DON'T make this common LIGHTROOM editing MISTAKE

Lightroom editing can make or break a photo. There is one thing that I always used to get wrong and in this video I explain how to avoid making this common mistake.

NIKON GEAR (Main STILLS camera)

FILM GEAR

OTHER PHOTO GEAR

[Needacreate]

Finally, someone who takes the light that was actually there seriously and limits themselves to subtly bring out the main interest without destroying the specialness of the moment. Why, for so many people, does every image have to look Insta-like-friendly-"epic". Don't get me wrong, there is a place in photography for stronger effects and heavier editing. But more often than not, it's the images transporting some subtle, believable, almost overlooked beauty that I find the most touching. Yeah, that may be a minority taste, I totally get it, but obviously I'm not alone.

[rsmickeymooproductions]

I see so many photos being shown on weather forecasts and they simply look like a photoshop masterclass. So unnatural, but looks striking for the TV. All proper photographers know they are false, but it does not stop the presenters saying how magnificent they are.
Your videos are so educational. Photo editing is just for subtle, slight tweaking. You cannot fix something that is already broken.

[OleSchjodtOsmo]

Loved how you walked into the scene explaining the composition - and again a great inspiring video. Thank you.

[mattcom]

That sequence in which you were walking about within the vertical composition…pointing to and discussing various elements…was brilliant. Putting a white margin around it, giving the appearance of a finished print, made for an extraordinary teaching tactic. More of the same, please, when appropriate. The only problem, though, is that my iPad made the live walking-and-talking view look better than the finished print. This is a function of the brilliance and contrast of the iPad screen which is difficult to avoid. But it’s a risk worth taking to enable stepping into a photo and discussing the rationale of the choices made.

[rodbest]

I would agree with Simon Payne in that if you strictly exposed for the highlights to keep some detail, the shadows likely would be way under exposed and just a black blob. I think keeping it relatively realistic is a good way to go, but you also have to expose for the shadows so you have some detail in them as well, IMO. I try not to go over board, but am sure I do, or at least in some peoples eyes. Anyway, another great video Nigel!

[HR-wdcw]

I'd say that doing more local adjustments, like you showed here, versus more "global" adjustments are the way to go, and something that many people don't think a lot about (at least beginners or those new to LR or post processing). (And I would consider a radial or graduated filter to be more of a "global" edit as well even though you can refine the masks, but you don't get quite the same control you would if you just painted stuff in locally using the adjustment brush).

[bigjock]

I've been a keen photographer for many many years and I think I had good grip on what I was doing but your videos have opened my eyes to many of my faults and failings thank you and keep up the great work

[macsandsquid]

I really liked the third shot with the long standing rock. The way the tip anchored the edge of the far heather field helped to move through the photograph.

[jamesv.wilkerson]

Great video not only talking a bunch about composition, but also showing how to make really great lemonade with the light not cooperating

[Francisco.Rizzuti]

Great adition to your portfolio Nigel. We all know how hard it is to make this videos. And especially with youtube rushing you. Amazing work.

[carmelthomson]

You did see on the fence "Bull in here"??? Fair dinkum mate, you wouldn''t get me in there!!! But that heather is just stunning...nothing like that here in Australia. Great photos

[uptown]

Learning Lightroom right now, and this advice has saved me from developing bad habits.

[jarlatheoingallagher]

Love the little crop tip to confine the exposure of the foreground in the absence of the distraction of the middle ground / sky

[thomasbourne]

hey Nigel,
can we have a longer video where we follow you for the entire process (from planning to printing), I feel this would help people a lot, showing them how to do things they wouldn't have even thought of doing.

[PozeraczGarnkow]

It's a VERY Cool idea to talk through the composition literally inside the frame!!!:P

[jimwlouavl]

Great advice. I dodged and burned a great deal in the wet darkroom and should definitely use that tool more in the digital space.

[bpap]

Thank you Nigel...keeping things looking "real" is not easy to master...I continually ask myself..."was this what I was looking at..?"

[tombalaam]

Morning Nigel, great video as always and as usual I learned a lot! Point of interest, the bird on the moor calling was actually a red grouse rather than a pheasant; I love grouse, I think they are synonymous with moorland and especially of heather. Looking forward to next week's video! Cheers.

[TimvanderLeeuw]

I like the images you shot in this week's video!

And I liked how you walked is through setting up the shot, explaining how you brought things together.

[ElvenMans]

11:40 on the fence there is a sign "Bull in field" and you are casually walking into that fenced off area wearing a red jacket, very brave! 😁