How to make a good picture forum friendly (tips)

[C-Rex]

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

Hey C-Rex how about some tips on how to edit pics....I'm not talking about making it to jetphotos or airliners.net....just enough to make a pic good..What software, etc. Not sure if what you displayed would have additional tips

For ”light” random shots:
I’m using an alright photo viewing/edit program called ACDSee Pro 2 read review here: ACDSee Photo Manager
The basics I do to a decent shot. (Just enough to make a pic good)
1 -
The first thing I do to a picture (assumed you have a decent picture) is to open it and load it on the photoediting program.
2 –
I correct the level of the picture (see if it needs to be tilted to the left or right)
3 –
I then look at it if it’s a little dark or little too bright, there’s slides to manage how much you want to give it a few contrast, more brightness or darkness.
4 –
I crop the photo to get rid of excess space on top, on both sides and on the bottom so that the subject is the one you will focus on when you view the picture.
5 –
when you crop the shot, its pixels are still “too big” for the forum, so I resize the photo down to 800pixel, just to make the shot forum-friendly.

6 –
Adds a few sharpening to the shots, again you as the editor have to judge if your photo is decent or good enough to be edited, if my shot is blurry or just bad quality, I discard that and send it to the bin.
This is the basics I do to my pics. Normal edits for me, you might see it as its too much but once you got the hang of it, you will realize this is actually just basics to what you can do to make the picture worth viewing.

Jetphotos.net /Airliners.net shots.

Adobe Photoshop:
For “heavy” or good shots that needs further extensive edits, I use CS3 as this program gives me more features/options compared to the ACDSee Pro 2. Add further 6 or more steps on to the basics I have just posted above.
Here I don't have any tutorial, instead I am using a Photoshop workflow, available here:
http://www.jid.me.uk/workflow/Workflow2/index.html

Edit Time duration:
ACDSee average: 5-6mins including watermarks. 15mins (But it depends how much you want to do to it.)
Adobe CS3 average: 10-15mins (But it depends how much you want to do to it.)

I'm sure there are better editing programs than the ACDSee PRO 2 that I'm using. No comment about that, Cause I haven't tried other programs.

Ps: Freak, If you got questions, please post them here. Don't hesitate to place your Q.s Hope this helps.

This one was done on the ACDSee Pro 2:

For other shots of this TUG, visit this link:
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...d-fraport.html

[dboyd001]

..... And if you are taking photos of models close-up it pays to have a good macro lens. I have a macro for my 35mm... now I wonder how long before film gets rare to find for it. With film you are concerned with grain, not pixels.
..... Which comes to another point, what is a good, low-cost digital camera that has macro?
Dave

[1:200Freak]

Awesome thanks for the tips

[C-Rex]

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

Awesome thanks for the tips

Was it the correct tips, you were asking for ?? If not, please let me know. Thanks right back at ya !

[1:200Freak]

Yes something to start with...So most of those pics that land up on those airliner photo sites have had some touch up here and there......I always thought if a model was modified it was never accepted.. So much for au natural photos

[C-Rex]

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

Yes something to start with...So most of those pics that land up on those airliner photo sites have had some touch up here and there......I always thought if a model was modified it was never accepted.. So much for au natural photos

^^lol

Photo editing is all about tweaking the photo to make it more presentable than the actual shot, that you got straight from the camera. Sure you can still upload it, but you kinda edit the shot to make it look even better.
Even if you have a million dollar DSLR fancy camera, you won't get a perfect shot hence the edit.
Back to square ONE.
Every now and then, a rookie buys an expensive camera, he goes around and says "I got an expensive camera, my shots will totally be cool and sharp".

My point is, it's not the camera that takes the shot, its the person behind it
What's the purpose of a photographer with a million dollar camera when the person doesn't know how to use it. lol

[1:200Freak]

You have some good shots C-Rex

I do have to ask something..I once saw photographers at YYZ that were actually clicking photos of aircraft taxing, with the fence clearly obstructing the shot...The lens was not even in the fence openings so as to get a clear view....I found it quite bizzare.

[C-Rex]

Originally Posted by 1:200Freak

You have some good shots C-Rex

I do have to ask something..I once saw photographers at YYZ that were actually clicking photos of aircraft taxing, with the fence clearly obstructing the shot...The lens was not even in the fence openings so as to get a clear view....I found it quite bizzare.

There's more than one type of "aviation" photographers.

Some are serious photographers, who takes the shots to upload on ANET, JP.net, Planespotters.net, airfleets.net etc etc...

Some takes photographs for their personal collection. (Not uploading to any websites)

Some does not care how the quality of of the pic, as long as they have a proof that they have seen it.

I'd even seen planespotters with small digicams (Canon IXUS style)

You guys may fill in the list if I'm missing other kinds of photographs. I'm sure there's alot more. lol