Film photographers used to agonize over minute details in a shot in order to capture what they are expecting on film. This is still a requirement for great photography, but the rules can be relaxed a little in this digital age. Each shot can be instantly reviewed to make sure that the next shot is exactly what the photographer is expecting, however the improvement doesn’t stop there. Most photographers are also using software to enhance their photos after the shoot is over.
I personally use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to make shot will be a great print or look great on a computer monitor for viewing. I use Lightroom to choose the best photos from a shoot and organize them for easy access later. I can make minor adjustments in lighting, contrast, sharpness or blurriness. I can easily convert photos to black and white, sepia or perform selective desaturations. At this point, a photo is usually complete, but I don’t have to stop processing a photo there. Lightroom works seamlessly with Adobe Photoshop, where many more options are available as needed. With all these options available, even an average photo can be improved dramatically. However, if the photo is captured well in the camera, this great photo can be even better after processing in the computer. This is what I strive for every time the shutter closes on my camera.
