"MAJOR ASSIGNMENT #2 - IMAGES"

 "INTRODUCTION" -- LIGHTROOM

For this assignment, I decided to use Adobe Lightroom to edit photos I have personally taken using my DSLR camera. I shoot in .RAW file format in order to fully utilize and manipulate each photo when I edit in post-production.

“FIRST PICTURE: KIO THE DOG”

-- BEFORE

-- GOAL: To brighten and liven up the photo, create a warm setting to depict a summer’s day.

Adjustments to Light; higher exposure, less contrast, highlights, less shadows, less whites, and higher blacks.

Since the image is in .RAW format, usage of the Tone Curve is highly encouraged to take full manipulation of the photo. It was adjusted accordingly to brighten up Kio's face and soften his fur.

Adjustments to Color: Temperature set to a little more towards the warmer side, a bit of vibrance and saturation to give it liveliness!

Color mixer to pick certain colors to “pop” and have a certain hue or look to it. Changes were made to the Reds, Oranges, Greens, and Dark Blues. I picked out which colors needed that “vibrance” especially due to the Hawaiian lei on Kio! 

Adjustments to Effects: Texture, clarity, dehaze, and -41 vignette to finish off the image! 

Adjustment to Detail: Standard sharpening

-- AFTER

“SECOND PICTURE: SPOOK ME, BABY!”

-- BEFORE

-- GOAL: To create a vintage camera effect, similar to the look of a photo taken with a Kodak disposable camera.

Adjustments to Light; Exposure (small adjustment since taken with Flash on), slightly increased contrast, lesser highlights, more shadows, and lesser whites

Tone curve is altered to center focus light onto the text of the shirt

Adjustments to Color: Since it was taken in a more darker setting, the temperature of the photo is left untouched and stayed true to the source. Tint was adjusted to a green tint to create a vintage look to the photo. Vibrance and saturation was used to create a more liveliness to the shirt and the background of the photo.

Color mixer was not touched in this photo as there was no need to derail the attention of the shirt by altering the colors of the background since it was already darkened and out of focus from the shot.

Adjustments to Effects: Texture, clarity, and a small dehaze. Grain was very important for this photo as it was the main source of the vintage look I was aiming for, I scaled it quite high.

Adjustment to Detail: Standard sharpening

-- AFTER

“THIRD PICTURE: BOODLE FIGHT”

-- BEFORE

-- GOAL: To brighten up the photo, and make the food look very delicious as much as possible!

Adjustments to Light: Exposure, contrast, lessen highlights, lessen shadows, lessen whites, and increase blacks

Tone curve was used in favor of making the foreground have more exposure and light to show the details of each piece of food.

Adjustments to Color: Temperature was set to a warmer tone, and vibrance and saturation was adjusted slightly to give the food more color and liveliness.

Color mix was used for the oranges and greens to alter the presentation of the food. Since the food was on the green leaves, the greens were desaturated slightly to give the food more of a focus to the photo. 

Adjustments to Effects: Slight adjustments to texture, clarity, and dehaze. By only making slight adjustments, I am able to avoid over-editing the food and losing the genuine look of the food. Vignette was added to finish off the photo and to create a center of focus towards the subject.

Adjustment to Detail: Standard sharpening

-- AFTER

"CONCLUSION"

Using Lightroom has always been a great experience for me as I find editing to be quite fun. Lightroom is very quick to the point with great Adobe software and features to enhance your photos to its highest potential!