When new to Photoshop, or even when not so new, most people make some "over editing" mistakes. A friend recently mentioned this fantastic blog post about just that:
If you are starting to edit your photos, or just want to get a better feel for what you should and should not do, please take a look! The post goes into details about colour pop, overuse of contrast, HDR, selective colour and many other things most of us probably don't even think too much about. Remember though, it is just opinion, so don't take offense if you disagree with something! Personally, my own opinions are very close to the author's, and I think it is a good list to look at once in a while even for pro photogs.
Perhaps the best summary should be, "Are you doing it because it improves the photo, or just because you can?" Less is usually more, with digital imaging.
good tips, I'm sure even some of the most seasoned photographers have broken a rule or two in the past
I know I have done a lot of these things in my learning process
@sarethephotos I reckon rules are made to be broken.....occasionally. Most of the things in the list, imo, are ok once in a while. It's just about purpose, I guess. But yes - I think it would be difficult to find someone who doesn't make one of these mistakes sometimes. Except for people who don't edit at all, but that's the absolute opposite (which I reckon is just as much of a mistake - camera technology isn't good enough to capture what the eye actually sees, and that includes film).
Thanks for the link....very helpful! I've often wondered the same thing myself, as a new photographer. How much is too much? The other morning I was writing my morning pages when the phrase " You can't Photoshop in 'life' or 'emotion.' It's either their or it isn't. My job is to find it, not try and create it." This helped validate that thought!
This should be the title of my album--LOL! I guess I try many of these bad techniques to "make up" for a cheap camera. In reality, its a hallmark of my inexperience. Duly noted! :D
Thanks so much. I don't actually do a lot of this stuff (because I don't know how), but with this I will be able to try (and know where to stop, too)! Thanks again!
Very nice article, thanks for sharing! I'm definitely guilty of a few of those, especially when I get a new toy or discover a new feature. I usually calm down after a few times of over editing though. I guess I have to get it out of my system LOL.
i'm working hard at figuring out how a picture can be edited. Sometimes it works and sometimes I just look at it and then click undo and try again. I still have so much too learn. I thinkg that I can say that I do try to let the picture lead me in how I do edit it so each is handled differently.
THANKS! Love the post . . . I've just started editing and must admit, in looking back at some of my photos, some that made 365 and some that didn't, I've been guilty of this . . . It's fun to play with and can enhance a photo, but nothing is better than just plain, good shot!!!!!
Haha, this reminds me of when I first got photoshop and shot my first car meet. Tightly cropped, way too saturated... I did everything I thought was "cool" in car photography. I learned rather quickly it wasn't so cool, at least to me personally.
Sometimes I still play around, especially in this project, because it's for my play time and experimenting with photoshop, not for serious business. I have to remind myself about tight cropping, but I got a lot better with that when I was starting to get stuff published. You'll always run into models that want to look like plastic, too. That just becomes a matter of not going overboard with skin smoothing. But now I really try to shoot for minimal editing, because I hate sitting in front of photoshop for hours on end editing.
At least someone else on the interwebs shares my opinion of fake HDR... I tend to piss people off when I say I don't like fake HDR...
I must admit I sometimes use fake HDR but as I'm getting used to my images over time I'm getting to see how bad it can be and toning it right down to make a very slight difference which to me looks ok. Still learning that. Also love colour splash photos but I use the colours in the photo and not edit it whilst the rest is b&w , now and again I'll tweak the colour but a lot of the time I don't like it tweaked. Still learning that skill.
@kirsty1975 I think you're headed in the right direction. Nothing wrong with experimenting with editing (even the dreaded fake HDR or selective colouring), but doing it specifically to learn skills rather than to create psuedo-photography is really excellent! I think everyone's done a fake HDR or selective colour at some point (I know I have) - it's just gimmicky when that's the only "cool" thing about the photo. I actually sigh and roll my eyes when I see comments on such photos praising the genius of it. But I'm probably a snob when it comes to that stuff anyway. ;)
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I know I have done a lot of these things in my learning process
was a good read ty again
Sometimes I still play around, especially in this project, because it's for my play time and experimenting with photoshop, not for serious business. I have to remind myself about tight cropping, but I got a lot better with that when I was starting to get stuff published. You'll always run into models that want to look like plastic, too. That just becomes a matter of not going overboard with skin smoothing. But now I really try to shoot for minimal editing, because I hate sitting in front of photoshop for hours on end editing.
At least someone else on the interwebs shares my opinion of fake HDR... I tend to piss people off when I say I don't like fake HDR...
and HDR.. just too fake.. >
I must admit I sometimes use fake HDR but as I'm getting used to my images over time I'm getting to see how bad it can be and toning it right down to make a very slight difference which to me looks ok. Still learning that. Also love colour splash photos but I use the colours in the photo and not edit it whilst the rest is b&w , now and again I'll tweak the colour but a lot of the time I don't like it tweaked. Still learning that skill.