10 TIPS FOR EDITING LIGHT
Some key points to remember when it comes to enhancing the light in your landscape
POOR WEATHER IS FUN
JUST BECAUSE IT’S OVERCAST IS NO REASON TO PUT YOUR CAMERAS AWAY! A LIGHTER THAN AVERAGE EXPOSURE IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
WATCH THE HISTOGRAM
TAKE THE TIME TO ENSURE YOUR CAPTURE EXPOSURE IS CORRECT. THE HISTOGRAM WILL HELP YOU ENSURE YOU’RE NOT CLIPPING YOUR WHITES.
THE SAME TECHNIQUE
ENHANCING THE LIGHT CAN BE DONE WITH PHOTOSHOP, LIGHTROOM, CAPTURE ONE OR ALMOST ANY EDITING PROGRAM. A NONDESTRUCTIVE WORKFLOW IS BEST.
CREATING LIGHT
TO CREATE LIGHT, YOU ESSENTIALLY USE A BRUSH STROKE OVER YOUR IMAGE, MAKING THE AREA LIGHTER THAN ITS SURROUNDINGS.
OBSERVE REALITY
SUCCESSFUL ENHANCEMENT OF LIGHT IN POSTPRODUCTION REQUIRES YOU TO MIMIC WHAT HAPPENS IN REAL LIFE – SO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW LIGHT FALLS IN THE LANDSCAPE.
MULTIPLE LAYERS IS BEST
TO HIDE YOUR HANDIWORK WITH MASKS AND BRUSHES, IT’S BETTER TO USE TWO OR MORE ADJUSTMENT LAYERS OR BRUSHES, EACH WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MASK SHAPE.
COLOUR OF LIGHT
WHEN ADDING A POOL OF LIGHT, CONSIDER ADDING A SLIGHT COLOUR TO IT AS WELL. A SUBTLE YELLOW OR ORANGE LIGHT CAN WORK WONDERS!
PRECISE MASKING IN PHOTOSHOP
PHOTOSHOP PROVIDES MORE OPTIONS FOR CREATING PRECISE MASKS, WHICH CAN BE NECESSARY FOR A COMPLETELY BELIEVABLE RESULT.
WAIT FOR THE LIGHT
LOCK OFF YOUR CAMERA ON A TRIPOD AND TAKE A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS THE LIGHT CHANGES, THEN COMPOSITE THEM TOGETHER WITH PHOTOSHOP LAYERS.
A POOL OF LIGHT
SIMPLE LIGHT ENHANCEMENT CAN BE CREATED WITH A CIRCLE OVER YOUR SUBJECT. USE A LARGE, SOFT-EDGED BRUSH TO DISGUISE THE EDGES.