Today’s portrait is a bit of an ‘Oh wow’ moment. Firstly, I took a close up cat photo using Manual mode, something I am not usually confident with.
Secondly, after my small changes post, I wanted to show you how a few small adjustments (aka edits) can make a difference to a single image. This is similar to my earlier post but I include some tips and you can really see the difference!
This is Toulouse. He was posed outside on top of our barbecue proudly wearing his Apple Air Tag tracker. Yes, the lid was down! This brought him almost to my eye level so I used an instruction I had read in my Digital Camera World magazine and took a shot. [The tracker is the same as that used by Sawyer from Kitties Blue).
What did I change?
- I lightly cropped the image so Toulouse’s eye sits almost on one of the downward lines of the rule of thirds. See the extra image below for what I mean! This brings the focus more to him away from the background.
- I used the ‘Enhance’ tool ever so slightly in Luminar Neo. It is a combination of colour and brightness adjustments wrapped up in one tool.
- I dodged the right side of Toulouse’s face and eye so it is a little lighter. I used a light touch, as being heavy handed with dodging looks fake.
Image Manipulation Tools
Your software will have tools and functions that are similar to Luminar Neo’s Enhance for digital retouching. All programs also have the standard crop tools and ability to add or remove colour. Photoshop (expensive) has good tools as does GIMP (free) and you may have your own online favourites as well.
Use your tools to experiment and explore on a digital copy of your image. You may have time to explore just one. This is fine. One skill at a time, like me trying Manual.
Rule of Thirds Sample
Amazing photo and your adjustments made it exceptional! For as many years as I’ve been a photographer, I did wind up going more with auto in order to quickly capture photos. out in the field, but I recall the days of manual and how much I loved it. May have to kick-it back old style again…I love the way manual can really capture pics/light/moods. Great post as always! Pinning to my Shutterbuggin’ board to share!
It always amazes me how you manage to touch up your photos, I try and mess the photo so have given up although I do use manual a lot on my camera. Thanks as always for your great posts
Brilliant! Toulouse looks purrfect! I’ve got to look for a similar dodge tool in Canva or on my Macbook. Thanks for the reminder about dodge. Great tutorial as always, Marjorie! I’m sharing with all my pet parents.
I sometimes ‘touch up’ my pictures, but you sure do know how to do it so amazingly!
That is such a wonderful photo of your handsome dude!
Brian’s Home ~ Forever
Beautiful photo!!!
Toulouse is so handsome. XO
Such a gorgeous picture of Toulouse!
Toulouse looks great – and then even greater!
tore cammyra werk iss brilliant Miss Marjorie!! An Toulouse iss tHE purrfect subjext to foro-graff…
***nose kissess*** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum
That shuud reed “YORE” Miss Marjorie….sorry Typist iss still sleepy!
It is a lovely photo, and Toulouse makes a very handsome subject.
Amazing! Toulouse looks so handsome, as always, and I am so appreciative for the juxtaposed photos that show what adjustments you made. Hugs!
Looks purrfect!