May One Photo Focus

Posted on by Stacy P. Fischer

Highlighting the creative magic behind post-processed photos

Welcome to ABFriday’s monthly One Photo Focus! This month, two dozen photographers are sharing their post-processing interpretations of one “before” image submitted by Julie Powell of Julie Powell Photography.

We begin with Julie’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 June’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

May 2016 One Photo Focus

Submitted by Julie Powell — Julie Powell Photography

Julie Powell, Julie Powell Photography

Submitted by Stacy Fischer — Visual Venturing

Stacy Fischer, Visual Venturing

I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure where I wanted to go with Julie’s image, except that I knew I wanted to focus on the building. I began in LR and applied some lens and perspective correction and followed up with auto tone and auto WB. Not my usual editing path, but I wanted to do most of the heavy lifting with filters. I chose Color Efex Pro to see what I could find. Using a combination of 5 filters (detail extractor, contact color range, film efex (vintage), glamour glow, and skylight filter), I ended up with a faded color image that certainly brought detail to the building. But then I decided to add in the infrared film filter and I liked that even better. I brought the image back into Lightroom, and just for fun, added a color preset I have in my arsenal. And that’s where I ended up.

Thanks, Julie, for giving us another great image to play with!

Submitted by Laura Macky — Laura Macky Photography

Laura Macky, Laura Macky Photography

Laura says: Just to show how much I love this challenge, I hope you see the “heart” in my image.

Submitted by Brenda — A Meditative Journey with Saldage

Brenda, A Meditative Journey with Saldage

Brenda says: The editing of Julie’s image was done with Nix’s Sharpener, Color Efex Pro 4, and then finalized with their Analog Efex Pro 2. 

Submitted by Karen Migliaccio — Karen Migliaccio

Karen Migliaccio, Karen Migliaccio

Submitted by Nancy Merrill – nancy merrill photography

Nancy Merrill, nancy merrill photography

Submitted by Marie — The Syllabub Sea

Marie, The Syllabub Sea

Submitted by Bren Ryan — RyanPhotography

Bren Ryan, RyanPhotography

Submitted by Chris — sv-takeiteasy

Chris, sv-takeiteasy

Chris says: I lacked a bit of inspiration for the editing of Julie Powell’s image, but in the end decided a sepia treatment of the homestead would be OK. 

Submitted by Raewyn — decocraftsdigicrafts

Raewyn, decocraftsdigicrafts

Raewyn says:  Edited in Photoshop with Nik Collection and several filters added using the Topaz Textures.

Submitted by Sherry Felix – Port4u

Sherry Felix, Port4u

After: Hotel by Julie Powel – edited by Sherry Felix

Sherry says: I wanted to change the light and make it a bit more romantic. To do that I used two other photos, one of a sunrise and another of a flowery meadow. I masked parts of them off. I also used overlays; a photo filter to put a little blue back in and a warming filter. The screen capture in my post shows how I masked the layers.

Submitted by Pieter Navis — PNCO

Pieter Navis, PNCO

Pieter says: For the editing I first made a cut out and then started by adding a little red and blue to the image. Then I removed the color from the grass and made the sky dark and as a finishing touch made the white roof blue.

Submitted by George McCane — Photoman401

George McCane , Photoman401

Submitted by Joanne Ritchie — Coffee Fuels My Photography!

Joanne Ritchie, Coffee Fuels My Photography!

Submitted by David Croker – CADEPhotographic

David Croker, CADEPhotographic

David says: Although I didn’t have too much time to edit this month, I felt that Julie’s image was perfect for trying to create something a bit more out-there than my usual edits. I used a few tools I hadn’t before as well such as distortion and created the mirror effect using layers in Photoshop Elements and made the colours pop. To me it makes for a cartoon/animation film type finish. Oh and I wonder if you can spot the faces that appeared as I did it…..

Submitted by Cee Neuner — Cee’s Photography

Cee Neuner, Cee's Photography

Submitted by Ed Lehming — Ed Lehming Photography

Ed Lehming, Ed Lehming Photography

Submitted by Tal Volk — Tal Volk

Tal Volk, Tal Volk

 Submitted by Robin Kent — PhotographybyKent

Robin Kent, PhotographybyKent

Robin says: This month’s image was a lot of fun to work with, many thanks to Julie Powell for providing it.  It had a number of intriguing possibilities, and I opted for a sci-fi mood.  Details can be found in my post but, in brief, most of the work was done in the Filter Gallery.  Instead of just one filter effect, I created several layers, each using a different filter and different opacities.  I am looking forward to seeing what others have done.

Submitted by Katie Prior — Drawing with Light

Katie Prior, Drawing with Light

Submitted by Michelle Lunato – Michelle Lunato Photography

Michelle Lunato, Michelle Lunato Photography

Submitted by Yvette — In the Zone

Yvette, In the Zone

Submitted by Linda James — Rainy Day Reflections

Linda James, Rainy Day Reflections

Submitted by Amy — The World Is a BookAmy, The World Is a Book

 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!

42 thoughts on “May One Photo Focus”

  1. I love what you did with this, Stacy. The stark black and white is perfect in bringing out the quality of the building. It’s architecture. I love the effect. Looks like you had a good group this month with varying degrees of success. I didn’t join in because I just had no idea where to go with the image but after looking at everybody’s work, I think the trip is more important than the destination- or however that saying goes. You can learn a lot by your failures just as well as your triumphs and I have to remember that. Don’t be afraid to fail. I’ll be along for the ride next month.

    Like

    Reply

    • I’ll let you in on a secret, Emilio: I use the sketch idea when I really don’t know where to go with an image and then I just play around. In the end, I did enjoy both the trip and the destination 🙂 As for you, my friend, you have never failed – just sayin’. Looking forward to having you on board for June!

      Like

      Reply
  3. Pingback: One Photo Focus- Cody’s Pink Moon – In the Zone

  7. Reblogged this on P N C O and commented:
    Through Laura Macky i discovered this cool thing called ‘One Photo Focus’ in which many people edit the same photo, resulting in a variety of creative adaptations of the original image.

    Like

    Reply
  10. Pingback: One Photo Focus: May – decocraftsdigicrafts
  11. Pingback: May One Photo Focus (late) | Ted Griffith's Photo Art Studio

  14. What a collection! I’m going to head over to everyone’s blogs to leave a comment. I’ll start with yours here though….wow! I adore that sketch. Very creative Stacy!

    Like

    Reply
  17. Pingback: May OPF and Flower of the day | The World Is a Book...

  18. Wow! Each month I am so impressed and admittedly jealous of the editing skills I see here. How some of these are done is beyond me. I really need to step up my skills. What a great group of talented people!! Thanks for hosting this fun challenge Stacy.

    Like

    Reply

  19. Loved how using the gallery format allowed the eye to quickly compare the photographers’ recreations. I was pleasantly surprised to see so much individuality expressed in each entry. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Any thoughts?