EDIT THE SHOT
1
ADJUST WHITE BALANCE Filtering the light from a flash to adjust the temperature creates an almost finished colour tone incamera, but some adjustment may be needed. Here the orange cast is too strong, so we need to remove some of the magenta and red, for morning rather than sunrise colouring.
2
STACK YOUR FRAMES Adjust the basic settings of all of your uniquely illuminated frames in a RAW-processing application such as Lightroom, then move them into Photoshop. Stack them as layers, and mask out the unwanted parts to create a universally lit image, with perfect lighting for each zone.
3
CLEAN UP THE FRAME Whenever you’re working in a real environment instead of a set it may be necessary to remove objects or retouch areas. For this shot we need to iron out some blemishes in the wallpaper and paintwork. The subject also requires some basic retouching work!
4
MODERATE LOCAL LIGHTING Use the Adjustment brush for localised dodging and burning. Due to the steep light gradient from the left to the right of the frame we need to lift some of the resulting shadows, as well as brushing in outside detail from an underexposed frame, widening the dynamic range in the shot.
5
CINEMATIC PROPORTIONS To achieve a more theatrical feel we can crop this frame to 16:9. Since we’ve taken a panoramic series of shots this fits the shape of the final frame. However, for a more classic or painterly feel, a squarer frame – 4:3, for example – would be an ideal choice.
6
OIL TEXTURE As a final, optional step, consider adding a painterly texture. While it doesn’t add to the theme of modern cinema, overlaying a texture file and changing the blend mode to Soft Light can provide atmosphere, building on our lighting style that mimics a popular 20th-century painter.