Page 78 - Australian Photography - September 2017

IM AGE DOCTOR

IMAGE DOCTOR Images need a pick me up?

The doctor will see you now.

BY S A I M A M O R E L

KEEP IT SIMPLE
Alan Coligado summed up this shot with the comment: “A possible and then cloning out any parts of him that
splash of samba on Mardi Gras Saturday at Westfield Sydney.” remain on the escalator.
This image shows how a different point of view can
make for an interesting and unusual shot. All those SAIMA’S TIP: A range of contrasting
mainly grey hard-edged metal surfaces, different lines textures, colours and lines can make for a
and textures make an interesting, but not distracting, busy but rich scene.
backdrop for the soft colourful, and flowing feathery-style
costumes. While there is a lot in this image it works well.
The main weakness is the balding guy. Yes, with his plain TITLE: The bald and the beautiful
attire and thinning scalp, he is a contrast to the fantastic PHOTOGRAPHER: Alan Coligado
creatures above him on the escalator but his impact is DETAILS: Sony NEX-6, 31mm focal length,
minimal, and in terms of the big picture, unnecessary. I 1/100s @ f4, ISO 200. Adjustments to clarity,
would suggest cropping him from the scene as much as contrast and saturation.

UNDER EXPOSE
Marj Webber wrote: “I came across
this white-faced heron feeding in the
wetlands near where I live. It allowed me
to approach quite near. I took lots of shots
of it feeding and also this shot as it was
scratching its face. The background was a
bit messy so I tidied that up and darkened
it a wee bit in Photoshop Elements 10. In
Lightroom I adjusted the white balance,
highlights, shadows and clarity and
sharpened in Elements.”
I have mixed feelings about this shot. I
love the bird’s interesting mid-step stance,
its clear eye, and the side angle. That
reflection of the bird’s standing leg also
gives it a longer line preventing a looking
chopped-off. It is clear and sharp, but is
also a little overexposed so for example,
the shadow around the shoulder is too light
and has a disturbing effect. Darkening of
the background also has had the effect
of making some of the lines of the bird -
under the head in particular - a little too
ragged-looking. That background still looks
splodgy and needs more tidying up.

TITLE: White-faced heron SAIMA’S TIP: The general rule for
PHOTOGRAPHER: Marj Webber shooting is that an image that is a tad too
DETAILS: Olympus E M5 Mark II, 75-300mm Zuiko dark is better suited for postproduction
lens, 1/1250s @ f8, ISO 800, no flash, handheld. than an image that is overexposed.

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