We use our Canon G12 for most of our family shots… it’s small enough to carry with us everywhere, takes great video, and my husband can use it without getting too frustrated. Overall, it’s a great camera.
When I was at WPPI this year, he took our kids on a little side trip to the Hoover Dam (how cool is that?). He had our trusty camera and took lots of great shots of them and the landscape…. (don’t tell him I said this, but he has an awesome eye for photography, so usually what I pull out of the camera are really great pictures).
That said, the G12 doesn’t give you as much control as a DSLR (unless you’re using it on manual, which most will never do). And like most point-and-shoots, it can vary in it’s ability to get things like white balance and color spot on.
Below is one of the shots he took, straight out of camera.
Not a bad shot, right? But a little on the cold side since the white balance is a little off and the colors don’t feel quite right. Also, it has a lot of haze to it, not enough contrast.
Here’s the one I edited….
Not perfect, but better, don’t you think? I brought up the warm tones, gave it a little sharpening, and dodged and burned some areas (especially the rocks in the background) that needed more contrast. Overall, it makes it look a little bit more vibrant, and it doesn’t have such a “gloomy” feel like it did before.
Have a picture you’d like me to edit? Send it to me via email, and I may feature it in one of my Fix It Friday segments!