Amazing Lightroom Transformation
Sometimes you come across a rare opportunity but the light is all wrong. What do you do? The best thing is to get the best shot you can, and then see what magic you can conjure up with Lightroom or other post-production software.
Jack-In-The-Pulpit plants can be elusive and well-hidden, so when I come across one it is a real treat. This large and beautiful one was in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a warm spring day. Even though the time of day and the lighting were all wrong, I took my own advice and composed the best shot I could under the circumstances, in hopes of correcting some of the obvious problems in Lightroom.
This transformation required several steps, and some trial-and-error approaches. After doing a little cropping, and then boosting Clarity and Saturation a bit, the real work began. The main problem with this image in my opinion is the lighting. In the Before image you can see how bright the background was in the upper right, and the rock to the left. And the light on the plant itself was flat and dull. I used the Graduated Filter and the Adjustment Brush to darken the areas that needed it. Then I used the Adjustment Brush again, but this time to lighten the plant, making it look like it was lit from within.
I was surprised at how easily the overall look of the image was changed. And the final result still looks natural. And speaking of natural, when making significant changes or adjustments to a nature or wildlife image, you want to be careful not to go overboard. Keep all changes within the bounds of good taste AND do your best to preserve a natural look as much as possible.
Also, these sorts of changes might not be allowed in some competitions, so be sure to read the rules if you plan to enter an image that has been significantly modified.
TECH SPECS 1/125 sec at f/7.1, ISO 400. Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS lens on Canon 5D Mark III body. Handheld.
TODAY’S QUOTE: “Photography shines a light on life.” — Mollie Isaacs
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Today’s image is one of my favorites. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see both a male and female moose together at Wonder Lake in Denali National Park. It was dawn and just starting to get light, and this was our last morning in the park. We had planned to make a quick stop at Wonder Lake to get some final shots before departing the park, never expecting to see this incredible photo op. Just goes to show that you never know what Mother Nature will offer you.
Because it was so dark, and I had to hand-hold the camera and long telephoto lens for this shot (no time to set up a tripod) I had to use a high ISO of 6400. I rarely use an ISO higher than 800 in an effort to minimize noise issues, but in this case it was either go for the high ISO or risk not getting the shot. And this was one shot I did NOT want to miss!!
When shooting nature and wildlife, you never know what opportunities will arise, and how fleeting they will be. For those reasons it is highly beneficial to know your gear inside and out, and know yourself as well. What’s the slowest shutter speed you are comfortable hand-holding? How do you quickly change ISO or shutter speed or f/stop?
The more you know, the better your photography will be!
TECH SPECS 1/80 sec., f/6.3, ISO 6400. Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens set at 140mm on Canon 7D Mark II body. Handheld.
TODAY’S QUOTE: “One secret of success in life is to be ready for opportunity when it comes.” — Benjamin Disraeli