
So here is my usual routine including the presets of Silver Efex Pro. There are a few routines that I pretty much perform on every picture because it helps to express my impression of the street. Method) and try to not work on an image for longer than 5 minutes. In terms of actual post-processing, I like to keep it stupid simple (K.I.S.S.
#Preset silver efex pro 2 pro#
Lightroom Basics & The Silver EFEX Pro Pack Tinkering with it disqualifies it as a Street Photograph. If for example somewhere is a stain on a window we just photographed through then this is the reality we decided to show.

Although the amount of post-processing is the root of a lot of controversial discussions, we should accept in Street Photography that flaws are part of reality and don’t need to be removed digitally. This might be different in other genres like fashion, or fine art photography where it is known and accepted that flaws can be removed digitally. The difference is in how it is displayed. The viewer expects that a Documentary Image shows what the photographer saw on the scene. Photoshopping an image until it doesn’t represent the scene anymore we originally while at the same time selling the image as “real” is an imposture. As Photographers, we are responsible to build trust in our work. Photojournalism isn’t some fiction novel where we have all the freedom to basically do what we want. Since the goal of this genre is to display reality at a certain time, the reality shouldn’t be altered. On the other hand, there is still some truth to the statement that Documentary Photographs shouldn’t be edited too much. Presets like Silver Efex Pro help you to emulate the classic film look. The difference is if you want to rely on some standard settings or customize the basic look to feel more comfortable with the outcome.

Every digital image has already been post-processed sooner or later. Saying that Street Photographs shouldn’t be post-processed is a contradiction in itself. Characteristics like contrast, clarity or even sharpness depend on the base settings of the RAW file. The same scene with similar settings photographed by a Canon or Nikon camera can look differently. Despite various JPEG filter that has become popular among more hobby photographers, even RAW files vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. In Digital Cameras it is even harder to publish an original image because every Camera manufacturer has its own presets that affect the outcome of the raw image. Long before Photoshop existed pictures have been post-processed accordingly to the vision of the photographer without using digital simulations like the Silver EFEX Pro Pack. Afterward, he had the possibilities to dodge and burn the image, which means to highlight or darken certain areas. Willingly or not, the way he developed an image greatly changed the appearance. During the film era, the photographer influenced the outcome of an image in the darkroom.

Instead of throwing 100s of Dollars at some VSCO filter the Silver Efex Pro collection offers great film simulations that you can customize for your ultimate film look.ĭownload The Silver EFEX Pro Pack The True ImageĮven the most purist Photographer has to admit that there is no 100% “true” image. One great tool to achieve the classic film look is the Nik Silver Efex Pro Collection and the best is that it is available now for free. Post-Processing in Documentary Photography is not about altering reality to make it more beautiful, the goal is to strengthen the atmosphere and story of an image. Nonetheless, every image still is post-processed to intensify the character of the image. Post-Processing in this genre is kind of frowned upon since we expect higher standards. Documentary Photography is all about showing reality.
