Taken with a Fuji XT5. Taken Nov 14, 2024 at night at a street fair, with only indirect lighting from street lights and lights within and surrounding the booth. f-stop: 3.9: SS; 1/60 sec; ISO:8000. Focal length: 34.3 mm using a 16??“50 mm Fuji lens. Shot on aperture priority. I wanted to catch the artist at work, with the flame of the blow torch visible, and to include some of the context so it was clear the photo was taken at night and in a portable workshop, with the finished products on display and for sale. I wanted as open an aperture as possible given the low light conditions, and I was ok with underexposing, knowing I could bring up the light and colors in editing.
The raw file was processed using DxO to remove noise and enhance other features it addresses- a great program! Then, using Lightroom, I cropped in to eliminate some of the busyness of the context background, leveled the horizontal line of the table in front of the woman, and then used the automatic feature under transform to straighten the vertical line of the back metal screen. I used a masking brush to tone down the brightness of the light bulbs, to help enhance the night moodiness. I played with most of the universal sliders (exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks, vibrance, clarity, dehaze) and with the tone curve afterwards, to enhance the moodiness and ensure the shadows on the sweatshirt remained opened up.
FYI: I am learning to use Lightroom as my main editing tool. I know how to do a few things in Photoshop, but will not be able to be comfortable with using that regularly for all editing for many years I suspect, if ever. I have yet to learn how to use the eye-dropper or either section the show color wheels in Lightroom. I have a Scott Kelby lesson book I need to get back to working through systematically.
9 comments posted
Dean Ginther
Diana,
I like this image and composition. She has a very interesting face. You captured the maker focusing on her brazing and creation. I like that the background shows some of her metal art. Your edits brought more attention to her face and work and the crop eliminated a major distraction and glare. Using a LR brush or radial gradient, I might lighten her face and front a tiny bit more and I might use a vignette to darken the background a bit.
Posted: 01/06/2025 23:26:26
Erin Lamb
I agree about the composition and subject. I think you met your goal, Diana. Everything draws attention to her work at hand. It was not an easy shot given the lighting but your edits worked well. I also agree with Dean that perhaps more lighting on her face with either a radial gradient or a brush along with some vignetting would enhance the image. Posted: 01/19/2025 16:17:12
Diana Edelman
Thanks, Erin. I have played with this photo again this morning since I am submitting it to a local competition and did lighten the face a tad. Posted: 01/20/2025 22:09:53
Diana Edelman
Thanks for the suggestion. Is LR short for light room? If so, you are suggesting a mask on the face created using a brush then? Posted: 01/11/2025 03:05:53
Dean Ginther
Yes, using a brush in Lightroom to add local exposure. Other software, including Photoshop, would have similar capability. Posted: 01/11/2025 16:16:27
Kyle Gillis
Diana, This is an excellent capture. You did a good job cropping the image to retain the right amount of context for her craft. I might have toned down the red in her complexion and hand. But the saturated colors in her jackets, headband, and skin tones make for an eye-catching, vibrant picture. You did a good job with noise reduction, which helped smooth out her skin tones and the uncut tins in the foreground are a nice touch. Posted: 01/20/2025 06:19:42
Diana Edelman
Thanks, Kyle. She is native Amercian so I am trying to preserve a more authentic brownish skin tone that matches her hand, but I can try toning down the red somewhat. Posted: 01/20/2025 22:08:09
Rita Johnston
Diana, I think you got a good shot at an unusual time. To me the face is the most important, and it could be lighened or use a darken/lighten center filter on the face. Keep the light in the torch, and I think both will display what you wanted.
Posted: 01/20/2025 20:59:50
Diana Edelman
Thanks, Rita. I am not sure what you are referring to; is it in Lightroom? For competition, I do not think filters are allowed unless I enter the photo into color photo open. But I would like out find out what you have mentioned and try it out if you can steer me to where I will find it. I also have the NIK 7 collection and photoshop at my disposal. Posted: 01/20/2025 22:05:16
