I thought this week I might focus on the art of post-processing.
First of all what is post-processing? Our predecessors would enhance their images by working on them in the darkroom. They were capable of doing more beyond dipping photographic paper into developer and fixer baths. Photographer Ansel Adams was a master of black and white photography and the zone editing system. In the darkroom he would dodge and burn the film to bring to life details the camera could not capture on its own.
Digital photographers utilize software like Lightroom, Capture One or Photoshop to develop or finish their portraits. A lot of how we shoot and edit is a direct homage to film photography post-processing. We have even maintained some of the same teminology even though the process is very different.
Most clients are aware of Photoshop and some are familiar enough with it to ask if a certain number of years or pounds be removed from their photograph. With pet photography, we usually do more than remove dog-tags, leashes and collars. To date my most unusual ask was to make a male dog a tad more modest… if you catch my drift.
Below find three versions of the same image. Each image represents a different part in the ‘develop’ process. The image below illustrates a fully edited version of an image from Bernard’s adoption photo session. The second image represents the image with some Lightroom edits. The final shows the image as it was captured by my camera on the day.
Also I would be remiss if I did not mention that Bernhard is still looking for his furever home. He is a senior Beagle who has arthritis but he doesn’t let it hold him back. He is friendly, curious and cute as a button. Please head over to Speaking of Dogs Rescue to learn more about Bernard and the other dogs there, that are waiting to love you.