In this step-by-simple tutorial James Ostinga shows you how to adjust tone selectively.
While our eyes cope very well with high-contrast scenes, cameras often struggle beyond a few stops of tonal difference. In high-contrast light the camera will expose for the highlights or the shadows, but not both. Take for example the bridge in the ‘before’ image on this page. I took this shot from the back of a taxi as it sped across the Anzac Bridge in Sydney. With the camera set to a shutter speed of 1/1250s to reduce blur I held the camera out the window and fired randomly. I didn’t have a lot of control but the results were kind of interesting. However, you can see that the camera’s meter has exposed for the sky and the clouds but left the pylon quite dark. What to do?
Of course, I could return at a different time of day in the hope of finding better light, and that would be a good option. An alternative would be to lighten the pylon in post-production. In the following tutorial I’ll show you how to selectively alter exposure (or any of several other variables) in Lightroom. It’s a simple workflow and it can be adapted to all sorts of projects, including dodging and burning. Keep in mind that one of the advantages of using Lightroom is that it is completely non-destructive. That means your changes can be reversed or revised at any time.
ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Behind The Lens, Nature Masterclass, Reader Showcase, Master Flash Photography, How To Fix Perspective, Education Opportunities