Highlighting the creative magic behind post-processed photos
Welcome to ABFriday’s monthly One Photo Focus! This month, our merry band of photographers is sharing their post-processing interpretations of one “before” image submitted by Nancy Merrill of nancy merrill photography.
We begin with Nancy’s “before” image, followed by the “afters,” and at the end, a gallery of all so you can watch the changes as you scroll through. Be sure to click the links to each participant’s blog as many have written posts “uncovering the magic” behind their “after” images. And if you would like to participate in April’s One Photo Focus, you’ll find all the details on the After-Before Friday Forum page.
Don’t forget to check out After-Before Friday, hosted by Benjamin Rowe on Aperture 64. There you can share the magic “after” of your own “before” image, every Friday except the first Friday of each month (when One Photo Focus runs)!
BEFORE PHOTO
Submitted by Nancy Merrill – nancy merrill photography
Submitted by Stacy Fischer — Visual Venturing
Given that Nancy’s image from the Utah Shakespeare Festival, I decided to pay homage to The Bard in my version. I applied a few basic edits in Lightroom and then took the image into Color Efex Pro, where I applied a pro contrast filter and a glamour glow filter (and masked out this effect to retain focus on the sign). I followed up with Photoshop, where I created one layer with the quote (and it’s accompanying colored lights) and a second layer with the portrait (where I reduced the opacity). Back in Lightroom, I decreased the saturation of the green leaves and ended by applying separate radial filters to the lines of text and the sign, increasing the clarity of each in an attempt to bring them more into focus.
And so I continue my experimentation with Photoshop layers. The final product may have ended up a bit “busy,” but I had a lot of fun! Many thanks to Nancy for allowing us the opportunity to “play” with her image, and thanks to all for once again taking part in One Photo Focus!
Submitted by Robin Kent — PhotographybyKent
Robin says: Thanks again to Stacy for her extraordinary management of the much anticipated monthly OnePhoto Focus event. And thanks to Nancy Merrill for providing us an image to play with. Given the theatrical purpose of the building in the picture, I decided to go with a bit on fantasy. The six Focus Groups that reviewed it all concluded it was excessive, but the show must go on.
Submitted by Cee Neuner — Cee’s Photography
Submitted by Michelle Lunato — Michelle Lunato Photography
Michelle says: When I saw the picture I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. So, I just stopped thinking and started playing with ideas. I tried some things and threw them out. Then I tried some more and ended up with…something that makes me think of an illustration in a book or magazine.
Submitted by Laura Macky — Laura Macky Photography
Submitted by Amy — The World Is a Book
Amy says: I did the basic editing through the LR, then added 5 different filters of the Efex color pro 4.
Submitted by Marsha Leith — CoolQuilting
Submitted by Raewyn — decocraftsdigicrafts
Raewyn says: When I saw this I knew I wanted a gothic feel to it. So, first I added an HDR filter to bring out all the details. Then I added a texture from the Topaz preset filter to give it a vintage feel. Finally I went to Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 for the pinhole filter to really add the gothic black and white feel.
Submitted by Julie Powell — Julie Powell Photography
Submitted by Chris — sv-takeiteasy
Chris says: The legacy of William Shakespeare: comedies, tragedies, histories that are known all over the globe. To see the full post, go to http://sv-takeiteasy.com/2016/03/05/march-one-photo-focus.
Submitted by Joanne Ritchie — Coffee Fuels My Photography!
Submitted by Yan Balczewski — From Hiding to Blogging
Submitted by Linda James — Rainy Day Reflections
Submitted by Marie — The Syllabub Sea
Submitted by George McCane — Photoman401
Submitted by Bryan — theonlyD800inthehameau
Submitted by Sherry Felix – Port4u
Sherry says: I used the photo by Nancy Merill of Adams Memorial Shakespearean Theater donated and created for this After Before Friday for the March One Photo Focus challenge. I use many multiple layers in Photoshop; such as color inversions and overlays, brightening and darkening, etc. until it had the look I was after.
Submitted by David Croker – CADEPhotographic
David says: Having really enjoyed my first go, I wanted to get involved again, but with a busy schedule, I haven’t spent as much dedicated time on this months. However, I still feel happy enough with the final edit for it to be included. If nothing else, it proved to me what can be acheived in a relatively short space of time.
Please click on the links of those who contributed this week, to read about their post-processing steps and/or to see what other treasures they have on their blogs. They’d love to have you visit!
So what do you think of the ABFriday forum?
Feel free to leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section. And don’t forget to view the guidelines if you want to participate. I’d love to have you onboard!
Visual Venturing 
Wow, once again I’m in completely in awe at the many and varied edits to this month’s photo. Thank you again Stacy for a fabulous focus month!😄
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Thank YOU, Joanne, for being a part of it!! 🙂
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Interesting edits as usual. I hadn’t realized how saturated my colours were until I saw it posted here…hmmm a bit too green for me!!!
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Hey, Marsha! Color calibration — a many-headed serpent 😝 Personally, I liked the bold color, but I understand your feeling if it was not where you were going for!
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Wow, Stacy! Another knock-out series of ideas. You have assembled a really creative bunch here.
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I truly do have a blast opening up everyone’s emails and seeing all the wonderful creations 😀
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Oh Stacy, I love yours! Excellent job by all. I really have to start participating again. I love this challenge.
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Hi, Desley!! Thanks for that 🙂 I’m definitely having fun experimenting with how to do Photoshop layers! We’d welcome you back with open arms ❤️
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Well thank you! I will be back!! I’m signing up for a photoshop course soon. I want to learn more about putting lettering on photos in particular. I have PS as part of the creative cloud but have never used it lol.
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Good luck with that! I signed up for one lay July and still have yet to begin 😦 Good thing it’s a lifetime program!
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LOL yes that is a good thing. I’m trying to get into a classroom-based one – I learn much better with others around me.
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Good for you! Perhaps if I had done that, it would have held me accountable, if you know what I mean, and I’d be well on my way to learning PS 🙂
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Your editing is great.
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Thanks, Raewyn 🙂 I’ll be by today to visit your post!
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Stacy, I like your version of editing. How very creative of you. There was a great turnout and lots of editing choices. I saw a couple of crops and ideas that were fairly close to some of my ideas that I didn’t post. 😀 😀
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Thanks, Cee 😀 I’m finding 1PF to be a wonderful vehicle for me to explore Photoshop and layering – it takes me a while to accomplish but I’m hoping I’ll ultimately become much more adept at it!
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Just meant to say that a lot of people don’t have their posts up on their pages. 😦 May I boldly say that Julie is awesome???? Nice job Julie!
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I know – some schedule later 😦 And I, too, loved Julie’s!
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She is just so darned talented!!!!
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I second that!!
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You really went for it in this one! Wonderful imagination and execution!
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Well, not nearly as imaginative as yours, Laura 😉 But, thanks; glad you like it 🙂
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You’re welcome. 🙂 Hope you have a good morning!
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Okay, just how IS it you can comment/reply so darn quickly??? 🙂 I’m so far behind – the faster I go, the behinder I get!! Now off to look at some more apartments with my agent … so, once again, I’m pulled away from blogging. Someday I’ll catch up. Sigh …
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I’m sickly attached to my devices. At the hair salon waiting, in the car with Dave, etc. Don’t feel bad…it’s a sickness LOL! Happy hunting. 😀
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😂
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lol
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Thanks, everyone! How fun to see the different ideas the image generated. Stacy, please ask me again! I’d love to contribute another image. 😀
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Absolutely, Nancy! Thanks, again, for your wonderfully fun contribution 😀
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