Amateur Photo Editing

On Facebook, I was asked about editing photos, or how I set my camera. Those are two separate questions so I will deal with them separately.

Camera Settings

Just so you know, not all cameras are the same with regards to settings. I have two cameras; on the one camara I always choose a setting and the other is set on Auto (automatic). I have tried various settings but without success. You have to get to know your camera and what works for you. Also keep in mind that I am NOT a professional. All I can do is share what I have learned on my own.

To take a picture out the car window while the car is being driven by someone else (moving fast on the highway), I use the Sports setting on my very cheap camera because that setting is for catching fast movement. I don’t think my other camera has that setting; it’s a more sophisticated camera, someone else’s hand-me-down, no longer on the market. I mention this so you know I don’t have expensive high-tech camera equipment.

As stated, you’ll have to figure out what works best on your own camera.

Editing Photos

Again, I’m no expert or professional, just work with the technology I’ve got and learn as I go. My technology is cameras as described and a desktop computer with Windows 7 and Microsoft Word; I have Office 2010 on it. When I download photos from my camera, they go into Windows Live Photo Gallery.

I am not sure if the Photo Gallery is part of the computer or part of Windows or part of the Microsoft program. What I know is that when I was buying this computer in October 2013, I was asked if I want it for photography and editing photos. I didn’t think so, not professionally, at least. I wanted it primarily for writing on Word Document and accessing the internet. So I know that my photo editing is very primitive.

That said, I am happy to share what I know. I made four screenshots to show how Photo Gallery works and what settings I use to edit my photos. I will post a screenshot, then the instructions to go with it so you can see the instructions and the pictures together. Hope it works. Feel free to ask if something is unclear or you have more questions.

Step 1

After downloading your photos, click on the one you want to edit. This window will show. Then click on “Edit, organize, or share” (blue circle). That will open up a new window showing all your downloaded photos. It may take a few minutes but give it time.

Step 2

Again, click on the one you want to edit. That will bring up this window where you can do a lot of different things with your photo. Before doing anything, I “Make a Copy” (black circle), which gives me a backup copy in case I ruin it.

If I don’t like a part of the photo (e.g. too much greenery around the bird), I “Crop” it (not circled), i.e. cut off a part. I can also “Fine tune” (green circle in case the options are not showing).

The “Fine tune” options are on the right of this screenshot, e.g. Adjust Exposure, Adjust Colour (blue and red circles). You can also “Straighten photo” and “Adjust detail.”

Step 3

Mostly, I use Adjust Exposure. I move “Contrast” (red circle) to the right, and “Highlights” (blue circle) to the left. If the effect is too great, move just a bit till you get the desired effect.

Step 4

Recently, I have also played around with Adjust Colour. I like for my photos to look natural. Sometimes I think the camera may not capture the colour too well so I try to improve on it. Or maybe I just want to make the photo more attractive.

The setting I use most is Colour Saturation (blue circle); normally I move it just a little bit to the right. For black and white, move it all the way to the left. Colour Temperature (red circle) I use very sparingly and Tint not at all. They change the colour.

I also find it depends what colours I am working with in the photo as to what settings work to bring out the best visual effects. I may yet use Tint–who knows. Colour saturation works for sky colours that the camera barely picks up, such as rainbows or sunsets.

Colour Saturation with Sky Pictures

Rainbow