POST PROCESSING : PORTRAITS

So, I did a little post processing on a few of my portraits in Photoshop and here are the results!  

Before

After- Image was cropped, lightened and the colors were made more saturated.  My husband will be glad that I erased a few of his laugh lines. 

Before

After: Entire image lightened, colors more saturated and not as dirty looking

Before

After: Brightened and lightened.  Lint removed from black top.

 Before

After: Cropped and lightened, although I don't know if it needed to be lightened.

POST PROCESSING EXPERIMENTATION

I'm no stranger to Photoshop.  Being a graphic designer, you are pretty much required to know how to use it.  I did my first post processing experiment today.  I feel like it's cheating.  You are basically enhancing a photograph that should have been pretty close to perfect to being with, if you know what you're doing.   I have found out in my research, though, that that is not the case.  Even the most professional photographer enhances his photos.  I figured I would bite the bullet and do some experimenting.  I'm going to compare the before and after on three photos from the other day below.

Original Image

Image processed in Photoshop

Original Image

Image processed in Photoshop

Original Image

Image processed in Photoshop

As you can see, the colors are slightly more vibrant.  In places where the shadows were too dark, the were lightened to see more detail.  Where parts of the image seemed washed out, contrast was added.

EXCURSION: DAY 2

Today I went to the same location, again around 9 or 9:30AM.  The sun was trying to break through, but was having a hard time.  It was cold.  I experimented my with exposure time and my aperture, not keeping it the same the entire time.  I took my meter one to two stops down and worked with high as well as low apertures.  It was a nice day to get out.

ISO 100 f/5 1/400 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/14 1/40 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

Same image, slower shutter speed

ISO 100 f/14 1/25 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/5 1/80 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/2000 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/5 1/1000 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/125 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/5 1/640 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

EXCURSION: DAY 1

I took an excursion during my break at work and here are some of the photos I took.  There is a park just under the George Washington Bridge with views of the New York City skyline as well as the bridge.  It was a little hazy today but I got some decent shots.  I'm still learning, plying with exposure, etc.  These photos were taken around 9:30AM.  It was cold out.

ISO 100 f/16 1/50 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/25 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/80 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/80 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/25 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/25 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/40 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/16 1/25 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

I went outside today with JJ to get some fresh air and take pictures.  We have been sick and cooped up for weeks and it felt so good to be outside.  JJ had a blast.  We just walked down the street, past the volunteer firehouse and back.  One of our neighbors that volunteers gave him a candy cane, which he loved!   I love the contrast between JJs coat and the drab background.  Beautiful.  

JJ eating his candy cane, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.  

ISO 100 f/4 1/640 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/640 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/640 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

You can't tell, but we were practicing walking backwards here!

ISO 100 f/4 1/320 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

This one is a little light, would have benefitted from a quicker shutter speed.

ISO 100 f/4 1/320 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/500 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/4000 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

ISO 100 f/4 1/4000 Focal Length: 50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

NEW LENS EXPERIMENTS

These were taken with my new AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D.  This lens makes world of difference.  It does much better in low light situations and is perfect for capturing wiggly children!  I'm so excited!  I guess the word for the blurriness in the background is called bokeh and this lens creates AMAZING bokeh.  We never used that term when I was shooting black and white film in photography class (over 10 years ago).  Ahhh... film.  Those were the days.   Anyway, I think I found my go-to lens.  It's compact, light weight and performs well in more difficult shooting situations.  I have yet to use it outside so that will be a post for another day.  The only con, I guess, is that there is no zoom, but that is not a huge deal to me.  Now, let's check out some pictures.

JJ is NOT a happy Camper in this one, but seriously, check out the background.  Awesome.

ISO 1600 f/4 1/20

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

My Beautiful Clara Virginia.  Look at how clear her face is and how her arm goes back on the distance.  

ISO 1600 f/4 1/50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

JJ blurry in the foreground, Clara sharp in the background.

ISO 1600 f/4 1/20

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D  

The focus point on this one is JJ's ear, which I didn't intend to do but it still turned out to be  cool picture.  

ISO 1600 f/4 1/50

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

Crayons:  focal point at the back

ISO 1600 f/4 1/8

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

Crayons:  focal point at the front

ISO 1600 f/4 1/8

AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 D

SLEEPING BEAUTY

My poor baby isn't feeling well.

ISO 1000 f/5.3 1/6
AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G lens