Hey Junior and Poseidon

[Ron S.]

There has been a lot of talk about post processing of pictures. I tried taking a few in RAW and adjusting with the program that came with my cannon. My question is what things do you adjust? I know white balance, sharpen and contrast are the big ones. What about noise or speck removal? I took the pics under actintic with a piece of white plastic beside the coral and the color came out unreal, so what to do now? I understand you might not know what features the program has(Digital photo professional 3.3) but it is what I have.

Thanks Ron

Here is the one I had time to play with this morning.

 

[Poseidon]

Trying to white balance under actinic only is very hard. When you get home, post a pic of the coral with the white plastic still in it.

That is an AWESOME coral though... Maybe it REALLY looks like that. I'll get some pictures of mine today, once the lights come on.

 

[Ron S.]

OK here you go the first is untouched the second is my attempt to fix.

Here is another attempt with a pearlberry. Unadjusted, using the plastic and then using a spot in background. The last look the most accurate.

 

[Poseidon]

Those look pretty good Ron! Especially the last one, that is a really cool coral, my Pearlberry doesn't look that good yet.

Are you taking the pictures under actinic only, and then trying to correct them? If so that is nearly impossible. I am sure it can be done, but it would be much easier to just add your halides, or flash.

 

[Ron S.]

Yes these were under just the VHO actintics. I didn't feel like waiting for the halides to warm up. I didn't sharpen the photos yet, and i know a better program would help. I just want any tips or tricks that can be given to make my pics the best they can.

Ron

 

[Poseidon]

Usually the only tool I use for color correcting is levels. I use the "eye dropper" and select white, then go to the picture and click on what I want to be white. That will get you pretty darn close usually. Then if I need to adjust from there, I use the black slider to set a true black, and that is it.

If you shot RAW, then you can play with the white balance before you go to levels. Unfortunately there is no option for "Actinic" built into photoshop yet!

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Well mike pretty much nailed it, but i would urge you to consider photoshop elements. Its only $99 or cheaper, and uses the same RAW convertor as the big gun CS3. It gives you incredible control right out of the gates.

Noise in something i constanly deal with in low light situations like actinic only shots. Keep your ISO as low and you can, and use a good tripod. Thats going to be the best first step in keeping noise as possible.

Pics look great by the way.

Junior

 

[Ron S.]

I'm working on another. Work is dead so I have noting better to do. I will upload it in a minute.

Thanks for the help and compliments.
Ron

 

[Ron S.]

My Edit of your image...

 

[Poseidon]

Man Ron, you are going to need that 450 if you keep adding all these BEAUTIFUL frags!

On that last one, I think if you increase the exposure by .33 or so, you will be pleased.

I think my edit is OVER sharpened .... SOrry about that.

 

[Poseidon]

Turn your ISO down too Ron, ISO 800 is great for fish, but for corals you can be down at 200 or even 100 as I am sure you are using a tripod anyway.

 

[Ron S.]

I think the reality is not a bigger tank but to remove the older corals I have. How would I adjust exsposure in post?

 

[Ron S.]

I think I changed the ISO half way thru when I realized what it was set at. Always have the tripod out. There was some movement from me trying to hold the plastic food cap in there.

Ron

 

[Poseidon]

What are you editing in?

 

[Ron S.]

Digital photo professional 3.3, came with the camera.

 

[Poseidon]

This is a minor edit in Lightroom. (My preferred photo editor.)

 

[JuniorMC8704]

you should be able to download a 30 day trial of photoshop elements.

I would try that. Its cheap, and very powerful.

 

[Poseidon]

Digital photo professional 3.3, came with the camera.

I have never used that one. Well, I have tried it, but I found I was used to the Adobe way, and learning a new program wasn't going to happen at the time.

In Lightroom there are sliders that you can move back and forth, it is VERY easy. Lightroom is a basic editor, not as powerful as Photoshop, but I find it has everything I need.

Not that I want to sell you another program....

 

[Ron S.]

Thank you both, I will have to look in to both.

Ron

 

[Saltysteele]

hey, guys, which is better the white plastic, or the 18% grey card? are there any colors that do well with one or the other?