I take a lot of photographs; when I go on a trip I average about 200 per day. Thank goodness I live in the digital era.
Most people might say that the majority of my photographs are boring. Well, those people just don’t appreciate sill details or brick corbels like I do.
But every now and then some photographs come along that warrant a little dressing up–that’s where Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom come in. Below are some before and after images of some of my architectural subjects. All were taken with a Nikon D-40 and 18-55mm lens.

Wrigley Building, Chicago

Before

After

Steps Taken:

1. Fix keystoning
2. Convert to BW–adjust channels
3. Convert to duotone
4. Adjust brightness, contrast, midtones
5. Add foreground shadow
6. Add slight vignette

National Farmer’s Bank, Owatonna

Before

After

Steps Taken:

1. Fix keystoning–attempt to match the actual proportion of the building’s facade
2. Sharpen
3. Enhance color to match reality
4. Keep scale figure

Rosecliff, Newport

Before

After

Steps Taken:

1. Add warming filter
2. Fix barrel distortion
3. Delete the gardener

Monticello, Charlottesville

Before

After

Steps Taken:

1. Delete smudge on lower right
2. Add warming filter
3. Add foreground shadow

MIT MacLaurin Building, Cambdridge

Before

After

Steps Taken:

1. Add warming filter
2. Add foreground shadow
3. Sharpen
4. Wish that green fence away…