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Speaking of photoshopping...

Jonathan_Brady Oct 20, 2008 07:02 PM

Does it make anyone else besides me nauseaus when they see an image that's been sharpened too much? Like, seriously nauseaus. I throw up a little in my mouth is what I'm trying to say. Anyone else get like that?

A blanket "thank you" goes out to everyone who only uses photoshop to crop and resize. Here's a couple of pics I took today that I photoshopped (cropped and resized).

Thanks!
jb


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Jonathan Brady
*You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.*

Replies (24)

TopNotchBoas Oct 20, 2008 07:17 PM

crop, resize, calibrate white balance, make minimal exposure (light/dark) adjustments, AND sharpen. All in a RAW format.

Sharpening is a key step in my workflow. Whenever you downsize and compress a photo general blurring occurs. To counter this, we sharpen. Pro-level photographers certainly use sharpening regularly when doing prints/posting on the internet/etc.

The problem is that sharpening is EXTREMELY touchy. The vast majority of people over-sharpen dramaticly. Many cameras even have default sharpening settings set much too high.

Most people shooting their boas should likely stay away from sharpening all together. And you're right - it kills me when I see a decent photo of animal totally blown by excessive sharpening. People do it all the time. I think people just have it in the mind that more sharp = more good. Not true people! An oversharpened photo is MUCH worse than an undersharpened one!

Guy Scavone II Oct 20, 2008 08:07 PM

What an awesome photo!!!!!!
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Guy Scavone II
GS2boas.com

TopNotchBoas Oct 21, 2008 11:21 AM

np

Jonathan_Brady Oct 20, 2008 08:11 PM

Obviously, your level of expertise is MUCH higher than I'd say... ummm, EVERYONE posting on this forum. lol You know how to use these tools properly which is impressive, in and of itself. For you, I make an exception

And one of these days, I've GOT to figure out how you take such amazing pics. I say you teach a class. Sell the camera, photo editing software, and your time and expertise. Of course, since the idea is mine, I get all of that for free. But charge everyone else!

Thanks for your input!
jb
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Jonathan Brady
*You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.*

TopNotchBoas Oct 21, 2008 11:27 AM

I'm more than willing to help you, and anyone else, out as much as I possibly can in regards to boa photography. I usually get a call every 6 months or so from a boa person wanting tips ... and I'm glad to help!

Great subject, Jonathan. It's motivated me to work on some tutorials or at least some basic explainations of my techniques w/examples.

mpollard Oct 20, 2008 09:30 PM

Interesting topic, and nice picture. Personally, I take lousy pictures with a simple point and click camera. I don't even own photoshop. Could you maybe post a couple of pictures, one that you think is appropiately edited next to a picture that has been overly edited/sharpened, etc.? I'd like to see what an over produced picture looks like next to a well done one. If you are willing to, thanks in advance for the lesson!

Here's an example of my ineptness (if that is a word) at photo editing...lol Again, simple point and click, with flash. I used PAINT that came with my PC to combine the two pics into one. It's the same snake, taken with the same camera under the same conditions. The first pic was taken after the first shed, and the second taken at about 6 mos. of age.

Thanks again! Mark

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uncommonboa.com

TopNotchBoas Oct 21, 2008 11:38 AM

Great photo comparison there! I love to go back with my own shots and hold them side by side to see the development.

Here is an example of over sharpening.

Here is the same photo sharpened correctly

Another over sharpened photo:

The correct one:

See the difference? Some monitors will show it more than others (LCD's typically).

Oversharpening adds all kinds of "artifacts" and just appears fatiguing.

mpollard Oct 21, 2008 03:03 PM

Thanks, I see what you mean! The over processed ones looks harsh and coarse, the correctly done ones clear, yet soft. Thanks for the lesson. And yes, I'd like to see what you could have done with my comparison shots, too! I need to get better at representing my collection photographically, or get a decent photographer to drop by sometime!

Thanks, again!

Mark
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uncommonboa.com

ABCC Oct 20, 2008 09:35 PM

Pink! Love that guy. Adam

okeeteekid Oct 20, 2008 09:41 PM

nice color on that one jonathan.
greg c

ceniceros Oct 20, 2008 09:54 PM

Oh yea it bothers me when they photoshop to enhance color.
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Richard Ceniceros
Tap or take a nap

Guy Scavone II Oct 20, 2008 10:00 PM

Would it be considered "photoshopping" if you took a dead animal and spray painted it white in the hopes of fooling people into believing you produced a new morph?

My guess is that's even worse than "photoshopping" in most people eyes!

ceniceros Oct 20, 2008 10:20 PM

Lol... Guy you are killing me. Lol...
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Richard Ceniceros
Tap or take a nap

ckoutris Oct 20, 2008 10:40 PM

Jonathan
I couldn't agree with you more. For some reason people think it makes their snakes
look better. And it doesn't, I find it distracting and unnecessary.
By the way who in there right mind would spray paint a dead snake?????

Jonathan as always beautiful snakes!!!
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Charles

mack1time Oct 20, 2008 10:57 PM

I like to do all my processing with the in-camera settings.

It is sometimes very obvious when a sunglow or albino is enhanced to appear more bold/coral.

Some cropping etc. is fine .
But when you start messing with tones and saturations.....

Heres a pic of my boa in the tub with a perfect white balance set
Image
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www.BetterBoa.com

7.5 BCIs
4.5 Corn snakes

madisonrecords Oct 21, 2008 09:46 AM

" QUOTE "
By the way who in there right mind would spray paint a dead snake?

Why they would be talking about me of course concerning a certain Emerald Tree Boa from 15yrs ago.

Nothing new in some peoples world and to bad, I was to young to do the right thing and make it public.

All I had was an Old Polaroid of the animal after it had died and posted it a couple of years ago on my Dear friends web site.

I was prepared for the UTMOST REDICULE when I posted the picture, but that is O.K. today.

To thine own self be true and for those who doubt and create negative energy; " I wish them only the best and would expect nothing less than their disbelief as based on how I handled it and the crummy one photo that I had and eventually shared. "

No need in getting into a debate and I will not, just letting you know, that it is me that they are referring too and it is all good to me today.

John J

FRoberts Oct 22, 2008 12:05 PM

lol

>>" QUOTE "
>>By the way who in there right mind would spray paint a dead snake?
>>
>>
>>Why they would be talking about me of course concerning a certain Emerald Tree Boa from 15yrs ago.
>>
>>Nothing new in some peoples world and to bad, I was to young to do the right thing and make it public.
>>
>>All I had was an Old Polaroid of the animal after it had died and posted it a couple of years ago on my Dear friends web site.
>>
>>I was prepared for the UTMOST REDICULE when I posted the picture, but that is O.K. today.
>>
>>To thine own self be true and for those who doubt and create negative energy; " I wish them only the best and would expect nothing less than their disbelief as based on how I handled it and the crummy one photo that I had and eventually shared. "
>>
>>No need in getting into a debate and I will not, just letting you know, that it is me that they are referring too and it is all good to me today.
>>
>>John J

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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Joel_Thomas Oct 20, 2008 11:32 PM

Be proud of what you have...if not it is like stuffing your shorts!
Joel

ckoutris Oct 20, 2008 11:37 PM

Great analogy Joel!!
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Charles

afoll Oct 21, 2008 08:37 AM

good post, and a magnificent animal.
Andy

madisonrecords Oct 21, 2008 09:07 AM

Most professionals use it for sure.

However, they know how to use it properly.

The only problem that I have " not trying to put out negative energy, " is that there are some big name breeders out there, that have used it for years and know that their animals are nice, but not quite as nice as their pictures show and nobody says anything about it.

However, someone else comes on here and is obviously using it, they better watch out for the comments!

My first dealings with Photoshop, was of almost Nightmare Proportions.

However, I have become a little better at using it here lately " practice makes progression " and if used " properly " it will just correct a few things that may not have showed up in the original click of the camera.

Have yet, to have a customer tell me that they were not happy with a purchase based on my pictures " usually just the opposite. "

I agree, " let the animals speak for themselves, " but for us guys that are constantly having to take pictures on a daily bases and are not " professional, " it is nice for Photoshop, to lend a hand, as long as the animal is not looking better in the picture than in real life, because it should be the other way around.

JJ

robertmcphee Oct 21, 2008 09:17 AM

is to make the animals you are selling look better than they do through photoshop or any other means. If the animal is eventually sold won't the customer feel they were duped!!
Why not under-represent the animal that way your customers are surprised to see how great the animal really looks...at least that is what I try to do....
Just an idea!
I hate getting an animal that looks great online but not so great in person....and Im sure everyone else does as well!

couple of pics just because
(and yes they look better in person)


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Robert McPhee
www.BBCExotics.com

Jonathan_Brady Oct 21, 2008 09:39 AM

enjoy your fire breathing boas!

jb
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Jonathan Brady
*You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.*

madisonrecords Oct 21, 2008 09:49 AM

Well, I am glad you do Jonathan!

It is always nice to have fun and make people laugh!

Laughter, is the key to eternity.

John J

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