I’m sometimes asked about “what do you do after you take the photo” and what equipment do you use?
The first question entails the “before and after” [photos below for visual explanation].
Image capture: The first 50% of the final image is made up of setting up the shot, understanding your lighting, adjustments for conditions, positioning, and finally taking the photo. The other 50% comes after the photos are examined. Which ones are keepers for the first pass consideration? Then re-examining the first pass group for further paring down.
What comes next is determining what print sizes would best suit the images…and THEN color correction, white balance correction, removing undesirable objects, pumping up the color, and sharpening.
One thing to remember is that for PRINT work, you are using a color profile that is different than what you would use for monitor/web site purposes. There is a color difference that needs to be kept in mind. Also, what you see is NOT always what you get. Think about this: the printer does not know what subtle tones or shades of color might be represented on your computers screen. UNLESS, you use a monitor calibration unit that understands the ICC [color profile] of the exact printer you are using. This is why you might notice your prints from Wal-mart or Target just don’t have the same color that you viewed on your computer…..
Equipment used: Canon 20D and Canon 1DS Mark II with L lenses [usually a 70-200mm f2.8L and a 24-70mm f2.8]
Software used: Adobe Creative Suite CS3 [including Photoshop] and Lightroom exclusively. I also use actions from Kubota and the Boutwells.
Computer equipment used: Macbook Pro and two HDMI equipped monitors [22" and 24"]
Examples below:
Straight out of the camera - not bad, decent light, composition
After some simple WB and color correction and a tweak of sharpening. These are subtle changes on a monitor but for a printed product, it makes a difference.
One of my own dogs photographed in a fairgrounds parking lot.
And after some tweaking and object removal.
