EX130 Localised adjustments
Often localised adjustments are subtle, yet occasionally they are incredibly dramatic. Each photograph leads us down various pathways in search of resolution.
I like to think that the photograph will guide me and it will tell me where to take it.
George DeWolfe creates what he calls an ‘editing plan’. He converts the image to monochrome, then blurs it so that he can see the tonal shapes and lastly inverts the image. It is at this point he starts his editing plan by writing down the major tonal corrections that need to be made. This is incredibly good advice as by getting right down to the tonal arrangements he is advocating that getting the big picture tones correct will make your work stronger.
Do you ever make an editing plan?
I can’t say I do very often at all.
I tend to go down pathways of ideas… I then explore them and see where they take me. Sometimes this journey feels really clean and the plan is obvious. At other times I explore variations and see where creative ideas take me.
This week we want to see the before and after showing where you have made major adjustments. If you are presenting a monochrome, we aren’t so interested in the colour version, but in the first monochrome one you started with.
So post before and afters of you localised adjustments. Share your technique when you post your images. Do them as dyptiches, with the before and after in the one photograph so that when we discuss them we can see both at the same time.
Don’t worry too much about using only localised adjustments. But in a future exercise we will explore multiple variations for the same image.
I have added clarity and texture. I have darkened the background. I have reduced the tonal brightness of the lower bud.
In this image I have selected the main flower and added clarity and texture increased its overall tone. I have placed a radial (round adjustment) on the centre of the flower and given it even more texture, sharpness and clarity. I have reduced the background tones, contrast and clarity. Perhaps I have done that too much, as there is a quality I still prefer in the original one. I think I might try this one again.
Lets see how you go. Post your images in the weekly exercises and we will discuss these next lens class on Tuesday.
