Quite often

I wander though my vast photo archive - and also quite often I get surprized how "quickly" I forget certain periods of time. NO wait. That wasn't the right expression. What i mean is, that i make a lot of images - but somehow failed to work with them afterwards. I usually convert the RAW files into DNG, makes all the correction like color, contrast and sometimes noise reduction, in order to produce parallell JPG's to each file... which really take a lot of time when you've been on a journey.

And then i somehow seem to "forget" about it. So, when i look at images taken only 1 year ago - i realize that I haven't really done so much more with the photos.

No, it still sounds weird. As if i can't get out the residing feeling within me, into words; e.g. what I really wanted to express.

Oh well.

October 2024 - last year in Sicily

So, as I walked though the photos from last October 2024, when Sal and I went to Sicily, staying at Mary's place in Catania, and the girls Paola and Carla where there too (who are normally elsewhere like Portual and France or Northern Italy). It kind of hit me, that many images I hadn't done any deeper work with.

The process of fine tuning

When I say ''deeper work', i mean that when i open them as a DNG RAW file, working deeper means a more careful, more detailed dealing with a photo; so that the noise doesn't get too coarse, that the colors are more fine-tuned (and not just coarsely corrected), as well the contrast fine-tuned, and sometimes certain areas i lighten up or darken, in order to give a better overall balance to the naked eye. So, that it doesn't wander off to areas that don't matter.

Well, to make images more pleasant to the eye. Sometimes i takes a couple days, because my eyes see feels right and actually turns out a little wrong. So, when I make corrections, it isn't until next time or day, i see that; "Uh - here i didn't do such a good job". And correct it better. Skies with clouds can sometimes be a little bit tricky in terms of lightness and the type of blue sky. (which is a mix of green and blue and magenta). Sometimes i go too much magenta, i realize day after. Or it is slightly too greenish. Tiny nuances, can make all the difference to the skilled eye.

It is like really fine tuning my color senses anew. Which works best when i return to a photo the next day, and review what I have done. THEN i often realize, what went slightly wrong or doesn't feel right.

So; you can see better when you leave off a job, giving it some rest - and then return to it. Suddenly you see "better", somehow clearer; In a more balanced, and fine-tuned way.

The same thing happens anew when I prepare a photo for a Diary page here. More fine tuning in terms of lightness, contrast and color balance. Usually also lighten up / darken certain areas. I also remove little details I find too distracting. Details i failed to see when i took the shot, so to speak - i correct in post.