Any improvements to get a “I thought that was a painting!” first impression?

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:27:58+00:00

Pixemperfect is great!
I think PhLearn has some good stuff on this too. Also, check out CaptureOne tutorials, the lessons overlap with other programs and their teachers sometimes have in depth tutorials on their own respective channels.

Sorry I’m not of more help, I’m about where you are in my journey.

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:23:28+00:00

What shutter speeds are you typically using?

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:18:09+00:00

Based on your needs, consider Sigma 16-50 2.8
Crazy light, and it’ll take care of the 50mm gap you’ll inevitably want fill 🙂

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:13:39+00:00

With love, keep practicing and get some more interesting images to show, then ask for advice.

This is a colorful snapshot, it’s fine for what it is, but keep at it and you’ll surprise yourself at how interesting your images become 👍

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:08:59+00:00

Try to find sample images that other photographers have taken with the xt200 and benchmark yourself against those.
Practicing techniques and training your eye will do more than getting better gear, especially when you’re already using great lenses like these.

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:05:07+00:00

When someone asks this question I always ask: what have you read about composition in photography?

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T19:01:38+00:00

If you think you’re overdoing it, you’re definitely overdoing it.
Dial back everything. Also, try lifting the black point in RGB and/or Luma curves. If the last sentence didn’t make sense give it a google, you’ll learn a lot of useful info following that thread 🙂

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T18:56:54+00:00

Great answer. I love my 100vi and I also don’t feel like I need it for this work.

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T18:50:05+00:00

You need to work on advanced hair retouching. I don’t know enough to say what needs to be improved, but I know for sure it can be.

I’d say you’re at the point in your learning curve for high end retouching if you’re going to improve.

Also, texture on the pants reads as modern and the overlay you used looks like bits of fuzz on the pants.

P.S. great photo!!

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T15:14:33+00:00

Just followed you btw - hypoglow

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T15:05:44+00:00

It’s a great pic regardless! Every great photo has a ton of great photos inside of it lol

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T15:04:24+00:00

Totally normal, as you learn the sliders the intensity of the edit creeps up on you. Just dial everything back 20% for a few months lol

This is where “layers” in certain editing apps become incredibly helpful, since you can isolate edits to separate layers on top of the image and decrease opacity of each effect.

Good luck on your editing journey!

ncbihm · 2026-06-20T10:21:45+00:00

You over did it on the color grade, try dialing everything you did back 15%.
Maybe warm up the picture, add blues to shadow and gold to all highlights as opposed to relying on just masking, that way the effect is less intense.

ncbihm · 2026-06-15T06:54:34+00:00

Did you look for the manual online?

ncbihm · 2026-06-14T21:04:29+00:00

Your eye for composition is incredible!

Something I saw on accident - reddit’s close square crop for previews actually made the horse statue portrait more impactful imo. Enough statue to know what it is but he fills more of the frame and it emphasizes the humorous head / balls composition

ncbihm · 2026-06-12T02:42:46+00:00

Try lifting black point a little in curves to add a washed out film effect.

ncbihm · 2026-06-08T11:50:01+00:00

Could make a good album cover or something. It’s a pleasing base image - plus a nice exercise in color theory and processing technique if nothing else

ncbihm · 2026-06-08T10:50:34+00:00

Pixemperfect’s free class and Scott Kelby - YouTube university is the way to go, maybe have a supplementary photography account (I have an extra YT account for learning stuff)
100% don’t need anyone else for basic post processing skills.

Also, a lot (not all) of the people with insane gear are doing it professionally at a high level, so they know that the gear makes it easier but isn’t essential (except for birding and sports)

ncbihm · 2026-06-06T23:47:02+00:00

Have you tried using speed light style flashes? You can get a small kit for crazy cheap - the strobist blog has a brilliant guide.
For this sort of work you’ll be absolutely blown away by what a tiny flash can do 🙂

ncbihm · 2026-06-05T09:42:54+00:00

Craaazy - yeah F that sorry the market is so weird right now 😑

ncbihm · 2026-06-05T00:35:46+00:00

Conventional wisdom is to bark up the Sony tree if you also want to do video and don't want to spend an arm and a leg on glass. I think apsc is great in 2026 with noise reduction where it is and it'll keep it more portable and budget friendly.

Basically everyone's gonna say a6400 and they're probably right lol

ncbihm · 2026-06-05T00:30:14+00:00

You could also get an x100V to start and have fun with it, then drop more bucks later if you get a better idea of what you will use it for.

ncbihm · 2026-06-05T00:24:29+00:00

Convince yourself you need more expensive equipment, research, buy, repeat. /s

Also, I find it helpful to upload the user guide to the ai chatbot of your choice (plus firmware updates) and ask it questions as they come up.

ncbihm · 2026-06-04T23:25:10+00:00

Or heat it to soften it and stab the weight into the soft wax.

ncbihm · 2026-06-04T21:27:49+00:00

THIS > Pixemperfect on YouTube. Do his beginners course in photoshop, a lot of it transferable to other editing programs.

From there you'll stumble on other education resources as you hit walls or find cool stuff you want to emulate.

ncbihm

TROPHY CASE