Taking a good picture isn't easy. Taking an awesome picture is even harder. And taking an impossible picture is, well, impossible. Unless you use Photoshop that is.
Peter Stewart is an internationally published photographer with thousands of followers and millions of views. He's also a wizard with Photoshop, and you can see from these revealing before and after pictures just what sort of difference some clever editing can make.
“I like to approach my digital photography with a certain sense of the fantastical and the surreal,” Stewart told PetaPixel. He uses a technique called bracketed multiple exposure, which allows him to retain highlight details from different photographs before stacking them together into one picture.
“These before and after samples are simply meant to highlight what can be done with the power of Photoshop,' says Stewart. "As such, I have deliberately provided the most dramatic examples.”
More info: Peter Stewart | 500px | Instagram | Flicker (h/t: demilked, PetaPixel)
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HDR Bracketing Manually Blended In Photoshop. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production
HDR is not "Photoshopped". The camera cannot pick all the range of colors that the eye can so HDR or "high dynamic range" combines 3 or 5 photos shot at different exposures in a single photo, in order to get more color range and depth. If done correctly it is just normal...
This is why when we got there it was a bit of a let down. I literally said 'it looks nicer in pictures'
I've been fortunate to actually stay here (Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy) and witness the blue hours. While the colors are over-saturated, obviously, the buildings are indeed colorful.
Oh, yes, I also do have a photo like this... and I also bumped the saturation :) Place just begs for the extra pop.
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Why is color enhancing counted as Photoshop? I do it all the time, but I've never really considered it Photoshop!
Color saturation in the final image is a bit overdone for my taste; other than that I like the processing. HDR is a great tool and this image shows how it can really work. If you don't like the image, then don't look at it. I get tired of being told by some folks that some of my images do not look like the original -
Single Raw Image Copied Twice Then Flipped And Cut Diagonally, Then Masked To Create A Seamless Join. Image Then Brightened To Reveal Detail
Color Temperature Adjustment Using Adobe Cameraraw
Perspective Re-Correction And Power Line Removal In Photoshop. Color Enhancements Using Color Efex Pro
Various Sky Adjustments Performed In Photoshop. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production Color Enhancements
Overexposed Image With Detail Brought Back Using Camera Raw. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production Color
This is the only one I like, as it still looks real. The others are over manipulated and just scream "photoshop", which in my mind, then totally takes away from the photo.
Single Exposure Edit
Gradual Orange Sky Gradient And Color Adjustments Performed In Adobe Cameraraw. Sunrays Created In Photoshop, With Added Glow
HDR Bracketing Composited Using Photoshop's 'Merge To HDR'. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production
i can vaguely see mt Fugi in the first two exposures, however the final image looks very photoshopped. Like the mountain was popped in from a completely different image. That's not what you want in most final images .
HDR Bracketing Manually Blended In Photoshop. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production
Multiple Exposure Blended File
Adjustments To Contrast And Color To Reduce Haze And 'Warm Up' The Image. Composite Sky Blended Into Frame, With Sun Glow Added In
Kodachrome They give us those nice bright colors They give us the greens of summers Makes you think all the world’s A sunny day, oh yeah
2x Exposures Manually Blended In Photoshop. Perspective Fixed In Cameraraw. Color Adjustments Made Using Nik Color Efex Pro
HDR Bracketing Manually Blended In Photoshop. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production Color Enhancements
3x Exposures Manually Composited In Photoshop CC. Replacement Sky Layer Manually Overlaid And 'Painted' In
the cloud image does not follow the light source and coloring of the building and jungle.
HDR Bracketing Manually Blended In Photoshop. Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production
Contrast And Color Temp Corrected. Color Enhancements Made Using Vsco And Nik Color Efex Pro
Nik Color Efex Pro Used For Post-Production Color Enhancements
Some of the photo's look better in their natural state, and others not so much.
Tonal Adjustments Made Using Nik Color Efex Pro. Composite Sky Blended Into Frame Manually
a camera will never capture how you really see it and how you feel about it
Indeed. So there we have image editing programs to help us achieve the feeling. Nothing wrong with that. Just artistic photography.
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This article seems to be implying that professional photographers and "online pictures" are largely all so good, because they use bracketing and HDR. Maybe it's because this process appears more manual, and therefore more skillful. There's a reason you don't see this type of work in National Geographic for example. 20 years ago there were special categories in photography magazines for manipulated photos, mainly to showcase new techniques just for what they're worth. In my mind that's where these photos should stay. Secondly, these are very standard tourist shots and angles. The real essence of photography, timing and framing, is lost completely to what is basically saturation. This is kind of teaching the people of the internet to think that all the real skill is in post-production, when that is in fact a completely separate issue for serious pros. The great photos of the world are not photoshopped in any way, and that's what makes them good.
I quite agree with your assessment, "badly printed postcards", or standard magazine add fare, and already forgotten. No waiting for the light, no thousand shots for the one, no freezing in -30 or out at 3:00 am. Just grab some images and do what you can with them.
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It's photographer's desicion how they would want to present their images. That's why there are different styles and different people. Nobody can force you to like something that you don't but you can't say what is right and what is wrong. It's a matter of choise.
I often hear or read about people saying "of course. They used photoshop." If someone thinks photography is easy, try it. If someone thinks editing is easy, I dare you. A crappy photo will always be a crappy photo. In most of the cases the post processing is possible because the photographer knew how to take the photo in a way that they would have all they needed to work with and give it the look they want. Things aren't that simple. And if you find articles like this as an excuse and say "sure the photos are better than mine but I don't process them", then go for it. Try and see. No excuses. These photos take some really hard work to end up looking like this. It's not cheating. It's actually harder! Oof. Sorry.
Some turned out to be quite good.. Not the composites though.. Few were highley manipulated which doesnt seem right.. At the end of the day, photographers are not ppl who have to document their visits to places, but produce some selable images.. But overdoing the manipulation is also a sin to the photography religion!!
And when you get really good images without such post production, most of people think it's photoshopped only, that's sad but reality
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In the old days of course there wasn't such a thing as photoshop. The photographers used to burn and dodge in the darkroom to get the images they wanted, ooooh just like using photoshop in fact. Different times and different skills, however the common theme is Somebody had to compose and take the shot in the first place.
So many people complaining about the quality of the modified versions - it appears nobody read the opening text: “These before and after samples are simply meant to highlight what can be done with the power of Photoshop,' says Stewart. "As such, I have deliberately provided the most dramatic examples.”
Still takes mad skills to be a pro photographer...post production used to happen in the darkroom, now it's on a screen.
Wow! Very interesting thread. Thank you for the insight because I never knew pictures were that photoshopped! It's amazing what technology
Some pictures are, by far the majority aren't.
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I admit there are sometimes that photoshop is needed, like to brighten a darker picture or darken a too bright picture but I believe there is such a thing as too much photoshop.
Purists versus creative freedom discussions. lovely! Personally I think photography is an art that is about capturing reality. That is it's essence. If you decide that you want to create an expression of art with a medium like a camera that is about altering reality, you should be more creative than simply enhance this reality with more vibrant colors or a stunning background. Because that is not art, it is simply a tool you use to trick someone into believing something is prettier than it actually is. There could be nothing wrong with that if that is what you like doing or looking at....proving you are not trying to sell me a ticket to a holiday location with this....art.
I like the real ones. You can tell from the plane that they are photoshoped!
I don't think there's really anything wrong with this type of photoshop. I mean, it's another format of art and creativity. It encourages people to go out and explore the beautiful world. The images are pretty great even before the manipulations but, like painting a picture, photo shopping your photographs is another form of personal expression and creativity. You're not going to bash someone for not painting a realistic picture exactly how it looks, right? If you still don't belive me, pick up your camera, go take a photo, and try to make it look as awesome as these. It's not always as easy as you think.
Its a digital photography, so dont be suprised. This techiques allows photographes create stuning images and be more flexible with digital format. With film old times you havent had so much freedom in editing.. you was more pro if you capture moment once.. this is pro by editing :-)
And the 10th was the reason I waited til dark in garden by the bay. To get that amazing shot. Apparently that amazing shot never happened.
Thanks so much Julija I needed that I was starting to feel most depressed my photos are never as good as the online ones the ones I see on instagram now I know why Thanks a million.
That may not be the reason. If you study enough you'll get the results you want.
Load More Replies... a camera will never capture how you really see it and how you feel about it
Indeed. So there we have image editing programs to help us achieve the feeling. Nothing wrong with that. Just artistic photography.
Load More Replies... This article seems to be implying that professional photographers and "online pictures" are largely all so good, because they use bracketing and HDR. Maybe it's because this process appears more manual, and therefore more skillful. There's a reason you don't see this type of work in National Geographic for example. 20 years ago there were special categories in photography magazines for manipulated photos, mainly to showcase new techniques just for what they're worth. In my mind that's where these photos should stay. Secondly, these are very standard tourist shots and angles. The real essence of photography, timing and framing, is lost completely to what is basically saturation. This is kind of teaching the people of the internet to think that all the real skill is in post-production, when that is in fact a completely separate issue for serious pros. The great photos of the world are not photoshopped in any way, and that's what makes them good.
I quite agree with your assessment, "badly printed postcards", or standard magazine add fare, and already forgotten. No waiting for the light, no thousand shots for the one, no freezing in -30 or out at 3:00 am. Just grab some images and do what you can with them.
Load More Replies... It's photographer's desicion how they would want to present their images. That's why there are different styles and different people. Nobody can force you to like something that you don't but you can't say what is right and what is wrong. It's a matter of choise.
I often hear or read about people saying "of course. They used photoshop." If someone thinks photography is easy, try it. If someone thinks editing is easy, I dare you. A crappy photo will always be a crappy photo. In most of the cases the post processing is possible because the photographer knew how to take the photo in a way that they would have all they needed to work with and give it the look they want. Things aren't that simple. And if you find articles like this as an excuse and say "sure the photos are better than mine but I don't process them", then go for it. Try and see. No excuses. These photos take some really hard work to end up looking like this. It's not cheating. It's actually harder! Oof. Sorry.
Some turned out to be quite good.. Not the composites though.. Few were highley manipulated which doesnt seem right.. At the end of the day, photographers are not ppl who have to document their visits to places, but produce some selable images.. But overdoing the manipulation is also a sin to the photography religion!!
And when you get really good images without such post production, most of people think it's photoshopped only, that's sad but reality
Load More Replies... In the old days of course there wasn't such a thing as photoshop. The photographers used to burn and dodge in the darkroom to get the images they wanted, ooooh just like using photoshop in fact. Different times and different skills, however the common theme is Somebody had to compose and take the shot in the first place.
So many people complaining about the quality of the modified versions - it appears nobody read the opening text: “These before and after samples are simply meant to highlight what can be done with the power of Photoshop,' says Stewart. "As such, I have deliberately provided the most dramatic examples.”
Still takes mad skills to be a pro photographer...post production used to happen in the darkroom, now it's on a screen.
Wow! Very interesting thread. Thank you for the insight because I never knew pictures were that photoshopped! It's amazing what technology
Some pictures are, by far the majority aren't.
Load More Replies... I admit there are sometimes that photoshop is needed, like to brighten a darker picture or darken a too bright picture but I believe there is such a thing as too much photoshop.
Purists versus creative freedom discussions. lovely! Personally I think photography is an art that is about capturing reality. That is it's essence. If you decide that you want to create an expression of art with a medium like a camera that is about altering reality, you should be more creative than simply enhance this reality with more vibrant colors or a stunning background. Because that is not art, it is simply a tool you use to trick someone into believing something is prettier than it actually is. There could be nothing wrong with that if that is what you like doing or looking at....proving you are not trying to sell me a ticket to a holiday location with this....art.
I like the real ones. You can tell from the plane that they are photoshoped!
I don't think there's really anything wrong with this type of photoshop. I mean, it's another format of art and creativity. It encourages people to go out and explore the beautiful world. The images are pretty great even before the manipulations but, like painting a picture, photo shopping your photographs is another form of personal expression and creativity. You're not going to bash someone for not painting a realistic picture exactly how it looks, right? If you still don't belive me, pick up your camera, go take a photo, and try to make it look as awesome as these. It's not always as easy as you think.
Its a digital photography, so dont be suprised. This techiques allows photographes create stuning images and be more flexible with digital format. With film old times you havent had so much freedom in editing.. you was more pro if you capture moment once.. this is pro by editing :-)
And the 10th was the reason I waited til dark in garden by the bay. To get that amazing shot. Apparently that amazing shot never happened.
Thanks so much Julija I needed that I was starting to feel most depressed my photos are never as good as the online ones the ones I see on instagram now I know why Thanks a million.
That may not be the reason. If you study enough you'll get the results you want.
Load More Replies...