Edit the shot
In Lightroom
bring out the
shadows
and push the
clarity a little
1
Rate and sort Start by organising your
images in an image browsing program such
as Adobe Bridge. Give each image you like
a rating of five stars and then import these
straight into Lightroom CC (or you can use
whatever image editing software you want at
this stage).4
Layer Mask Once you are happy with the
position of each layer, add a black Layer
Mask to hide them, and using a white brush
paint away the parts (in this case the crisps)
you want to see. Around the more intricate
areas you will need to use a small brush.
Repeat for however many layers are necessary,
and once happy press Cmd/Ctrl+Alt+Shift and
E to create a merged layer on top.2
Lightroom edit To create the tone and
feel of our image in Lightroom bring out
the shadows and push the clarity a little. Also
make sure the highlights are correct, the
white balance looks neutral and the contrast
pushed. Make selective image adjustments
using the Brush tool to bring back detail to
the area around the onions. Either save as
JPEGs (right-click on selected images and
Save To) or import into Photoshop (File>Edit
in Photoshop).5
Final touches Finally, use the Burn tool
on the top layer to smoothen out the
background (have the range set to Shadows
and the exposure set low, around 10%). When
burning or dodging build the effect slowly. Give
the image a sharpen (Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp
Mask) and you’re done!3
Now to Photoshop Select three images
to blend together for the final result. Make
sure they are all opened in Photoshop, and
use the strongest image as your lead. Import
the other two (either one at a time or both
together). To get the imported images into the
right position reduce the opacity of the layer
down and use the Move tool, then bring the
opacity back up to 100%.1
3 4
2
5
SHOOTING SKILLSSHOOTING SKILLS
Edit the shot
In Lightroom
bring out the
shadows
and push the
clarity a little
1
RateandsortStartbyorganisingyour
imagesinanimagebrowsingprogramsuch
asAdobeBridge.Giveeachimageyoulike
a ratingoffivestarsandthenimportthese
straightintoLightroomCC(oryoucanuse
whateverimageeditingsoftwareyouwantat
thisstage).4
LayerMaskOnceyouarehappywiththe
positionofeachlayer,adda blackLayer
Masktohidethem,andusinga whitebrush
paintawaytheparts(inthiscasethecrisps)
youwanttosee.Aroundthemoreintricate
areasyouwillneedtousea smallbrush.
Repeatforhowevermanylayersarenecessary,
andoncehappypressCmd/Ctrl+Alt+Shiftand
E tocreatea mergedlayerontop.2
LightroomeditTocreatethetoneand
feelofourimageinLightroombringout
theshadowsandpushtheclaritya little.Also
makesurethehighlightsarecorrect,the
whitebalancelooksneutralandthecontrast
pushed.Makeselectiveimageadjustments
usingtheBrushtooltobringbackdetailto
theareaaroundtheonions.Eithersaveas
JPEGs(right-clickonselectedimagesand
SaveTo)orimportintoPhotoshop(File>Edit
inPhotoshop).5
FinaltouchesFinally,usetheBurntool
onthetoplayertosmoothenoutthe
background(havetherangesettoShadows
andtheexposuresetlow,around10%).When
burningordodgingbuildtheeffectslowly.Give
theimagea sharpen(Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp
Mask)andyou’redone!3
NowtoPhotoshopSelectthreeimages
toblendtogetherforthefinalresult.Make
suretheyareallopenedinPhotoshop,and
usethestrongestimageasyourlead.Import
theothertwo(eitheroneata timeorboth
together).Togettheimportedimagesintothe
rightpositionreducetheopacityofthelayer
downandusetheMovetool,thenbringthe
opacitybackupto100%.1
3 4
2
5
SHOOTING SKILLSSHOOTING SKILLS