An exploration of vision and intention and how it can be refined and perfected in post-production. This is a Lightroom course that’s not really about Lightroom, even though it is a deep dive into just the Develop module of the program. Through written description and video-based examples, the course describes how post-production can influence visual weight relationships, create balance, create a visual path for the viewer and influence the mood of an image.
Great images come from the vision of the photographer, not the gear used to create them. Great images use good visual design, sensitivity to light and good use of colour. The most important image-making decisions are made before the click since all we can do later in post-production is refine and polish what’s already there. With that said, digital image capture and the editing possibilities that follow have opened up a whole new world of visual expression. In a sense, we have been handed back the level of control possible in the hands of a skilled craftsman working in the chemical black & white darkroom. Digital post-production has, however, taken those possibilities, greatly extended them and applied them to colour in ways that were never possible in the chemical darkroom. Better yet, all these new possibilities are available even to beginning photographers.
So, what is included in this course?
- 200+ pages of fully illustrated course material to use as an ongoing reference.
- 4.5+ hours of video instruction.
- Downloadable Raw files for each lesson so you can follow along with the written lesson and video demonstrations.
- Detailed discussion and vid
Course Outline
Week 1:
- Style and Photographic Vision
- Understanding how we see; the concept of visual weight.
- A deeper look at Raw processing, White balance, Tone mapping and Presence controls, Selective colour controls
- Global vs. Local adjustments
- Masking tools in Lightroom Classic
- Putting Raw processing to work
- Handling difficult contrast situations.
- Creative colour using curves or Color Grading (Lightroom 10+ only)
Week 2:
- Capture Sharpening and Noise Reduction
- Sharpening images with different levels of detail
- Sharpening high ISO images while controlling noise
- Sizing and sharpening for output
Weeks 3 and 4:
- Using Craft to Realize Vision
- From Click to Completion – examples.
Requirements for this course:
- This course deals with the desktop version of Adobe Lightroom Classic and has been updated to version 14, although earlier versions are suitable as well.
- This course does not deal with the cloud-based version of Adobe Lightroom CC Desktop
- You should know how to import images into Lightroom and you should have at least a passing familiarity with the Develop module of Lightroom Classic or Adobe Camera Raw.
What do students say about Mark English?
Instructor: Mark English
A photographer for more than thirty years, Mark is a former nationally accredited member of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). Known for his bold use of color and strong graphic elements in his image making, he now shoots primarily for personal projects. Most of his work is focused on editorial travel and landscape. His work has been published in a variety of media, and may be viewed at www.pacificlight.ca
Testimonials:
“Thank you so very much for this course. It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.” – Bill
“Thank you for this course. I am just loving everything about it!!! I know how much work it is to put courses together and you have done a fantastic job. Your materials are very good, and I love your critiques! Wonderful course!!!” – Eileen
“Thank you very much for a beautifully organized and presented course. Excellent written materials; videos; and your critiques were “spot-on”. I have exponentially increased my knowledge of Lightroom editing.” – Jay
“This course has been an invaluable learning experience on so many levels. Your instructive materials with detailed examples were excellent and worth reading and re-reading. I learned more about how to use LR effectively and don’t feel the need to go to PS to tweak my images as much now. Too, your critiques of my work and that of others were so very helpful. This class has really made a difference in how I will view and edit my photos in the future. Thank you!” – Anne
“Thank you very much for all the help. I have learnt so much about Lightroom in the last four weeks, and I will recommend your course to all my photo friends. You explained so many things that seemed impossible before, in a way that even Lightroom newcomers could understand them. Not all teachers can do that. I wish that all the BPSOP teachers had your qualities.” – Dianne
“Since this course, I pay more careful attention to what draws me to a subject, as well as the optimum exposure to achieve the best image and balance the visual weight. Get it right in camera and have FUN in post! I’m particularly enjoying painting with the local adjustment brush and enhancing natural colors in the HSL panel. Mark patiently taught me so much and went above and beyond with lengthy video critiques/responses to my submissions and confusions. If you want to go beyond the Basic Panel, I cannot recommend this course highly enough.” – Geraldine Macomber
To Learn more about how our courses work please visit: Course Info
