5 Advanced WARNING Signs of OVER-EDITED Photos

Summary

In this video, the photographer discusses the transitional phase that many photographers experience, often marked by over-editing landscape photos. The video aims to help photographers identify and overcome this phase by highlighting five common editing mistakes: 'shadowless' images, poor balance in white balance, 'highlight crush', halos from oversharpening, and excessive contrast. The speaker provides practical tips and techniques to correct these issues, using Lightroom and Photoshop, to achieve more natural and balanced images.

Takeaways

• 📸 Over-editing is a common phase that photographers go through, which can last varying lengths of time.
• 🔍 The 'shadowless' effect is a sign of over-editing where shadows are too bright, leading to a flat, two-dimensional look.
• 📊 A large gap on the left side of the histogram indicates loss of shadow detail, suggesting over-editing.
• ⚖️ Achieving a 'realistic' white balance is more important than a 'correct' one, aiming to reflect the scene's feel during capture.
• 🌡️ The 'bad balance' issue arises when the white balance is off, affecting the overall mood and accuracy of the image's colors.
• 🌟 'Highlight crush' occurs when highlights are overly reduced, leading to an overly defined sky and sun, removing natural glow.
• 🖌️ Oversharpening can create 'halos' around edges, making the image appear too detailed and less lifelike.
• 🔍 The 'Clone stamp' tool in Photoshop can be used to remove halos caused by oversharpening.
• ⚠️ Over-contrast in an image can be spotted by a spike on the left side of the histogram or by using the clipping indicator.
• 🎨 Applying too much contrast can lead to crushed shadows, pure black areas, and overly saturated colors, reducing image realism.

Q & A

What is the 'shadowless' issue mentioned in the script when editing landscape photos?

The 'shadowless' issue refers to a common mistake where photographers excessively brighten the shadows in their images, resulting in a lack of shadow detail and a flat, two-dimensional appearance. This is often indicated by a large gap on the left side of the histogram, suggesting that most of the shadow detail has been removed.

How can the 'Auto' adjustment for shadows in Lightroom be used?

In Lightroom, holding down the shift key and double-clicking the Shadows slider will automatically adjust it to what Lightroom calculates as the appropriate level, providing a quick starting point for further manual adjustments.

What is the significance of achieving a 'realistic' white balance in landscape photography?

Achieving a realistic white balance is crucial as it helps to accurately represent the scene as it was perceived during capture. It's not always about being technically correct but rather about reflecting the emotional and visual experience of the moment.

How can one determine if the warm tones are overpowering the cool tones in an image?

To determine if the warm tones are overpowering the cool tones, one can increase the Vibrance and Saturation sliders to their maximum and observe which tones dominate. This helps in identifying an imbalance that needs correction for a more natural look.

What is 'highlight crush' and how can it affect the appearance of a sky in a photograph?

'Highlight crush' occurs when the highlights in an image, particularly in the sky, are overly reduced, leading to a loss of detail and a crunchy, overly defined appearance. This can create an unnatural look and remove the ethereal glow that is often present in skies.

How can one avoid creating a 'halo' effect around mountains or peaks in a photograph?

To avoid the 'halo' effect, which is caused by oversharpening or excessive clarity and texture, one should adjust the sharpening, clarity, and texture sliders more conservatively. If halos are already present, they can be reduced in Photoshop using the Clone Stamp tool in 'darker color' mode.

What is the 'over contrast' issue and how can it be identified in a photograph?

The 'over contrast' issue occurs when too much contrast is applied to a photograph, leading to an unnatural look with overly saturated colors and areas of pure black lacking detail. This can be identified by a spike on the left side of the histogram or by using the clipping indicator (shortcut key 'J') to reveal areas of crushed shadows.

How can one correct over-contrast in a photograph to make it look more realistic?

To correct over-contrast, one can adjust the Black Point and Contrast sliders in Lightroom, and modify the tone curve to reduce the overall contrast. This helps in maintaining more detail in the shadows and mid-tones, and prevents colors from becoming overly saturated.

What are the five common editing mistakes that the script suggests beginner photographers often make?

The five common editing mistakes mentioned in the script are: 1) Over-brightening shadows (shadowless), 2) Achieving a realistic white balance, 3) Highlight crush in skies, 4) Creating halos around peaks due to oversharpening, and 5) Applying too much contrast to a photograph.

How can the histogram be used as a tool to evaluate the editing of a landscape photo?

The histogram can be used to evaluate the balance of shadows, mid-tones, and highlights in a photo. A large gap on the left can indicate over-brightened shadows, while a spike on the left can suggest over-contrast and crushed shadows. A balanced histogram with a good spread across the graph is generally desirable for a well-edited image.