We arrived at the Maroubra Skatepark in Sydney and it was a cool rainy overcast day. I set up my Canon Rebel Xti, with a 50mm f1.8 and a Canon 430 ex II Speed lite. I normally would not us a flash on a day like this but I wanted to try and fill in the face of our skater (Mitch Faber). I jumped down and started snapping away not even thinking about what settings my flash was on. As you can see... there is a little to much fill. lol This shot was taken @ 1/640, f3.2.
Now Im not going to discuss be prepared for a shot or explain what I had running through my head when I set up for this shot. No what I am going to write about is deleting those shots that you think are worthless and will never be used for anything.
Now when I got to uploading the photos I started scanning through the shots, it went a little like what the heck was I doing....oh that ones alright... wow that look sweet... good... good ... blah blah blah. I started my processing from the end of the shoot to the beginning, as I worked my way to the start I came to this shot way over exposed I immediately thought DELETE. But then for some reason I thought well lets just see what I can save in it. I began playing in Camera Raw (the window that opens between Bridge and Photoshop). I adjust the exposure, played with the contrast, saturation, and sharpness. Then I tried a tool I never use, the adjustment brush. I was a little confused at the beginning but once I figured it out I was having a blast and finding some new inspiration as I was creating something that was way out of my normal relm. After playing for a while I finally opened with photoshop and fixed a few areas that just need some touch up with the healing brush.
The End:
I learned a valuable lesson do not throw anything away until you are sure it is not something you can use because not every work of art is achieved with out a little work.
So the next time your about to delete that shot you are not satisfied with, keep it for a rainy day and turn it into something you can be proud of.
