Dodging and burning is an editing technique that allows you to selectively adjust the brightness and darkness in specific areas of an image. This technique can add depth and dimension but can also lead to several common mistakes. This fantastic video tutorial will show you three common mistakes and how to fix them.
Coming to you from Andrea Livieri, this insightful video addresses three critical mistakes people often make with dodging and burning and how to correct them. The first mistake highlighted is setting exposure parameters incorrectly. Instead of using the exposure slider, which can reduce local contrast and cause color shifting, Livieri suggests using the curve tool. By doing so, you maintain natural contrast and avoid unwanted color changes, resulting in a more organic effect.
A second important mistake is ignoring color discoloration. When you lighten or darken an area, it can affect its color saturation and appearance. To address this, Livieri recommends using a color layering technique in Lightroom, which helps maintain the natural tone of the area being adjusted. This method is similar to techniques used in Photoshop, allowing for more nuanced color adjustments without losing saturation or creating unnatural color discrepancies.
Livieri suggests starting with a fairly dark photo and using dodging to selectively bring out highlights. This technique allows you to guide the viewer’s eye effectively and maintain a balanced light-to-shadow ratio. An advanced tip provided involves using the Luminous Range tool in Lightroom. This tool lets you target specific areas based on their brightness value, refining and tightening up the adjustments for precise control. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Livieri.
