Taking steps out of my comfort zone..

As I started this I went on and on about how graphic design is one of my biggest hobbies, yet I haven't really posted too much showing my "talent". There is no easy answer to that for me, since I still love doing it but I feel complacent and stuck. Trying to find new ways to freshen up my works to pop out more and be enjoyable to a bigger audience, but it doesn't work.

So I took voyage into a different route, something new to me, something I had to actually work for. And that something is photography and photo editing. I am very new and haven't really had a chance to take pictures with a professional camera but in due time I will, Michigan winter weather is rough to motivate me to go and get some good shots.

However, back in my depressed state of mind a little bit ago, I took some pictures with my iPhone 8 which explains the terrible quality of them but none-the-less. (in comparison with an actual camera) I wish the pictures had came out better when I took them as color was lackluster, but now with my improved motivation to learn and make something out of them, I turned them into something I can be happy with.

Shown above is the original picture with no filters, color adjustments, or anything of the sort. I am in love with this picture for everything it is and what it symbolizes for me, but the color is just disgusting. So I chose to throw it right into Photoshop and got to work. I blacked out while making it so I cannot say exactly what I have done for it but I'm sure many things were pressed and sliders were slid in various ways. I want to say overall the project took me around 2 hours, which for me isn't half bad for being my second project only!

Now maybe I'm just crazy, but wow, that is a transformation from rags to riches. However, I can definitely see some areas I can improve, and this picture didn't require too much finessing to look even a fraction better than before. The biggest mistake that I can see is the lens flare at the end of the boardwalk, I'm pretty sure something like that would cover the tree-line. Because now it just looks like my trees have an open circle where the sun is just popping through and up out of nowhere.

But besides, I'm still new and not a professional at this so please leave any suggestions and opinions on what you think about this.