This question was provoked by my latest shot of Indie for my 52 weeks of Indie project, but I generally shoot into the sun whenever I can. My shots also turn out pale because the sun naturally washes everything out, but you can easily bring back the detail and add contrast by using curves with your editing software of choice (mine is Aperture). Bring the curve down to beef up those midtones, then play around with it until you get the look you desire.
Thanks! The blurriness is because I’m shooting at a wide aperture. For example, my latest photos in Edinburgh were mostly shot with the 50mm at ƒ1.4. Get in close to your subject, shoot wide open and you’ll get that shallow depth of field which results in nice bokeh.
I use Aperture more, and yes, I like it better. Photoshop is so overwhelming, so intimidating. Aperture is a difference piece of software, though, and of course doesn’t pack anywhere close to all the features Photoshop has. PS has its place with me, though, when I’m wanting to drastically change the tone of an image. Working with different layers and changing the opacity, that I can’t do in Aperture.
Good question! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a bit self conscious at times with my camera, especially doing my Strangers Project (which possibly explains why I update it so rarely). I think the enjoyment of taking a photo and subsequently having something to edit and play around with when I get home outweighs the apprehension of taking it in the first place.
People do look at me, but I think that’s something you learn to shrug off the more you do it.
Is there a particular photo you have in mind? I don’t fiddle too much in post-processing, I’m really conscious of not over-doing it. I once wrote about my basic image editing process in Aperture to give a photo ‘pop’, but for those with different tones I play around with curves, layers and opacity in Photoshop (I’ll go over this in more detail in the future seeing as a couple of people have now requested it).
For a photo like this, I made minor adjustments to contrast, saturation etc in Aperture — really simple. For this photo, I took it into Photoshop and played around with curves and different layers (What is it with me and dogs?).
It totally sounds accurate. I think my 50mm is my most used lens. Super versatile. And at ƒ1.4 you’re going to be taking some sexy portraits!