Category: Image Editing

An Introduction to 10 Basic Post-processing Tools and Techniques

  • Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
  • Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: Kanata Seniors Centre, Halls C&D
  • Sign-up:  Monthly KSCCC meeting on Friday, January 10, 2025
  • Instructor:  Ross Laing

This presentation is designed for anyone new to post-processing or photographers who are just starting to use post-processing. The presentation will look at common editing tools and techniques no matter which photo editing program you choose to use.

Deciding to edit your images using post-processing may seem overwhelming at first.  Learning about how to make a few basic edits and using just a few editing tools and techniques can improve your photography significantly.

Some key concepts that will be introduced during the presentation will include the difference between Global Edits vs. Local (Selective) Adjustments, as well as brief “real-time” demonstrations of editing sample photos using specific editing tools and techniques, including:

  1. Basic Global edits: exposure, white balance, contrast, etc.
  2. Crop & Level
  3. Selections: Magic Wand: Quick Selection Tool
  4. Eyedropper & Brush tool
  5. Spot healing: Patch tool
  6. Clone Stamp
  7. Burn & Dodge
  8. Black & White conversion
  9. Free Transform: Perspective
  10. Sharpen

2024/2025 Workshops

Wednesday December 4, 2024 – Small Flash Workshop

Maximum number of attendees – 8 with 2 instructors (Ross and Manfred)

Attendees must own a small external flash (speedlight) that is compatible with their camera make and model and must know how to use it in TTL and manual mode.  Flash must have a head that rotates at least 180 degrees.

This workshop is primarily aimed at intermediate photographers would want to improve their flash photography.  We will cover issues with direct flash (camera mounted flash aimed at the subject), bounce lighting and basic off camera flash.

We will be working in groups of two, with one person being the subject and the other the shooter.  Everyone will get a chance to shoot and be the model.

Signup:  November meeting

Wednesday January 29, 2025 – 10 Basic Editing Tools in Post-processing

Maximum number of attendees – 30 with one instructor (Ross)

Ross will demonstrate 10 basic editing techniques that can be used by any photographer to enhance the images that come out of your camera.  While Ross will be using Adobe software to demonstrate these techniques, the functions are available in virtually all other photo editing software.

Signup:  January meeting

Thursday, March 27, 2025 – Uncovering and Refining your “Diamonds in the Rough” Images

Maximum number of attendees – 30 with one instructor (Manfred)

Demonstrate how to identify a strong image that just needs to be refined in post-processing.   Attendees will be asked to submit one of their images (ideally in RAW format) to Manfred.

Some of these images will be analyzed and edited during the session to show the attendees their work can be enhanced in post.

Signup:  March meeting

NOTE:  The times of these workshops will be announced at a later date.  The dates are firm.`

24/25 Annual Photography Challenge: Triptych

Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights (1490-1519) *Source: Wikipedia


Definition:
A triptych is an artwork made up of a series of three images. The three individual triptych images must be interrelated and can explore a particular subject, a specific style, a theme, or even one image that is “split” to create three separate images. In addition, a triptych can show a sequential progression, often suggesting a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.

Purpose:
Ultimately, an effective triptych emphasizes the Gestalt concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

Background:
Triptychs were very popular artworks in the 15th century and usually depicted religious themes. They often had a larger central image with two smaller hinged images on each side of the large image. The two smaller images could be folded over the larger image and therefore protected all three images. More recently, triptychs are created photographic images.

The KSCCC Annual Challenge 2024-2025:

Shoot a photographic series that works as a triptych, whether 3 separate images or one image “split” into three individual images.
The triptych can be submitted as three separate images or as one image showing an amalgamation of the three images (i.e. a type of collage).
During the 2024-2025 season, there will be several short tutorials during Friday meetings on various ways to collate the three images to present them as one unified triptych image.

Submission Deadline: May 30, 2025
Presentation: June 6, 2025

PHOTOGRAPHIC TRIPTYCH SAMPLES:

Simon Gerniza (Source: Digital Photography School: Diptychs and Triptychs)
Toolbuz series by Manfred Meuller: Ant / Cricket / Praying Mantis
Car Show by Ross Laing

HELPFUL LINKS:

Websites

YouTube videos

Ross Laing