One of my favorite ways to pass the cold dark days this winter is to spend time editing my images. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to the intricacies of photo editing software programs like LightRoom and Photoshop. As I mentioned last week, there’s so much to explore!
I have learned how to make my photos better through basic color correction, exposure, and cropping, but I haven’t really gotten to the point of transforming my images into graphic illustrations.
Color Correction
I’ve learned that opening up the shadows and darkening the highlights often makes landscape shots better, but darkening the shadows really makes the colors pop in many flower images.
I’m usually not one to alter my photos into something that wasn’t there – I just want to make it a truer representation of what I saw. But one fun trick I’ve discovered – you can turn a vivid sunset into a moonrise simply by changing the white balance from As Shot to Auto in LightRoom.
Presets can be fun to play with, too.
Correcting Exposure
One thing I’ve enjoyed trying this winter is salvaging total crap pictures that before now I would have just deleted. Photos that are ridiculously crooked or badly exposed, transformed with just a few clicks.
Here’s one that was totally washed out. I was experimenting with long exposures at dusk and this one was too long. The edit looks much better, but the highlights are still washed out. Not perfect, but a good way to salvage a memory.
This image was way too underexposed and really crooked. Should have gone in the trash bin, but I played with it and enjoyed the results.
Cropping
Not only can cropping get rid of distractions in a photo, but it can also mimic the effect of having a lens that gets you a lot closer to your subject. I can’t afford a macro lens or a long telephoto, but occasionally I can fake it –
Sometimes the standard shape of a photo is just not the best way to present that subject. Maybe it looks better long and thin, a panoramic view. Or maybe it works best as a square. This is my favorite photo edit of the week. The shot just needed to be square.
Thank you, Tina, of Travels and Trifles for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, From Forgettable to Favorite.
I was enjoying your post Dianne and appreciated all of the edits which definitely illustrated your points with nice improvements. But those seals at the end – OH MY did they ever get my attention in your edited capture. Wonderful!! Truly a dramatic difference with some minor edits. Also loved your header version of the flowers. Well done.
Thank you, Tina. Oh My! is exactly what went through my head when I saw what that edit could do. From Forgettable to Favorite indeed!
I really enjoyed reading about your different approaches to editing and seeing the finished results. Your salvaging of over and under exposed shots is impressive. And like you I enjoy playing around with unconventional shapes for my photos (your squaring of the seal shot is very effective!) and ‘cheating’ on close-ups and pseudo-macro shots 😆
Thank you, Sarah!
Interesting and well presented! Specially impressed with the seals – so well done. And macro fake is completely understood and well done too.
Thanks, Ann-Christine. The seals are definitely my favorite image that I processed this week. Glad to have a chance to show it off!
I like the beach in the corrected exposure shot after editing. Richer colors and more contrast brought out the best!
Thanks, Siobhan. Glad you liked it!
Fabulous “before” and “after” edits, Dianne. I love the lighthouse (of course!) and the sunrise turned into a sunset, but all your images really show the capabilities of editing an image to bring out its best qualities. The shot where you corrected under-exposure is fantastic! I really enjoyed your post, Dianne, as always!
Thank you, Patti!
These before and after are beautifully done, Dianne. I love the sunrise scene, the original and after. Thank you for showing us the power of editing. The last image of the seals is my favorite!
Thanks, Amy. The seal image is my favorite, too!