Hey there,
I don't know if this topic is already existing or not. Oh and before we start: Please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes I might make ... I'm not a native speaker.
But what I wanted to kow anyways was:
If you edit your photos before you upload them (with Photoshop or something of the like) and somebody asks you how you've achieved this look after the editing or asks you to give him/her a tutorial to style his/her photos like you do, would you tell him how you did it? or would you fear that the other photographer might copy your unique styles and techniques you have found suitable for yourself? Would you maybe also encourage him/her to find his/her own style/way of editing his/her photos?
I'm a beginner and most of my editing is pretty hit and miss, but there are some very inspirational photographers on here and most of them are extremely generous with their advice and are very happy to help.
I am a beginner too but have learnt so much in the past 6 months from people here on 365. Some I have asked and some have just made suggestions. I feel that everyone ends up with their own style and take on photographer but why not help them develop it ? I am happy to share what I have learnt and certainly really appreciate the help and advice from everyone. Hope this helps your question. :)
Hey you two,
sadly, I have often enough experienced it the other way around: Some people don't like to be questioned about their way of photo-editing and tend to reject any attempt at learning from them rather aggressively.
Not here, of course, because I am here for just a few days myself and haven't much gotten into any contact with other members from here so far.
Why I am asking this is: I'd like to show others how I approach photo-editing myself, so others can learn. I wanted to know if others do the same or if I am being some kind of weirdo with doing what I do :-)
Your spelling and grammar are great, Marie. I agree with @dh -- I have yet to come across a 365er who was unwilling to share technique/behind the scenes info on how a particular result was achieved. I know I appreciate getting the info when I ask it from others, and in turn I'm flattered if someone wants to know how or why I did something with one of my own photos. Similar preferences in editing style may produce similar results on the surface, but there's individuality and uniqueness to be found in each capture and presentation.
I'm usually forthcoming if someone asks, but that's mainly because I really don't do much post editing. On the other hand, I REALLY do like people to figure things out for themselves because I think it helps them grow better as photographers. I've explained a lot of how I feel about it in this photo:
So, perhaps if a person doesn't want to disclose how they edited something, they may be not be simply protective; maybe they just want you to grow on your own :)
I am by no means one of the experienced ones on here ..... but if someone asks how I have done something then I always answer unless I had no idea what happened! lol . I also use google to look things up. :)
I am always happy to help. Would find it a massive compliment if someone wanted to know how I achieved a look. As Aaron @grizzlysghost said it is always great to figure stuff out for yourself and of course try and find your style and look.
@lichtecht Probably the person is truly looking for more of an overview than a 'exactly which value do I move the sliders' kind of response. I love when people share before/after images and explain some of the process. I can see the fear of being copied, but I think most people want to learn about how to get different 'looks' as part of the process of finding their own style.
If a person asked, I would try to explain. I have posted images here that did not come out as intended after post-processing (i.e. the black eyed susan's posted today). One idea is to learn things one bite at a time (BTW-that is how you eat an elephant) and master that instead of trying to know everything at once. There are many tutorials/books/videos that a person can get the how-to information for most programs. I agree that an overview of the adjustments used is usually satisfactory. @archaeofrog
I would share how to set up my photo, how I took the photo. But for my editing, I would probably only share my general steps and not my process. Why, because editing needs to be a personal style that you work through on your own to get where you need to be.
I'm always willing to share, especially if someone is new to a particular editing software. I learnt by trial and error, which was great, but there were plenty of times when I wish someone had been there to say 'oh, you don't need to do all those things, just use this tool'...
I share a lot of my editing knowledge, but that is mainly because my techniques aren't that unique, and because it is easier for the person who asks if I just show them, rather than them having to go on the internet and find a tutorial. They would find out one way or another either way. Also, if someone asks for something I came to think of, I share because I am happy they asked :D But of course, if you want to keep it a secret, then keep it a secret. Many bakers have their secret recipes ;)
I've solved the problem now by just giving an overview of the techniques I use, not exactly showing them which slider to move where, as someone here put it. But I've shown the readers on my blog some Before/After pictures to visualize the process of the edited picture.
what editing knowledge i have comes from this site... either folks explaining exactly how they achieved an effect, or giving me the language to help me google and find tutorials on my own... and then of course there's been huge amounts of trial and error... and i am happy to share the knowledge with others...
that said, if someone asked me to help them make a *northy* shot, i'd probably have trouble explaining how to do that ;p
i know i have certain "go to" compositions (light, shadow and line, motion blur, etc...) and certain things i try to achieve in processing - but i couldn't look at a photo and say "set your slider for 7" ;p
but i don't make a secret of what i do and if anyone is truly interested, i'm always happy to explain (and get feedback on how i could have done it better or smarter!)
I have no problem with telling people how I edited a shot if asked but I can say that I edit specifically to the shot so I cant guarantee that anyone who tries a particular technique on their photo will get the same result anyway
You are quite right there, Frank. Like I said, this particular experience did'nt happen around here on this board, but elsewhere. But I am happy to discover that there are so many people here who don't mind being asked about how they approach this subject ;-)
It's actually a great starting point for learning about editing. I have no problem giving information on how I edit photos but don't ask me to give specific settings. I don't keep track of them. I adjust as I go. Remember, every photo is different and what works well with one may not give a good result on another photo. There are lots of great tutorials online. Just google; editing tutorials, youtube. If you watch what someone else is doing that is really helpful, too.
In general terms I will point people in the right direction, suggest ways to try - but photography is an art, not a science, and most people are much happier if they feel they have developed their own style.
Same, of course, goes for shooting technique, as well as processing.
Sometimes, however, you do need to give a bit more away, it turned out someone that followed me on another site was trying to do what I'd done here:
It wasn't until I pointed out it was a 2 second exposure that she twigged where she was going wrong - she was going for ridiculously fast shutter speeds....
I enjoy sharing how I've accomplished something in my editing. I have no problem telling people how I've processed any shot. I don't have photoshop or some of the other popular programs. Mostly I use on-line sites which I find work just as well and don't take up a lot of space in my computer! So ask as often as you like- And if you copy me, I take it as a compliment! After all, the old adage says, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery".
If anyone asks then I would always help out, each photo is different & I don't think anyone should really mind giving editing tips though I'm no skilled person at PS I can just do the basics but still we are always learning & I think should always help!
@styru Wow, Styru, can you tell me how you did that? LOL. I seriously would love to be able to do that. I would have guessed that's ridiculously fast shutter speed as well, how can you achieve that kind of sharpness with 2-second exposure? Can you point me in right direction?
1 set up your glass
2 set your camera on a tripod
3 whilst dribbling water into the glass (a syringe or a plastic bag with a pinprick in it is usefull) take a long exposure (doesn't have to be 2 seconds)
Now, at this stage, you are thinking - but that is not going to be sharp - but here's the rub - it is all done in total darkness (I actually had a little keyring torch in my teeth so that I could bite on it between exposures to illuminate the area to reset-up etc)
And the secret to the sharpness? - long shutter speed yes, but very short exposure - as the water is lit by a hand-held, hand triggered flash gun (not a posh one - got it on ebay for about the price of a decent cup of coffee) (and that's why the long shutter time - to allow you to dribble the water and fire the flash whilst the shutter is open)
Of course you can manually focus your camera, and work out the best ASA/aperture without the water drops going (your feet get less wet)
Once you have a decent focus and exposure - then it is a case of taking LOTS of 'blind' photos in the dark - most will probably show nothing - as the timing of the flash/drop is key - but then digital shots cost nothing - so if you take 200 shots to get a couple of good ones - what does it matter?
Try and expose with a high F number, and a decent amount of 'free space' behing the glass - so the background just drops away to black.
This was just a 'trial and error' method bodged together in my kitchen one night when bored.
Alternaitevly you can actively aim for the surroundings to influence the picture, this one, from the same night, has the colours of the place mat the glass was standing on reflected up through the glass stem and into the water surface (the flash was aimed low to illuminate the mat also)
@styru Styru, thank you very much for the detailed explanation. I'm making the same mistake of high shutter speed for water shots, now I know that the flash freezes the subject and I need longer shutter for the flash to fire. I'll try it someday when I'm bored. Thanks again, that really helped.
i've never particularly thought of myself as great with post production work and everything i've learnt has been the result of googling and talking to others. So i dont have a problem answering someone that asks.
What I WOULD have a problem with is someone that constantly keeps asking and asking without doing any work themselves - thats just lazy and its not the way to learn.
No. Because I can never remember the steps I've taken editing. I migth be able to say I fiddled with the contrast, that I increased how vivid the colours are, and so on. But I couldn't tell you which tools I used, which order I applied them in, or anythnig else. Besides, I use Gimp, and no sane person uses Gimp.
Always!! knowledge is worth so much more shared, but worth very little when hoarded...but like @Cheesebiscuit I often can't remember exactly what I've done....
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sadly, I have often enough experienced it the other way around: Some people don't like to be questioned about their way of photo-editing and tend to reject any attempt at learning from them rather aggressively.
Not here, of course, because I am here for just a few days myself and haven't much gotten into any contact with other members from here so far.
Why I am asking this is: I'd like to show others how I approach photo-editing myself, so others can learn. I wanted to know if others do the same or if I am being some kind of weirdo with doing what I do :-)
How To
I'm usually forthcoming if someone asks, but that's mainly because I really don't do much post editing. On the other hand, I REALLY do like people to figure things out for themselves because I think it helps them grow better as photographers. I've explained a lot of how I feel about it in this photo:
So, perhaps if a person doesn't want to disclose how they edited something, they may be not be simply protective; maybe they just want you to grow on your own :)
that said, if someone asked me to help them make a *northy* shot, i'd probably have trouble explaining how to do that ;p
i know i have certain "go to" compositions (light, shadow and line, motion blur, etc...) and certain things i try to achieve in processing - but i couldn't look at a photo and say "set your slider for 7" ;p
but i don't make a secret of what i do and if anyone is truly interested, i'm always happy to explain (and get feedback on how i could have done it better or smarter!)
Same, of course, goes for shooting technique, as well as processing.
Sometimes, however, you do need to give a bit more away, it turned out someone that followed me on another site was trying to do what I'd done here:
It wasn't until I pointed out it was a 2 second exposure that she twigged where she was going wrong - she was going for ridiculously fast shutter speeds....
.................................
Feeling Blue - my 365 days of one colour - Click HERE
Marie, sorry for the hijack. @lichtecht
1 set up your glass
2 set your camera on a tripod
3 whilst dribbling water into the glass (a syringe or a plastic bag with a pinprick in it is usefull) take a long exposure (doesn't have to be 2 seconds)
Now, at this stage, you are thinking - but that is not going to be sharp - but here's the rub - it is all done in total darkness (I actually had a little keyring torch in my teeth so that I could bite on it between exposures to illuminate the area to reset-up etc)
And the secret to the sharpness? - long shutter speed yes, but very short exposure - as the water is lit by a hand-held, hand triggered flash gun (not a posh one - got it on ebay for about the price of a decent cup of coffee) (and that's why the long shutter time - to allow you to dribble the water and fire the flash whilst the shutter is open)
Of course you can manually focus your camera, and work out the best ASA/aperture without the water drops going (your feet get less wet)
Once you have a decent focus and exposure - then it is a case of taking LOTS of 'blind' photos in the dark - most will probably show nothing - as the timing of the flash/drop is key - but then digital shots cost nothing - so if you take 200 shots to get a couple of good ones - what does it matter?
Try and expose with a high F number, and a decent amount of 'free space' behing the glass - so the background just drops away to black.
This was just a 'trial and error' method bodged together in my kitchen one night when bored.
Hope that makes sense.
Alternaitevly you can actively aim for the surroundings to influence the picture, this one, from the same night, has the colours of the place mat the glass was standing on reflected up through the glass stem and into the water surface (the flash was aimed low to illuminate the mat also)
...............................
>>Feeling Blue - my 365 days of one colour
What I WOULD have a problem with is someone that constantly keeps asking and asking without doing any work themselves - thats just lazy and its not the way to learn.