Yesterday, I took a walk on the Greenway, miles of paths in the flood plain that have been converted for use for biking, walking, running.
Ever since I received my new camera backpack, which I highly recomment (Lowepro 20L flipside), I've been trying to go for long walks with the pack fully loaded - that's 15 pounds of gear. I walked around and took photos for 2 hours. Lots and lots of crappy photos. Then using the "flipside" feature of the bag to swing it forward in front of me to access my gear, then close it and flip it back on my back. It's a very well designed bag! I also had my tripod with me, so I took it out and pretended I was taking a landscape shot with a temple in it (I'm going to Japan and Bali, and I'm using some "what if scenarios" so I can say, oh , not that lens before I get somewhere and start to get nervous having so many things to think about if I am going to use manual mode at all. And yes, I'm WAAAAY overthinking things, but it's good to go out, practice, and know that I can at least go 2 hours without my back hurting! Yay! Go Lowepro! And the pack is orange, so no losing me--and that's pretty cool.
Anywho, this is one of the crap shots, so I decided to play with two things I've just discovered--one is the Automatic Leveler--Yes, folks, LR5 will level the heck out of your photos FOR YOU! Don't tell me go shut the front door, I'm not lying! If you click on crop, then click on the straighten tool (looks like a ruler), then go to the image and create a starting point and then an ending point, it will magically level the shot, which is great with these types of images where you may be tilting one way or another. A critique friend taught me this. I'm like, whoa, that is soooooooo great. I could have used that a million days ago, but who cares, know now.
The other tool I wanted to experiment with is the "adjustment brush" which is as far as I can tell, a very imperfect brush for applying to certain spots, but it's useful generally--especially when lightening spots that may be dark on a bird, or when a railing has too much shadows. You can apply it directly!
And you can apply color. So I used a graduated filter for the purple above, and used the color adjusstment. Then I used the adjustment brush on the side railings with a new color (and just painted like a brush); then I a new adjustment brush to sign my name!
Oh, and I colored the yellow line. Yes, IT'S A CRAP SHOT! But hey, it's free to experiment!
Fire away if you have questions. I'm not even checking my narrative--I'm sure it needs severe editing, but I'm tired. Enjoy the rest of your weekends.
Huh. I've used the adjustment brush but can't seem to do what you've done. I do love that straightening tool, though. Before, I'd use the other tool that would drive me nuts.
Hmm, I don't think I've used everything you've discovered. I didn't know about the levelling thing in LR, and usually do that bit in Photoshop (which also has a little ruler). I see the update for LR includes a HDR feature, that I'm sure @taffy would be interested in.
I have got Lightroom and bought the book by Scott Kelby....... read the book (excellent) but not really got started... I will....yes, honestly I will...... I must not procrastinate. Great pic btw ;o)
@barneyone I have the same book. I have read one full chapter. Sigh. I'm a stubborn learner. It would have been nice if I'd known all this. It takes so much discipline to read and practice. I might just continue this project with LR readings or things I'm learning on the camera, without a specific subject in mind like I did when I went for my walk. I was just using the equipment as if I were doing something important--that way, the pressure was off to get a great shot. Also, the whole time, I saw 3 hawks take prey, 1 snake, a redwing blackbird (I don't see them often), tons of tadpoles, AND I was just below a barred owl at one point, but I could not locate him for the life of me (would have been my first "owl in wild" sighting). But, I was practicing stuff, so I had to by pass attempting these subjects. I do need to hone the skills if I'm going to be of any quality this summer on a trip I'll never have an opportunity to go on in a lifetime. Sad but true!
@888rachel The leveler I didn't understand until I went back again to see what others were talking about. And @danette totally understand the other tool--I've probably logged about 24 hours solely on that other tool driving me nuts for leveling!! LOL!
I've got questions - well, one really. The leveller/straightening bit - doesn't the Lens Correction thingie do the same thing? I've been clicking Enable Profile Corrections and Remove Chromatic Aberration, hit Auto, and got pretty much what I wanted.
The Adjustment Brush drives me insane. It simply doesn't do what I want it to do ;) About time I got round to reading the Scott Kelby book - I think I've managed half of the first chapter!
April 26th, 2015
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The Adjustment Brush drives me insane. It simply doesn't do what I want it to do ;) About time I got round to reading the Scott Kelby book - I think I've managed half of the first chapter!