I love sharing before-and-after shots on my Instagram because I’m captivated by the transformation that editing can bring. The impact of colors and contrast is profound, influencing both the visual appeal and emotional response of the viewer.
My first question when editing is always: Which part of the photo do I want to enhance?
Photos straight out of the camera (SOOC) are objective, while your interpretation is subjective.
Highlights and Shadows
One thing we have to keep in mind is the camera metering either expose for highlight, midtones and shadows. If the sky is included in the shot, I often have to underexpose the shadows to prevent the highlights from being overexposed. To effectively highlight the best features of a photograph, basic adjustments are often essential to uncover hidden details.
In the following example, the majority of the image is shrouded in shadows. Although the highlights on the shirt are the brightest part, they don’t contribute significantly to the overall context. I’m particularly fond of the grey concrete facade of the restaurant.
What I see
The wall and pants are both grey.
The lamp and skin tone share a similar hue.
How I edit
1/ Lift Shadows: Bring up the shadows to uncover details.
2/ Reduce Highlights: Decrease the highlight levels.
3/ Warm Skin Tone: Adjust the skin tone to harmonize with the lamp’s color.
What is a Color Palette?
Establishing a color palette begins with limiting the colors within the image.
Primary and secondary colors should immediately attract the viewer’s attention, making their pairing crucial.
The process of eliminating distracting colors is often underrated.
In this example, there are a million colors in the hardware store.
What I see
Red boxes, a yellow helmet, and cyan shelves behind the gentleman.
How I edit
1/ Group Colors: Organize the colors into three sections.
2/ Adjust Shades: Shift the shades closer to cyan.
3/ Enhance Primary Colors: Make the red and yellow more vibrant.
4/ Warm Skin Tone: Adjust the gentleman’s shirt and skin tone towards a warm yellow.
By refining the color palette, the photo becomes more coherent and visually pleasing, despite the multitude of elements in the frame. This illustrates the significant impact that color grading can have on your images.
I hope you found these insights useful! If you’re interested in learning more, be sure to check out The Art of Color Grading for more breakdowns like this.