Christian Photographers Community

Hello! Straight out of It's A Wonderful Life - except with a modern twist on the style of cars! I love this. Thanks for posting.

I loved the 1930s cinematography.  I guess maybe it affects my processing.   Thanks for the comment.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your processing for the cinematic style look? I'd appreciate any advice. THANKS!

Well, I use GIMP as a photo processing tool.   It's freeware from Mozilla.
https://www.gimp.org/

I like it, because it has a color tool that allows some tonemapping.   If I don't like the dynamic range of light to shadows, I make a second layer, tonemap it (usually Mantuik option) and then blend the two layers until I get the range where I want it.   In B&W, I use the old zone system idea; there should be at least one place in the image that's completely white and one that completely dark, and the whole range of shades in between.

After that, I make two layers from that, and then adjust the sharpness of the second layer.   Then I blend them again to get the sharpness I want.

And for B&W, I usually adjust brightness and contrast to fine-tune the image.

Great information! I know Gimp. I used it for many years for just little things here and there, then took a Photoshop photography course recently and had to use Photoshop instead. I like to read an article/watch a video every day to learn something about photography. I found some information on the equivalent functions of tone mapping on Gimp and Photoshop, and used an old BW photo for practicing. The functions are definitely new to me. You gave me a list of things to look into. THANK YOU. I appreciate it very much. 

I once used photoshop.   But I started a camera club in a school and wanted to use only freeware for the kids so they could do work at home.    I soon learned that I could do pretty much everything I wanted to do, on GIMP.

You are exactly right about GIMP. Look forward to seeing more of your photos!