Picture from the A--- Gardens

[silverflight8]

I went to investigate the library on P---- Street today, about a half hour's walk away, because they had promised they had piano practicing rooms, under "Features at this library". I am without a piano for what looks like a long while to come, so I am jumping on any opportunities that come by. The music department flatly refuses to lend time to non-music students.

A: When I have to travel before taking pictures, I should put my camera case inside my backpack, so that it is not immediately obvious to anyone who has eyes that I'm carrying a thousand-dollar camera (I have a DSLR). Especially when I have never been to said place before.
B: I should shoot with higher shutter speed. I dragged down the ISO, and tried to compensate, but my hand is not that steady D:

So then anyway I got home (the piano was not available until at least six and I was not going to walk back again) and started developing them in Lightroom. Things went swimmingly and I consulted many many Adobe help topics. I've had Lightroom since September, and I still haven't explored everything it's got. If you get a chance to use it to develop photos, I highly recommend it, but there's definitely some futzing around required first.

After going through the set twice (once to flag and select photos, the next to crop), I start in on adjustments. Around the fifteenth or such photo, I suddenly realize that I have f.lux on, and it's night time.

!!!!

Anyway, I turned it off and blinked in dismay (and also in reflex, because the sudden change in colour temperature will do that). I went back and half-heartedly re-adjusted my adjustments. Bleh*. Most of them look weirdly too bluish, and I can't tell if it's actually too bluish, or whether it's still my eyes adjusting. Also after staring at pictures and moving sliders in miniscule increments, everything looks fake.


RAMBLING ASIDE - I have pictures. It is 1 am and I have been working with this set, editing and trying to figure out how to publish - since four, so none of these have commentary. Well, except that the light was very good so most are just a crop and a bit of contrast adjustment, and oh right there's one with desaturated green (you'll see it easily - the flower really looks bright).

































































*This explains why the temperature adjustments seemed necessary! *facepalm*

Comments

[senza.livejournal.com]

Yay, pretty pictures! The red frog is cute (and somewhat unexpected in the set). *g* What camera (and lens) do you have? And kudos on figuring out Lightroom! Whenever I try to edit my pictures, I always end up not being able to tell what actually looks better. A somewhat-recent picture of mine: http://pics.livejournal.com/senza/pic/000454rb/.

Bummer about none of the pianos being free. That is part of a reason (among many other reasons) I did a minor in music, so that I would have access to on-campus practice rooms. Barring that, I could sometimes get one of the students to let me in on weekends or after hours. I hope you find a piano soon!

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

That's why I liked the frog so much - I was just peering at plants and then I stumbled on the frog. I have an Canon EOS 20D with a 62mm lens and a zoom 18-200 (I think. I am a noob on these things; my camera's my dad's old one :P)

Yes, exactly! I like Lightroom's comparison and survey modes, which let you compare two or more pictures in one screen.

Oooh, the contrast between the pink flowers and the grey-blue sky is great. It almost looks surreal...where did you take the picture?

Yeah, there are pianos around campus (I found one that's not out of tune - it's not been used in ages, since I played it and came out with dusty fingers) but it's in a lecture hall. I think the only reason it was available was that it's now exams, so classes have ended.