Original RAW File
Lightroom 4 Edited File
I want to start this article off by saying, not all the images that we capture are going to be masterpieces. This could be due to several different reasons.
Often times when I am out and about with friends, I don’t necessarily want to do the “photographer thing” and hold everyone up while I try to get the perfect shot. Often times I may not care about a shot enough to spend the time to capture it perfectly, I may just want it for keepsake.
Regardless of the reason, it is important to show that post production and editing is as much a part of the artistic process as shooting. We don’t necessarily need a perfect shot to make something visually compelling.
Now, don’t interpret this as me giving the OK to “just fix it all in post.” When shooting, it is always best to get it right in camera. But, knowing what can be done in post (especially with raw files) is just as important as knowing what can be done in camera.
So in this video, we are going to take this average “walk-up-style” shot and creatively edit it to add visual interest. This shot was captured several years ago by Chris during a hike with his boys out in Peru.
We will be using the Lightroom 4 Preset System along with techniques that we learned in the Lightroom 4 A to Z DVD to process the image. Don’t worry, as usual we will walk through every step so everyone can benefit. Let’s get started!
For those interested in mastering Lightroom 4, we have developed the Lightroom 4 Workshop Collection which contains all of the education, resources and tools that one would need to operate an entire studio using Lightroom 4. This 3 DVD collection can be purchased together for $249 or separately for $99 per DVD. The Lightroom Workshop Collection is composed of the following:
Lightroom 4 A to Z Tutorials DVD – Photographers around the world have been raving about the Lightroom 4 A to Z Tutorials DVD. With nearly 14 hours of A – Z video instruction, this workshop on DVD is designed to turn anyone at any experience level into a Lightroom 4 expert. (more info)
Lightroom 4 Preset System + DVD – 218 Presets, including 186 Develop Presets, 32 Brush Presets and 30 Mixologies make up the most comprehensive, intuitive and powerful Lightroom 4 Preset System ever created. Color correction, vintage fades, black and white effects, tilt-shift effects, faux HDR, retouching, detail enhancing and virtually any other effect can be created with just a few simple clicks. (more info)
Lightroom 4 Workflow System DVD – For advanced Lightroom 4 users, the Workflow System DVD features 7 hours of HD video tutorials teaching exactly how we can cull and process images at over 1,500 images per hour using just Lightroom 4, your keyboard and mouse. The goal is to help you spend more time shooting and working on other aspects of your business and less time in front of the computer. (more info)
