TPF is BAD!!

[carrbowl]

You guys are killing me...I knew my photography skills weren't up to par....now I find out, my post processing, which is basically non-existinent, needs an enormous amount of help (and alot more programs on the computer), I need a web site (which I think all the threads are in Greek, because they sure aren't in English), and I still have to learn how to take better photos... I hope you don't stop the forum now and put me on the "block" list...now I know I bad I am, you better start helping me get better!!!! So where do I start??? Post processing---see the thread...please

[brad]

It'll come in time, Renae... just gotta be patient and willing to learn and you will suck up all kinds of information here. Even the most seasoned pro here (and no, I am not referring to myself) learns something new here now and again.... I know I personally learn a LOT just by teaching others.

[MRCPix]

Renae don't feel bad I don't know any of that stuff either so I just focus on making the best image possible in the camera so I don't have to worry about PP :) although I will admit I do like lightroom.

I have learned a great deal on this forum so don't worry about asking questions you will always get help here.

[my3peas]

yep, renae, stick around and become addicted like the rest of us and you'll surely soak up a ton of info :) And don't be intimidated to ask questions! Everyone here is amazingly willing to help out :)

[mjdmike]

Don't feel alone Renae, I know how you feel. This group has some amazing photographers. Sometimes I hesitate to post my stuff knowing my shots don't compare. But remember, these fine ladies and gents were in the very same spot at one time.

The most amazing thing about this forum isn't the level of expertise, but the friendliness and willingness to share that vast knowledge. The people here are what makes this hobby so enjoyable for me. I love it!

Yes, post processing can be a challenge, but as Mike said, make the shot count.

Keep shooting, keep posting, and ask lots of questions. Someone will always help.

[HeatherLou]

Renea, I was where you were about almost a year ago???? Wow how time flys when your having fun. My photo knowledge has quadrooooopled in that time, and I STILL have lots to go. So.......Read lots, read here lots and post stuff too, only way to get feed back is for others to see it. Practice LOTS! What has really helped me is "hanging out" with other photogs, no matter the expirence level. You can learn a lot, and make some GREAT friends!!!!! Its all a vicious cycle :)

[JPalmer]

Nobody just picks up a camera and turns out ridiculously good work the first time.

And no matter how good you are....there will be somebody better than you with a camera, I promise.

[Russell]

Originally Posted by JPalmer

Nobody just picks up a camera and turns out ridiculously good work the first time.

Except Jason Palmer

[ttusa]

Hi, it's all a learning process and a fun one at that. I'm always learning from my numerous mistakes and of course this forum.

[robert t]

Stay around, I can't speak for anyone but me, I am here to learn.

[Roy]

Get a bigger sponge. I got a small sponge when I started and now I need another one much bigger. This is one great place to learn. A lot of people are willing to help so keep soaking it up!

[Arnor]

Hi Renae,

Originally Posted by carrbowl

So where do I start??? Post processing

6 months ago I hated photoshop and didn't really know what I was doing with it. Couldn't wrap my head around it and just couldn't figure it out. It's so different from all other software I use that it was incredibly overwhelming. Then I shot a retirement ceremony for a friend of mine who was retiring from the Air Force after 17 years as a chaplain. I took this one photo that was just awful, full of noise, white balanace completely shot, just awful. But the photo was of a very special moment, when he received the US flag from the honor guard. Here is the original:


Even after my feeble attempts at color correction, levels and curves it still looked pretty awful. So I got on one of the google groups about photography and got some really good advice from people there, in particular Mike(?) from curvemeister.com. I bought a tablet for my computer so I could use a pen to draw with rather than the mouse (which was definitely one of my problems) and spent hours upon hours working on this photo until I had it pretty much where I wanted it. You can see the final results here http://www.itakefotos.com/showfullimage.php?image=155

I learned an awful lot from just that one photo. I found that it was a huge help to me to take a really bad original that I felt was beyond my capabilities to save and try to make it work. It was a challenge! I have several books on post processing in photoshop, but none that is really good. Most talk about it as side topics. I have some links to photographers on my site (see link above) where I've found useful tips. All the work I did on that photo helped me enormously to get over the hump to get productive in Photoshop. I learned to use the keyboard shortcuts to select the tools, use masks etc. etc. Just take your time to work on it and you'll get the hang of it:)

I don't do this for a living so even if I mess up it doesn't hurt me financially, but for me that's not really the point. I want to become proficient enough so that I can see what needs to be done to a photo and do it quickly.

As I recently attended the radiant vista workshop in Austin, I would suggest you check out their tutorials at http://www.radiantvista.com/video_tutorials/ They are all free and are generally from about 20 minutes upto almost an hour. I learned quite a bit from Mark's photoshop workshop, particularly about making masks easier. Also check out www.lynda.com, you can subscribe to their tutorials for $24.95 a month if I remember correctly and during that time you can watch any of their tutorials any number of times. Total Training also has tutorials but you buy those on DVD and they tend to run about $150 or so, but then you have them and can watch them whenever you want. I find video tutorials extremely valuable for me as I'm very visual (being interested in photography I guess that comes with the territory!<g>) and I can learn a lot pretty fast with video tutorials. This is a site I found recently (may have been mentioned here) http://www.photowalkthrough.com/videotutorials.html that has several video tutorials.

Also check out Barnes and Noble and Borders and check out their photography books. I buy most of my books from amazon.com so I'll go to the stores and look for something good. If I find something really good and I want it now, I'll buy it, otherwise I write down the name, ISBN and author and search for it on amazon. If they don't have it any cheaper I'll go back and buy it or add it to my amazon wishlist.

It all takes time, but it is very much worth it in the end:)

Best regards,

[carrbowl]

Wow...you did a great job with that photo...and you were correct...it was an important photo!!

[Arnor]

Hi Renae,

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Wow...you did a great job with that photo...and you were correct...it was an important photo!!

Yes and that's why I did it. If it had been just a usual photo of a flower or something I would just have skipped it. This photo OTOH grabbed my attention and my friend loved the original so I decided to try what I could to salvage it. In 8x10" at 3' it looks good but move any closer and you see the noise;)

One of the best investments I've made in this whole photography thing was my tablet. I'm really drawing challenged<bg> and with a mouse I'm just horrible. The tablet gives me a huge advantage.

Stick around, enjoy it and have fun:)

Best regards,