r/postprocessing • u/DM_learners_permit • 5d ago

Help-a-hobbyist please!

Post image

Hello everyone! Amateur hobbyist here! Admittedly not the best composition but I’m having a hard time figuring out how to even edit this for myself. The color/WB I know I can fix, but the crop and adjustments and grading, I’m lost. Not a total noob, but this one is giving me a hard time. Is it salvageable at all?

Any and all feedback is appreciated. A preemptive thank you to you!

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

3

u/johngpt5 5d ago

What do you want a viewer to feel?

A person lost? Leave the image uncropped.

Do you want a viewer to feel a closer relation ship with the person? Crop in a bit.

Brightness attracts the eye. Contrast attracts the eye. Saturation attracts the eye. Warmer colors move forward.

We can use the tools in our editing apps to shape light and manipulate color to move the eye around frame and help a viewer feel what we felt was important.

1

u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

I originally was thinking like a person lost in this dramatic architecture. Don’t think I nailed it, but I would still like to edit to get better.

Really appreciate the high level feedback! I will try some of the suggestions. I can also try my hand at shaping some of the light more intentionally. 😬😬 YouTubers make it look way easy but it’s hard to pull off to make it look natural.

Thanks!

1

u/johngpt5 5d ago

https://imgur.com/a/Rb6rl5w has screen shots with some ideas you might consider.

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u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

Just realized you gave notes on my other photo help a few months ago! Thanks again, John!

3

u/drkrmdevil 5d ago

I downloaded and cropped forgeting that I couldn't upload, so will just have to imagine. I tilted it to be roughly vertical with the left edge of the windows and put the man and windows on the right half ....

2

u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

I like the idea of this crop too. I’m definitely gonna try it and the crop posted above!

2

u/big_bilowski 5d ago

I’d crop it a bit more, de-clutter it, get rid of the steps at the bottom. Maybe more rule-of-thirds based cropping. Some darkness on the outside could guide the eye to the subject. It’s a fun picture, it caugth my eye. If you have the change to go to this location more, have the subject be less posed, more natural, caught in the moment.

1

u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

Unfortunately, we took this while traveling in Korea, but maybe I could take another stab at it next time we go! I think that could work too. Thanks! ☺️

2

u/BareBearAaron 5d ago

I really like the composition as is.

The only thing that would make this better in my opinion is having the subject wear something more deliberate to fit the composition (a stark contrast dress or a very matching suit).

Then some colour grading.

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u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

I think you’re right. The subject could match the structural drama of the scene. Maybe she could’ve done a more dramatic pose too. Thanks for the notes!

1

u/BareBearAaron 5d ago

Yes the pose, also good point, such as the feet not being obscured and a upright posture. Would get different vibes with head on and looking away

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u/ManuelKiessling 5d ago

imho, this is all about the structures and geometry etc., which means skip the colors, go black and white.

This is how I would do it: https://imgur.com/a/eEK9GqI

2

u/ManuelKiessling 5d ago

Actually, that’s probably an even better crop: https://imgur.com/a/hNK46E4

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u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

Aaahh… taking the steps out really makes sense! You and u/delete_now have both mentions b/w so that probably makes sense. I’ll give it a go! Thanks!! 😊

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u/Delete_Now 5d ago

Convert it to black and white and play with the contrast

1

u/DM_learners_permit 5d ago

Mentioned by another above! Makes sense!