(that nobody tells you about!)

As all good photographers know, finding the right balance for the post processing of an image can be a difficult wrangle of programs, settings, buttons, orientations, tweaks and finally, bargains with the devil, until the image is finished to your satisfaction.

You could take anywhere from ten minutes to two hours, three days, a week or six months to get an image to your liking, but in all of that, how much torture have you put yourself, and others around you, through until it’s completed? Has your significant other suffered the ramblings of a mind so confused, so annoyed as to why Photoshop’s content-aware won’t fill in the dark area with darkness?! Have your children heard you mutter the words, “I see dead pixels” under your breath?

If you’re like me, there’s one tool that the magazines never tell you about, something that will change your processing style so drastically, people will wonder if you’ve hired someone else from some impoverished third-rate country to do it.

What if I told you, that for as little as $6.99 you can change everything?

Well I’m about to. (Aren’t you lucky!)

The secret to Post processing, that nobody tells you about, is ….

(Cue a reality TV show long silence….)

.

.

.

Wine*!

(as cheap as $6.99 but I’d recommend at least a $15 bottle of your choice*)

Sit down at your computer, look around, you feel as if something is missing. Before the magazines’ writers get to the display of the screens in lightroom, they’re rummaging the cupboards for a glass and finding the long lost bottle of wine to sit down with. Think about it, it’s nice to drink, time flows smoothly, and makes you more relaxed. Let’s face it, we’re here learning, we may as well be open to new ideas, old ones, strange ones and everything mixed in. What’s the best way to let go of your processing inhibitions, your technical knowledge and just – god forbid – go with the flow….

It’s a smart tipple you know. For how many centuries have people being loosening up in style, twirling the elegant liquid around a crystal glass, like the whirlpool loading icon of most software suites, it’s telling you to chill, take stock for a second and reflect on where you are in the process.

A word of caution though, drink responsibly! *

An image beautifully processed such as:

Looks like: (after half a bottle of wine)

(This is what happens when I over think it and under-correct)

(and I just can't bring myself to post something truly horrible anymore, whether it be on a blog or for real!)

Different strokes for different folks.

… I actually kind of like that…

Anyway, I'm not trying to advocate becoming some form of an alcoholic, definitely not! But what I'm trying to tell you, is to let go of your pre-conceived ideas of what you think an image should look like, what your style is, and to just have some FUN! Processing can be as fun as the image taking itself, you just need to relax and not worry about what was happening at the time. Breathe deep and enjoy the ride!*

*Enjoy the Wine!

*Wine can be replaced with beer or spirits

* Your choice, might not involve alcohol, I’m sorry if I offended you, but at least get the funniness of it all… please?

*Hey! I’m being responsible! I even warned you!