Why do you want to learn post photography?

There is a thing called PS in the world. Digital photography, a complete photo needs a later stage, and it can even be said that the later stage is necessary.

Speaking of post-processing, many people have the word PS in their minds, but they really don't know much about the word PS or such things, and even simply understand PS as fraud, which is biased and even ignorant.

Humans have already entered the era of digital photography, and digital photography has completely replaced film photography (the ending of Kodak, one of the representatives of film, is well known) and has become the mainstream of photography. Digital photography, due to some imaging errors existing in the original photographic imaging system, the immaturity of digital photographic equipment and many factors affecting imaging in the photographic environment, most digital photographic photos can not truly restore the scene, or are gray, color cast, unreal, opaque and even have obvious noise and frequent ghosts. Many times, there are other things that inevitably break into the camera that should not or don't want to be inappropriate. In this case, the emergence of these problems can not be determined only by the words shooting technology. This requires some methods to remedy and improve the quality of photos, so post-processing is needed and PS is necessary.

Later period is not the product of digital photography. In the movie era, there are actually late drops, and even late drops are indispensable. Photographs taken in the film era must be processed in a darkroom before they can be presented on paper and displayed in front of people. That's darkroom technology. We can call it the late darkroom. Darkroom processing at that time was not just a simple photo printing. When photos are taken on film, there are many problems such as incorrect exposure, and it is necessary to control the exposure time in the darkroom and re-correct the exposure. Moreover, many times, photographers will churn out many photos in the darkroom that are beneficial to improving the quality of photos, even photos with so-called fantasy effects that are divorced from reality. From the visual pursuit, this is basically consistent with the post-PS digital.

On the other hand, we can also understand or call it the "digital darkroom" in the late digital period. Is there a more intuitive understanding of the later period? Is it more friendly to the later digital age, at least it will not be dismissed as a scourge? I think so, too. If you say this with prejudice, it's a little. . . . Ha ha. There are many things we don't understand, don't want to use and don't want to learn. In fact, we dare not, don't understand, just don't want to admit it. Don't we see that many so-called photographers who used to regard the later period as a scourge are now scrambling to do the later period, and there are not a few who don't pay for the later period. Oh, this. . . This. . . You can imagine the consequences of clinging to shortcomings, not making progress and not keeping pace with the times (you may get hurt yourself).

Of course, the later period is not omnipotent, it also has many blind spots and weak places, and more importantly, it cannot be abused in the later period. Especially serious photography, post-processing should be very cautious. For photos with different themes and uses, post-processing is very different, and there are even many rules and restrictions.

For example. Documentary photography, many exhibitions clearly stipulate that you can't cut, cut pictures, drop things out of thin air, and you can't steal them. Documentary is to truly reflect the reality. Unreal is certainly not a documentary. But the transparency and sharpness of photos and even the tone adjustment of the theme (it seems that black and white adjustment is more) must be lost. After all, a photo, no matter what the subject matter, also requires moderate brightness and clarity. Therefore, more and more attention has been paid to and even respected by the photography community in the later period. Now, more and more media and exhibitions have launched creative sections, which is a good proof.

As for artistic photography and even commercial photography, there is much more freedom in the later period. Of course, how to express freedom should also focus on the theme and be used for visual beauty. If it is obviously weird and deviates from aesthetic taste and requirements, it is also inappropriate. So in the final analysis, the later stage is a tool and a link in the process of completing a work, as long as it is appropriate. Good use will be icing on the cake, and bad use will be self-defeating. Looking back, improper application, conflict with the main body, and roughness in the later stage are unbearable. These are also late delays, so be careful. After all, there are many usage norms and principles in the later stage of photography. The most important thing is to make it clear that there is a big difference between the later stage of photography and the later stage of design, and these also need to be made clear.

So, personally, I think. The later stage is not a simple photo processing, the purpose is to restore the scene, remedy the shooting defects, improve the quality and effect of photos, and express individual needs. Later, it can restore reality, add icing on the cake, bring the dead back to life and show personality. Commercial photography is even more important in the later period than in the earlier period.

Of course, speaking of which, I also think it is necessary to mention that real PS post-processing needs professional tools, that is to say, it is best to use PS tools represented by Adobe Photoshop for graphics processing, which has many benefits in design and application functions such as photo protection. For those so-called PS tools that are the same, they are called stupid software. Personally, I think it is better not to use it. After a long time, you will know the difference, advantages and disadvantages between professional PS software and fool software.

Of course, it seems that we should stop talking about the original film, because in theory, the so-called "original film" should only be in RAW format (RAW will be discussed in another article). Because the JPG photos you see are not original, please remember that all JPG photos from digital cameras are not original, but they can be displayed in front of you. In fact, they have been processed by the software (firmware) in the camera, which is also "post-processing". And the later stage of that firmware is actually the later stage of the software, which is often not the effect you want. Why not make what you want at a more professional later stage? Professional post-software and professional post-technology will create more possibilities.

It can be said that with the later period, everything is possible. Then let's realize these possibilities together.