Why you should re-process your images
(Republished in 11/2022, originally written in 2019)
I have recently started to make some changes to my website. This meant that I had and still have to upload the images I had presented on my website all over again. Immediately I realized that almost none of the older images are still appealing to me in terms of the way I had edited them. By no means am I a pro at post processing, but I have learnt some new techniques and ways on how to approach images during post processing in the past year or so. So instead of simply uploading the images again, I took it as a chance to re-process them with my current knowledge.
Here is what I learned:
My general goal is to always keep my images as natural as possible. I want the images to reflect what I have seen with my own eyes. This means I generally keep it simple. Instead of adding something to an image I simply emphasize what was actually there. I am after clear, not over-saturated, warm-ish, realistic and moody images.
Virtual copies show progress
For edits, I create a virtual copy of the image in Lightroom. That means I edit the copy and keep the original version as is. If I want to re-process an image, I simply create another virtual copy and edit it independently of the master photo and all other copies I may have created. With the reference view I can now easily compare my old version of edits with the latest one. That way I get to see immediately what I have done differently and where I might have come closer to my overall goal.
Improved post processing skills will help you shoot the images “right”
Let's be honest. In the beginning of our photography career most of us didn't waste a thought on post processing while taking a picture. That means when we start to edit an image, our options were already limited. The more you learn about post processing and the tools you use, the better you can “prepare” your images in the field. Technically as well as creatively.
Your emotional attachment to your images will change
Most images that make into the editing module of my Lightroom speak to me emotionally. And I usually only post images that still do so after post processing. Going through the files again after a while and after making some progress in editing shows me, that it becomes rarer for me to be emotionally attached to an image. Some images just don’t “make the cut” any more, which is a sign of development I believe.
Coming closer to your ideal workflow
Another benefit of an improved post processing skill set is that you get closer to an ideal workflow for your personal editing process. By leaving out or changing some unnecessary steps I have done in the past, I could streamline my editing process quite a bit. Generally, this can result in saving time, storage, frustration, times of trial and error and so on.
Editing is a very individual part of photography. Some people reduce it to a minimum, while others get very creative and alter images quite a bit. In my opinion there is no right or wrong.
I believe that re-processing your images will help you find your personal “right”. A style that speaks to you emotionally. It’s almost like a cook that has to find the right mixture of ingredients until the meal tastes good.
Below you will find two examples of images that I have re-processed recently. I am sure, that if I repeat this in a year, two years, five years, and so on, the outcome will be very different again.
Let me know what you think of the images. Can you see a difference? Do the recent edits/changes reflect my intent of how I would like my images to look?
Until next time,
Pat
