Bridge over River Kennet - England - Photo Salvage Tutorial

Sometimes you have a photo that just misses the target, but has something good to offer anyway. This is one of those... see how I create this image:

From this:

This image was taken before I'd upgraded to a "nice" camera - just a cheap £20 Vivitar point-and-shoot that I got from Argos.

What's wrong with this image?
Well, the biggest problem is due to the camera not having a zoom to speak of. As such, there is no real clear focus to the image. It's a nice one for remembering somewhere I used to live, but beyond that, it's nothing to write home about. But there are the raw materials for a nice picture... So, we get to work.

As I usually do when doing basic photo work, I am using Photoscape (which is totally free and really good software!)

• The first thing I do is to correct the slight tilt I have going on here with the lovely arbitrary-rotate tool Photoscape has. I use the people and the bollards along the pathway as guides to get it level.

• I then crop the image so that it has a definite focus. I was sad to lose some of the swans.

Here's what I have now:

• My next step is to hit the "auto level" button. Although sometimes I hit "undo" and use the smaller increments, most of the time it really enhances the photo without much thought.

• Now, I'll hit the "sharpen" button. Watch carefully - with people and animals, it's often too much, but for many subjects it really does just bring out the picture.

Here is what I have now:

• My next step is to hit the "contrast enhancement" button which is hidden behind the "bright, color" button. I normally go with "middle" to begin with.

• My final true edit is to hit the "backlight" button once or twice. It lightens the dark areas and just brings some balance to the picture. I will often go one click too far and then undo until I'm happy with it. Rarely, it doesn't help at all, but normally it really does enhance a picture with unacceptably dark areas. Here's what I have now:

• Now, I just go and add some finishing touches - adding a margin and text in this case. The way I do it changes from time to time, as you might expect.

In fact, as I pick up new tricks, the way I edit the whole picture changes from time to time.
Check out these two different "finals" - first, the one that I just shared with you.

How do you think this compares with my old final?

All of today's pictures were taken by myself in 2007.

Today’s post is crossposted at: Whaleshares, Bearshares,
WeKu

Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
now also on: Whaleshares and WeKu