THE MODERN DAY DARKROOM:  Lightroom & Photoshop

(original)

When I first started learning about photography, I started with film.  I did all the dark room stuff for both B/W and color.  I loved it!  But when I switched to digital, I had no idea how to post process my images.  So I would just hand my files over to my clients as is.  Back in the days, I thought post processing is cheating because you’re changing how the photo was taken.  I really didn’t like shooting digitally because I felt like my colors weren’t as vibrant as my film photos.  Not knowing there’s a real difference between shooting digitaly vs. film.  So I started getting discouraged about my ability as a photographer, I kept wondering, “what happened to my photos?  How come they just look crappy all the time?  I don’t like the colors at all!”  Years later, I was talking to Scott about post processing, he really changed my mind about it.  Now I totally embrace post processing my images.  They make a good photo complete.  Like the above photo, it’s not a bad looking photo, the colors are pretty good too.  But, after I post processed it in photoshop, it just had a totally different feel to it!  I love it much better!  Post processing really is the modern day darkroom, a digital darkroom.  It’s true, because when I shot film, I would mess around with the contrast, exposure, developing time to make my print/end product look a certain way.  How is that different from messing around in photoshop, bumping up the contrast and saturation? 

I once saw this photo by Ansel Adams, it’s two different prints from the same negative, but printed differently.  They looked completely different.  One was way more dramatic than the other.  So even a film master like Ansel Adams messed around in the dark room quite a bit.  Although I’m starting to embrace the idea of post processing, it sure has made my life a lot more immobile…I’m always in front of the computer now!  But it’s okay, I still love it!  I love how I can take a good photo to the next level and make it great if not a master piece!  And ever since Lightroom came out, it certainly became my new best friend.  If you haven’t tried Lightroom yet, you have to!  It’s gonna make you sing! 

Anandit looked so good on the bench, but I didn’t know what to do with Albert.  So I asked him to step out of the picture.  I think that hurt his feelings a little bit.  Hahaha, he kept on saying, “so when are we gonna take my individual shots?”  Hahahaha.  So sad….

But I made it up to him afterwards.  I took a bunch of single shots of him, and I end up having more single shots of him then Anandit.   

Isn’t this a sweet picture of them?

Everything at this location was very green.  So I wanted to warm it up a bit…what do you think about this tint?  Do you like it?

I really like this old look.  I just wish I know how to add those old photo lines to make it look even older.  Does anyone know how to do that?

I can’t believe I actually got them to do this!!!  They’re like the most conservative couple I know!  But I’m glad that I got them to do this cuz this will probably be the only photo that they’re gonna be this intimate in.  Hahaha, I think they were a little bit embarrassed when posing for this shot.  Honestly, I got a little embarrassed editing this photo.  Hahaha, it’s kind of weird to see your good HS friend looking like this.  Hahaha.  But good job posing Albert!   You too Anandit!  You guys rock! 

I have a lot more that I’ve edited, but I’m only posing a few for now because I want to post a lot more all at once later.  So stay tuned! 

I had sooooo much trouble editing these photos!  My newly downloaded CS3 kept crashing on me like every 5 minutes through out the entire day!!!  No joke!  Literally every 5-10 minutes it would just crash on me unexpectedly.  So I had to re-edit a lot of photos over because I lost what I did.  I was about to pull my hair out at the end of the day!!!  I’ve never had such frustrating editing experience ever!  I guess that’s what happens when you’re using the beta version….

So I used Lightroom to do the batch editing first, then I brought them into PS and used both Scott Robert’s actions and Totally Rad Actions for different effects.  I just started using the Totally Rad Actions…still experimenting with them.  So if you’re wondering how I got different effects…I’m too lazy to figure them out on my own.  I just buy other people’s actions.  Heehee.

Albert and I have been friends since high school.  He’s probably one of the few high school friends I actually kept in touch with and I’m so glad that we did.  He’s one of the most awesome guys out there.  Of course, he’d pick one of the most awesome girls out there, Anandit.  I remember before I met her, Albert would rave about how wonderful Anandit is, when I finally met her.  I immediately fell in love with her as well.  She’s seriously one of the sweetest, godliest, most amazing gal you’ll ever meet.  I had the privilege to spend an afternoon with them at the Huntington Library.  They’re both in med school, so it was impossible to get an engagement session with them.  In fact, Anandit hates getting her photos taken.  Absolutely hates it!  She was actually trying to get out of the engagement session!  I had to write a long email, try to convince her that it’ll be worth her time.  I’m glad she gave in.  Surely, we had an awesome time, goofing around, taking photos.  Alright peeps, she’ll be checking my blog for her photos too.  Leave a comment and tell her that she looks like a freakin’ hot Bollywood model in that first photo!!!!  I’m still puzzled as to why she hates getting her photos taken.  If I looked half as hot as her, shoot, I’d be in front of a camera all the time, instead of behind it! 

Non-xanga people can comment now!!!  It’s a new feature that xanga added.  So if you’ve been itching to comment but couldn’t, you can now!!!  So feel free and comment away! 

How old do you think I look when you see my picture?  How old do you think I am when you actually meet me?  Most people would guess a younger age than my actual age….since I’m Asian and Asians never look their age.  Of course, I still get carded quite a bit even though I’m way over that age. 

So when I picked up my suit and sweater from my dry cleaner today.  I gave him my receipt, he picked out my clothes, I paid…blah blah blah.  Right before I was gonna leave the store, before “thank you” came out of my mouth, the owner of the store looked at me and said, “Happy Mother’s Day.”    Me, “thank you.”  (Since thank you was already rolling out of my mouth right before he wished me Happy Mother’s Day).

OMG!!!    HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY?!?!?!    Are you serious?!  I look THAT old???  Okay, fine, I am getting older, but I didn’t think I looked motherly old!!!  Okay, fine, granted I went to a Korean dry cleaner, and most Korean moms look younger and trendy.  But still!!!  Happy Mother’s Day?!  ME???  A MOM???  So I’m not sure if that’s good thing or a bad thing.  Like, “oh great!  People finally recognize me for my actual age now.”  Or,  “omg, does my face look that old to you from all the sleep deprived nights because of a crying baby?”  Or, “hey, at least he thought I looked trendy.”  Even then, I still don’t think I look motherly old!  Oh yeah, most Korean moms who are trendy, are actually old too!  So their faces actually look cakey from all the make up.  But I didn’t wear any make up today.  Plus, I still feel like a kid most of the time, especially when I’m around kids, then I play like one too!  Hahahaha.  I blend in real well. 

Alright people what do you say?  Frank, you need not to respond to this post, cuz I already know you’re gonna say something mean, like you always do! 

Sorry, I’m not posting in the order of the event…..

This is one of my favorite photos from this wedding

Single ladies, get ready for the bouquet toss!

I might have more to post tomorrow, depending on how much I get done.  Heehee.

Night people!

Sorry to keep you guys waiting, here’s some more photos from Christiana and Roger’s wedding.  I edited these a while ago, but I totally forgot to post these!  Well, here they are, enjoy! 

More to come later, stay tuned….

I woke up to this wonderful email that I got from Karen.  She totally made my day!!!  It’s gonna be a lovely day! 

“Wow, Wow, Wow!!!! Is all we can really say! We are extremely pleased Ingrid!! Im sooo speechless….The pictures are more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! We can’t wait for the wedding!”

-Karen

I’m so glad that they liked my photos.  It’s the best feeling in the world when your bride comes back to you with a comment like that.  It feels even better that someone appreciates what you do.    Thanks Karen and Lance!

Sorry, I missed this one earlier…..

I wanted to try something different.  This photo took me forever to create this fine art look!  But it’s all worth it. 

Karen looks so cute in this photo.  She kept laughing during our session cuz she felt shy PDAing with Lance in front of me. 

I love this photo!