A well-edited photo can tell a story, evoke emotion, and draw the viewer in. But with so many editing tools and options available, it's easy to fall into habits that detract from the final image. By learning to avoid a few common mistakes, you can elevate your work and create photos that truly stand out.
Coming to you from Ian Worth, this insightful video explores seven frequent photo editing mistakes and how to fix them. Worth starts with an issue many face: overly lifted shadows. While it might seem logical to brighten shadows to reveal details, this can lead to an unnatural look, washing out the image. Instead, consider preserving the natural contrast. Shadows are often a fundamental part of the scene, and sometimes, keeping them dark can add depth and authenticity. Think about how the scene actually looked when you took the photo—if it was in deep shadow, don’t be afraid to show that.
Worth also covers vignetting, a tool that can enhance focus but is often overused. Applying a vignette can subtly draw the viewer’s eye to the center of the frame, but when applied too heavily, it becomes distracting. He advises using the radial filter in Lightroom for more control, allowing for adjustments to shadow and highlight balance. This approach gives you a more natural, tailored vignette rather than a harsh, dark border. By testing your vignette effect by shrinking the image on the screen, you can easily gauge whether it feels too strong.
Selective adjustments are another area Worth addresses. Relying only on global edits can lead to missed opportunities. For example, darkening the entire image to tone down a bright sky can make the rest of the scene too dim. Instead, use masking tools to adjust specific areas. Lightroom's sky detection mask is a great way to make selective edits, letting you balance light between the sky and foreground without losing important details.
One of the biggest time-savers Worth suggests is exporting multiple versions of a photo at once. Rather than going back into your editing software every time you need a new resolution, exporting in different sizes (for web, print, social media) saves time and ensures your images look their best across all platforms. It also allows you to control how your images are displayed, preventing social media platforms from compressing and distorting your work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Worth.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
