Practice Makes Perfect-- The Art of Post Processing

I call it the "art" of post processing, as it is definitely not a science.  

I have read several books, watched countless hours 

of tutorials of Youtube on how to process

my camera's RAW files to create the best images possible and just when I think I have it 

all figured out, I learn something new that changes everything.

For me, trial and error seems to be the best teacher.  I have learned many things in the last 

couple of years and believe me,

it's because I have made countless mistakes taking and processing my digital images.

Case in point:

I was quite happy with the end result of this panoramic image taken this past weekend. Happy enough to post it on my Facebook page.  I have been practicing and refining

 the proper techniques with  my camera and tripod to be able to capture the several properly 

exposed and aligned images needed to create a robust, stitched panoramic image.

My first attempt processing the 6 image stitched shot (click to enlarge)

I admit that I was not 100% happy with this image but I could not figure out

what bothered me about it.  It wasn't until I decided to walk through all the processing

steps that I stumbled upon the one little detail that I had overlooked.  

One small adjustment that I had not made.  

Finding this one overlooked detail was all the encouragement I needed to start processing the 

RAW file all over again.  (Just a tip.  If you take your photography seriously, you need to

be shooting in the RAW format---it allows so many freedoms in post processing 

to save an image)

Same 6 image stitch after making needed adjustments to the white balance
(click to enlarge)

This is the reprocessed image.  The only difference is the white balance between

the six original images.  In my haste to take the six images 

before the light started to dissipate,  I neglected to lock down the white balance setting in my 

camera, it was set to auto.  That little difference in the exposure of the images made a huge 

impact on the final result.  The colors are now clean and the details in the shadows now sharp.

Just another lesson learned :) 

Looking back at 2013, it was a very interesting year.  

I was able to photograph some pretty amazing things this 

year while meeting some great people and making friends

 along the way.  I ventured into the arena of portrait and advertising and was met with  success.   I even produced a couple calendars

  As awesome as 2013 was for me, 2014 is looking to be even better.

  I will travelling more in the coming year.  With hopes of 

sharing new and exciting images from around the this great state of Michigan.  But before embarking on a journey into the new year, I thought I would take a minute at look back at a baker's

dozen of my most popular images from 2013

Taken Jan 24th in St. Joe, Michigan

Taken Jan 19th in South Haven, Michigan

"MEGABOLT"  Taken Aug 21st in South Haven, Michigan

"ICE MOON"  taken Feb 25th in South Haven, Michigan

Taken March 2nd in South Haven, Michigan

"WAVES AND LIGHT RAYS"   Taken Oct 21st in South Haven, Michigan

"AFTERGLOW" Taken Oct 21st in South Haven, Michigan

"SUNBURST"  Taken Nov 18th North Beach in South Haven, Michigan

Snowy Owl--  taken in Van Buren County on Dec 7th

" A Splash of Pink"  Taken in South Haven, Michigan on December 10th

"ICEHOUSE" Taken on December 24th in South Haven, Michigan

"SOLID"  Taken in St. Joseph, Michigan on January 24th

"TURMOIL"  My most popular image taken in 2013.  St. Joesph, Michigan Taken on July 23rd

.

I would like to thank all those who follow my work and

and support my ambitions by purchasing the images I shoot.

THANK YOU!!

and may you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous 

2014!!!! 

OK, I added one extra only because this is my personal favorite B&W image from 2013 and this is my blog after all!!!  :)  have a great 2014!!!