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Infrared Conversions, IR Modifications & Photography Tutorials | Life Pixel IR

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Pre-visualization & Post Production

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Did you ever see something and see the final image in your mind that could be so much more? This happens to me on a regular basis and thanks to Photoshop and post production I can make it happen.

I’m a fan of the multiple shapes in nature. Curves, lines, tones and form all play a part but often some distractions need to be handled for the image to work. Here’s an example from an agave plant I saw in Austin, Texas.

original capture

Straight out of the Lumix FZ1000 camera this image grabbed my attention because of the curved leaf in the middle.

Exp 1/320 sec f4.0 ISO 125 400mm equivalent compressed the scene.

highlighted area on plant

The turn of the leaf near the top is incredibly sensuous, and I wanted that to stand out as the primary focus once someone starts to look around in the image.

As you look at the images above there are some obvious and not so obvious things that need attention. The view of the wall is a big attention grabber. It’s the brightest part of this image, and the highest contrast will always be the first thing to which the eye will be attracted. One of the ways to check on areas of highest contrast is to flip the image upside down. Leave the room and come back for a fresh view. Note where your eye goes when it is more of an abstract form. If that’s not where you want the viewer’s attention, it’s time to go to work!

retouched image

Here’s the agave after a bit of retouching. Note the clean-up of some scratches and stains in addition to hiding the wall in the background. This version is getting pretty close to my vision, but we aren’t home yet.

monochrome version sepia tone

Here’s a conversion to monochrome. Black and white seemed to be too harsh a treatment, so I opted for a warm brown sepia tone. The tone was created using NIK Silver FX Pro 2. If you don’t already have this software, it is available free of charge from Google. Just search for NIK, and you’ll find a link. There’s a whole suite of plug-in tools available from them.

agave final image by bob coates photography

For the final touches, I used a Soft Light Layer to lightly dodge & burn and add just a bit more highlight at the top of my featured leaf. Remember that shadows and highlight create form in your images.

If I didn’t have the post production option of working this picture into an art piece I probably never would have made it in the first place.

Yours in Creative Photography,         Bob

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Bob Coates

Latest articles by Bob Coates (see all articles)

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  • Pre-visualization & Post Production - October 18, 2016
Bob Coates

Bob Coates

Bob Coates, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., CPP

Based in Sedona, Arizona Bob is a professional photographer, author, speaker & educator.

Coates started taking photographs with an SLR borrowed from a friend for a vacation back in 1983. After successfully managing other peoples businesses for fourteen years while photographing on the side, Bob decided to follow the quote "Do what you love and you will become a success."

In March of 1994 he left the restaurant biz and took the leap to become a professional image maker. "In this business the variety never ceases to amaze me," says Bob. "One day shooting jewelry in the studio, the next day creating images for a brochure and yet another standing in the middle of the desert waiting for the light to get "just so." The changes in software and digital imaging continue to inspire me to create new and exciting imagery."

Bob Coates Photography "Specializes in not Specializing" this allows Bob come up with interesting new ways of photographing subjects. Combining the techniques of different types of photography leads to new ways capturing images. People who hire Bob Coates Photography do it not just for the expertise but, for the experience brought to the job.

Certified by Professional Photographers of America, Master, Artist & Craftsman Photographer. Member Arizona Professional Photographers Association & American Society of Photographers.

Published Magazine Articles and Books: Professional Photographer, Rangefinder, Shutterbug, AfterCapture, Photo Electronic Imaging, Caribbean Travel and Life, Cruise Travel, Scouting, Porthole, Realtor, New York Daily News Caribbeat, SignCraft, Sailing World, Pro-Lighting Series: Nightshots, Pro-Lighting Series: Beauty Shots, Portrait Photographers Handbook, and others…

Books published by Amherst Media - Photographer's Guide to Wedding Album Design & Sales, Photographer's Guide to Wedding Album Design & Sales Second Edition and Strategies & Techniques for the Digital Photographer.

Bob is also a photographer coach and writes a blog called Successful-Photographer with information to help photographers in the art, science, business and marketing of photographic services. Questions or ideas about things you'd like me to address here at LifePixel? bob@bcphotography.com


See All Articles by Bob Coates
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