While I was aware of Photoshop and some of the things you could do with it, it wasn’t until I joined Instagram that I really started playing around with filters.
I’m still not sure whether it’s cheating or not.
That hasn’t stopped me from downloading Snapseed (after seeing the magical photos Mands created with it) but I think the skill is in knowing when you’ve edited enough. There’s something about this shot that I like but I think it was probably better two clicks previously.
Here’s the before.
Quite a difference.
Do you use any apps/editing software to tinker with your images? How do you know when is enough?
To see what other people have been photographing for #MySundayPhoto please click on the camera below.
After The Rain 
Oh I like the atmosphere of the first shot, very haunting! I’m off to try snap seed now.
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I like your edited version – it looks very spooky! I hardly edit my photos at all. I sometimes crop them a bit and I will pixellate faces or badges, but I rarely use any filters to change them.
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Fantastic, I’ve never tinkered but am inspired to start now
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Oooh I hope you post the results. It is fun but I’m never sure if they are any good.
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Oh wow that is an amazing result, Clio lending a helping hand for Coombe Mill
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Thank you, Clio.
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I so love the edited photo, it adds to the drama
Thank you for linking up
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Thanks, Darren.
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Oh my what a difference, I do like both pictures though. I was never sure if it was cheating too, but I edited mine today and I quite like it. I have yet to try special effects but you have inspired me to give it ago xx
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Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I like seeing how they change but can’t tell if they’re any good or not.
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Oh me too! I think it’s a fine line X
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I really like the edit, it gives it a really spooky gothic feel. I use Snapseed and Pixlr_o_matic on my phone but for most of my pictures that I take on my SLR I use Lightroom and the associated Nik plugins and sometimes Photoshop
Mollyxxx
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Thanks Molly, I’ll check out the Pixlr next. I’ve heart Lightroom is good too.
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It’s like a shot from an old horror movie! I only crop my photos and maybe blur out some faces. I also brighten them if the lighting has been bad, which it is mostly in Wales in the winter! #MySundayPhoto
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Yes, thank goodness for being able to brighten them. Mine are always dark too. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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I’ll add a filter to a photo on Instagram, and occasionally tilt shift, but that’s about it! Back in law school, though, I did tons of photo editing while “studying” in the library on computer with all kinds of software.
I don’t know what the top picture looked like before the last two steps, but I think it’s fascinating as is! (The horror lover in me wonders what’s behind that door.)
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I really like the grunge filter on Snapseed. It has a lot of variations too. It does look a bit spooky. It is actually just a side entrance to a church 🙂
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I love the way that the filters make the photo so haunting and eerie. Great shot 🙂
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Thanks, Louise 🙂
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Fantastic photo! The filter makes such a difference….I really like it x
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I really think that editing is part of the process these days. If the composition is not very good in the first place then the whole thing falls flat anyway! I love your images 🙂 #MySundayPhoto
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Thank you 🙂 Yes, it does seem like many images are edited in some way these days.
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I love it. It’s definitely a fine line in knowing what to use and how much. I prefer not to because I like my images true to life – no filters, but maybe a bit of lightening, or correcting.
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I’ve always been the same. I blame Instagram 🙂
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I really love what you’ve done with this 🙂
I have a few apps for playing with iphone snaps but I tend to just use Lightroom these days for proper photos. My favourite effect is still the Fractalius filter which can make everything look electrified. It is easy to, what I call, overcook an image, though. It also depends on what I want to use the photo for…some are for arty things so I can go as bonkers as I like and some are for memories which I prefer to be nearer to natural.
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Thanks, Lisa. Your photos always look amazing. I love seeing what you come up with.
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I really like the edited photo. I’m always afraid to use filters but that one works really well. Thanks for sharing Tara x
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It has been fun playing around with them but I think the thrill will still be taking a good photo that doesn’t need tinkering.
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Hi Tara, both images look good, but the filter makes the original look totally different, like a door leading into a haunted castle. I too have only recently started playing with filters, sometimes it works and sometimes it really doesn’t.
I edit on PicMonkey (love it) or use InstaSquarer on my phone.
xx
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Hi Deb, PicMonkey really is a lot of fun. I use Fotor too which is very similar. I haven’t heard of InstaSquarer. I’ll look it up. Thank you 🙂
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Love what you did here! The end result is so spooky! #mysundayphoto
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Thanks, Merlinda 🙂
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I really like your photo, I really love the atmospheric look.
#mysundayphoto
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Thank you 🙂 And thanks for taking the time to comment.
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Knowing when your PP (post processing) is the right amount is an art-form that is just as hard as knowing when a painting is finished or not. As for if it is cheating or not? A very large amount of what can be done in PP can be achieved while taking the actual photo if you know the settings and / or have the right equipments. It is definitely not cheating in my book. To look at it another way, is it cheating to iron an outfit and take care which shoes and accessories go with it? Or is it just making the effort to have be the best it can be?
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Thanks, Stella, that’s a great way of looking at it. I think I just need to keep playing around with things and hopefully I will learn as I go – a bit like taking the actual photo.
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