Christian Möhrle recently challenged seven pro photographers to edit the same raw photo and used it to create this video full of helpful editing tips.
The input for the challenge was five bracketed raw photos, which provided enough creative leeway for the participants. I also took part and realized it's quite difficult to edit photos I haven't taken myself. With no personal memory of the scene, I had to do quite a bit of guessing. Typically, the atmosphere I perceive while taking photos guides my editing and helps me set the mood for the final edit. Sometimes, I already have it in my head when I'm still on location.
Because the other photographers also had no reference, you see a wide variety in the results: different white balances, colors, contrasts, and crops. This experiment shows how much of a role personal style plays in photo editing. Here, it's less a question of technique and more a question of the direction in which each photographer wants to go with an edit.
It was inspiring to see the differences, and looking back, I think a warm look might indeed suit this photo better. But such a realization usually takes time, which is why you should always let your photos rest for a while and return for the finishing touches a few days later. I usually make tweaks to my photos several times after I finish the main edit.
Toward the middle of the video, Möhrle goes through his edit. He shows every editing step, from the basic raw adjustments to the color grading and the finishing touches in Photoshop. There's a lot to learn in this part, so make sure to check out his video.
They all get $10,000 of FREE Hasselblad gear ???
Not surprisingly, Christians version was the best to my eye with Laura's pretty much the only other version that didn't look distractingly over cooked. Not sure what Mark was attempting. It's a tough image overall with so much going on and no real anchor to be found. Not all beautiful scenes make beautiful photos.
What is photography?