I often find these days that I will take a photograph with an idea already in my mind regarding how I would like to edit the image and what end result I would like to attempt to achieve. 

I've even realized recently that there is a bit of me that actually prefers the editing process to the taking of the photograph because I just love to see how the image evolves as I gently apply carefully chosen editing options. Some options work well others not so much, whereupon I quickly click on 'ctrl Z' (I'm on a PC not a Mac) to undo my last move and try again with a different option.  I slowly work towards my goal and sometimes even move the goal posts as I go along when different, perhaps slightly unexpected, results appear and cause me to adjust my initial thinking. Call me a crazy arty person if you like, but to me this process really is exciting and great fun.

So today I thought I would share an image as it was before, and how it ended up after, editing. 

Sunlit Sprig of Leaves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I took this photo I already knew that I very much wanted to isolate the leaves from the background. I therefore chose a wide aperture to achieve a shallow depth of focus and throw the background into a blur.  So I was already on track to create a very simple minimalistic work. A sunlit sprig of leaves, just that, no distractions. 

I adjusted the tonal range to increase the difference between highlight and shadow, to make the image a little more punchy and especially to bring out the sunlit quality of the leaves which was partly what had attracted my attention to that subject in the first instance.

I further reduced the elements of this image by converting it to black and white.  I also lightened the right hand side a little as during editing that slightly darker area seemed to become more prominent and distracting, which I didn't want.

Right at the end I completed the editing process with the tiniest bit of sharpening.

The end result was this

Sunlit Sprig of Leaves in Black and White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My descriptions of the editing process have been relatively brief, so if you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.  Also if you would like to stay in touch with all my new work and special offers on prints and canvases, please 'like' my Facebook page, I'd love to see you there.

Thank you very much for dropping by.