Master the Art of Post-Processing: Tips for Every Photographer

Post-processing is crucial in landscape photography, as almost every photo will have some level of editing. This helpful video breaks down the process and will help you improve your work in a straightforward way. 

Coming to you from William Patino, this informative video breaks down the complexities of post-processing into manageable, straightforward steps. Patino emphasizes that effective post-processing primarily involves simple adjustments like brightening and darkening specific areas to guide the viewer's eye. He demonstrates this on two different raw files, showcasing how to enhance a landscape photograph’s impact with minimal tools. By adjusting exposure, highlights, and shadows, and using targeted adjustment brushes, Patino illustrates how to lead the viewer’s eye towards the intended focal point of the image. This approach not only simplifies post-processing but also highlights its power to transform a good image into a great one.

Patino's tutorial is particularly valuable for its focus on the artistic aspect of post-processing, teaching photographers how to use light and shadow to create depth and direct attention within a scene. He introduces concepts like atmospheric perspective and tonal separation, which are crucial for adding dimensionality to images. By adjusting the exposure and utilizing the adjustment brush for local enhancements, Patino shows how subtle changes can dramatically improve the overall composition and mood of an image. This insight is vital for photographers looking to elevate their landscape photography from simply capturing scenes to crafting visually compelling narratives without significant work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Patino.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

Excellent video. Most images do need some editing; however, the less the better. Keeping it simple! Nice job, William.