ISO 200 f/11 1/250sec 50mm
August 16, 2016.
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Category Archives: Luminar
What I Am Working On: Editing Small Details
I was working with this file:
ISO 800 f/11 1/30sec 21mm
In prior work sessions, I had worked with other similar files, creating a few different color interpretations. For this one, I had in mind a black and white version. Something a bit glamorous I was thinking (yup that is what I was thinking) for this photo. On the first layer, I did my basic edits, cropping and luminosity were two of them. Then I created a second layer and went searching for a look in Luminar that would closely match what I was thinking. I found it in the look called “Old Hollywood Glamor”. Close to perfect but not exactly, so I created a third layer. This layer was really about details. Little changes that made a big difference. The first thing I did was to use the small detail enhancer and I bumped the slider up to 23. But really I only wanted those details in the petals of the snowdrops, so I used a brush to paint that in and leave the rest of the file untouched. Then I experimented with the vignette, a lot. I changed it’s location, size, and amount all several times. Here is the final version:
ISO 800 f/11 1/30sec 21mm
If you are new to editing and reading this post, I’d like you to take away the idea that sometimes small things like a vignette can make big changes in your final photo. Vignette controls are often simple and easy to understand how to use. It makes for a good confidence builder as you are mastering the basics and then moving on to more complex editing.
Regardless of your ability and level of experience with editing, your thoughts on this version are welcome in the comment section below.
Cheers!
Added to Cee’s Flower of the Day. Picfair version is here.
What I Am Working On: Subtle Edits
This photo was taken on July 24, 2016. A lovely summer day at the White Cliffs of Dover:
ISO 160 f/6.3 1/600sec 50mm
I pulled it out to edit it this morning. I love this landscape, I find it timeless and calming. I wanted to hang on to those feelings when it came to the edit. What I find interesting is that sometimes subtle edits can be pretty complex behind the scenes. My final edit below has six layers. Separating out edits onto different layers is something that I do frequently particularly with photos like this. The logic behind that being that if there is a particular piece of editing, say the clarity, that was working but now isn’t in combination with other edits applied, it is easier to go back and make that single adjustment if it’s on its own layer. I’ve added the Luminar Look, Touch of Gold Faded, onto this file. I liked the idea of that particular look, but it was too strong for this particular image so I altered the sliders within that look to something more subtle. That is the beauty of presets, they can be a really helpful starting point.
The edited version:
ISO 160 f/6.3 1/600sec 50mm
Your thoughts or questions are welcome below.
Added to Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, All Wet.
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52 Week Smartphone Challenge: Week 18
The topic this week is weight or mass. I’ve taken a few liberties with that. This is what attending Mass looks like to me these days:
ISO 200 f/2.2 1/17sec 4.2mm
It’s like a lot of things for me with this lockdown, it’s not terrible but it’s not great either. As with a lot of things it has been an adjustment.
Cheers!
What I Am Working On: Whatever it is, It’s all at Home
I look through a fair number of blogs, most are in some way related to photography, but most photographers have other aspects of their lives. Ingrid, over at Live Laugh RV, posted about coffee cake and an eagle. I gave the coffee cake recipe a try, a photo of the result is below. The recipe is here.
ISO 100 f/2.2 1/33sec 4.2mm
Ingrid called her post the “Coffee Cake Debacle” and I could call this editing attempt a bit of a debacle as well. The photo has the Luminar Look, Food Photo Enhancer, added to it. With the look added, the edit was a mess, the little editing voice in my head going, “as if” to the original outcome. With the Clarity taken out and the Vignette tweaked, the edit was much better.
The coffee cake turned out quite nicely, I’ll be hanging on to the recipe.
The Instagram version is here:
Added to Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, At Home.
April Squares: Top Shots, Snowdrops
ISO 250 f/11 0.1sec 27mm
Day 30, find other responses here.
Date and Location of Photo: January 30, 2020. Anglesey Abbey a National Trust site with much to see. This particular shot was taken on a visit where I had secured myself a spot of a behind the scenes tour of their snowdrop collection. It was a great tour that I would highly recommend.
Thoughts on the Edit: Luminar Look, Retro Film, added.
April Squares, an Explanation:
When Becky announced that the April Squares theme was going to be “top”, I thought it over and then sent her a message, then pitched my idea. She was open to my theme within the theme and the result is my response to the April Squares challenge.
I move a lot and I have a move pending. I’ve lived here in England for about four years and will be heading to the United States. Exact dates to be determined, given the current world situation, details have yet to be worked out. My April Squares is a “top shots” reflection on the last four years. Each square represents some moment or place that was meaningful to me. They are in chronological order moving forward in time. I’m attempting to post every day. All photos will be edited in Luminar 3. I hope you enjoy following along, I’ve enjoyed the process of creating. Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.
Cheers!
April Squares: Top Shots, Auschwitz
ISO 25 f/2.2 1/1221 sec 4.2mm
Day 29, find other responses here.
Date and Location of Photo: Dec 21, 2019. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. It was a sad visit, but I felt that it was important to pay my respects.
Thoughts on the Edit: Luminar Look, Expired L9, which is an expired film filter, chosen to give the photo a documentary feel.
April Squares, an Explanation:
When Becky announced that the April Squares theme was going to be “top”, I thought it over and then sent her a message, then pitched my idea. She was open to my theme within the theme and the result is my response to the April Squares challenge.
I move a lot and I have a move pending. I’ve lived here in England for about four years and will be heading to the United States. Exact dates to be determined, given the current world situation, details have yet to be worked out. My April Squares is a “top shots” reflection on the last four years. Each square represents some moment or place that was meaningful to me. They are in chronological order moving forward in time. I’m attempting to post every day. All photos will be edited in Luminar 3. I hope you enjoy following along, I’ve enjoyed the process of creating. Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.
Cheers!
Wordless Wednesday, Ngorongoro Crater
ISO 25 f/2.2 1/1748sec 4.2mm
Photo taken December 12, 2017.
Cheers!
April Squares: Top Shots, St. Albans Cathedral
ISO 32 f/2.2 1/100 4.2mm
Day 28, find other responses here.
Date and Location of Photo: October 26, 2019. St. Albans Cathedral. The town of St. Albans has a long and interesting history, so it’s a great place to explore. On this particular day though, we had tickets for the tower tour and also took the floor tour at the cathedral. The cathedral had recently opened a display on the history of the cathedral as a place of pilgrimage, and we looked through that as well. The weather that day was terrible but we got a lucky break in the rain and were able to pop out and take a few photos from the top.
Thoughts on the Edit: This file has the Luminar Look, Mono, added to it. It’s a black and white filter that I then set to 38%. Mixing color and black and white in my edits is something that I often enjoy experimenting with.
April Squares, an Explanation:
When Becky announced that the April Squares theme was going to be “top”, I thought it over and then sent her a message, then pitched my idea. She was open to my theme within the theme and the result is my response to the April Squares challenge.
I move a lot and I have a move pending. I’ve lived here in England for about four years and will be heading to the United States. Exact dates to be determined, given the current world situation, details have yet to be worked out. My April Squares is a “top shots” reflection on the last four years. Each square represents some moment or place that was meaningful to me. They are in chronological order moving forward in time. I’m attempting to post every day. All photos will be edited in Luminar 3. I hope you enjoy following along, I’ve enjoyed the process of creating. Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.
Cheers!
April Squares: Top Shots, Longstowe
ISO 320 f/5.6 1/100sec 19.6mm
Day 27, find other responses here.
Date and Location of Photo: September 29, 2019. Longstowe, in the Cambridge area. Another of the many English countryside type photos I have in my files from the last four years. These cows seemed very interested in us so I was glad there was some water between us.
Thoughts on the Edit: This photo was taken with my point and shoot camera, so the original file is in jpeg format. So, the blown-out sky could not be salvaged unless I was willing to attempt a full sky replacement. I know that’s a commonly used technique these days, but I’m not a fan of it generally speaking. Also, for this image, the lack of an intriguing sky doesn’t really bother me. The file has the Luminar Look, Dramatic Landscape, added to it.
April Squares, an Explanation:
When Becky announced that the April Squares theme was going to be “top”, I thought it over and then sent her a message, then pitched my idea. She was open to my theme within the theme and the result is my response to the April Squares challenge.
I move a lot and I have a move pending. I’ve lived here in England for about four years and will be heading to the United States. Exact dates to be determined, given the current world situation, details have yet to be worked out. My April Squares is a “top shots” reflection on the last four years. Each square represents some moment or place that was meaningful to me. They are in chronological order moving forward in time. I’m attempting to post every day. All photos will be edited in Luminar 3. I hope you enjoy following along, I’ve enjoyed the process of creating. Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.
Cheers!
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