Image Enhancement; Should I?

A lot of photos look pretty good as they are. But most  could benefit from some image enhancement.

What is image enhancement? Anything from cropping to color changing, and lots of stuff in between. Some photos don't need a lot, but an artistic eye can find a way to improve them. Remember too, sometimes subtle is the best choice. 

In film photography, we got used to using filters. A polarizer was very useful. We often used one to enhance the blue sky and make the clouds seem to pop out. A polarising filter is actually a very useful filter even in this digital age. Besides the apparent color enhancements, it can remove certain reflections when used properly. Reflected light from water, leaves, glass, etc... could be removed or toned down, making for some nice effects. Be sure to buy one that is compatible with your specific camera, tho. The AF system, pellicle mirrors, digital sensors, etc... can be affected by an incompatible polarizing filter. Sticking with your camera brand for this filter is a safe, tho pricey, choice.

In B&W film, we used filters to change the contrast relationships between colors. Light yellow and dark red were two popular filters used for landscapes. Other filters (light green, for instance) softened facial tones.

There were color correction filters, neutral density filters, filters for our flashes and lights, and filters for our darkroom printing.

Now, many of those adjustments can be done post camera by means of computer software. A program like PhotoShop, LightRoom, ACDSee, or Gimp, or even the free software in your camera's packaging are all useful. Some have more features or control. Some are very easy to use. Any of them can enhance a good photo, some can make wild, really out there looking changes.

In our next post, well talk a little bit about how much to change.