Help Improving Photos

**pgowder** · 06-20-2005, 12:12 PM

**Michael Fanelli** · 06-20-2005, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by pgowder

A couple of very quick observations. First, the "good" examples have chosen to concentrate on a particular subject, getting in close to emphasize a particular feature or section of the subject. The ones I looked at of yours are trying to get the entire subject in one shot which makes them look more like snapshots. This isn't camera or Elements related.

A few of your shots look as if the shutter speed might have been a little too slow or you were handholding the camera when it should have been on a tripod. Try boosting the shutter speed a bit or use a tripod if handholding is a problem.

Your pictures lack high saturation and contrast. If you like the high saturation/high contrast look, play with the saturation and curves in Elements. You may be able to boost these things in-camera as well by adjusting paremeters. Consult the camera's manual

It appears that the images aren't as sharp as the should be (different than focus). Some of that is due to the shutter speed comment above but a few appear to just need the use of some of that unsharp mask magic. Most digital images are soft out of the camera. Do the sharpening as your last step.

I hope this helps a bit.

**pgowder** · 06-20-2005, 06:53 PM

A couple of very quick observations. First, the "good" examples have chosen to concentrate on a particular subject, getting in close to emphasize a particular feature or section of the subject. The ones I looked at of yours are trying to get the entire subject in one shot which makes them look more like snapshots. This isn't camera or Elements related.

A few of your shots look as if the shutter speed might have been a little too slow or you were handholding the camera when it should have been on a tripod. Try boosting the shutter speed a bit or use a tripod if handholding is a problem.

I'll start shooting on a tripod more, that's a good suggestion. The ones of the action though, I shot with a flash. The highest my camera lets me go with the flash is 125. I thought that was a bit slow. How do I make it go higher?

Your pictures lack high saturation and contrast. If you like the high saturation/high contrast look, play with the saturation and curves in Elements. You may be able to boost these things in-camera as well by adjusting paremeters. Consult the camera's manual

I'll try increasing it in the camera.

It appears that the images aren't as sharp as the should be (different than focus). Some of that is due to the shutter speed comment above but a few appear to just need the use of some of that unsharp mask magic. Most digital images are soft out of the camera. Do the sharpening as your last step.

I hope this helps a bit.

What is the unshart mask magic??

**mjs1973** · 06-20-2005, 07:17 PM

Your flash sinc speed of 1/125 sec is the fastest that your camera will allow you to shoot using the flash. If you go any faster than that, your shutter will be closing too fast for your flash, and you will end up with a photo that is half dark, and half exposed with the flash. You might be able to increase the shutter speed in manual mode, but I don't know anything about your camera, but the results will be like I discribed above.

Unsharp mask, or USM is a filter used to sharpen images in photoshop. Go to Filter, sharpen, unsharp mask. For the Amount I like to start out at 125%, Radius I put on 1.0, and Threshold I put on 3. I usually don't touch the radius or threshold. This is a good place to start. Don't get too carried away with USM, as it can be overdone, but don't be afraid to experiment.

Hope this helps.

**pgowder** · 06-20-2005, 07:19 PM

Is USM just a Photoshop filter or something I can do in Elements?

Thanks

**mjs1973** · 06-20-2005, 07:26 PM

If you are using Photoshop Elements, it has this filter.

**Michael Fanelli** · 06-21-2005, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by pgowder

I'll start shooting on a tripod more, that's a good suggestion. The ones of the action though, I shot with a flash. The highest my camera lets me go with the flash is 125. I thought that was a bit slow. How do I make it go higher?

The unsharp mask question has already been answered so I'll address the flash. With flash, the shutter speed really doesn't matter if the flash is doing all the lighting. The flash itself is very fast and will freeze the subject. However, if the flash is just filling in the light, its a different story. In any case, the camera has a fixed upper limit for shutter speed with flash so there is nothing you can change there.

**pgowder** · 06-21-2005, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Fanelli

The unsharp mask question has already been answered so I'll address the flash. With flash, the shutter speed really doesn't matter if the flash is doing all the lighting. The flash itself is very fast and will freeze the subject. However, if the flash is just filling in the light, its a different story. In any case, the camera has a fixed upper limit for shutter speed with flash so there is nothing you can change there.

How do I know if it is just filling in light or freezing the subject?

**pgowder** · 06-24-2005, 05:59 AM

Ok, take a look at these. Is it just me or are they just not that sharp?? I haven't taken them through PE. But I have the camera set for Sharpness +2. Should I increase the depth of field?

Digital Imaging and Computers Forum

Thread: Help Improving Photos

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Re: Help Improving Photos

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Similar Threads

Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition - Press Release

Sold 40 Stock photos! ;)

What to charge for sports photos

HeyPix! Dgital Photo Service - Press Release

Good web sites (free or inexpensive) for posting photos for public access

Posting Permissions

PhotographyREVIEW Articles

Camera News