How to Create The Perfect Image - Fine Art

In this video, I consider what is the perfect image (very subjective) and process a shot of the hills of Tuscany. The image is a panorama consisting of 5 x Olympus EM1 Mk2 Micro 4/3rd photographs, which I have pre-combined in Lightroom. They were shot in RAW and the panorama is saved as a 14bit DNG file. We look at how to clean an image up, check the correct composition and boost the colour and lighting to give it the WOW touch :-)
The RAW image can download here:- drive.google.com/drive/folder...
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[@nunwalksinabar]

Nice instruction video. The image reminds me of a Monty Python introduction. I’m waiting for the trees on the left to shuffle off and a giant foot to smash down in the middle of the field.

[@jamiermathlin]

😀 😀 😀 made me laugh 🤣😂😅

[@MyStocko]

Excellent video Jamie. You have an amazing talent. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[@jamiermathlin]

Thank you David and Merry Christmas to you and your family 😀🎄

[@happymystic9800]

Had Windows 95 not already been a thing of the past, this image would certainly qualify for its desktop background 😊 … beautiful image and edit. Happy holidays …

[@jamiermathlin]

Merry Christmas 😀 I think the Windows 95 background was somewhere in Califonia, but it certainly looks very similar 🙂

[@PeggySwords]

Merry Christmas Jamie🎄🎄

[@jamiermathlin]

Merry Christmas Peggy 😀

[@ianbrowne9304]

To be honest ; I never understood the difference between "fine art Photography" and just bloody good photography/editing . Maybe more a marketing name (??) If my image ; I wouldn't remove the drain/line . Instead ; rotate the image and use it a leading line to the trees but perhaps tone it down a little . If trees on the horizon are left in (maybe not??) ; they then form the triangle from the bottom left . Old fashion dodge burn from the original darkrooms is very seldom mentioned days but is still as powerful imo . Instead of the radial tool , I would use the Adjustment brush. Because I have made the Lr5 Adjustment brush my best editing friend it does so much for me like Dodge and burn --- sort of a "rub on rub off" (from the Karate Kid movie) , or paint on and slowly rub off Thanks for sharing ; was a very though provoking image and tutorial . ''Lonely tree/s" ; a subject I seek out.

[@jamiermathlin]

I believe (but may well be wrong) that fine art photography relates to the attempt to create something that is aimed to be hung on the wall, an attempt at creating a piece of art "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power". whether I have achieved this, comes down to the eye of the beholder 😀. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@ASMPHOTO]

Merry Christmas! Thank You for sharing!

[@jamiermathlin]

Merry Christmas to you 😀

[@FrancescoBorsotti]

Another great tutorial! Thanks a lot Jamie and Merry Christmas

[@jamiermathlin]

Merry Christmas 😀and thank you

[@alanm.6096]

It is refreshing to see what can be achieved with the creative (and simplistic) use of radials, compared to getting involved with the complexity of luminosity masks and all the 3rd party panels that attempt to simplify that process.

[@jamiermathlin]

Exactly Alan, that's what I think 😀Merry Christmas

[@jaimee.campuzanot.2702]

FELIZ NAVIDAD JAMIE!!!

[@jamiermathlin]

Merry Christmas Jaime 😀

[@colinyoung9432]

Hi Jamie, another great video, think the picture looked a little unrealistic for me...Saying that I really love what you do and love your tips and tricks, as always willing to learn even at my age... Thank you so much, a very happy new year to you. Colin Devon Uk.

[@jamiermathlin]

Hi Colin, thanks for the comment, as you can see from the RAW image, it is a real place, but perhaps I went a little to far with the processing 😀. Happy New Year !

[@oneeyedphotographer]

It's thoughtfull you to offer your "raw" file, but I personally would prefer the raw files straight ott of camera so that I can make my own choices prior to and including stitching the images together.

[@jamiermathlin]

Thank you for the feedback, and Merry Christmas 😀

[@mariolombardi4766]

Jamie, thanks for sharing your image and your wonderful, very effective editing of this image. It’s very interesting to me, I would never have approached editing this image the way you did, I would have done all my dodging and burning in Photoshop using luminosity masks, using a brush tool and would have dodged/burned using the same color being dodged/burned, I would have adjusted the colors and the contrast in Photoshop, etc. However, as your edits clearly demonstrate there are so many different ways to make effective adjustments. I know I am preaching to the choir, but this was, and at times continues to be a struggle (what’s the most effective approach for an edit), but maybe the more important question and approach is to ask yourself, what needs to be done/edited in the image to achieve your goals and objectives for each image and let that drive your edits and as long as you achieve those goals it doesn’t matter that much how you got there.

[@jamiermathlin]

Thank you Mario for your comment, it is very much appreciated, as you say there are many ways to create the effect that you desire when post-processing/editing your images, but I believe you touched on the real essence of photography, specifically for myself, this being that it is important to understand what it is you are trying to achieve, and how best to use the tools at hand to achieve it. I tend to do more of the editing in LR rather than PS as I find it easier and more flowing, I also hope I help other people who watch my videos see that there are less complicated ways to achieve the results you require. Personally, I find PS extremely powerful but also cumbersome, hence why more of my workflow is in LR. Thanks again for your comment and Merry Christmas 😀

[@mariolombardi4766]

⁠Exactly, thanks Jamie for your response. It’s “the knowing” what you want to do I find challenging, but the more I do the easier it does get. I love that you share simple ways to achieve incredibly effective results, it’s a relief to realize this. I’ve been following you for the better part of a year and really have enjoyed your work. So informative and fun! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas

[@galacticnemesis366]

Just my 2 cents but I think I would have decreased a little contrast moving through the scene from near to far. I noticed you chose to add a small amount of contrast to the trees which slightly reduced the feeling of depth in the image. Perhaps utilising a little rehaze or lifting the shadows and blacks whilst increasing foreground contrast and texture. It is a beautiful scene and as you said there are elements of subjectivity to what one considers perfection. To my eye that would have only added to the edit. Thanks for sharing.

[@jamiermathlin]

Thank you for the feedback, it is very much appreciated, Merry Christmas 😀