Hi Magda,
I saw you posted on flickr that you were looking for a better idea of what info to put on here, and I was wondering if you could include some info about your processing. Do you use Photoshop or something else? Are there any general steps you use on most of your photos that make them so high quality? Just some info on your overall approach to editing would be great. I’m also curious about how you got to be such an amazing photographer? Are you mainly self-taught or did you go to school for it? Thank you so much!
Hi Lauren, thanks so much for your comment and compliment. I will definitely try to include some more info about my processing and about myself as this blog develops. For now, just a quick response. Yes, I use Photoshop to edit the photos. If my photos are shot in RAW, I start with Camera Raw and finish in Photoshop. I like the photos to look as natural as possible, I like skinto look like skin and so I’m very careful not to over-process. I like the the subject to make the statement and not the processing. I focus on composition and I pay attention to everything in my frame. Color is also important to me. I use levels, curves, contrast and brightness. Color balance and selective color to get the colors just right. I make many small adjustments and use many layers. I switch them on and off to see and compare what I like best. I play with color a little bit more if I want to add a certain mood to the image. Tones are also important to me especially in bw images. In the future I might include before and after examples to show how Photoshop can be used to enhance an image.
I started taking photos when I was about twelve. I used my dad’s old manual camera to photograph my baby brother. Growing up I was always a very visual person, always drawing and collecting photos or anything that was visually appealing to me. I have a Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design. I think background in graphic design gave me a better understanding of composition and how a viewer reads an image. As part of my degree I took printmaking, painting and drawing classes which I think all play a role in how I see things through my lens. Photography was a small component of the design program but I spent countless hours in the darkroom. I was introduced to Photoshop at the same time, mainly to edit photos used in design layouts and to ensure the digital files were press ready. A lot has changes since them. Digital cameras and Photoshop have become more amazing! And I’m still learning and trying to master them both.
Hi Magda! I’ve been following you on flickr since… Honestly I don’t know, probably since Remy was born. But are you kidding? You do *master* Photoshop and in-camera technique!! You always get such wonderful vivid colours… like these fall leaves in the background – edible stuff. What I really envy you on your pictures is the great depth of field. Wonderful boked and yet the part of the image that is in focus always looks so sharp. I will for sure be keeping an eye on this blog! š
Victoria, Thank you for your kind comments. I have to admit that I do pay attention to every detail in my photo and always think about where the light is and how the bokeh will look but the beautiful result do have to also be attributed to the beautiful Canon 50mm 1.2L lens. Upgrading from the 50mm 1.4 was a long process and hard decision. It seemed a lot of money for a small difference in aperture. But the differences go beyond that. The lens is amazing and it’s pretty much on my camera all the time.
Avenue Portraits 
Hi Magda,
I saw you posted on flickr that you were looking for a better idea of what info to put on here, and I was wondering if you could include some info about your processing. Do you use Photoshop or something else? Are there any general steps you use on most of your photos that make them so high quality? Just some info on your overall approach to editing would be great. I’m also curious about how you got to be such an amazing photographer? Are you mainly self-taught or did you go to school for it? Thank you so much!
Hi Lauren, thanks so much for your comment and compliment. I will definitely try to include some more info about my processing and about myself as this blog develops. For now, just a quick response. Yes, I use Photoshop to edit the photos. If my photos are shot in RAW, I start with Camera Raw and finish in Photoshop. I like the photos to look as natural as possible, I like skinto look like skin and so I’m very careful not to over-process. I like the the subject to make the statement and not the processing. I focus on composition and I pay attention to everything in my frame. Color is also important to me. I use levels, curves, contrast and brightness. Color balance and selective color to get the colors just right. I make many small adjustments and use many layers. I switch them on and off to see and compare what I like best. I play with color a little bit more if I want to add a certain mood to the image. Tones are also important to me especially in bw images. In the future I might include before and after examples to show how Photoshop can be used to enhance an image.
I started taking photos when I was about twelve. I used my dad’s old manual camera to photograph my baby brother. Growing up I was always a very visual person, always drawing and collecting photos or anything that was visually appealing to me. I have a Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication Design. I think background in graphic design gave me a better understanding of composition and how a viewer reads an image. As part of my degree I took printmaking, painting and drawing classes which I think all play a role in how I see things through my lens. Photography was a small component of the design program but I spent countless hours in the darkroom. I was introduced to Photoshop at the same time, mainly to edit photos used in design layouts and to ensure the digital files were press ready. A lot has changes since them. Digital cameras and Photoshop have become more amazing! And I’m still learning and trying to master them both.
Hi Magda! I’ve been following you on flickr since… Honestly I don’t know, probably since Remy was born. But are you kidding? You do *master* Photoshop and in-camera technique!! You always get such wonderful vivid colours… like these fall leaves in the background – edible stuff. What I really envy you on your pictures is the great depth of field. Wonderful boked and yet the part of the image that is in focus always looks so sharp. I will for sure be keeping an eye on this blog! š
Victoria, Thank you for your kind comments. I have to admit that I do pay attention to every detail in my photo and always think about where the light is and how the bokeh will look but the beautiful result do have to also be attributed to the beautiful Canon 50mm 1.2L lens. Upgrading from the 50mm 1.4 was a long process and hard decision. It seemed a lot of money for a small difference in aperture. But the differences go beyond that. The lens is amazing and it’s pretty much on my camera all the time.