I took this photo of four sleeping geese early in January and showed it to you then. The four geese were standing on ice that also had a thin layer of water on top.
After almost two months, however, when I came across the photo again, I was not quite as pleased with it. By then, I felt less constrained by the actual the conditions at the time and decided that the scene could do with a just little brightening and warming.
It isn't a huge change, and I think it keeps the integrity of the image, but it's a better version (not saying it's a great image) in my opinion. It just adjusts reality a bit, which is pretty well what phone photos do each and every time.
Some photographers believe that you should make it a habit to wait for awhile before you process your images. I can see their point, but I won't be able to resist editing them almost right away, for I feel as though the processing is part of the shoot. Also, as I have just proved, they can always be re-edited, and that way, you get to play with the photo twice if you so choose.
Note: I was deliberately shooting through the foreground reeds for effect.
I love the lightened image but the first time I saw it, I loved that too. The reflections really make the photo for me!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you...each step an artist makes is worthy and usually not a bad decision.
ReplyDeleteIt's a terrific captures -- timing is everything and I like the reeds. And yes, you needed to bring out the highlights/brightness. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm saying it's a great image. The reflection is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI think the HARDEST part for me would be deciding when the fussing with processing is ENOUGH. It seems (at least the way my mind works) that I could get lost into fussing and fixing any photo into perpetuity. It seems there is always POTENTIAL to further enhance an image.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if left to my own devices, if I could literally say “enough is enough” and put the image to bed.
PipeTobacco
I like your retouched version best. It's a great shot.
ReplyDeleteI really like the shot. The change is subtle but does improve it.
ReplyDeleteThey line up in reflections. A gorgeous shot!
ReplyDeleteAs an artist, these are your decisions. I respect your judgement, expertise and process. Interesting note: at first I misread your use of "process your images" as "possess your images." I think there's a message in that. Through composition, you kind of do "possess" these images. In other words, you "seize" them and "occupy" them with your artistry. I don't know enough about photography to know if what I'm saying is meaningful, but I do appreciate all the ways you seize moments with your camera.
ReplyDeleteIt does look better with the editing. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI like the new one, too. It is a great photo!
ReplyDeleteLa foto es hermosa y muestra a esos cuatro gansos dormidos tal y como tu la imaginaste en el momento de la toma. Luego, pasa el tiempo y desde entonces hasta el momento de la revisión tu ya no eres la misma persona y claro está, te apetece mejorar la foto. Bien hecho amigo. hay que evitar las limitaciones de la mente y el criterio.
ReplyDeleteI do like the warming you did on the photo; as you said, nothing extreme, just a few adjustments to enhance.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the post and seeing the before and after, AC, I would agree that the second edited version is better.
ReplyDeleteI agree that post-processing is part of the shoot. And I love this photo and I do think it's a great one. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI like the warmer colours. Good choice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Of course, the phone or whatever is editing. So are our eyes. I agree that the lightening effect is a good one, but both iterations work. Because you have a good eye, is why.
ReplyDeleteI expect to crop, these days because I am quite limited in where I can go to get the shot, but over the whole course of my photographing life because I do not have a good eye for composition through the lens.