Every Image Needs to be Tweaked

 

In today’s world, it seems as if everybody has a camera available to them at all times.  It seems like DSLRs, simple digital cameras, and cell phone cameras are everywhere.  More images are being created than ever before, and most of these cameras available do a very good job.  Millions of good pictures and images are being created every day.  Most people will accept a good or OK image, but with a little extra effort, a lot of these images could go from good or OK, too great.  

The truth is that every digital image can be improved with a little bit of adjustment or tweaking.  Simple adjustments like cropping the image for best size and composition. And adjusting the levels for brightness, shadow details, and contrast.  Improve the color balance, and add some saturation, to take the image from a snapshot, to a piece of art.  Most of this is very easy to do and usually doesn’t take more than a couple minutes to do.  And the more you do it, the easier and faster it will become. You might already have the editing program on your computer, or app on your Smartphone to get started right away.  If you need help selecting a program or app, let me know and I’ll be happy to help.  If you need guidance in getting started, I can assist.

Learn to See through the Camera

These three images were created at the same place within a span of 30 seconds.  All I did was turn 45 and 90 degrees from the first image.  Looking through the camera is different than seeing through the camera.  Some people look for something to photograph, others see the image in front of them.  Learn the pre-visualize the image, so when you look through the viewfinder, you can see the image you want before you press the shutter release.  Now, instead of home to download the images to see if you have anything good to work on, you’re more anxious to view the images you have pre-visualized and see how you can tweak them and make them better.  Learn to see through the camera.

Keep it Simple

 

Sometimes images can be too complicated.  Keep it simple.  Concentrate more on the composition, graphic impact, and visual story telling.  To enhance your image, first make a copy of the images and always work on the copy.  Save the original, and if something so go wrong, or you’re not happy with your enhancements, you can always start over. Photoshop and other image editing software have many different image adjustment and enhancing tools, but they’re not all necessary all the time.  Keep it simple.  Start with levels and get the exposure the way you want it.  Remember, a small adjustment changes a lot.  Then look at color correction.  This seems tricky in the beginning but you will get better with practice.  Then adjust the contrast and saturation.  The trick is to adjust a little at a time.  Do not over do.  Watch for loss of shadow detail and the blocking up of the highlights.  The great thing about digital is if you are not happy with the final image, you can always start over.  Do a little correction at a time and keep it simple.

Inspiration

 

Sometimes we travel far and wide to find inspiration to create images that have impact.  And sometimes we just step out the backdoor and there it is.  The African Daisy was photographed six feet from my backdoor.  Simple Beauty and inspirational subjects are all around you if you learn to see it and not just look for it.  You need to learn to see thru the camera, and not just look thru the camera.  See the image you want first, than see it thru the camera and snap the shutter.  Don’t just look thru the camera for something to take pictures of.  See it in your mind first, and then see thru the camera.  Once you master that, creating great images is a lot easier.

 

Also remember that it’s very rare that a digital image is perfect directly out of the camera.  All digital images need a little improving to make the images great.  Cropping, levels, saturation, and color correction and enhancement, can make a big difference.  It can make an average image something special.

Photography Business Book

   I have been asked many times for advice in starting a studio or photography business.  So I have put some of my thoughts and advice into a book.  This book is not about how to create photographs, but thought and considerations about opening your own business.  Equipment needed, location considerations, and resources to get you started are covered in the book.  It comes in a three ring workbook format so you can add thought to it and develop your business plan of action for future reference.  $29.95 includes shipping.  Email me at bob@claytonphotgraphy.com

 

You’ve taken the pictures … now what?

So you took a lot of pictures at a party, an outing, or on a vacation – Now what? You need to set up a system that you follow each time so you can quickly and efficiently save the images, edit them, and have them ready to print or send to friends and family for their enjoyment. Professional Photographers refer to this as digital workflow. What follows is a step by step system that you can use as is, or adapt to fit your style and needs.
Step 1: On your computer in the folder where you store your images (pictures), create a folder with a name that relates to the images to make them easy to find. Name it for a specific event or date. Such as Party-081909, or Seashore Vacation 2009, or just the date 091909, whichever works best for you? In that folder create a subfolder and name it “all files.” Now copy the image files from your camera or memory card into the “all files” folder. Make sure you copy the files. Do not move the files, just copy the files. Once you have made sure the files have been copied successfully, you can erase the images files in the camera, or reformat the memory card.

** Now would be a good time to backup the file to a CD or DVD, so you have all the images two

places – on the hard drive and on a CD.

Step 2: Create a subfolder and name it edit. Copy the files in the All Files folder to the edit folder. Do not move the files, copy the files. Now do a quick edit of the images in the edit folder. There was probably image editing software that came with your camera, or use one of the many free ones available on the internet like the one from Google: Picasa. I use ACDsee. In the quick edit delete all the duplicate and bad images. Now go through the images and rotate the ones that need to be vertical, so you can view them properly. Some edit programs allow you to do a batch rotate. You can select all the images you want rotated, and they will be rotated all at the same time. Now do a serious edit and delete the ones you don’t want to share or print. Do not worry about deleting them. If you change your mind later you can always get them back from the all files folder.

** You now have all your best images in one folder.

Step 3: Tweak the images to make them the best image possible. The fact is all digital images need to be improved with a little tweaking. It is rare that an image is perfect straight out of the camera. What is tweaking? Tweaking is adjusting the levels, color, contrast, saturation, removing a color cast, cropping, and whatever else you need to do to improve the image. Some photographers create a new folder for the tweaked images. I just use the edit folder, tweak the images there, and no matter what I do with the images, the will always look the same. If you’re not happy with the end result of an image, you can always get the original image from the all files folder and start over.

I know a lot of you are thinking that when you were photographing with film you didn’t have to go through all this tweaking and stuff. You didn’t, the photo lab did it for you. If you have been getting digital prints back for your photo lab that has look a little dull, lifeless, or not cropped just right, try tweaking the same image and having it printed again and see if it isn’t better. A little tweaking can take an average image and make it look outstanding. If you are cropping the image, size it for the largest size you will need. If it’s cropped for an 8x10, you can make smaller prints with no problems. If you crop it for 4x6 you are not going to get good results as an 8x10. Crop for the largest size anticipated.

** Save the edit file to a CD or DVD. On the same disc as the all files would be ideal.

Now you are ready to print and share your images. Don’t let them just sit there on your computer.

If there is anything special you want me to cover, or anything you want me to cover in more detail please let me know.

How to buy a new digital camera

The time has arrived. You are either going to purchase your first digital camera, or update to a new or better model than the one you have. If you a first time digital camera buyer it can be intimidating. If you are updating your current camera, it can still be confusing. There are so many different digital cameras available, and they all basically do the same thing. The least expensive might not be the best buy for the kind of pictures you want to create, and the most expensive could be over kill for your type of photography. And the all features on today’s digital cameras can be mind boggling.
You can pick up a basic no frills digital camera in a convenience store for less than fifty dollars. Or you could go to a high end retail store and spend several thousand dollars. Some of the professional digital SLR bodies alone could cost over five thousand dollars. How do you know what to buy, or which camera is best for you. Research!

Make a list of the features you want your new camera to have. For example:

Does it have a viewfinder or do you use the LCD screen as a viewfinder?
What kind of memory card does it require?
How many white balances are available, and does it allow for custom white balance?
What’s the zoom range of the lens?
Does it have shutter lag, or is the shutter instantaneous?
Does it have a built in flash? If so, how powerful is it.
What is the ISO range?
What kind of batteries does it require?
What all is included with the camera?
What’s the price range for the camera?

If you’re thinking of buying a digital camera, or you already have a digital camera, there is a good chance you have access to a computer. Go to Google or Bing and start searching. You will end up with an overload of information. Would I purchase the camera on line? Maybe? It would depend on whether I have had successful dealings with company before, or I have good reports about the company for reliable sources. After the research you should have enough knowledge to know the type of camera you are will suite your needs.
An easier approach is to go to a local camera store and let a knowledgeable salesman help you with your decision. When I say local camera store, I don’t mean a big box department store with a camera and video section. I mean a locally owned camera store that will give you personal service, and backup what they sell. The only one I know of around the Dayton area is Fairborn Camera, in Fairborn, Ohio.

https://fairborncamera.net/

The first thing they will ask you when you tell them you’re interested in a digital camera is: how do you intend to use the camera, and what type pictures do you want to create? They will guide you from there and help you select the digital camera that is best for you.
If you go to Fairborn Camera, tell them Bob Clayton sent you.

The photograph included with this article was created with a less than $100 digital camera.

If there is anything special you want me to cover, or anything you want me to cover in more detail please let me know.