This is my second submission for XDrive Photo Lesson 14 – Post Processing.
I decided to try post processing again: (1) randomly process like I always do (2) do it in Raj’s way. 😉
Here is the original photo:
With two LED lights, I thought ISO 1600 would be enough, even though I was using shutter speed 1/1600 Sec., F4 and and in shutter speed mode. (I guess I probably should use manual mode. If I did, I could immediately tell that ISO 1600 wasn’t enough. Oh well…)
And here is the result after I processed it in my usual way.
When I finally was able to see the photo clearly, I immediately got upset with myself. I love this photo; I wish I was more careful with the exposure setting.
Next, I would follow Raj’s steps: 1) Horizon/Level adjustment 2) Cropping 3) White Balance 4) Brightness 5) Contrast 6) Highlights 7) Shadows 8) Saturation 9) Sharpness 10) Noise Reduction. (As I explained before, the first two steps have to wait until later.)
And here it is the photo after my second try.
It looked much better on the second try. I guess the possible reasons are (1) I didn’t check white balance the first time – I didn’t realize it was needed (2) I did double noise reduction the second time: one by using PS noise reduction function; the other by using Dfine (Does anyone know how to use brush with Dfine? I haven’t taken time to figure that out yet.).
One thing for sure is, like Raj said, with a list of the steps in hand, the post processing had gone much faster.
I am convinced and I am happy. 😉
(Thanks to Molly for letting me use her photo here.)
Thanks for visiting my blog.
HHC Blog 
Wow, Helen. You did great. You have a photography room in your house? Molly is a great model with gorgeous hair. In my dreams, my hair always looks that wonderful. 🙂
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Thanks, Lois. We have a very simple settings: backdrops, two LED lights, two strobe lights, and a reflector. The only problem is: no model. ;-( So we don’t use it often. Last time I asked my neighbor’s kid to be my model. This time Molly asked me to take her senior portraits (a real client, yeah!) so I got a chance to play 😉 I took a lot of still photos using the light though.
Molly is very natural in front of the camera. She knows how to pose, which made it easy for me. I learned quite a lot from her.
Good night.
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Wonderful job Helen. Sadly I have not been able to do justice to Raj’s lessons. Hopefully, I shall find some time this weekend.
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Good morning, Rupali. Nov. is a little difficult for me too, since I am doing NaBloPoMo. But I decided that even though I couldn’t do as a thorough job as before, I wanted to do something to keep up because if I don’t, it will be harder to catch later. I think as we grow old, we begin to know how to handle ourselves. Ha.
I am looking forward to seeing your photo. Have a wonderful day.
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Nice attempt Helen! But in this case, the first adjustment would be the brightness. Only after that, I would go for other adjustments. See there are no rules on the sequence, it’s just the guidelines. You can always deviate. Be flexible as needed. Even though the image is so severely underexposed you did a good job recovering it.Btw beyond 1600 ISO image would have noise and softness. The only option for you is our 50 mm prime lens and you could reduce a shutter speed a stop.
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Thank you, Raj. Come to think of it, I probably did brightness first, unconsciously 😉 What happen is that PS Raw development module (the first screen) would remember your setting. So when you open the same raw file on the second time, your previous setting would still be there. Thanks for pointing out it’s just a guideline. It is a good guideline, by the way. I found myself doing more of “straight to the next step” than “wondering and trying to come up the next step”, which is good.
50 mm is another good suggestion. I really should get out of this one-lens mode. Ha.
And if I remembered to use flash, it would be better, too. It definitely showed that I need more practices.
Good night.
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That is so impressive, Helen! I know you are happy, I bet Molly is thrill with the result.
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Good morning, Amy. Molly is happy with her photos. I am glad and relieved 😉 During the shooting, I had learned a couple of things from her. That was a plus.
Have a wonderful day.
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Great edit Helen .. such a lovely shot! Thanks Molly. I can’t wait to try Raj’s list .. this weekend for sure 🙂
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Thank you, Julie. If you are using Photoshop, you have to make some necessary changes; it is not hard to figure it out. Good luck.
Have a wonderful day.
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