*Click on photo to embiggen*
Olympus E-30, f5.6, 1/320, ISO 160, 108mm focal length
Olympus E-30, f5.6, 1/320, ISO 160, 108mm focal length
I'll admit that most of my photos that I post are processed through bridge with some enhancements. Ansel Adams was as famous for his skills in post processing as he was for his beautiful photographs that resulted from those skills. I've discussed this before and won't bore my regular visitors with the details again. The point is that this photo required no post processing. I cropped it to the "wide screen" format and added the border and nothing more. In other words, SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera).
Now for the "Important Discussion" that I would love your feedback on: You may notice that I included the technical information above about the photo. I did that because I've had a couple comments and emails asking for that type of info and I have seen others post it also. I take it as a compliment that someone thinks my photography is good enough that they want to know what I used to get it. On the other hand, I myself have never used that kind of information from another photographer to make a photographic decision. I can see where there are times it's nice to know information like that such as in the tutorial I did a few weeks ago on Silky Waters. For that it was important to know how long the shutter was open for the different photos.
I would love to hear from you on whether you ever look at that kind of information and learn from it or make a photographic decision based on what you saw on someone's photo, or do you even go and look at your own data on previous photos (unless you're doing a specific test) and make decisions based on what you learned from those. What do you think?
Have you taken a beautiful sunset lately? Share it by posting it to your blog and leaving a comment telling us that you've posted one or leave a link to it.
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24 comments:
Hello. What caught my attention was that you actually gave a photographic critique on someone else's image/blog. I thought your comment was accurate and I liked that it wasn't just purely a compliment, but something someone could learn from if they so choose. I'm aware that not everyone would desire this, but I acutally started my blog in the hopes of getting constructive criticism so I could improve. Kind of like the old photography courses I used to take in college. Not to say that I don't enjoy the compliments!
Anyway, your pictures are lovely. I like the camera information, but even more so I like that you tell what you did in post processing.
Looks like rich 14K gold!!
I haven't gotten into using processing info from other photogs too much yet. I do notice shutter speeds and such when it comes to slowing water down...but I've struggled in my practice and learning of that skill.
I'm with T Becque here - I have just found your blog - looks like I could learn from it. I wish there was more of a tradition of people making constructive comments about our blog photographs. I love blogging and love the 'chat'but I do want to improve my photography too.
This is a stunning sunset. Shall I try and put a link in here (learning from your post)? Take a look at my sunset shot.
Ha, second time lucky there!
Interesting question.
On one hand, yes, I regularly look at someone's exif data (if given) to find out what settings they used. Or even what lens. I don't for all photos, but I do for some, mostly wildlife photos (always wondering how close they were), and photos where I'm curious about the effect of the light.
On the other hand, I'm not giving any such information myself. The reason for that is that when I started I just didn't think about the option, and now that I have thought about it, I think it would often give the wrong information, as I do post-process a lot, which means that if someone would be using the same light, the same aperture, settings, even the same camera, the effect would still be different. To give useful information, I'd have to include the post-processing details too, and that's just too complicated after a couple of layers in PhotoShop or GIMP.
One thing I have considered, and who knows I might actually go through with it one day, is showing both the processed shot and the original as it came from the camera. That way, you could give the exif data, which would show an accurate result when looking at the original, while the processed shot would be seen as the end result. A good example of a blog that does that, is Chromasia. Mouse over the "show original" link at the bottom right. I learn a lot from that, as it details what has been accomplished in the camera, and what the processing has done.
Scott, sometimes I use the exif data like when I see something that makes me say hmm. Also something else I like to know is, was a tripod used, or a certain filter. I am now reading and studying about the black card technique. It really is unbelievable. I really enjoy your blog Scott. I will make it by here much more often. Thanks for stopping by mine.
I just click pictures with my little digital camera and hope for the best. I love your pictures and I'm sure the other pros want your tips.
First off, lovely sunset shot Scott - liquid gold!
To your question - if it's posted I do look at the exif data for a photo. I take a look at the various settings provided and will sometimes make a mental note if there's something about it I might find unusual. However, each photo opportunity has lots of variables and I believe it's up to the photographer to determine what he/she thinks will work best under the conditions to achieve his/her desired effect.
One of my goals after my 365 project is to learn some post-processing - possibly PS, GIMP, or Paint.Net.
What a stunning shot! And, right from the camera...superb! I really appreciate you sharing your settings.
Really, really, REALLY great sunset shot!
As far as the techno info about the photos - I am always interested in reading it. sometimes I will think about it and consider the effect of the different settings on the photo. However, as soon as I click away from that post, the information is forgotten and not part of the "instant recall data" when I am out shooting next.
So... yes I read it, understand it and appreciate it. I am an information junkie! However, the sight of the picture itself will long outlast the memory of any data imparted. :o)
Scott,
I look at the data all the time, my own and what others like yourself post. The data can tell you how the picture is taken. (If you know how to read it!) I try to include this type of information in my own posts. If someone likes the picture and they understand the f-stop, shutter speed, ISO, camera mode - P A S M, etc... than I believe it is helpful to them in getting their own picture. I was able to capture pictures of water balloons bursting with darts because I read some were that 1/8000 of second shutter speed was used. It was a jumping off point for a wet, yet fun afternoon shoot. I still had some things to figure out on my own. Photography can be technical (very) but it should be enjoyable, fun, and about discovering the world around us. If not, why spend the money on a good DSLR? I vote that you keep posting the data and any "touch up" you do. It will help both the amateur and the professional appreciate the pictures you share with us. May-be one sunday night you see me trying to capature a sunset of my own. Thanks
Hi there Scott, some times I do look at the info when I think it's a photo which I believe is hard to take....
Other times I don't and most of the time I work with my gutfeeling. Practice and do it over and over a again. But hey you don't always get the change to do so.
So what ever you feel like to add to your photo's is fine with me dear Scott.
Again I love this sunset. I believe you had to take it with a tripod...
For now happy week. Hugs Dagmar
Scott,I don't mind looking the photograghs data,but it doesn't go much past that. I can't think of a time when it's influenced my shot. Expecially shooting digital,if I don't like the shot I adjust. Nice Sunday sunset choice.
Hei Scott my self i look at the info if i like the picture, especially difficult pictures to take in different lightning it is very nice way to learn what to do in simeliar? situations. I must say i can learn from it. Sometimes it is difficult to find the right settings on the cam to get the effect i want,exposure, white balance, shutterspeed etc etc
Great photo and good thoughts, Scott. Took several classes from a student of Ansel Adams yet ... I know my cameras and my cameras know me ... I study books, etc. so, based on sound advice ... trial and error, go with my settings and what seems to work for me :) Thanks fun friend!
I wish I had known about Sunset Sunday yesterday because I posted a sunset shot today! Oh well! It's not as breathtaking as yours however! ~ I would say the information provided is very beneficial for someone like me who knows only what I teach myself. I intend to take classes soon, but in the meantime I'm taking what I read and trying to figure it out. Seeing how someone got a shot can really help when you are unsure what settings to use in a given situation. I would say it is probably only helpful for SOOC because if the pictures have been tweeked then I'm not gonna get the same result as what I'm seeing on the published page.
a beautiful golden capture!
very rarely do i go back to my pictures for the data or check the data of other photographers beautiful pictures though everytime i tell myself that i should. i generally go by gut feeling and if possible take quite a few images with different settings till i feel good. the problem arises only in action pics where repetition is not possible and i have to get it right the 1st time so i keep the settings to what i feel would be right and go ahead!
Lovely shot! I very rarely look at that information.. including on my own photos. I think those details were far more important to photographers before the days of digital SLR. They could learn from those settings and possible spare themselves some expensive mistakes. Now we can see where we went wrong immediately after the shot is taken.
Beautiful photo, and it's especially remarkable that it has had no "help".
I have no problem with post processing. For me, the point is to produce a good image. It's irrelevant to me which machine does the job, the camera and/or the computer. I do look at the information on photos, and I do learn from it.
P.S. - You're right about the book title of The Book of Wonders shot. You're the only one to solve the mystery. ;-)
Scott, I think one of the reasons I enjoy your blog so much is that you are more informative about your photographs. I take it all in and hope to put certain pointers into practice when I get the chance. I want to pick up what I can and am still very much on the learning curve. It takes me a long time to get out of my comfort zone and I think you're helping me to explore more than I have up to now. A big thank you from me.
I'm am just a basic digital camera person, point and shoot and thats it! I do enjoy learning of ideas and techniques and hope someday I get brave enough to move up with a camera.
Looks like you've received a lot of good input. I rarely post the exif data. Probably the biggest reason is I'm lazy and I rarely look at other's exif, unless it is a photo of a technique I'm not familiar with. Plus I agree with one of your other commenters, that after I edit, the exif data is not nearly as important because I've often changed the look of the shot. Every so often I get asked for this info, but much more often I have people comment that they like my "Tech Talk Tuesdays" where I explain and show how I took a photo.
I don't usually look at the data much although I don't mind if it's there. You never know when you might learn something.
I'm usually more interested in the photo itself. What's the mood, how does it make me feel?
I look at the info, but rarely use it. I know I need to sit down and learn Photoshop (I have it), or at least use filters...but that takes so much time from being out in the world.
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