Valley Glow
Back in July I presented a edited version of this very same image, taken on the boarder of North Carolina and Tennessee, shooting down the valley where, if weather reports were to be believed a large thunderstorm would be rolling through. Of course, I didn’t find a thunderstorm, rain did occasionally threaten to drive me off [as if]. Recently, as I have been revisiting earlier images, I came across this one once more and decided to try and improve upon my original edit. I think I’ve done it justice, deepening shadows, and giving the mist a more ethereal glow.
Shooting a scene is what most people think when they hear the word “Photographer”. You yourself may have believed that shooting the scene was the most important aspect to it as well. I promise you, there’s so much more to it. Location scouting, watching weather reports [more importantly going out and seeing the weather yourself!], planning trips, and of course editing. Editing may in fact be just as important as the shoot itself. It’s where you take a simple image, and bring it to life. Show the viewer the drama, the light, and layers.
Editing photos can be tedious, it can be annoying, and it is very difficult. Learning to show restraint, realizing all those fancy sliders don’t need to be maxed out. Now, every editing technique is different, and what once took you hours to do, becomes a task that takes far less time. I like to exposure blend, which means taking bits of several photos and painting them on top of each other, adding basic dodge and burn. Then painting in details a little at a time, use luminosity masks and more. It’s an involved process, but some people move a few sliders and call it good. You decide what method works best for you, but in the end you should endeavor to learn each variation. The more you know about editing, the more you will be able to control even basic edits.
If I could give good advice to someone just starting out it would be this. Find the settings you think work best, then halve the strength and compare. Sure, it’s not as flashy, but it gives you a more truthful representation of what you saw originally that made you want to take the photo. Slow down, relax, and make small adjustments.
Until Next Time!
