/dump’-ster di:’-ving/ -n 1. The practice of searching through dumpsters for discarded, but still usable, goods such as food or clothes. 2. The practice of searching through one’s hard drive for RAW files that have not been processed before.
Its raining today, and I’ve got a 3-year-old in tow. Definitely not a day that’s conducive to be outside for serious photography. We’ve all been in this position before, when we’re dying to get out, but life just seems to get in the way. What to do? One thing I like to do is “dumpster dive”–go through my hard drive and revisit images that did not quite seem to make the cut before.
There are multiple reasons to dig through the rubbish of past shoots. Perhaps your post-processing skills have improved since you captured the RAW file, or you have new inspiration of how to process the image. Or simply, your tastes have changed, and something that didn’t appeal before is suddenly more attractive.
I processed this image a while ago, from a visit to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in December. I loved the scene of sun peeking out from behind this oak tree, but never could quite get the processing right. After coming back to the image a couple of months later, I was able to shed some new light on the processing problem. Now, its one of my favorites from this lovely wilderness area.
Do you have images that benefitted from an initial cast-off and subsequent revisiting? Please share links in the comments section!
Sunburst, December 2010
Nice post Greg. My whole approach to photography and image management is changing right now. I used to come back from a shoot, dive straight into my images in Lightroom or Bridge, and choose the ones I loved and work them straight away. From capture to online in the blink of an eye.
Now, when I edit, I focus 100% on composition and exposure. If I am happy with both (regardless of how uninspiring the RAW file looks) I keep them, but I wont work them until some time has passed.
I want to come back to them in a week or so and see if they still resonate with me.
Also, our skills in post-processing are always evolving, as are our tools. So, my new philosophy is wait.
I really like this image too, and can see clearly why its a favorite of yours.
All the best
I like the almost off-camera cloud in the upper left corner. It adds a soft edge to the harder light of the sun flare. I like to print shots with good grass in them like this has, the texture is so appealing.
I just found an old shot yesterday that I am eager to work on. I don’t know how I missed it.
Sharon
Thanks Ali and Sharon for the comments! Sharon, I am glad you like the way this image works. I think I may have originally passed it up because I was afraid of the dead space, but when I revisited the image, I got more confidence in the cloud to hold its own.
Ali, thanks for sharing a little about the evolution of your philosophy regarding post-processing. I agree that there’s much value in waiting. Now I just gotta make myself do it!! 🙂
I like the sun ray paths through the grass and the whispy clouds. Worth diving for.
Thanks for stopping by, David. I’m glad you pointed out the light’s rays in the grass…it looks like spider webs to me…