Behind The raw | Ep 2 Persistence
In the vast expanse of landscape photography, every image captured tells a story of its own. From the serene tranquillity of a mountain lake at dawn to the fiery hues of a sunset over rolling hills, each scene holds its unique charm waiting to be unveiled through the lens.
In this blog post, I want to delve into the behind-the-scenes of editing images from my recent landscape photography shoot. Join me as we explore the workflow of my editing process, my reflections on each image, and the lessons we can extract together.
This week’s Image: Cascading light over Valentia Island
This shoot was a game of two halves as such, when I was driving up to the summit ( yes you can drive all the way up to the massive 300m peak :-) ) the clouds were rolling and the light was non-existent, however, I decided to wait it out in the hope of some light arriving. My Persistence paid off as after a couple of hours the light did arrive and it also cast a stunning glow over the landscape below me. For the edit of my chosen image, I wanted to remove most of the sky as it didn’t add much to the overall scene. I had to frame my original shot this way due to the grass that was before me, acting as such a blocker to the scene, so when I composed I knew I would be going for a 16:9 crop. I then adjusted as usual the light and shadows and added a slight change to the white balance to warm up the greens and yellows but maintain the blue in the water. I again used my dehire trick to find and element those pesky due spots, which on this occasion were in tact rain drops and finally using Lightrooms AI noise removal, I ran it to finish off the image. You can then also add a vignette if needed to draw the eye in more, however, my image didn’t need it as the light was doing a good enough job by itself.
Key Takeaway: Frame your shot in the field with your final crop ( if any) in mind, this way you ensure you have all the elements in your shot on location and do not get stuck when you get back to edit it.
Final Thoughts
Editing landscape photography is both an art and a science, requiring a delicate balance of technical skill and creative intuition. Through each image, we embark on a journey of discovery, uncovering the hidden depths of nature's beauty and the endless possibilities that lie within the art of post-processing.
As you embark on your editing process, remember to approach each image with an open mind and a willingness to experiment. Embrace the imperfections, celebrate the details, and above all, allow your passion for photography to guide you on your quest for visual storytelling mastery. Take a break and come back to an image after you think it is done, as more often than not you will see it in a different light as such.
Join me in this instalment of our editing journey, where we'll explore the magic of landscape photography with a view of creativity and inspiration. This episode is now live on my YouTube Channel where you can see my approach taken for this image.