Image Processing

As the initial step all images needed to be resized and cropped using Photoshop. Once this was done images that needed further processing could be chosen. Generally I prefer to keep the Photoshop work to a minimum wherever possible. With this in mind I chose images that were promising but needed some minor adjustments such as removing a distracting element from them. Examples of these elements are power lines and centrally placed clods of mud.

In order to resize and crop i followed these steps:
Open the image, choose the crop tool, enter the dimensions (in this case for A3), drag the crop box over the image and confirm the crop. Below is an example of cropping.

In order to remove the distracting parts of photos i followed these steps:
Open the image, choose the clone stamp tool, click a part of the image that you would like to clone and then paint over the distracting area with this. Another option which can be used is the healing brush tool. This is where the software tries to match the patterns and textures from the surrounding area in order to blend it in. Below is an example of cloning.

Cropping needed to be used sparingly if possible as losing pixels isn't useful especially if using a compact sensor (like mine). The main thing is to get the composition right (or as close to right as possible) in camera. Generally i used the crop tool to emphasize the focal point more strongly and to remove any oddly positioned distractions at the sides of the image.

Below are examples of images that required a more substantial crop than the others.

The top image needed the people cropping out, the second image the sale signs, the third image as much of the people as possible, the fourth image the drainpipe and the final image the railings.

Here are the screenshots to show how they looked after the crops.

There are obviously many things that could be done using Photoshop but given the content of my images (nature) it seemed inappropriate to do much as it can make photos look unrealistic (in my opinion). Also given the amount of time it can take to make major adjustments (as a novice) it is questionable as to what is a worthwhile change.