Highlighting the creative magic behind post-processed photos
Welcome to ABFriday’s monthly One Photo Focus where, this month, 16 photographers are sharing their post-processing interpretations of one “before” image submitted by Bren Ryan of RyanPhotography.
We begin with Bren’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 August’s One Photo Focus, you’ll find all the details on the After-Before Friday Forum page.
BEFORE PHOTO
Submitted by Bren Ryan — RyanPhotography
Submitted by Stacy Fischer — Visual Venturing
I absolutely loved Bren’s image, drawn not only to the textures and colors but to the reflection as well. I had recently read a tutorial by Leanne Cole on Digital Photography School about adding reflections using Photoshop and thought I’d try my hand at it. I first made some basic adjustments to the image in Lightroom and then brought it into PS, where I pretty much followed Leanne’s blueprint. It took some trial and error, as I’m far from adept at using the program, but I was pretty happy with how the reflection turned out. I followed up in ColorEfex Pro, where I selected a pro-contrast filter and added a vignette using the darken/lighten center filter. All in all, a fun experiment for me. Thanks, Bren (and Leanne), for providing the inspiration!
Submitted by Brenda — A Meditative Journey with Saldage
Brenda says: I began adjusting the exposure and white balance in Bren’s raw image before going into Nix’s Viveca 2…wanted to explore what, if any thing, was hidden in this image’s shadows. I then played around in ON 1 Photo Effects before going to Nix’s Analog Efex 2…I have become enchanted by Nix’s wet plate and broken choices.
Enchanted is a good word as this image speaks of an enchantment…of a travel back in time…to a childhood storybook narrative.
Submitted by Chris — sv-takeiteasy
Submitted by Laura Macky — Laura Macky Photography
Laura says: I’m back to my painterly ways for this one. 🙂 The result consists of three parts: Castle, Wisteria and Sky. Since Bren lives in England I tried to go with the image by putting some english flowers in the foreground to create some depth. You’ll laugh but I googled “english flowers” because I wasn’t sure what to put there. I found an archway of wisteria in a free image so I went with that; and I have no idea if that’s a typical English flower but let’s pretend it is lol.
Submitted by Julie Powell — Julie Powell Photography
Submitted by Ted Griffith — Ted Griffith’s Photo Art Studio
Submitted by Joanne Ritchie — Coffee Fuels My Photography!
Submitted by George McCane — Photoman401
Submitted by Marie — The Syllabub Sea
Submitted by Raewyn — decocraftsdigicrafts
Raewyn says: Obviously I wanted a vintage look. So I did my usual edits with Nik Collection HDR and then with Nik Analog and Topaz filters.
Submitted by Amy — The World Is a Book
Submitted by Cee Neuner — Cee’s Photography
Submitted by Katie Prior — Drawing with Light
Submitted by Michelle Lunato — Michelle Lunato Photography
Submitted by Y. Prior — In the Zone 2001
Yvette says: My post processed version of Ryan’s photo was inspired by my mother-n-law’s recent wedding in Kansas City, Kansas. I decorated the front yard with items from their gardens (large hydrangea shrub, window box, and some trinkets from their house including a gnome with two cans of “billy Beer”). I added in Cody’s moon again this month, but instead of a pink moon, I went with a cool blue moon to welcome in relaxing July.
Submitted by Sherry Felix – Port4u
Sherry says: The original “castle” by Bren Ryan of RyanPhotography was dark (on purpose I’m sure) so first I opened up the shadows in Lightroom. I felt that the castle needed some breathing space and some interest in the sky. To do that I masked castle in Photoshop and imported a suitable background of my own, taken in Panama 5/21/2014, to place behind it. I selected the water and duplicated it as a layer and stretched it to fill the bottom and stretched part of it to fill the area on the bottom left. I blended it in by cloning and masking then merged those layers. Lastly, I brought it into onOne for a few more adjustments.
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 
Ohh, wow. I did it just now, for practice, before having a look what others have done. I like some as works of art, but it’s something completely different than what I do with photography. I like my edit a lot and maybe I could still post it together with the original on my blog and link here? Or better not?
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That’s wonderful, Manja. Please feel free to post and link!
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Thank you for your reply, Stacy, then I just might. A warning: I’ve just been looking through the technical data and it sounds like serious work. I’m afraid I shall not obey. 😉 But I’ll drop the link here when I’m done.
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Here it is. Basically the same as original, just lighter. 😀 It was super educational to see all the contributions. Thanks!
https://manjameximovie.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/july-one-photo-focus/
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Hey Stacy, nice to hear that the tutorial works and people are using it. It worked out great, your image I mean.
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Thank you Stacy for hosting these monthly challenges. .. there is so much talent here… and seeing other people’s edits really gives you inspiration xx
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Well, the talent around here is amazing, especially yours. I love what you did with the reflection and each month your challenge comes around I swear I will start studying Photoshop and then I never do. When I first saw Bren’s image, I wanted to add space all around but just don’t have the knowhow. You, lady, have got it! And you know how to use it! Superb! 🙂
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What a great idea to add a reflection. I wish I’d thought of that!
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Amazing edits for July. Thank you for including Leanne’s reflection tutorial
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My pleasure, Brenda 🙂 And I agree!
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Great series again this month Stacy! I love the reflection you have added! I’ll have to have a play with that tutorial of Leanne’s!
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So creative this month. Love them all. Very inspiring
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The reflection of the castle is really well done. Great idea. Stacy, you left mine out by accident https://port4u.net/2016/06/22/castle-july-one-photo-focus/ (delete this link later).
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Hi Stacy -‘I always love coming to see what people did with the image – and your “long” reflection and lightening is beautiful !
I always love the diversity in the entries and it goes from what feels like Monet or a smooth KP Sky – to what feels like an original black and white print- and then each blogger gives a hint of their essence – like the SS has the fairy and the more formal photographer shows us stately views – and then the one with the bench zoomed in! Oh the diversity – and I know my super loud blue moon is intense – but it was a mood I was going for with the hydrangea – and thanks for choosing Bren’s cool image – it was original and interesting –
I thought more folks would have converted the modern Windows or trimmed the jagged edge on the right (even Cee left it uncropped) but it is always nice to see edits after having worked with the image – 😉
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WOW really love the edits everyone did xx so much talent and inspiration xx Good luck with the move xx and thanks for hosting these monthly challenges xx
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Stacy your reflections came out great! I almost did that! I’m off to look at everyone’s edits on their page. Thanks again for holding this fun challenge!
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Stacy, your idea was brilliant. WOW. Love it.
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Extremely creative all of you. Very impressed. I don’t know whether I could have done any of that. Well the good thing is there’s a lot to learn.
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WOW-there are some amazing edits in here! [Insert the image of mouth open in awe.] Holy cow there is a lot of talent in this post.
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I know, right??? So much fun to see all the creativity!
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Awesome. I better step up my game!
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