Photo Editing + Photography Techniques HELP PLEASE! :D?
Happy 2012 Everyone , wish you a great year ahead!
I have a Canon 450D & I love Photography. I’m trying to improve my skills somehow.
I’m trying to figure out what are the best settings on my cam to take outdoor pictures during the day in a way that the pictures come out alive & decent.
I also would like to know some of the editing techniques that are used in certain pictures like these
http://www.fashiondistraction.com/2010/11/fastlove.html
Yes I do know most of them use Photoshop but I’d like a bit more details in how to achieve the looks.
And also what is the best way to increase the contrast and exposure without making the picture seem as if it were fake or has been edited on a lot.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150459459571662&set=pu.168699921661&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270200343041640&set=o.168699921661&type=1&ref=nf
Few examples of Photos That I’m talking about
If there are a few websites or YouTube channels the you recommend that would be great as well 
Your advice techniques & help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
None of these are that good, none would have been accepted by any editor I worked for, may be standards have dropped. No control over the lighting has been used on any of them.
When taking shots of models for fashion, cosmetic and magazines the photographer will, almost every time, use soft-boxes or reflective umbrellas and flash, or at least a few reflectors, they rarely (if ever) accept the light as it is. Lighting is so important, PS can’t make a silk purse from a pigs ear, you need good start images, a lot less PS and more camera was always the rule. (Was as I’m retired now).
Check out this site
http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/?__utma=1.1134379909.1325422586.1325422586.1325422586.1&__utmb=1.3.10.1325422586&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1325422586.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=%28organic%29|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=lastolight&__utmv=-&__utmk=43210917
I got a lot of my gear from them over the years.
In this video miss out the beginning part and move onto the shoot, you’ll see the difference that flash can make.
http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/using-the-hotrod-octa-softbox
PS is not the secret, good lighting is. The trick is to get all your contrast and control the shadows in the camera. I can’t emphasise too strongly how important this is.
Usually all I ever did in PS was colour balance, sharpening (usually selective sharpening around the eyes), skin smoothing (usually using Surface Blur) and removing the blemishes that even the best model has from time to time. That’s all that was usually required.
Chris
Posted in photography techniques
January 7th, 2012 at 3:50 am
Happy new year
As you probably know, there are no camera settings I can recommend, as every shot requires different settings, as a general rule I tend to walk round in aperture mode, and just adjust the aperture to what I think each shot requires, and the ISO if the light requires it. Also without knowing what you want to shoot I can’t recommend lenses either. Except the canon 50mm f1.8, which is the best value canon lens in my opinion.
Photoshop skills are also very varied, and it takes a while to get used to the software if you are learning. I would recommend a course at a local college to start with.
Or look on YouTube for tutorials.
Gimp is a free software very similar to photoshop.
Good luck
References :
January 7th, 2012 at 4:10 am
None of these are that good, none would have been accepted by any editor I worked for, may be standards have dropped. No control over the lighting has been used on any of them.
When taking shots of models for fashion, cosmetic and magazines the photographer will, almost every time, use soft-boxes or reflective umbrellas and flash, or at least a few reflectors, they rarely (if ever) accept the light as it is. Lighting is so important, PS can’t make a silk purse from a pigs ear, you need good start images, a lot less PS and more camera was always the rule. (Was as I’m retired now).
Check out this site
http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/?__utma=1.1134379909.1325422586.1325422586.1325422586.1&__utmb=1.3.10.1325422586&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1325422586.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=%28organic%29|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=lastolight&__utmv=-&__utmk=43210917
I got a lot of my gear from them over the years.
In this video miss out the beginning part and move onto the shoot, you’ll see the difference that flash can make.
http://www.lastoliteschoolofphotography.com/using-the-hotrod-octa-softbox
PS is not the secret, good lighting is. The trick is to get all your contrast and control the shadows in the camera. I can’t emphasise too strongly how important this is.
Usually all I ever did in PS was colour balance, sharpening (usually selective sharpening around the eyes), skin smoothing (usually using Surface Blur) and removing the blemishes that even the best model has from time to time. That’s all that was usually required.
Chris
References :
January 7th, 2012 at 4:38 am
Sorry, but in my humble opinion, whether this is an editing technique or just really bad photography to start, I wouldn’t tell you how it was done. Propagating this kind of thing is just bad, IMHO.
To learn about some really good photographic techniques, try these links for good solid information and tutorials.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/#
http://www.mccordall.com/photography/
These two should get you headed in the right direction. As for the secret to not over editing a photo, it’s simple. Capture a good image to start with and then do the minimum editing to get it perfected. Then resist temptation to mess with it unless you are trying for some artistic effect. Good luck, I hope this helps your photography.
References :
Me, myself and I.