Feedback on Photos

Hi guys,

Please take a look at these and let me know what you think. I am finally using the RAW format after all these years and am practicing processing the files. Right now I'm using the Canon digital software for initial processing, then converting and saving as a ExifJpeg and further editing in PS2.

I've been reading up on previous threads on processing RAW images. I'm not sure if I should go the Lightroom route, or upgrade to the newest PS6. Any suggestions? Positive/negative comments welcome.

Thanks!
Mike

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u..._2012_1698.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u..._2012_1698.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps7b014c7e.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u..._2012_1487.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps7b560382.jpg

They look like they could all use a bit more contrast. Otherwise, they look good.

Have you read the editing guide on airliners.net? That's the thing that helped me the most. I'd tend to stay away from Canon's RAW converter but that's just personal preferene (I think LR is one of the most under-used and under-rated tools for photographers and I'm sure Manny would agree).

To save money, I went with LR4 and Photoshop Elements 10. It's been more than enough for my aviation and my wedding work. The only thing PSE lacks is the more hardcore image manipulation tools, which I never use.

TIS

Agree totally on the LR4 and PSE10 - they really are the only things I use now - once in a while I'll use Nikon's ViewNX to check things out - but - really - it's just for the odd look...go LR4 and PSE10!!

Hi Mike;

The whites do not look white on my monitor. Looking at the EXIF the shutter speed seems a bit high, 1/2500th. I typically shoot at 1/640-1/1250.

For processing, I shoot RAW, then use CS3.

A couple of cents from me...

Jeremy, shutter speed is only relevant against a sensitivity and an aperture. What you may want to say is EV or Exposure Value. One can achieve the same exposure value by changing any of the three controls at our disposal

Shutter Speed
Aperture
Sensitivity (ISO)

So his 2500th sec could have been achieved at f/2.8 ISO 100 whereas your 1/640th could have been at f/8, ISO 100 :smile:

Another note... the raw processing engine in Lightroom 4 and PSCS6 is IDENTICAL. It does NOT MATTER ONE BIT which one you use and they both give the exact same results. What you should compare is workflow. My usual suggestion is ORGANIZE and do basic processing in Lightroom and finishing in Photoshop. While you can get very close in Lightroom and indeed most people are happy with the results from it, I usually finish my images in Photoshop as I have much greater and finer controls of the end result with more tools at my disposal. One such tool is Layer Mask and Adjustment Mask.

Thanks for the feedback, I've got some homework to do!