First off let me say, I've really seen a lot of great images coming out of this group! Most of the stuff isn't what I do, but the images I'm seeing just keep pulling me back in!
Here's a butterfly pic I've been plying around with. Converted to negative and just playing with the sliders until I liked the color using Photoscape X. I really like the framing of this pic, but the background is too distracting. I just didn't have enough distance between the subject and background to get the creamy bokeh I wanted and still have enough focus to keep the wings sharp. I've also included the straight out of camera RAW and my attempt to calm the background with some dodging, burning and vignetting. Let me know what you think.
Its a nice photo. I do agree the background is rather distracting and there could be more depth.
Just a general tip, you should aim for vignette work to not really be super aggressive, unless its just a creative decision. If its just lighting for the subject, aim to do vignettes without the viewer noticing your handy work.
Btw took a look at your portfolio, your insect work is very cool.
Thanks, and thanks for the tip. I do like to put a little vignetting on a lot of my pics. Especially if I cropped them. I feel lite it makes it look like it's the lens and not a crop. I'm usually pretty light on it, but the uglier the background the heavier I get.
Interesting outcome, it looks surreal.
It's hard to get the background blurred out. The butterfly is very close to it. For doing in post, some Gaussian Blur could do the job (PS, Affinity or similar). In LR or a Raw Converter you can try to use minus clarity in a selective adjustment.
I'm using a vignette often. It helps to lead your eye into the picture. Often I'm doing the vignette by my self, with a selective adjustment. So I can place it where and fade out like I want.
Nice picture of the Monarch. It's a long time ago, I've seen one in real... I don't know why.
Thanks! I've tried to blur in post, but it always comes out looking worse than when I started. Maybe I just need more practice or maybe I should try different software. I've been thinking about trying something with stacking options too, Thinking maybe Affinity.
I'm using Affinity Photo. When I switched from LR to C1, I also decided to drop PS. I tested Affinity and was really happy with it. It has everything I needed in PS. PS was overkill for me. I don't had to learn new shortcuts, the layers working the same.
The stacking mode is okay. But it has troubles to align handheld macro shots. I also don't know yet, how to refine images after stacking. For serious stacking, I would chose Helicon or Zerene.
Test it out, it's no risk.
There is a definitely a learning curve to editing well. Some other pieces of software may have presets and other things that might make your life a little easier, but I would just work on becoming a better editor in LR and PS. I improved by watching tutorials on youtube and lynda. You just have to watch and learn professional workflows and pay attention to how they use the tools.
That said there is no harm in trying other pieces of software to see what they offer. Personally I use luminar when I want to audition presets and I find the tools luminar has to be very creative. Thats how I mostly use programs besides photoshop, just for creative inspiration. I also use Nik collections when I want to process images in black & white because I like the instant options it gives me rather than have to fiddle around with photoshop.
Id be curious to see how good affinity is next to photoshop. I know when it comes to making really local adjustments or having to clone stuff out the control photoshop gives is the main reason I use it.
You can do the same things, the same way in Affinity as in PS. I refer to local adjustments, cloning, all the basic editing. It also has its version of Content Aware Fill, called Inpainting. As powerful as in PS.
i don't want to missionize here for Affinity Photo. It'ss just worth a closer look, if you think about the price.
Thanks for the feedback; I will demo affinity soon, seems to be getting a lot of good reviews.
You are welcome. I hesitated a long time, but I don't regret it. I also checked out Luminar. It's a good program, but it wasn't for me.
yeah I don't really edit much with luminar, it is a good tool for auditioning presets if you find yourself in a creative rut with an image in PS.
Thanks for all the info guys! The only editing software I've used is Photoscape X. I've thought about getting PS and LR, but would rather not have to pay a monthly subscription and I keep hearing of people switching away from it. I think Affinity is the way I'll go,
Never heard before of Photoscape X. I checked out the website and it seems to me like a capable free software.
Before you are buying Affinity, download the demo first. You can try it for a couple of days, without any risk. Affinity has also a Raw converter integrated (like Camera Raw in PS).
I can understand, that you not want to pay a subscription. PS is a very good tool, but Adobe has to watch out. In the past, there were no alternatives on the market. The time has changed and especially amateurs won't pay that much for software anymore.
Thanks! Photoscape X does most of what I need, but is missing a few things like a histogram and the ability to work in layers and go back and undo changes without undoing everything you've done between what you want to change and where you are now. Also stacking and cloning would be nice. I may have to try the demo next time I know I have a few days to play with it.
Yes working the non destructive way, is great.