Illuminating shadows

[jcdeboever]

I have been shooting for about a year. I have been focused on what most beginners are usually focused on. I have noticed recently in a shot that the background was beautifully lit but didn't realize it until it appeared on my PC screen. I thought immediately, I want more of that. It had depth, color, and may have been better than the subject I was calling.

I want illuminated shadows in all my work. I am looking for direction.

 

[smoke665]

Couldn't remember what you're using for editing, but Tim Tucker turned me on to Luminosity Masks using curves to make the adjustments. Amazing what you can do with them.

 

[Derrel]

I have been shooting for about a year. I have been focused on what most beginners are usually focused on. I have noticed recently in a shot that the background was beautifully lit but didn't realize it until it appeared on my PC screen. I thought immediately, I want more of that. It had depth, color, and may have been better than the subject I was calling.

I want illuminated shadows in all my work. I am looking for direction.

Not quite sure what, exactly, you saw, nor what,exactly, that it is you wish to achieve as it relates to illuminated backgrounds. The fact that you "saw" something, that something was recognized, that is, I think, a good thing.

Maybe try to decipher exactly what is was that you liked, and look for more of the same or similar?

 

[tirediron]

EXAMPLEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcdeboever]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/index.php?threads/407203/

#2

 

[OGsPhotography]

I think you saw winters shadow, and are in fact a groundhog. Now back in your hole! Please please dont see the shadow again in april please please please.


Really though the OP is confusing lol.

 

[jcdeboever]

I think you saw winters shadow, and are in fact a groundhog. Now back in your hole! Please please dont see the shadow again in april please please please.


Really though the OP is confusing lol.

I'm sorry, not trying to confuse. I just noticed that background can have an impact. If I i didn't raised the shadows a touch in #2, they would not have stood out. So, I didn't notice this pre vision and wasn't a factor at raw, unedited. It wasn't until I bumped the shadow slider that it lit up 3D like. Trying to understand what was there not initially seen, and then brought out in post. It like there is another layer I was not aware of if that makes sense.

 

[OGsPhotography]

Ah, I see now.

The shadow slider is amazing isnt it!

I pretty much push the shadows all the time, sometimes it goes back, but always taking a looksie! Push the shadows up and blacks down, seems to be a thing in editing certain photos. They call it crushing the blacks, shadows should be opened up to do this.

For me the most amazing thing I realized with he shadow slider was looking at old jpgs that are underexposed, you can still lift the shadows! Saves a lot of photos.

 

[Derrel]

The ability to hold the highlights and raise the shadow values, substantially, is one of the main advantages we've grown to come to expect out of the newer digital sensors, when using "modern" software applications; this is one of ***the*** big, new things in digital photography over the past decade. There was a time when "lifting the shadows" was fairly difficult, but newer software apps have made this process trivial. If you ever used Photoshop 2.5, with old-technology files, you'll know what I mean.

As far as the deer images: you stumbled into some beautifully-lighted fall foliage...make a mental note of WHAT you found, and when, and where. Similar lighting conditions will NOT exist in, say, February...this is one of the single most important factors in outdoor work: the when and where.

Yes, the background of a photo can make a big contribution, and as you yourself noted, it was not until you "bumped the shadow slider" that the image lit up.

 

[Advanced Photo]

I think you saw winters shadow, and are in fact a groundhog. Now back in your hole! Please please dont see the shadow again in april please please please.


Really though the OP is confusing lol.

I'm sorry, not trying to confuse. I just noticed that background can have an impact. If I i didn't raised the shadows a touch in #2, they would not have stood out. So, I didn't notice this pre vision and wasn't a factor at raw, unedited. It wasn't until I bumped the shadow slider that it lit up 3D like. Trying to understand what was there not initially seen, and then brought out in post. It like there is another layer I was not aware of if that makes sense.

Yes, very good that you found it on your own, it will mean more to you than being told about it huh.
Sometimes I bring them up and sometimes drop them down depending on the feeling I want to convey. Bringing the background and shadows up like you did here give it a more joyous feel of discovery and doing the opposite can have the opposite effect, a more disillusioned and gloomy feel.
Go shoot some deer. (use the camera so you can do them again tomorrow)

 

[jcdeboever]

The ability to hold the highlights and raise the shadow values, substantially, is one of the main advantages we've grown to come to expect out of the newer digital sensors, when using "modern" software applications; this is one of ***the*** big, new things in digital photography over the past decade. There was a time when "lifting the shadows" was fairly difficult, but newer software apps have made this process trivial. If you ever used Photoshop 2.5, with old-technology files, you'll know what I mean.

As far as the deer images: you stumbled into some beautifully-lighted fall foliage...make a mental note of WHAT you found, and when, and where. Similar lighting conditions will NOT exist in, say, February...this is one of the single most important factors in outdoor work: the when and where.

Yes, the background of a photo can make a big contribution, and as you yourself noted, it was not until you "bumped the shadow slider" that the image lit up.

So your saying, if I understand correctly, there is light in them shadows. So I have a seen, remember it. I will need to study it more, the camera settings, day of scene, etc. It was magical in my eyes, I want to be able to recognize it. I guess I need to take photos of shadows and study and play with them.

 

[jcdeboever]

Another thing... @bulldurum mentioned lifting my shadows in a black & white post and when I did it turned to mud. Now I see what he was saying in retrospect.

 

[Advanced Photo]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/index.php?threads/407203/

#2

So...how long till one of the deer become your avatar?

 

[jcdeboever]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/index.php?threads/407203/

#2

So...how long till one of the deer become your avatar?

I think my dog is next.