one photo focus
For this month we were lucky enough to edit this lovely image from Michelle Lunato. I think it is a gorgeous image, reminding me of those beautiful summer afternoons, when the sun is just as it is supposed to be, nice and mellow.
This month I decided to share all the steps, which I usually skip (because I forget to save mid-steps 🙂 ). My first step was to up clarity and sharpness, which worked nicely. Next was adjusting saturation and temperature.
I liked the warmer tones, but it was overall too yellowish. So, I used gradient filter. Actually I used two, light blue and pink, which gave me what I wanted, improvement on the sky and especially toning down of the sun reflection in the water. Also, I cleaned up that bottom left part of the image, I just didn’t like those little foam patches.
When I achieved the overall clearer, but softer looking image, I stepped away. Taking my own advice, I returned the next day. In my last month’s One Four Challenge journey, I experimented with the Dodge/Burn tool and I liked how you can manipulate the image. So, this time I used the Dodge tool and lightened some parts, the main building, the stretch of the beach on the right of the building, boats and even those buildings and that beautiful tree in the far background. Also, upon observing the image, I noticed how I missed that little flair/spot near the sun, so I removed it.
What Comes After Before?
I came across Stacy’s blog through Monochrome Madness Challenge. It seems it all runs in circles, but I was lucky enough to jump into a good circle, with so many wonderful people. I joined her AfterBeforeFriday Forum around 7th or 8th week, but nevertheless I celebrate this one year anniversary with all my heart. Six months ago, we implemented One Focus Photo feature and it has been a huge success.
So, we have two anniversaries today – One year of ABF Friday and Six months of OFP. It is only fitting to mark it with one of Stacy’s photos. When I saw the photo, I knew it would be a monochrome version. Seems I am not alone, if you check the gallery on her blog, quite few of the participants went the same route.
I call this image “Low Winter Sun”, although I had no idea what season it really was. I was right, because the image was taken this February. Stacy presented us with quite a challenge, because of the contrast between those dark and light parts. It was hard to find a balance, but the monochrome just whispered to me in the right way. And naturally, I had to flip the image.
Please, hop to Stacy’s blog Visual Venturing and see how it’s really done.
I leave you with some of my favorite afters from the first year of AfterBeforeFriday and hope there are many more to come.
February ABF One Photo Focus
On this month’s One Photo Focus 25 photographers are sharing their post-processing interpretations of one “before” image submitted by Manal Ali of A Single Shutter.
When I finish editing a certain image, I think to myself: Not bad, not bad at all. And that works well when I am the only one editing that image. But when other 24 people post their versions of the same image, then I think to myself: Oh my, I really failed this time.

It started promising. Using GIMP, I straightened the image and that worked well. Adjusting the exposure and colors was another easy part, I knew from the start I wanted to have a very colorful image. But then came the hard part – dealing with the sky. I tried many different things, ending up with this version. The sky was still overblown, so I added the texture to tone it down. I don’t like it, but sometimes you just have to let it go.
Next month our merry old band works on my image, which I still have to choose. It is a daunting task and it gives me far less pleasure than I thought it would. But, I’ll figure it out.
In the mean time, if you’d like to join us in ABF’s One Photo Focus or our regular shenanigans, you need to hop over to Stacy Fischer’s blog Visual Venturing, where you can check all the details and other versions of this same image. Looking through the gallery, I am blown away by some of the other versions, especially Ben’s from Aperture64. What an imagination.
Hope you have a great weekend.