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#1 |
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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I searched the forums to see if there was already a thread dealing with this topic...I didn't see one.
When developing traditional film, photographers had various techniques to improve photographs that were less than ideal in exposure or some other feature. I see these "simple" enhancements (read not going overboard) as part of the art and skill of photography. One of the simplest things would be improving a composition through cropping. Another would be fixing slight exposure problems. These kinds of things are considered acceptable (correct me if I'm wrong, Sage) with the current Photo of the Month contest rules. I believe the rules were different in the past. I started this thread after entering a photo in this February's POM contest. After stating that I didn't think the photos I took today were very spectacular, I posted a cropped version with the exposure slightly enhanced of a cardinal I'd taken through the kitchen window; it got rave reviews...and I was questioned on my original comment of not thinking I had anything special. Instead of hijacking that thread to explore this topic, I decided to start this one. Here is the original photo--not POM worthy as shot: ![]() Here are various cropped versions with the exposure improved: ![]() ![]() ![]() Here I am including the other (cropped) shot I took a moment before of the same bird in a different, more common position: ![]() I actually like this one a great deal too...I'm assuming it is a matter of opinion, but does the unique stance of the cardinal make the photo better than the more traditional stance? (I hope "peeking behind the curtain" doesn't diminish the cropped photo I entered, but I think it is worth exploring enhancing photos, how cropping can enhance a photo, as well as the pose of the subject.)
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"If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~ |
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#2 |
POM Judge & Official Non Gardener
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
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Dap, I like #5 best!
![]() A comment about the first shot - we all seem to put our subject in the center focus box because that's what we want in focus, however, for composition's sake, such a photo screams for cropping as dap knew. For the sake of simplicity in cropping, imagine two diagonal and two horizontal lines drawn on a photo, making 3 rows across and 3 rows down, nine sections. Try to place the main part of your subject, let's say a bird's head, in the cross hairs, usually the upper ones. I'm in bed on the iPad so I can't diagram it for you! |
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#3 |
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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Thanks, Sage. I almost posted both of them, but held back.
Normally, I try to compose my shots already as I'd want them in the final composition, but all too often, I'm just trying to get a shot before something flies away. When the composition isn't right, and their is room to recompose it, as you said, I crop it (to silence the screaming). ![]()
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"If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~ |
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#4 | |
WG Prize & Gift Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Michigan
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#5 |
Grub
Join Date: Oct 2013
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I often do photo cropping and exposure changing, the Snowy Owl picture I posted was not very good, but a lot worse before I cropped it, changed the contrast, and fiddled with it. There are limits to the amount of adjusting and changing I think should be done to a photo, but my photo editing skills are so limited that I never get close to the line, or cross it.
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#6 |
POM Judge & Official Non Gardener
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
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I think not tweaking a pic is like publishing a book without editing. Photo editing is just part of producing the best image for presentation, IMHO.
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#7 | ||
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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__________________
"If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~ |
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#8 | ||
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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![]() When the goal is a natural-looking photograph...not something "overly artistic" (for lack of a better term).
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"If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~ Last edited by dapjwy; 02-06-2014 at 06:37 PM. Reason: clarifying |
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#9 |
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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I *LOVE* that analogy, Sage! Great point!
__________________
"If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~ |
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#10 |
POM Judge & Official Non Gardener
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
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Thanks, dap!
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enhancing, photo, simple |
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