Photography is very subjective, with very many different styles and techniques. The belief that getting everything right in camera so no editing is needed is the best way. If you choose to keep photos raw and how you captured them, then I am all for that. Personally, I have found constructive progress in my photography through the editing process and this blog is based on that.
Like all photographers in a wilderness space, my goal is to create and capture unique images – helped along by my colleagues and people around me in conjunction with the fact that I am fortunate enough to be frequently working in nature.
This does come with some of the inherent challenges of wildlife photography, whether it is limitations on gear you own or have rented, having to be in the right position and ready for that millisecond opportunity to take a photo or the challenging lighting conditions. In my opinion, photo editing software and a good understanding of how to use it are quite possibly the most important tools in my photography toolkit.
Lightroom before and after an edit
After a few Lightroom sessions whereby I sit with a guest and they vent their frustration because they haven’t captured the shot they wanted. We then have a good laugh together, and I always try to emphasize that the image they want also requires an immense amount of patience and luck. Having a good camera is important in wildlife photography, but not as critical as luck, timing, and editing.
Chris Taylors second attempt at a monochrome, low key edit on an image of a leopard, right light, background and subject to capture and edit this amazing shot.
I have spent several years working in Lightroom now. It was so daunting when we, as trainees, got introduced into the photographic studio at Londolozi. Fear crept in as this ‘crazy’ software was introduced that we would one day need to explain to guests.
Shortly after taking to photography, I learned that the ability to edit an image is a great tool. Did it take a long time to get comfortable with Lightroom? Not at all. It is an incredibly intuitive photo editor and extremely user-friendly. The majority of the guides at Londolozi use lightroom to edit but I am fully aware that there is other software that is just as good and if they work for you and you get what you want out of your image, that’s the ultimate goal.
I see editing as a tool that takes that image from a memory and transforms it into a form of art.
You can sit with anyone that uses editing software and learn a few tricks of the trade from them. With some images, it can be very apparent that they have been edited and this can be on purpose to get a certain effect that the photographer wanted. Some images have slight touch-ups to amplify the subject in the photo. Some images are edited so well that it’s not even apparent to the naked eye that any changes have taken place.
Portrait shot of the Nkuwa Female leopard, probably my favourite edit I have done whereby I did everything extreme and just enjoyed the outcome.
Editing your images can be just another layer to photography and it is something you or anyone can do to apply their own artistic and subjective ability to obtain something out of an image that is so unique. Nobody will ever edit a photograph in the exact same way. You and I may be in the same moment in nature and have a good camera, critical luck, and timing, capture an image that is identical but through editing, create something unique to each of us.
For the amount of time and energy I put into capturing one image (often months), it’s comforting to know that I can get the most out of it through my photo editing software. I encourage you to give it go and see what magic you can create with your editing.
Hi Dean! Leopards are a work of art in themselves, put them with Photoediting skills… a masterwork!
I have benefitted from the introduction to Lightroom in the photo studio. Most recent photos are greatly improved.
The right position, luck and the right light are certainly very important to get beautiful pictures.
I think it’s great how you guys can maneuver the cars into good positions for taking photos; one of the most important prerequisites of a good shot.
And for the final touch, of course, some nice editing.
PS: I absolutely like your photo of this leopard
Dean, Thanks for the great editing post. We agree that Lightroom was a bit daunting when we were first introduced to it at Londolozi in the early days of the photographic studio by Amanda Ritchie (we still use the “shortcut cheat sheet” she gave us!), however, she helped us to see the results and we were “off to the races” with Lightroom. Whether an image needs just a few tweaks or we want to make major edits, we have become huge fans of the software. It is also a fantastic application for organizing our libraries and catalogs, and sharing our favorite images – especially our wildlife shots from Londolozi!
You are absolutely right Dean, editing can be quick or never ending and it can have startling effects on the final image. After a few lessons on Lightroom we became addicted years ago and the enhancements they have made over the years to the product are phenomenal. It is also important to note that practically 100% of the amazing photographs in magazines and books have been significantly edited according to professional editors I have spoken to. But the best part is how much fun it is!
Thank you for the nod to using editing tools to enhance our photos taken on safari, or any other photo opportunity. Try as we might to correctly expose an image, inevitably there needs to be some tweaking. This was once done in a darkroom, but now we have LR/PS, etc. Once a purist using my camera, I finally subscribed to Adobe and began the journey to bring some life to pictures that were just a bit off. It’s really fun now!
As a side note, if you’ve left Londolozi, I wish you all the best in your new endeavor. Your stories and photos have brightened the Blog over the past three years and so thank you.
Hi Dean, thanks for your summary on editing photo’s, that can change and inhance a photo. I have always wondered how you Rangers get the perfect shot, lighting and framing of a photo. Which editing software do you use, if I may ask. Good to hear from you Dean, I was wondering why you were so quiet, now we know you were busy with editing software.
Have to say Dean that I’m really not a very good photographer and to be fair, I’m so engrossed in the moment of actually being present with a stunning cat or bird or whatever that I forget to push the button 😁. However, your photographs are certainly proof of what one can accomplish …absolutely stunning 👌🏻💗
This article was very informative.
Photoshop is my favourite! I have purchased a XPPen Deco MW tablet and use it with Photoshop.
I can Remove unwanted elements, improve skin tones, brighten eyes and soften features easily with a digital pen.