Post Processing is the Path to make Photography an Art Form

I personally believe in digital post processing is one of the best method to lead photography into the art world in this day and age.  Just like photography, digital post processing require many years of learning and experiences. A lot of people have the misconception of  mastering all the technicalities in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom will make their photos good.  To me, learning all the technicalities is only a small part of in making your photograph an art form.   Turning a photograph into an art piece not only to bring your vision alive in camera, you’ll need to know more than just taking a good photograph. Such as learn how light and shadow working collaboratively, know the relationship between colors, black & white , design balance, composition, what to hide and show and many more.

I”ve encounter numerous aspiring photographers in our area who are unsure of what to do with their photos after the photos are transferred onto their computer.  Therefore, I would like to offer my help to who wants to learn about post-processing.   It is my goal to help photographers to know when to use, what tools to use and how to use these post-processing tools to complete their vision.  I will be hosting my own post-processing workshop VERY SOON, but as for now I will show you what post processing in Adobe photoshop can help enhancing Zabrina‘s shot taken in Shanghai.  (PS. I choose to use Photoshop because I like the control of every single pixels. Yes I am a control Freak. )

Below is the Before and After of the Image:

( Image taken at China, Shanghai a beautiful town named Jinxi during Scott Robert  X CM leung Workshop )

This is the raw before image.

To start, I’ve duplicated an extra layer of the image and use blending mode: “Multiply.”
Here I used “Level” and “Curves” to adjust the highlight and shadow as well as the color channels.Then I used “Black and White” to adjust the color red contrast. (Why use Black and White  to adjust red? I will explain if you come to my upcoming workshop.)After applying some amounts of “Dodge and Burn” here is the final image after photoshop.
Final ImagesIf you are interested in learning more on post processing to enhance your photography to the next level, please stay tune on my blog or connect me on facebook, and I will post more information about my upcoming Digital Post Processing Workshop.

About the Author

Jeremy Chan, owner of JeZa photography, partner of Online Photo Retoucher Ltd., and technical support of Scott Robert Creative Lighting System . He has been working as a photo editing master and graphic designer in commercial printing industry for 10+ years. With this many years of industry experience , he has resurrected countless photographs in the past 10 yrs and still happy to do so everyday. Born in Hong Kong, and raised in California. He is currently living with his wife Zabrina and miniature schnauzer Rambo in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Comments Closed

  • Diane Villanueva - December 6, 2010 - 12:49 am

    Hi Jeremy,
    When will you schedule the class? I am so looking forward to taking it and learning the great art of editing from you. 🙂
    Thanks! Diane

  • Timothy Hui - November 26, 2010 - 11:01 pm

    Dang, I love what you did with the picture. When will you do this workshop?

  • jenny - November 19, 2010 - 6:58 pm

    SUPER AWESOME!! GREAT JOB JEREMY!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tauran - November 19, 2010 - 6:16 pm

    Like!

  • Edmund Ie - November 19, 2010 - 4:49 pm

    AWESOME Jeza! What a fantastic post! looking to reading more!

  • Michelle Ng - November 19, 2010 - 3:59 pm

    OH YEAH, and if Scott teaches the basics of LR, and you both do a class together, it’s over!

  • Michelle Ng - November 19, 2010 - 3:58 pm

    NICE! This is exactly what we need – a class to help extend our vision even farther than what we see through the pinholes of our camera! Great job Jeremy! Please keep us posted on when the class is coming out, I’m sure I know a ton of people who would like to join in.

    -Michelle

  • Scott Robert Lim - November 19, 2010 - 3:49 pm

    btw, I like the new logo!!

  • Scott Robert Lim - November 19, 2010 - 3:49 pm

    Will you just hurry up already and post the freakin class so all those people who pressed the “like” button can sign up????

    Okay, how about this, if you teach PS I will teach the basics of LR and we will do a class together if you want, in the future!!

M o r e   i n f o