I guess I should learn Photoshop

[DVC Mike]

I've never used Photoshop before. I do all my processing in Lightroom. I think my photos come out OK (my Flickr Photostream).

However, looking at some photos I took on a completely overcast day last week at WDW, I was wondering if I could do anything with the photos in Photoshop. I tried in Lightroom and never got satisfactory results.

I spent the last couple of hours trying to learn how to use Photoshop CC, and I played with a dull, boring photo I took last week.

Here is what I started with:

http://i235.*************************************DM_141207_120350_VGF_Before.jpg

I usually just toss landscape photos I take on a completely overcast day.

However, after playing around with Photoshop, and searching the web learning how to do a few basic things, I came up with this:

http://i235.*************************************DM_141207_120350_VGF_After.jpg

Now, if you look at the photo closely, you can see that I am just a beginner with Photoshop and I don't really know what I'm doing. I wouldn't consider it finished with all the flaws, as I still have to learn how to correct them.

But man, this opened my eyes to the possibilities of using Photoshop!

I gotta spend some time to learn this tool. I always thought I was fine with just using Lightroom.

Do you use Photoshop?

 

[boBQuincy]

I use Photoshop (and layers) and sometimes Topaz Adjust to create what I saw when I took the photo. Lightroom is good but the controls are usually not enough for what I want to do.

 

[littlekidagain]

I use LR & Nik plugins 95% of the time. I use PS for layers and blending.

 

[xlxo]

You did a great job on the sky...

As you get more advanced, you might try to take pictures without needing photoshop.

• consider ND filters to lower the sky brightness
• consider Green/Blue filters to change the sky color
• consider taking pictures during the "magic hour"

 

[fabulousfive]

Ha, I've always used Photoshop & am now solely using Lightroom just because it's so much quicker. For my style, I'm loving the change! But wow, how did you do that sky?!

 

[DVC Mike]

Ha, I've always used Photoshop & am now solely using Lightroom just because it's so much quicker. For my style, I'm loving the change! But wow, how did you do that sky?!

I took the sky from another photo and used a layer with a mask to replace the sky.

I can't do that with Lightroom as far as I know.

 

[fabulousfive]

Nice, thanks for sharing! I use Lightroom now for everyday, light editing. However, yes, if I want to do something bigger like that, I have to take it into Photoshop. I think both work great together for that reason.

 

[photo_chick]

There will always be a need for post processing in photography. Always has been, even in the darkroom, and there always will be. But there's a line between post processing and image manipulation. It's easy to get your hands on PS and go a little nuts. You should decide which side of the line you want to be on. There is no right or wrong here but it will set the tone of your work.

I use LR, PS and a few other plug ins to get what I want most of the time. I tend to stay on the post processing side of the line to the extreme. I don't want you to be able to tell I used anything on my images.

 

[ThurlFan]

You did a great job on the sky...

As you get more advanced, you might try to take pictures without needing photoshop.

• consider ND filters to lower the sky brightness
• consider Green/Blue filters to change the sky color
• consider taking pictures during the "magic hour"

All solid advice, but since he was working with an original that had 100% cloud cover the substitution was a good choice and a great result