Bad photos happen to everyone. Exposure errors, white balance issues, and distracting backgrounds are common challenges, but knowing how to quickly rescue these mistakes can save valuable shots and improve your editing skills.
Coming to you from Anthony Morganti, this practical video tackles several key issues you probably encounter regularly, like overexposed or underexposed images. Morganti starts by demonstrating his straightforward method for correcting exposure in Lightroom. He initially adjusts highlights and shadows to their extremes, then refines the overall exposure by carefully moving sliders. Morganti emphasizes the importance of setting precise white and black points by using a simple keyboard shortcut that clearly shows when you're losing details in the brightest and darkest areas. Watching him balance the image by eye rather than relying solely on presets or automatic adjustments illustrates how you can confidently handle exposure corrections on your own.
Morganti also addresses another common headache: color temperature problems. Instead of relying exclusively on Lightroom's basic white balance tools, Morganti introduces an intuitive alternative: the tone curve. By shifting points on the blue curve toward yellow or blue, he quickly neutralizes overly cool or warm tones, simplifying color correction considerably. This technique allows for greater precision, especially when traditional methods might not deliver the desired results. Seeing this method in action highlights its versatility and could encourage you to experiment with curves beyond their usual use for contrast.
Another significant portion of the video involves fixing distracting backgrounds—a frequent issue, especially when working in uncontrolled environments. Morganti demonstrates how strategic cropping can quickly remove unwanted elements. When cropping alone isn’t enough, he employs Lightroom's tools to remove problematic hotspots and reduce visual clutter. He also shares his approach for simulating shallow depth of field in post-production using Lightroom's lens blur feature. Although this requires careful masking and selective exposure adjustments, Morganti illustrates that with patience, it's possible to significantly improve images compromised by background distractions. Understanding these tactics can greatly enhance your ability to manage less-than-ideal shooting situations.
There's no fluff here, just clear demonstrations and explanations aimed at helping you turn problematic images into portfolio-worthy shots. He regularly acknowledges limitations and even admits when certain fixes aren’t perfect, encouraging you to develop realistic expectations and practical editing skills. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morganti.
