Purple Prickly Puff

[MariaMaria]

Hello All!

Ok so I am trying out Lightroom 5 (Trial) and am editing some images that I took awhile back with my Canon T1i. I now shoot with a Nikon D7100 and hope to get around to some of those soon.

Anyway, this image was shot a 1/250, f 4.5, ISO 100, 45mm (18-55mm lens). The flower was just a few inches from the ground so I basically had to lay flat to get the shot (or as flat as I could get being pregnant at the time) . I wanted to get the perspective of a what a small insect might see which is why I shot it this way. Feedback regarding composition and PP is appreciated!



Above is the original image before PP.



Above is after PP in Lightroom 5. I cropped to eliminate the out of focused flower in the back right, and the bright spot in the bottom left corner near the blade of grass. I also cloned out a color spot (or some kind of flying insect) just to the right of the flower and toned down the whites a bit. I have only been using LR5 for about 3-4hrs now so suggestions regarding better methods of PP are appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mike Buckley]

Sorry, Maria, but I can't even begin to think about post-processing in this case. That's because your subject is the flower and the only thing in the image that is sharply in focus is the foreground two or three blades of grass.

As you get farther along your learning curve, you'll get used to the idea that some shots can't be saved or aren't worth spending the time trying to post-process them. That applies to at least 90% of my photos and I'm relatively experienced. I think it also applies to this image because of the focus issue.

[MariaMaria]

Thanks for the response Mike! Yes, I am aware of the focusing issue because of the angle I shot it at but I wanted to try out some of the editing tools in LR. I'll look for a different image to test with.

[Shadowman]

Maria,

Find a copy of Scott Kelby's LR book, it will provide you with a good starting point in the post-processing basics.

I usually start my workflow (editing) by working on the biggest problem first, but if it's a sharpening issue, I first check to see if there's any visible noise to correct and work on that first. If you do a search on this forum for workflows you'll probably find a reference or two to LR workflows. Hope this helps.

Regarding this image, were you using a tripod or using your elbows as a support? Were you too close to get adequate focus?

[MariaMaria]

Regarding this image, were you using a tripod or using your elbows as a support? Were you too close to get adequate focus?

Unfortunately I do not have a tripod that will get low enough to the ground so it was handheld and I used my elbows. Maybe I was too close. Next time I will try and back-up or zoom out and crop it in closer PP?

Seems like there are a lot of things that can be done PP but sharpening isn't one of them. I will definitely check out some of the workflow suggestions on the forum, thanks!

[Loose Canon]

That's not entirely true Maria.

A good sharpening procedure is essential for the RAW format.

An out of focus to begin with shot cannot be corrected.

[Donald]

Seems like there are a lot of things that can be done PP but sharpening isn't one of them.

Maria - I agree with Terry's comment above. Sharpening is one the findamental processes in post-processing. All RAW files need to be sharpened and all PP packages will have sharpening tools.

But you're not referring to sharpening in this case. You're talking about recovering an out-of-focus photo. And there's no software can help with that problem, I'm afraid.

[Mike Buckley]

The camera was not too close to the subject, as indicated by the sharply focused blades of grass that are closer to the camera than the subject. That proves that the camera was not so close to the subject that the lens could not have focused on the subject. However, even if proper focus had been executed, it is possible that given the chosen focal length and aperture the camera may have been too close to achieve Maria's desired depth of field. We also don't know how much depth of field she intended.

Maria could have used a combination of settings in this situation that would have allowed her to achieve a greater depth of field (if she wanted it) while also hand holding the camera and stopping the action of the flower blowing in a moderate wind. The combination could have included a faster ISO (she used ISO 100), a slower shutter speed (she used 1/250 and a focal length of 45mm), and a smaller aperture if it had been available and I assume it was on her 18-55mm zoom (she used f/4.5).

[Mike Buckley]

A good sharpening procedure is essential for the RAW format.

All RAW files need to be sharpened and all PP packages will have sharpening tools.

All of that is also true for all formats, not just RAW formats. I realize that Terry and Donald know this; I'm clarifying the point just in case Maria is unaware.

[Wavelength]

Nice flower; i too feel the oof issue though; i also feel uneven lighting on flowers rarely works on flowers....

Regards