I've got a few shots to play with ... I'll post a small version with a link to the original underneath each photo. They're all JPGs. The first was shot with my D80 in aperture mode (I think). The others were shot with my old Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot.

Too dark? Besides light, I'm assuming the colors will need some boosting.


Cayman


Good example of needing to be cropped. Curious how people with good photo eyes would cut it (if at all). Also a little washed out, eh?


Ahu Tongariki


Seems dusty to me. This was the last trip I used the Panasonic because every shot looked like this: either dusty or washed out.


Valle de la Luna


Dusty and bleh. Colors were more vibrant in person.


Parinacota


So have at it. I want to see if these can turn into decent photos and how you did it.

(Let me know if any of the links to bigger files don't work)

OMG! I didn't think they'd be able to look that good! Now if you could just write all those steps into a PS action for me, that'd be great. Mkay?

Great. I thought for a second I'd actually get some work done tonight, but it looks like I'll be messing with PhotoShop instead

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

shadows highlights @ 10/75/250, 10/75/250, 0/10/.01/.01 (with show more details selected)
contrast +15
play with the colors
noise ninja set to auto profile
USM
resize
frame

Very cool, but this is gonna take a LOT of practice. I'm failing miserably with other photos (don't want to copy exactly the steps mentioned). Color is a bitch. I can get skies/clouds good, but then the ground is off ... or vice versa. Similar problems with brightness. Practice makes perfect ... I'll get back to you in a month.

Nice to know average point-and-shoot shots can be tweaked into decent tourist photos. That bodes well for my 3 second time alotment for shooting photos when traveling