Putting the Post in Post-Processing

When I switched over to digital photography from film there was a lot of discussion on new approaches and changing mindsets required to get good photographs (ex. Shooting or Exposing to the Right). While most photographers focused on techniques that could only go as far as the software or hardware of the time I always looked to the future. Never being satisfied with the current state of software or hardware I always knew that the technology powering the digital photography movement would catch up to what I had in mind. Much of what I was striving to accomplish revolved around improved image processing and higher resolution images. In a nutshell I knew that if I was using an 8 megapixel camera I’d be able to stitch multiple images together to make a 100 or 1000 megapixel image and so I started gathering images during my travels for giant digital panoramic photos. The same was true of images that might have been difficult or impossible to process to expectation with early raw converters. I took and sought after those challenging photos knowing I’d make them into something I had envisioned when the time was right. In both of these cases I knew that over time the software would improve and computers would get more powerful. While I held great optimism the technology would catch up over time I had to live with the fact that many of my images would have to sit idle for sometime. The gap between taking my photos and processing them would range from few months and to several years.

When I upgrade to new software, as was the case with my move to Lightroom 4, I like to revisit older photos to see what impact the new software can have on them.  I’m almost always wowed by the improvements I see across each upgrade for Lightroom and Photoshop, but the changes to Lightroom 4’s RAW converter (and Adobe Raw 7) has especially impressed me.  It’s truly astonishing to see how much more latitude there is in working with images that are not ideally exposed or contain a great deal of digital noise. Below are a couple of recent examples of images taken with my Canon 1D Mark II back in 2006. While these images aren’t particularly extreme to highlight how much Lightroom 4 or Adobe Raw 7 can do, they do work to highlight the general philosophy: take photos to satisfy what you envision, versus what you feel you can work with given existing post-processing limitations. The “post” in post-production has no time limit so always look back to your older work to see how newer technology can breath new life into your photographs. You might just rediscover a lost gem.

Example 1:
Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/2000 sec
Processed with Adobe Lightroom 4

Before Edits: Na Pali Coast and Surf

After Edits: Na Pali Coast and Surf

Example 2:
Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8, ISO 400, f/3.2, 1/2000 sec
Processed with Adobe Lightroom 4

Before Edits: Na Pali Coast Spire Detail

After Edits: Na Pali Coast Spire Detail

Note: Both images were taken from a boat in choppy surf hence the super fast shutter speeds