Can you nice folk critiqe this please.

[Kevicc]

I'm very new here and am still finding my way around the site, plus, i'm very new at DSLR photography. I have a Nikon D90 and after a week, i'm struggiling with how to use it properly. I would appreciate some feedback on a closeup shot taken in my garden . I'd just like to know if i'm on the right track, and if not, what i can do to improve the shot.

Picture

[tingeliM]

Please read the rules before posting!

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by tingeliM

Please read the rules before posting!

What they didn't mention was which rule you didn't follow, it was the 740px one.

First skill for any photographer to learn is how to adjust the histogram, here is your photo, all I did was adjust the histogram of the bottom half. See how the red of the petals are more vibrant and the background is less washed out.



(You can click the image to see a bigger version)

I use GIMP, the settings for histogram adjustment I made was 45,1.20 and 245.

I would suggest when learning histogram adjustment is to duplicate the layer first then adjusting the top layer. Turn that top layer on and off seeing the difference it makes, you will be surprised.

[tuxcomputers]

Here is the entire photo with the histogram adjustment and a touch of Unsharp Mask, settings used in GIMP:

Radius: 5.0
Amount: 0.2
Threshold: 0

[Kevicc]

Thanks Tuxcomputers. I hadn't done anything to the photo to enhance it, as I don't have any programs to do it. That photo is as it was shot. I'll have a look at Gimp and see if I can work it out. I have Photoshop but havn't mastered it yet either.

I can see I have a heap of learning to do, along with reading the rules of this group, which one senior member scaldingly reminded me of.

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by Kevicc

Thanks Tuxcomputers. I hadn't done anything to the photo to enhance it, as I don't have any programs to do it. That photo is as it was shot. I'll have a look at Gimp and see if I can work it out. I have Photoshop but havn't mastered it yet either.

Start with one program or the other, both are as complex as each other, once you are used to one it is VERY difficult to switch to the other, believe me I have tried, not seriously but it was painful.

The advantage of GIMP is that it is free and the next version is free too, and the next upgrade after that is free as well. The advantage of PS is that alot of people use it and if you plan on making a living from photography that is what you are expected to use.

I choose GIMP because I know that photography will always be a hobby, it does everything I need it to but the biggest reason is that I am a tight arse and didn't want to use a pirate copy of PS.

When you starting out with post processing it can become overwhelming very quickly, just start with the simple things first and nothing else.

I suggest just doing histogram adjustments and ONLY histogram adjustments for at least a few weeks. Once you have mastered you will end up with a photo that you just KNOW could be better but histogram adjustments are doing the job. The next suggested skill after histogram is to learn cloning, get rid of annoying power lines you didn't notice at the time.

If you try to do complex things like create adjustments layers with masks on your first photo you will end up throwing your hands in the air saying "it's too hard and complex for me, it's straight out of the camera or nothing"

[Kevicc]

I have just downloaded Gimp. As you say, it is FREE, and i'm also a tight arse. It looks very interesting and the interface is not as complicated as PS. I'd like to start using it straight away, so please, i'm also a 65 year old dumb ass aussie. What do I need to do, or more importantly, where do I need to go to in the program to practice Histogram adjustments. I hope you don't mind me asking for your help, but once I am shown that, i'll start learning. I want to get the best out of this new camera of mine.

[tuxcomputers]

Well I have written up a few tutorials on GIMP here The histogram adjustment one is called Levels.

I don't like the default window layout of GIMP, I prefer to have just the photo window and one toolbox window. I then add the tool tabs to the toolbox window (those are in the red circle). Have a look at this screenshot:


First click the little arrow in the red square, select "Add Tab", I suggest adding the following as a minimum:

1. Layers
2. Undo
3. Histogram
4. Tools (Temporarily)

On the Tools tab turn on the following:

1. Brightness/Contrast
2. Threshold
3. Levels
4. Curves

This will add the icons for those tools to the top section. Later on if you find you don't use the tool (like Scissors and Paths) you can turn them off using the same tab.

Couple of other things to make life in GIMP easier. Go to Edit / Preferences, select "Interface", click the "Configure Keyboard shortcuts..." button, expand the "Context", scroll down till you see "Decrease radius", click on it and assign the square bracket [ to it, assign the other square bracket to the Increase radius.

Now that does not work on the built in brushes provided with GIMP, so you have to create your own custom brush. To do that go to "Windows / Dockable Dialogs / Brushes", you should have another window pop up. Bottom of the window, second icon in is the "New brush". Give it a title (I call mine Fuzzy Circle) and then close that window, the size does not matter, you now have a custom brush, close the Brushes window.

Now when you go to use the Paint brush (or the pencil or the eraser etc etc) select your custom brush. If you need the brush to be bigger just hit the ] key till it is the right size, use the [ to make it smaller.

BTW I live at Morayfield, just south of Caboolture.

[Kevicc]

Tuxcomputers, you are a gem! Fancy finding a helpful aussie on such a large forum as this, and one that lives in the same general area of the state too. I'll check all your tuts out, put them into practice and go from there. Thanks so much for your help. It's really appreciated.

[tuxcomputers]

If you have any other questions about GIMP post them in the General Chat section, it's the one I visit the most, plus there will be other GIMP users there.

There is a GIMP users group on Flickr too.