Wildlife photography is about capturing the beauty and essence of animals in their natural habitat. However, even the best images need some post-processing love to enhance details, correct exposure, and refine composition. These essential editing techniques help you enhance your photographs while keeping them natural.
Underexposed
Correctly Exposed
Overexposed
Exposure:
A well-exposed image preserves details in both highlights and shadows.
How to fix exposure issues:
- Too dark? Increase exposure and lift shadows.
- Too bright? Reduce exposure and lower highlights.
- Too flat? Adjust contrast and midtones to add depth.
Avoid distractions:
Ensure no object is more exposed or vibrant than the subject, bright spots in the background or foreground can grab attention. It’s best to watch for this while shooting, but if you notice it in editing, you can fix it by adjusting exposure, using selective darkening, or desaturating distracting areas to keep the focus on your subject.
Dodge and burn selectively:
Dodge and burn are editing techniques used to control light and shadow in an image. Dodge brightens specific areas to draw attention to key features like the eyes or face. Burn deepens shadows to add contrast or reduce distractions in the background.
How to Use It:
Use these tools subtly to enhance highlights in the eyes, cheekbones, or important details without making the image look unnatural. Overdoing it can make the photo appear overly processed or unrealistic.
Beware of excessive vibrance and saturation:
Over-saturated colours look unnatural. Aim for a balanced, natural colour palette. If colours are too intense, you can correct this by reducing saturation, adjusting vibrance, or using selective colour correction to tone down specific hues while maintaining a natural look.
Cropping:
Cropping is more than just cutting an image; it enhances composition and storytelling. A great guideline is the Rule of Thirds, where you place the subject at the intersection points of a 3×3 grid for a well-balanced image.
What are intersection points?
When you divide an image into nine equal parts using two vertical and two horizontal lines, the points where these lines cross are called intersection points. It is ideal for placing key elements to create a natural focal point.
When to break the rule:
- Centre Composition: Works well for symmetry, portraits, or strong leading lines.
- Minimalist Shots: Sometimes, placing the subject off-centre can feel too empty, so a central or unconventional crop may work better.
- Creative Intent: If breaking the rule enhances mood, emotion, or storytelling, go for it!
Remove distracting elements:
Removing distractions creates a cleaner, more impactful composition. Unwanted objects, bright spots, or clutter can pull attention away from the subject. Cropping helps reframe the image, while tools like the cloning or healing brush remove small distractions. Blurring or darkening busy areas can also shift focus back to the subject. Whenever possible, composing the shot carefully in-camera minimises distractions and reduces editing time. A well-balanced image keeps the viewer’s attention where it matters most.
Essential Adjustments:
White Balance:
Adjust colour temperature to make the image look realistic. Avoid overly cool or warm tones unless for artistic effect.
Brightness and Contrast:
Use these adjustments sparingly to add depth without overexposing highlights or losing shadow details. Increase brightness when an image is too dark overall but avoid washing out highlights. Adjust contrast to enhance separation between light and dark areas, making the image pop. It is ideal for adding depth and definition without losing important details.
Harsh midday lighting often creates extreme highlights and deep shadows, making it difficult to achieve a balanced exposure. This can lead to more time spent adjusting brightness and contrast in post-processing to recover lost details. That’s why shooting during golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset, is ideal. The softer, more even lighting naturally enhances depth and texture, reduces harsh shadows, and minimises the need for heavy editing, allowing for a more natural and visually appealing result.
Sharpness:
If the photo was shot in RAW, sharpening is essential to bring detail to life. However, too much sharpening can create harsh edges, halos, and unnatural textures, making the image look artificial. Add sharpening when fine details, like eyes, textures, or landscapes, need clarity. Avoid over-sharpening when it introduces noise, unnatural outlines, or makes the image look overly processed. A balanced approach ensures a crisp, natural look.
Refining:
Small refinements can take an image from being good to truly great by adding subtle details that enhance its overall impact. These adjustments, like fine-tuning lighting, colour balance, or sharpening key elements, can transform an image, making it more visually compelling and professional. The key is in the careful attention to these minor yet significant details, which collectively make a major difference in the final result.
In short, sharpness is focused on clarity and detail, while refining is about enhancing the overall quality and visual appeal with thoughtful, subtle adjustments.
Colour Correction:
Adjust the colour tones to ensure the image captures natural hues, avoiding an overly processed look. It’s all about balancing the warmth and coolness to match the scene’s true essence, like softening reds for a warmer vibe or boosting blues for a cooler, calming feel.
The key to wildlife photography editing is subtlety. Your goal is to enhance the image without making it look over-processed. By following these steps, you can create stunning, professional-quality wildlife photos that maintain their natural beauty and impact.
Leave A Comment