Warning: 10 Deadly Post Processing Sins

[cmontoya]

---

about sharp lenses, if you shoot at 2.8/3.2/3.5... its not really that sharp and DoF is a bit shallow. Capture in groups and capture moments. That way they won't focus on the grains and pores in their faces. but of course, depending on what kind of shoot are we talking about.

Good tip. I've always been told to shoot at 5.6 or higher for group shots. I better try shooting wider next time. Thanks bai.

[dbgg1979]

Good point sir. Maybe some get offended by the word "Editing"? hehehe... maybe they want to call them "adjustments"

Question lang to both sides, since we have very knowledgeable (phew.. thanks sa spelling firefox) people here, specifically to those who don't do "photoshoping". Are you guys shooting RAW? So you print directly from RAW? Or you export them to JPEGs, without any adjustments and send them to your suking photo print lab? My RAWs look flat and lifeless compared to what I get if I make corrections in lightroom. I'm curious about the work flow of these guys and I want to know. We can start a different thread if it gets too technical. Or do you guys shoot JPEGs right from the start and you just adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation, noise reduction settings of the camera? Some people view this as negative in a way. Because they say you're leaving it to your camera now, its best if you take control of what you really want. But then the only way is to edit it in photoshop or some editing software.

It probably takes a lot of experience/practice to get perfect photos every time. Ok lang siguro if studio because you can always check and redo things, but for wedding photographers... wow! That's why I always look up (idolize) the top wedding photographers here in Cebu.

I don't want to turn this thread into a purist vs non purist rumble. It's pointless. I have seen workflows of those who admittedly use photoshop. But I've never seen a work flow thread made by someone who is labeled to be "purist" or those who claim that they don't photoshop/edit their photos.

You must be referring to darkroom film processing and the variations in the film development, fixing, washing and drying. Dodge and burn in printing and other darkroom printing techniques, warping the paper, tilting the enlarger easel, litho, etc. Yep, these are all film post processing that can easily be done in digital image processing. In film photography courses you have to go through them - not just composition and camera exposure adjustment techniques that are taught in dslr photography workshops. Hence, all professional film photographers know these processes in order to adjust their photos in print and be competitive. Although he mastered pre-visualization techniques in zone system, Ansel Adams utilized several variations in post processing to adjust contrast in print.

And yet today, there are still who abhor image editing applications affirming puritanism and no knowledge of image editing software.

[hayden]

Good point bri

[P-Chan]

Question lang to both sides, since we have very knowledgeable (phew.. thanks sa spelling firefox) people here, specifically to those who don't do "photoshoping". Are you guys shooting RAW? So you print directly from RAW? Or you export them to JPEGs, without any adjustments and send them to your suking photo print lab?

mo shoot ra ko ug raw if I'm gonna keep the picture... If not jpeg lng ko...

I don't want to turn this thread into a purist vs non purist rumble.

that's okay, that was never the point of this thread... hehehe







the bigger picture or the main point of this thread is moderation (in PP). na ang picture will still look "natural"...

[harvz86]

Before I shoot raw so I can have flexibility to post process my photos plus it takes a toll in my memory card, but I realized it was a bad habit to start with.

here's a good quote from a well known photographer from Pinoy Photography

On formals I shoot raw + jpg. But the rest is jpg. If you have good habits in shooting, your WB will be spot on most of the time, and your exposure spot on most of the time. I have tried shooting all raw one time and notice that since I get most of my WB and exposure right most of the time, the reason for RAW does not present it self. It was just added work to PP the raw files. Annoying.

For the formals, I take the raw of those that will be enlarged. The formal shots are maybe 100 or so or 10% of my entire shoot number in a wedding. In that way, the details are preserved and I can get the details out to the best prior to enlargement.

But the jpg engines of today's cameras are really very good unlike those of 5-7 years ago. Even my old 20d's jpg engine is good. All that is left is for the photographer to set his WB and exposure right on before he shoots, or at least, get very near it. PP would be minimal and not time consuming even if mistakes are made. And they will be few. The PP would be only in the area of cropping, minor exposure adjustments, and minor WB compensation. Some sharpening here and there too. The won't be so far off that it makes you spend 2-5 min per image. Seconds is all that is needed even with a single core computer.

The trick is to always shoot right the first time (as best as you can). That means not thinking you will make mistakes. That is the worst mind set of all. Think of your shot as always the best when you click the shutter. Prep it if there is time. Don't click and PP later. Set it up right, and you will work less later. Much, much less. You will save hours by simply setting your WB in 5-10 seconds. These are good habits to live by. Use RAW only because you want to get the best out of the image prior to enlargements. If your mind set is that you need RAW as a safety net after the fact, then that is a poor mind set to begin with. Try shooting jpg and if you find that you hardly make corrections in PP, or the corrections are minor, then you are good. I still have to find a moment I have shot in an event where I said, "Gee, I wish I had shot that in raw so I could color correct or get the exposure right." That shows you that if your habits are good in the first place, the reasons for raw as a fall back to catch your mistakes hardly exists. It exists only because your habits are not good. That means you are not as "good" a photographer as you should be.

Again use raw only to get the best out of the image when you do need it. It is not a crutch for you to fall on because you were sloppy or you were not prepared.

If you shoot like you would shoot a positive film or a slide film, you won't use RAW as a haven to catch your mistakes. Use only RAW because you want to get the best out of an image. Birders and landscape shooters have a very good reason to go raw all the way. Bird feathers and the detail of leaves, grass in landscape are compelling reasons to go 14-bit and getting them all out to TIFF, then maybe jpg before the print is made. To them, it makes a lot of sense. Sports shooters, event shooters, unless in formals or certain situations can live with jpg just fine. This is just my opinion of course.

[dbgg1979]

Ah ok. Same here. When shooting raw, I adjust/optimize the photo depending on what I export it for. Small prints, bigger prints or web.

I shoot in jpeg for personal occasions like birthdays of friends. Then I just use my custom picture styles (canon.. I have no idea what's it called in Nikon) depending on the environment.

Thanks PChan... Yeah. I just realized it now.. this thread wasn't about avoiding PP but moderation.


I still want to see the work flow of a "minimalist, less editing" type of photographer. There's always room for more knowledge. Anyone willing to start a thread about it?

mo shoot ra ko ug raw if I'm gonna keep the picture... If not jpeg lng ko...
that's okay, that was never the point of this thread...

the main point of this thread is moderation (in PP). na ang picture will still look "natural".

[P-Chan]

Before I shoot raw so I can have flexibility to post process my photos plus it takes a toll in my memory card, but I realized it was a bad habit to start with.

shooting raw is not a "bad" habit, of course it's always good to take the "right" shot(that's the whole point in #1)... raw, tiff, jpeg or other formats available..

Ah ok. Same here. When shooting raw, I adjust/optimize the photo depending on what I export it for. Small prints, bigger prints or web.

I shoot in jpeg for personal occasions like birthdays of friends. Then I just use my custom picture styles (canon.. I have no idea what's it called in Nikon) depending on the environment.

Thanks PChan... Yeah. I just realized it now.. this thread wasn't about avoiding PP but moderation.


I still want to see the work flow of a "minimalist, less editing" type of photographer. There's always room for more knowledge. Anyone willing to start a thread about it?

I think mag himo lng ta ug lain thread about "minimalist editing", kay OT na ta.. hehe..
for me that's import->watermark->export.. hahaha

[P-Chan]

-- ako nalng gi connect ang duha ka post --

[dbgg1979]

No wonder nobody wants to start a thread about it. The whole process only takes 3 steps! Everything else, is about getting it right in the first place.

I think mag himo lng ta ug lain thread about "minimalist editing", kay OT na ta.. hehe..
for me that's import->watermark->export.. hahaha

[Minuano27]

I'm not a pro and never will be, so I shoot jpgs 99.9% of the time. And I do only "basic" adjustments - contrast, sharpness, cropping wide-angle shots, and not much else. I only shoot raw when I'm experimenting and/or when shooting under difficult conditions and I need some "maneuvering room" to hopefully salvage my shots.

And I also don't think there's anyone in this forum (at least) who doesn't do any PP in one form or another. So I think the debate of "purists" vs. "non-purists" really isn't a debate at all. After all, the point of the article in question was the excessive us of PP, and not to PP itself.