Why applying high contrast on flat photograph?

Most telephoto shooting in cloudy and hazy conditions tends to result in flat expression. The above photograph provides a flat expression due to inappropriate lighting condition that day, hence creating a depth less image. Usually, most photographers will just discard the photograph and move on. But what if you can revitalise the flat photograph into life by giving a high contrast style which can look like an oil painting? This is what I have done to it below.

Driving in Fog

Driving in and through the fog is a common task for every motorists in New Zealand, especially during the winter season. Well, this is probably the main reason why I have slowed down my blogging. Getting a good photo in a foggy landscape when you can hardly see a distance away is challenging. At least it is very challenging for me to create any artistic or interesting topic for my readers.

Merging Portrait and Landscape

Let’s just say that you found very beautiful scenery and you decided to take a photograph of it. How many of us have found that our scenery shot is plain and flat? Well, most of us did. Allow me to demonstrate it to you with the photograph above, taken yesterday under the usual New Zealand’s "Rain, rain, go away" scenario of extreme winter weather in Auckland region.

What do you think of the photograph above? That’s the Orewa beach in New Zealand. It is a very magnificent beach view from the hill, but the photograph turns out to flat and boring. How can we improve a landscape photograph? Well, by merging both the portrait and landscape photography technique in having a subject within the frame can creates a much depth full photograph. And this is what happens when you have a subject within a landscape photograph below.

Praying Mantis Model

 

Oh guys, if you have been following my blog, you should discovered that this is my second praying mantis blog post. Some may ask on why I do a second praying mantis blog post again. The reason is simple. This wild praying mantis came back to me for a second photo shooting session and what do all good photographers out there would usually do? We will never say no to a keen model.

How to use the Extended Picture Style with Digital Photo Professional

Demystifying the Picture Style and Extended Picture Style

Alright, some people actually think that the Picture Style and Extended Picture Style are for JPG/JPEG photographer. Sorry, to break the bad news for those people. The Picture Style and Extended Picture Style are meant to assist the photographer in bringing the best truthful colors in your photo.

If you have not downloaded the Extended Picture Style and understand what it can do for your photo. Please read my previous article about Canon Standard Picture Style and Extended Picture Style.

Canon Standard Picture Style and Extended Picture Style

Canon has always provided us in "selecting a Picture Style just as you would choose a film type." The basic Picture Style embedded in most DSLR are; Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome. What do we know about these Picture Style?

Before we begin the exploration on what Picture Style do to our photo, I will have to use a default photo and make a comparison of each Picture Style actually does to the photo. We will use the photo below as the original photo for comparison.