John Fjeldsted Photography - Editing for Natural Radiance

Editing for Natural Radiance

It's not unusual to find yourself in situations where good lighting is not easily possible. The good news is that we can often edit our images afterwards and still achieve Natural Radiance.

Editing to Achieving "Natural Radiance"

Good lighting is not only about having our subjects well lit, be it from a soft defuse source, or when the needed from a harsher, more direct source. Equally important is the the tonal qualities applied to the subject, and the background as well.

Leica SL2-S + Summilux-M 50mm/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 160, unedited

Leica SL2-S + Summilux-M 50mm/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 160, edited

The pictures of Pippa, who is costumed as Jane Goodall for Halloween, straight out of the camera is challenged, first by the lack of light on her face due to the brim of her hat. She's also in standing in relatively deep shade which gives a cool caste to the image.

The second image of Pippa, show the results of editing. There are three important edits made to achieve Natural Radiance.

I changed the temperature and tone of the image, focusing on Pippa's skin tones to make it consistent with we naturally perceive them in a sunny setting.
I edited the top half of Pippa's face, to lighten it and give a sense that light was actually falling on her face.
Lastly, I adjust the temperature, tone, and exposure of the background to serve as a backdrop for her Natural Radiance. This requires achieving proper balance between the subject and background to maintain a natural look while at the same time bringing increased attention to Pippa.

Other Points to Consider

Of course, there are many other points to consider as well. The picture of Pippa is enhanced because the color palette as shot is also constrained to beige and browns. There where two small exceptions, One is the name tag above her hand, and the other is the edge of an orange pumpkin in the background. In the final image, both of these have been removed.

Continue reading: Natural Radiance in Color and B&W

Table of Contents: Fundamentals & Techniques

Note: Indicated f-stop are nominally correct, but as with all M lenses, the camera estimates the value from the exposure and does not provide a direct lens reading.

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