Natural vs. Downloaded Preset

[Lonewolfjustin]

So, I'm into very basic/natural photos. I like for my stuff to look as close to it looked when I took the photo with some minor tweaking, i.e. white balance, exposure, sharpness, stuff like that. But I have been looking into some of the extreme editing techniques that I see are so popular now a days. So I'm posting two photos, the first being the way I would normally leave a photo. The second is a photo edited heavily using a downloaded preset in Aperture. I would just like to see which one y'all like better and why. If you know of some better looks too, please share. Thanks!

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by Lonewolfjustin

So, I'm into very basic/natural photos. I like for my stuff to look as close to it looked when I took the photo with some minor tweaking, i.e. white balance, exposure, sharpness, stuff like that. But I have been looking into some of the extreme editing techniques that I see are so popular now a days. So I'm posting two photos, the first being the way I would normally leave a photo. The second is a photo edited heavily using a downloaded preset in Aperture. I would just like to see which one y'all like better and why. If you know of some better looks too, please share. Thanks!

I prefer warmer images, but the edited version is a little too warm. Your version a little too cold. Somewhere in the middle?

[brianxlt]

Well as for the two images - I don't like the preset because it is to green and it seems to have softened the focus on the bird and other reasons to long to list.

[loons49]

The use of presets which include antiquing, cyanotype, vignettinng etc. are really a matter of personal taste. However to get the best comparison / feedback, you should start with a well exposed, well focused and well composed/cropped image. Otherwise people tend to focus on the imperfections as opposed to the overall treatment. When selecting a preset you should think in terms of the message or story you are intending to convey through the image. You will find that some presets will enhance the story/feeling of the image whilst others do nothing.

[Lonewolfjustin]

Thank you all for you comments!

I understand what you are saying loons49 about the image being poorly exposed, focused, and composed. I had liked that photo the best from my little nature walk I had today, but I like hearing that what I saw in it, wasn't up to snuff yet. I am still a rookie in the world of photography and am still trying to learn. That was my point for asking this question though. I wanted to know if it was worth it to follow the crowd and go with the instagram/extreme edited look that is so popular right now. But I think I am going to stick with making a photo look natural first. And as you can see I still have a long way to go