Egidio leads this week with a photography tutorial demonstrating how to resurrect photos we have cast aside, and turn them into “new artistic renditions of our work.” He provides many examples as well as suggestions on different editing software tools. Having no illusions about being a professional photographer, I rely on what is included in my basic iPhoto package; light, color, filters and cropping.
From the deck of my Condominium at Long Beach, WA, the rolling waves are amazing to watch – especially in gale force winds at high tide! I liked this shot, and enjoyed running it through different filters. The “vivid cool” filter intensifies the beauty of the Pacific Ocean’s powerful breakers.
I love fog – at least when I’m not driving in dense fog! Looking out on a foggy landscape brings a sense of quiet peace to my being. Below the original shot (left) is so-so. The cropped version (right) emphasizes the mood I desire.
Looking east, toward the berm from the shoreline, often there are “found object” constructions and natural sculptures that others have created. The driftwood image was dramatic, the photo was not (left). Cropping, filtering and adjusting light brings forth a dancing figure encircled by windswept dune grasses.
I have taken you strolling along the Martha Jordan Birding Trail on the Long Beach Peninsula, before. In every season the visual effect changes. The original (left) is the mood I generally experience there; quiet with birds chirping and gentle soughing in the trees, few if any other people, and a touch of mystery along the way. On the right, I wanted to emphasize a sense of foreboding one might experience in a wild and empty place like this.
Below, a view looking west from the riverbank at the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon. There is a so much information jammed into this one photo, the first thing I did was crop severely.
To bring our focus to the warehouse, and clarify the bridge in the background, I used the noir, filter and then I reduced light to arrive at the image below.
Lindy Low LeCoq 
Lindy, wonderful edits. I really like what you did with the waves. You succeeded in creating a sense of foreboding in the trail shot.
Thank you, Beth. I was surprised that I liked the waves better! Walking the trail is generally a peaceful excursion. For those less comfortable in wilderness areas it could be scary though!
This was a very interesting post. In some cases I thought the original was as good as, or maybe even better than the edited one. I have Photoshop and other editing tools, and I do use them, but the real skill, as you obviously know, is in framing a good shot to begin with. I’m not anti-editing or anti AI either, but I still like to rely on good old human intelligence (I’m a couple of years older than you, too.)
Thank you, Jill. I must admit this was a difficult assignment for me!
Your cropping gives the photos more focus! As someone who almost never crops, I learned something.
I love the photo of Big Red, which I believe is the last surviving net shed in Astoria. Net sheds were used by fishers (fishermen & fisherwomen, but almost exclusively men) for storing gear. The last occupant was an artist, who I think vacated after Big Red was damaged in a major windstorm around 15+ years ago. Big Red is barely surviving. It’s on the market for ~$130k, and the local historic preservation community is hopeful that someone with creative ideas will buy it. I have a place in Oysterville (which currently needs a ton of work). Oysterville is on the National Register of Historic Places, as it was a working oyster farming community.
More than you ever wanted to know, I’m guessing! Anyway, thanks for the photos – Barbara Hollenbeck
Thank you for the history of Big Red. I didn’t know it had a name or what its original purpose was, though I do know the history of fishing, oystering and clamming on the peninsula.
I hope Big Red is rescued, though I know how brutal water is on wooden structures. Historic Oysterville is indeed a treasure!
This is real proof that cropping is a powerful tool! And monochrome is just as beautiful a card. Love the waves and the mood in the country road especially. The dancer is intriguing.
Thank you, Leya. This was a difficult assignment for me, though it did force me to do my best with what I have!
Well done – I love it when I have to do that!
All your edits have transformed your photos brilliantly, especially your perfect cropping 🙂
Always step #1!