LS 26: Creative Editing—Dynamics

Summary

In this session, I shared two recent images I made while visiting Acadia—both captured on my iPhone 15Pro. While my gear was limited, the creative opportunities weren’t. We talked about how working within constraints can actually sharpen your vision, and how thoughtful editing can elevate an image when you focus on what really matters.

We explored how to evoke a film-like look and also how to remain flexible in terms of compositional decisions. From there, we moved into a broader conversation about how editing shapes the emotional feel of a photo through tone, movement, and balance.

It’s not about fixing what’s wrong—it’s about amplifying what’s meaningful. Even small decisions in Lightroom can completely change the way an image flows and feels.

Editing Highlights from the Session:

• Using the Tone Curve to create a soft, film-inspired look
• Local adjustments to control where the eye moves (and where it doesn’t)
• Letting “tension and release” guide contrast and light placement
• Trusting simplicity—knowing when not to add more

Reflection Prompt:

Is there an image you’ve overlooked because it felt too “ordinary” at first? What happens if you revisit it with the goal of drawing out its hidden potential—not with fancy tools, but with clear intention?

Please leave your feedback and questions below!