The images I posted in Meeting with Saxo Bank Chief Economist; My Speech in Copenhagen; Images of Stockholm and Copenhagen were raw unedited images. Burning and dodging a few select areas in Photoshop can help.
Reader “CH” took one of my images and sent it back with a message “I hope this doesn’t offend you”.
In a second email “CH” replied
I ‘dodged’ the boat. I also used a Photoshop plug-in called Topaz Labs Adjust.
Here is a before and after of a kayaker in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen Kayaker and Ships – Raw Image
Copenhagen Kayaker and Ships – Edited Image
The contrast is now a bit too high, but the extra details on the kayaker and water are excellent.
Click on either image to enlarge.
I did not have time to alter any of the images in my original post. Many could have been improved.
Key to Quality Images
- Start with an excellent composition and an exposure in the ballpark, +- 1/2 stop.
- I prefer a slightly under-exposed image to an over-exposed one. Once detail is washed out, it cannot be recovered.
- Shoot in the last two hours of the day or first two hours of the day for landscapes
- People and flower closeups generally photograph best on bright overcast days.
I used to carry a boatload of Canon lenses and equipment, all professional.
- 100mm macro
- 70-200mm F2.8 L
- 17-35 mm F2.8 L
- 28-70 mm F2.8L
- 24 mm Tilt-Shift
- 2 Canon Camera Bodies
- Tripod
I would guess that 75-85% of images I have ever taken were in the range 24-100mm range.
In Europe my equipment list looked like this:
- EOS 5D full frame digital camera
- 24-105 L lens
Camera Bags
The above two items fit nicely in a Lowepro Passport Swing Bag but one does have to remove the lens hood.
I used to carry a huge backpack that weighed a ton. Does it make sense to carry all that extra gear for 15-25% of the images?
The above bag will also hold a few filters, extra battery and battery charger, and other small items but it will not hold two lenses as the description of the bag says, unless the second lens is a small one or you do not have many extra items.
The length of the 24-105 lens is about 4.5 inches. Attached to the body, it takes up the entire removable padded center pocket.
For my current needs the above bag is nearly perfect but I wish it had a bit more padding in the side pockets. To carry an extra lens, I would advise putting some padding in the side pocket.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
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