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Thought I’d post this one mainly for “newbies” (I hate that word!)
When I first joined epz I, as I’m guessing many of you did, looked on in awe at what certain people where posting on here. “They must all have really good cameras, as my shots never look like that!” etc…
Slowly the penny dropped, and I realised that there were very few images that caught my eye straight out of camera. After lots of reading and messing with layers and curves I started to get the look that had inspired me originally, and gradually developed a workflow.
Obviously there are times when you don’t have to do anything to a shot except sharpen and resize for web, but In all honesty they are far and few between for me!
As it’s Friday I thought I’d post a before and after to illustrate my point (which will get slammed by the purists, but hopefully help some people 
)
This was a shot from last year, I was happy with the composition (pretty much always got to get this right as cropping to suit doesn’t always work), but the exposure was poor.
I opened the RAW file V2 and did no more than 15mins photoshop work to get V1. I’ll admit it’s a tad over the top, but as you are reading this, it must have caught your eye!
If you got this far thanks, and if you are a beginner I hope it has shed a bit of light!
Rgds
Paul
| Camera: | Canon EOS 40D |
| Lens: | sigma 10-20mm |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | Before & After |
| Username: | 
pmorgan |
| Uploaded: | 15 Jan 2010 - 4:41 PM |
| Tags: | Digitally manipulated, Landscape / travel |
| VS Mode Rating |
101 (100% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | 109 |
 | Variant - Before and After |
Comments
Just shows what can be done. I think it's a prime example of the major "pro" of using digital... Can't think of any "cons"...
I remember reading your tutorial on the hay bale images from last year...
Keep 'em coming. The new people (and regulars!) will find them invaluable.
Chris
Paul, its a great shot v1 and v2, love your processing, I think you should have done a 1-10 of the process. I for one would love it
Adrian
Nobody likes a clever ****, sadly you can't be fobbed off with that insult your images are just too astonoshing and even with the dvd I struggle to follow the tangled web you weave and the magic that somehow changes a boring underexpose looking image into this cracker.
Don't take it personally but I hate you Mr Morgan.
Dougie
:
In the hate club here!! LOL! 
Buy the DVD people, best tenner you will spend on photography
Thank you for this it gives us newbies hope at getting things right and it shows that we can get there
Its very helpful not only to "newbies" but to the rest of us too.
I find, the same as you, that I look at some of my RAW files which are downloaded onto my computer and think they are rubbish. But being RAW, the processing "brings them out". I've now discovered not to be too hasty to delete images that at first I think are rubbish but to wait over a period of time, maybe months, and go back to them and you often see something in them that you didn't see at the time - if you know what I mean!
Great shot to boot !
Quote: I realised that there were very few images that caught my eye straight out of camera
... there must've been 'one-or-two' on the back of our cameras that day in the Clachaig then, judging by your open mouthed reaction and the profanities you came out with 
You'll never get invited to join the Magic Circle if you keep giving away your secrets
Thanks Paul and yes you should have posted this example because it does help people.
Its a superb image that may stop me chimping and deleting on the spot or better still "menu" "format".........gone
Brill.
One question though, do you get any noise or artifacts when pulling out the exposure?
Ian
Thanks everyone - much obliged!
Cheers Rich for the GEA - very kind!
and too Ian for the UA
Quote: there must've been 'one-or-two' on the back of our cameras that day in the Clachaig then, judging by your open mouthed reaction and the profanities you came out with
Fair point Paul however mine do sometimes look superb on the back of the camera, then I get home and load them up and....
Quote: You'll never get invited to join the Magic Circle if you keep giving away your secrets
Just think of me as the masked magician - exposing the secrets to make everyone push the boundaries and find newer and better illusions!
Quote: One question though, do you get any noise or artifacts when pulling out the exposure?
Ian
Only if I push things too far Ian, but usually not un-salvageable
Thanks again everyone
Rgds
Paul
The difference is substantial and I almost thought v2 was in mono, so it shows a photographer may need to gain a few Photoshop skills to bring out the potential of the RAW image.
I think ( though I'm not 100% sure ) the screen shot is based on a jpg processed image within the camera whilst the downloaded RAW version ( as you know ) is the 'digital negative'. This may be the reason why the screen image is so impressive. Also your photography is rather impressive.
Alan.
Great example and write up Paul. The magic of layers and curves.
Dont play yourself down to much, the true essense of photography is Composition in what we allow the viewer to see and exposure in how much detail we show them. That is a talent on its own! The PP is just a special little bonus. Great work.
Danny.
Done it again, Paul!
Truly excellent work.
IMHO, it's the final image that counts, and not how many or which tools it takes to achieve it!
Have another medal to add to your collection!
This is a gorgeous image.
Cheers
Bill
Thanks for sharing Paul... made me realise not to bin so many raw's to start with oh and that I have a lot to learn in ps.
Anyway for what its worth I purchased your dvd and found it helpful to the point I always process with lab colour but again have a lot to learn.
Oh and top quality image, great sharpening!! ;-0
Regards
Tim
Wow, what an amazing piece of work. Thank you for sharing it.
Angi
Amazing image before & after is something I can only dream of!
Its a fantastic shot Paul and thats initially down to a very good composition. Without that any amount of processing wont achieve a good image. It is so refreshing to see someone with your skill willing to be so open with their techniques. As far as giving secrets away yes others may copy your processing but you have a natural talent as a foundation and that can never be given away. Respect to you.
Derek
Cracking shot and result. Many thanks for showing what can be achieved, i'll be purchasing the DVD. Chaz.
Well done Paul...appreciate the assistance you are giving to all.Excellent result from the original.
Tom.
You say you use layers and curves , etc. I not sure what all that means. This shot is a winner in my eyes because I did not know it had been processed unless you had explained. Also you had not done that daft process where the water look like mercury? I like V1 and 2 equally. I think photoshop should be an enhancer otherwise it is in a completely different genre and should be viewed as such. I like it very much
Well it caught my eye Paul and you've provided a great insight into your processing.
Darren.
Nice to see this sort of thing - very revealing!
Michael
Another outstanding image Paul, hope you a good supply of those DVD's ready
regards
Clive
Thank you so much for this. I feel so pathetic with the amount of work that needs doing to my shots. This has been such an encouragement.
Helen
Well Mr Morgan, giving away your secrets now !!
Great result mate!
Scotty
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