Post-processing begins with a given captured digital negative and a visualized image in the mind’s eye of the photographer, along with an intent, a mood, a message. During post-processing, these two images combine in a convergence process which leads to the final photograph.

Before starting to post-process our image, it is essential that we begin with a visualized final image in mind. That initial image will serve as the lighthouse guiding us through the ocean towards our final photograph.

Based on our visualized image, we can decide beforehand what adjustments, global and local, we need to make to the image. This is what photographers used to do (and still do) in the darkroom: taking an image and using a pen to draw circles all over the image, writing the adjustments to be done (for example, more or less light, more or less contrast) and where these adjustments need to take place. This will only be the starting point, and chances are our final post-processing will differ slightly from the one we had in mind at the beginning.

With this Practical Assignment, you will plan your post-processing and spend time analysing what will need to be done later when using your software of choice. These decisions, involving global and local adjustments of tone, contrast, micro-contrast, colour saturation, etc, will be made according to the following aspects you studied throughout the Practical Assignments, namely:

• The message and intent

• The emotional connotations

• The visual design and visual dynamics

• The focal points, visual paths and visual distractions

• The crop of the image that maximizes the message

MATERIAL YOU SHOULD HAVE STUDIED FOR THIS PA6

In order to carry out this PA6, you should have covered the following modules:

Module 8 - Post-Processing with Intent

Module 9 - Black and White with Intent (applicable if you want to process some of your images in monochrome)

PA6 by Rafael Rojas - PDF documents and Video on this page showing the whole procedure with Rafael Rojas’ images

MAIN OBJECTIVES:

The main objective for this Practical Assignment will be to plan the global and local adjustments of tone, contrast, micro-contrast and colour that will be carried out during Post-processing, in order to:

• Enhance the overall message

• Enhance the emotional connotations

• Complement the composition

• Enhancing the balance

• Enhancing the depth

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT:

IMPORTANT: For this Practical Assignment, please consider the image as they came out of the camera, with no postprocessing. You should however consider the reframing and cropping that you decided on the PA5.

For completing this Assignment you will need to use a PDF template document that we have prepared for you. You can download this PDF template document here.

We have also made an appendix document with typical global adjustments for different renditions of intent and a planning example of local adjustments. You can download this appendix here.

Remember, you can also review the Video Assessments of other students, to better understand how to do this Assignment.

For this Assignment, you should:

• Fill in the document attached to this PA6 for every image of the 10 images selected with your tutor during the PA1.

• The PDF’s can be filled automatically on your computer. You can also attach-embed the corresponding image to each of them, and the few sketches that are needed to illustrate some of the questions. In other words, there is no need to print these files out, fill them by hand or scan them. You can directly do everything digitally on the file itself. You might need to download the file, save it to your computer and then open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader so that you can fill it directly.

• Save the filled-in PDF files, by giving the file name: “yourname_yoursurname_PA6_number 1 to 10”

• Send the 10 files via email to info@essentialseeing.com. If the files are too heavy, please use the free service www.swisstransfer.com or www.wetransfer.com.

• Your tutor will review your Practical Assignment and produce a Video Assessment review, giving you personalized feedback and guidance. This video will be posted on this website page, below.

• You will be notified when your Video Assessment is ready for you to review.

• You can also check the Assignments posted by other students and the corresponding Assessments. Like this, you can learn from each other.

If you have any questions, please contact your Tutor.

We are looking forward to receiving your submissions for the assessment!

PA6 BY RAFAEL ROJAS

STUDENTS’ ASSESSMENTS