Before & After Shots!

[Petracsr]

Hi all,

The idea is to have a set of images here having a pic right out of camera (JPG may be, if not RAW, as it would be too heavy) and then the same pic after its processed. I feel that it will help beginners (Like me) to improve considerably. Something like the home-work I was given by Colin, in which I failed miserably.
Suggestions are welcome.

Very good idea, Sahil.

[Ashwin]

Here's a before / after of your favourite from my 6 of the best series ...

Hi Colin,

Have you processed on the same image ....?

[Colin Southern]

Hi Colin,

Have you processed on the same image ....?

Hi Ashwin,

My shot came from the original RAW -- the "before" shot posted here was a JPEG conversion (with no adjustments).

[Clactonian]

Original



.. and finally



Converted to b & w using channel mixer, cropped, then selective contrast enhancement using unsharp mask.

[jiro]

Very nice work on the post-processing, Mike. Well done.

[Klickit]

Lovely work, Mike, as the original is well composed and interesting and you have taken that image to a whole different level.

[Sahil]

Hi Mike,
Thats a real good processing. I like the "perfect" cropping. & the way you have brought out the roads.

[Aceben]

Clactonian, I must say you did a very good job on the unsharp contrast increase, could you explain how exactly you did it?

And heres my attempts at the image posted by you:
Org:

Color correction:

BW:

[speedneeder]

Good idea Sahil! I'm just starting to dabble in PP myself. I don't know if everyone needs to put there before and afters into the same thread though. But any before and afters in the PP forum would be very interesting to me

[Sahil]

Thanks, Brian, for liking the Idea.
Being a new one to photography, I have always been keen to see how much an image can be improved by virtue of PP. I am sure all beginners will be benefited with it.
& you can very well start a new thread if you wish to, no hassles
But you are very much welcome to post here....

[Clactonian]

..... could you explain how exactly you did it?

Can I firstly say that it was the path winding into the distance that caught my eye, and that I took the shot with a black and white conversion in mind (that goes for at least 75% of my shots). I was also limited by the lens I had with me on camera .. an 18mm-50mm zoom, hence more sky than might be required in the final image, although I wasn't too worried as the sky contained plenty of cloud which could be enhanced for a b & w image. I had no filters either so I made sure that the overall exposure gave me plenty of details in the sky, even if the foreground was a little underexposed.
The first decision then in edit was the crop. Clearly the path was the feature of the image so I decided to crop out most of the sky to give emphasis to the path.
I then carried out the conversion using the 'Channel Mixer' tool in Photoshop (most other editing programs have similar features), first checking the 'monochrome' box, then adjusting the channel sliders until I had a good balance and range of tones in b & w.
The original scene already had a good tone differential between the ranges of mountains so needed no adjustment, but I would have faded the ranges out into the distance had it been necessary.
Now here is where I get lazy and skated around the established method of using adjustment layers. And yes I know all the reasons for using them, and on occasions do, but rules are made for breaking!!
I worked my way around the image, starting with the path, selecting various areas using the 'lasso' or 'magic wand', feathering the edge of each selection (the amount of feather depended on the size of the selection and scale of the adjustment), adjusted the brightness and contrast using the 'levels' tool before finally using the 'unsharp mask' filter to make it 'pop'. I start off with an 'amount' of 50%, radius 50px and 'threshold' of zero. This can then be brought back to suit. (I usually keep the 'amount' and 'radius' similar). By increasing the 'threshold' to 1 or 2 I can soften the effect. If I think even more 'pop' can be achieved I will repeat the 'unsharp mask' to a greater or lesser extent.
Finally I use the 'smart sharpen' filter to produce my output sharpening.
It sounds long winded and tedious, but can in fact be done very quickly. Hope this helps.

[Clactonian]

Using the same method as described previously.

Original


Edit

[Katy Noelle]

What a great thread! Mike, I've admired this photo since I first came to CiC. It's very interesting to get "the making of..." Very helpful!

edit: I should say, "THESE shots" since you just put this other photo up while I was working on my comment.

[Aceben]

Thanks a lot Mike! I have used my self the contrast enhancing unsharp technique but didn't realize you could lasso parts and make some parts of the image stand out!

What is the advantage of using Levels instead of Curves to adjust contrast?

But I have to say you remind me of a Digital Ansel Adams

[Aceben]

Using the same method as described previously.

Edit

So now I did what you said and here's a version of your Razor's edge picture by the same method and also burning:


Here's just a version done with curves tool only:


Your picture is simply amazing to work with!

[Clactonian]

What is the advantage of using Levels instead of Curves to adjust contrast?

It is less fiddly but in truth you have more control in Curves.

I'm sure the purists are shuddering at this advice, but it works for me!!

Thanks for your comments ... have fun.

[maloufn]

Using the same method as described previously.

Original


Edit

Mike what a great B&W. What a dramatic difference from colour to B&W. Interesting you said you take your coloured pictures with B&W in mind. What is it that determines in your mind a B&W photo?? Just interested.

Nasseem

[maloufn]

Hi all,

The idea is to have a set of images here having a pic right out of camera (JPG may be, if not RAW, as it would be too heavy) and then the same pic after its processed. I feel that it will help beginners (Like me) to improve considerably. Something like the home-work I was given by Colin, in which I failed miserably.
Suggestions are welcome.

Sahil,

This is agreat idea. I think we can all benefit from how others do their PP. One thing we will realise is that there are many ways to skin a cat and that in itself will be an eyeopener. Good thinking.

Nasseem

[Black Pearl]

Looks like a laugh:

A shot I 'played' with a little while back.

Original (in case you couldn't tell)


...and the aftermath

[Clactonian]

I'm surprised you weren't arrested Robin!!
Your edit certainly emphasises the stark and rather grim architecture. You did a good job cloning out the clutter.