rather spend that time shooting new things.

Click to expand...

I have not more than 150 original survivors out of >40k shots taken during the last 6 months. That makes reprocessing a lot easier.

J-see said:

I have not more than 150 original survivors out of >40k shots taken during the last 6 months. That makes reprocessing a lot easier.

Click to expand...

That is where I am at. I do not press the shutter nearly as often as most of you and i am totally ruthless in my winnowing out process so that there are only several hundred photos in my keeper file. And most of my edits need nothing more done to them so are quickly reassessed.

wev said:

I seldom do anything involved, but often have to take shots in less than favorable conditions -- bugs, birds, and flowers don't take direction well. I can usually rescue something; I guess this qualifies with the spirit of the thread.

View attachment 133984

View attachment 133983

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You certainly saved this photo @wev. Really like your result.

RON said:

That is where I am at. I do not press the shutter nearly as often as most of you and i am totally ruthless in my winnowing out process so that there are only several hundred photos in my keeper file. And most of my edits need nothing more done to them so are quickly reassessed.

Click to expand...

I notice I shoot less and less as time goes by. Six months ago I could go out for some hours and get back with 200 shots. Now I'm often gone 2/3 hours and have taken 3 or 4. When experimenting I shoot a lot but I have more than a decade to catch up on all things photography.

Like the thread. Here's one that came to mind.

Before


After


I went cheap on the how-to by snipping the LR history. In reverse order just in case anyone perusing is not familiar with LRs history dialogue.

Original:






What I envisioned:

Blacktop said:

I really like the "Tonal contrast" filter. Have you tried that one yet?

Click to expand...

Yes, I have. Tonal contrast is a HDR-like processor. It creates strong effects and I think it is easy to overcook. But, of course, you can obtain very nice effects if you are not too heavy-handed with it.

I use Pro Contrast almost every time. The "dynamic contrast" slider has an effect slightly similar to "Tonal contrast".