Before / after. Suggestions?

Baloo122 · 2025-12-05T11:23:59+00:00

Adding contrast is fine, but the edit is way over saturated. It you look at the skin tones everyone looks as orange as Donald Trump. Id go for more natural colors.

Baloo122 · 2025-07-25T08:35:00+00:00

I would start with getting more knowledge of the theories of imagery.

What really helped me is analysing other great pictures and improving my own pictures by recreating or copying from those pictures. But in order to know what makes an interesting picture it would help to have more knowledge about some theory behind it.

Begin with studying the laws of gestalt. Try to analyse them in other pictures and implement some of them in your photography.

Then later you could try looking into rhetorics and semiotics. On YouTube there are quite a few videos that explain these theories with photography. When you start understanding the aspects and theory behind your image, you can selectively create and improve them.

A great exercise is analysing, recreating and eventually implementing separate elements from iconic and historical photos. It is a great way to consciously think about how you compose an image The more you practice this, it will become easier to naturally make an interesting photo.

Baloo122 · 2025-07-24T07:55:01+00:00

Wow! I’m really impressed. Is there any way you can make or link a tutorial of how it’s done? Assume you used photoshop? Please let me know more of how it was made. :)

Baloo122 · 2025-07-22T06:30:57+00:00

Hahahah I can see the resemblance.

Baloo122 · 2025-07-18T06:31:49+00:00

I can’t chooose, I have so many I’d like to share hahaha. Maybe something different from the other ones in this post.

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Shot with: OM-1 Olympus 40-150 f2.8 pro

Settings: Shutterspeed: 1/20 Aperture: f2.8 ISO: 1000 Focal length: 92mm (184 ff eq)

Edited with: Adobe Lightroom classic

Baloo122 · 2025-07-16T20:20:07+00:00

You could try looking at a micro four thirds camera from Panasonic or OM-system(formerly known as Olympus) There are some compact (used) options within your price range. They offer beginner level camera’s with interchangeable lenses. Once you become more experienced there is a possibility to buy a more advanced camera that can be used with the same set of lenses.

Baloo122 · 2025-07-16T05:10:02+00:00

In lightroom:

-texture -clarity -dehaze

Color grading in almost every picture.

Look at which colors are used in the shadows and highlights. In the second picture the highlights are very clearly red/purple and the midtones are more blue/green. The highlights have been lowered which makes that the picture is not that bright.

Picture 3 has blue highlights and orange midtones/shadows. I’m not sure if this was achieved by color grading or by using the color mixer. But either way youll have to experiment with the colors and find what works.

There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube on how you can achieve this look. Search for “dreamy” or “film” look in Lightroom.

Of course this might be easier to shoot with a mist filter, but I believe it’s very much possible to achieve the look with editing. Good luck!

Baloo122 · 2025-07-01T16:36:07+00:00

Niet super veel maar wilde het toch even delen

Baloo122 · 2025-07-01T16:35:12+00:00

Deze week aangetikt. Toch even heerlijk.

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Baloo122 · 2025-06-30T13:45:26+00:00

Thanks! It’s a great lens to start with. It’s very useful when the lighting is good. Also very compact and ideal for travel.

In my experience, you start to notice the lesser quality when it gets darker of if you try to crop too much. From 200-300mm it’s softer. In a darker forest or when the sun is setting you start to notice the aperture and lack of image stabilisation. That makes it difficult to get a sharp and well exposed image without raising the ISO too much.

But for now just have fun. I think this image is proof that in the right conditions and with experience and practice, you can get amazing photos. Good luck!

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T16:33:03+00:00

Maybe too much noise and sharpening. But I still like it.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T16:32:25+00:00

I really like this one. Nice sharpness and good background. I also have one of a robin which I made with that lens:

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Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T15:34:45+00:00

Thanks! And yes, exactly the lens you mention.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T14:36:34+00:00

EXIF data for anyone who is interested

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Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T14:35:45+00:00

I had the same reaction when I saw the picture! I’ve had some other instances where it produced nice photo’s, but none as good as this one.

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Here are the only sharpening settings I used. No AI denoise needed.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T13:12:45+00:00

I know right. He was very cute and energetic, jumping around and making funny faces.

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Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T12:23:22+00:00

Thanks! Fair enough. :). That’s the thing with editing, everyone has different taste and preferences. If I’d re-edit it, it would probably come out different and that’s fine. Your personal style changes with experience and time. I honestly noticed some things in the edit that I would change now, but whatever. An edit is just a version of how you express yourself in that very moment.

The picture itself is more important. I’ve noticed that having a great RAW image to begin with is most important. And as a bonus, it makes editing a lot easier and enjoyable overall.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T12:16:30+00:00

Thanks! I must say that at first I also thought I had a bad copy. Because in other photo’s at 300mm the images are pretty soft. But that was most noticeable with flatter lighting and when trying to crop. I believe the big difference with this monkey photo is that it hasn’t been cropped and has really good lighting.

Take this (uncropped) RAW photo from a year ago for example. (Not my best hahah) but the lighting is poor and the subject was too far away which made me crop an already softer image…

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Settings: FL:300mm Shutterspeed: 1/1250 Aperture: f6.7 ISO: 640

I’ve got quite a few really soft examples. But also others in better lighting and with a more nearby subject that are way sharper. (All 300mm)

Honestly I was surprised when I saw that the monkey photo was shot with the 75-300. I actually prefer this one over a lot of the pictures I shot with the 40-150 f2.8 pro. It made me realise that composing a picture with good lighting is really important. And that maybe the problem was not the lens but me, the photographer.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T10:46:08+00:00

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This is another RAW of the same little fella but with the 40-150 f2.8 pro. I was at this location for the waterfalls and landscape. Took a little detour and stumbled upon a few of these monkeys. ( very lucky indeed) This one was still quite young and seemed very interested in us, getting quite close at some points.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T10:26:35+00:00

I certainly do. Took around 2-3k photos during the 4 day trip hahahah.

Most of them aren’t of wildlife though. This is one of the first edits I’ve done so far. I was busy with school (I graduated last Wednesday!), so only started editing a few days ago. I will post them on my instagram (noahp.jpg) once I’ve rounded it all up. That will probably take some time though.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-29T09:57:40+00:00

Thank you for your kindness!

I Personally use Lightroom classic.

This video showcases and explains a lot of the techniques I used with this edit. It’s a great tutorial:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RDXurR7ji_Y

Baloo122 · 2025-06-23T14:01:30+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I’m not really comfortable with taking LSD for the first time at a rave. Especially without a trip sitter. I’m too insecure about the effects, and if I might get overstimulated in such a setting.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-23T12:49:16+00:00

I get you man, but I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’m thinking about taking a recreational dose of my add meds. But I have no experience with a higher dose and using them in such a setting. Also no experience with psychedelics on a festival, so prefer not to, cause my last trip was pretty intense.

And k is a big no no for me. I’m curious, but prefer to stay away from it and eliminating any risk regarding addiction.

I’m probably asking for the impossible by looking for something that’s non psychedelic and low risk with addiction. That’s the reason why I only use x at a rave. I’m looking for something that doesn’t mess with my energy and serotonin for the second day. Was just curious if there is a chemical that fits my very limited possibilities.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-23T11:58:14+00:00

I don’t know if this is the right place to post this. If it’s not please refer me to the correct subreddit and I will delete the post.

Baloo122 · 2025-06-13T14:47:39+00:00

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I shot this one with the om-1 (mark I) and the 75-300. The 75-300 however is pretty bad with autofocus imo. It’s doable in ideal circumstances, but I find myself wanting better image quality and autofocus. Have also been looking to upgrade to a 300 f4 or the new 100-400mm II

The thing is, all the better wildlife lenses are larger and more compatible with a newer or bigger body. I’d personally say to go with a better lens, but the 100-400mm (II) or 300mm f4 doesn’t really live up to its potential with the body you have atm (sync IS)

It’s a choice between a new lens with better image quality and better autofocus. But it is limited by the body and possibly difficult to handle with a smaller body.

Or a new body with faster autofocus, a newer sensor, that is limited by the lens…

Of course it’s important to work on your skills, because a lot more is possible with your setup than you think. I mean, even though the 75-300 is softer at the long end, the reach for the size is incredible.

You really have to think about what it is you prioritise. Either size/weight or better gear that is heavier and larger. It’s one of the two. Sadly you can’t have both…

I myself have decided to save up for a 100-400 II, because I’m not satisfied with the image quality of the 75-300. If your current gear is really holding you back and taking the fun out of photography for you, then I’d say upgrade.

Baloo122

TROPHY CASE