a flower

[petamass]

Hello All,
Keep in mind that I am "new" here. I hope I am not breaking any rules.
I would like to get a mixed response of "Critique My Shot" and "Before and After". I like my original, but the "fixed" photo seems even better.

The original:

The "auto fixed":

Q1: This original photo's color seems wrong. How can I set the camera so I can avoid "post processing" as much as possible? (I.e. Why do I need to "fix" the picture? Is it a "must" in digital photography?)
Q2: How is this picture? How can I improve it?

Thank you.

[Murtasma]

Welcome to the forum. First off I have a few questions for you so we can better help you.

What camera do you use?
What settings was this image shot at? Auto Mode? Aperture Priority? Shutter Priority? Manual Mode
What photo editing software are you using?

As for the color correction you would want to do this by selecting the correct white balance mode on your camera or set to auto. For the best results take a picture of a peice of white paper before shooting the flower. Then set your camera to use this as the white balance. This is the cheepest most effective way. There are other tools you can use but, they cost a little more money but, not much.

As for improving the photo, getting more of the flower in the depth of field along with better focus would be step 1. I can help you with that once you answer the few questions I had in the begining.

[petamass]

Originally Posted by Murtasma

...
What camera do you use?
What settings was this image shot at? Auto Mode? Aperture Priority? Shutter Priority? Manual Mode
What photo editing software are you using?
...
As for improving the photo, getting more of the flower in the depth of field along with better focus would be step 1. I can help you with that once you answer the few questions I had in the begining.

Ah, I knew I forgot something...

My equipment is: Canon PoweShot G6

The picture was taken with macro on, flash off, auto-focus and holding it by hand. That is all I can remember. I am not good at tracking camera's setting. After all, it has been a while. But the info in jpg says: F/2, 1/25sec, focal length 7mm (have no idea what does this mean).

I was using the "auto fix" function in "Paint Shop Pro 8" by JASC to edit the picture. I know this is not the latest version, but that is all I have. The other software I have is Picasa (Google), which also have "auto color" and "auto contrast" function.

I was reading the "tips" section after posing. I guess next time I also will experiment with:
1. use a tripod
2. use manual focus
3. use Av-mode
and of course, 4. learn to use the "white-balance".

[Murtasma]

Search your manual for white balance correction. It should state in there how you can do it on your camera but, it should be something like this. Take a picture of something that's white that fills up most of the frame. Then go to playback mode and select the image then go to options and select something to the effect of "Use for white balance" then make sure your camera is set to use "Set white balance" which probably looks like a circle with two triangles on either side. Sorry I have never used your camera before.

I would shoot this flower in manual mode. It looks like it's inside your house so you should be able to move the flower anywhere you want along with lighting it. Place the flower on a table that is in middle of the room and place one or two lamps pointing up. Don't directly point the lights the at hte flower unless you have some cloth or something similar to difuse the light with.

Set your Av to somewhere between F11-F16 (not sure if your camera can do those settings it may only go up to F8. If it does then select that. Now zoom your lens all the way and place your camera somewhere in the room were the flower takes up most of the frame. Now focus somewhere in the middle of the flower. I forgot to also mention to use a tripod. Now adjust your shutter until your meter reads correctly. You should also set your meter to center weighted average or spot metering depending on the background.

I know it's a lot to suck in but, in a nutshell shoot at a smaller apature (higher number) with a longer focal length) on a tripod with the white balance set and you should get a shot that will knock your socks off.