How I edit my photos in 2023
TLDRIn this video, Peter M shares his editing process for film photography, emphasizing the difference from digital photo editing. He explains that most film negatives are scanned with a flat profile to allow for editing in software like Lightroom. Peter demonstrates his editing techniques, which include adjusting the tone curve, contrast, and exposure. He also discusses the nostalgia and thought process behind each shot, which makes film photography feel special. Throughout the video, he shows before and after examples of his edits, highlighting the subtle changes he makes to enhance the photos without losing their filmic quality. Peter also touches on the challenges of deciding how much to edit and when to leave a shot untouched. He concludes by expressing excitement for his upcoming film book, which will showcase a year's worth of film photography.
Takeaways
- 📸 **Film Editing Process**: Peter M discusses his process of editing film photos, which differs from digital due to the way film negatives are scanned with a flat profile for editing flexibility.
- 🎞️ **Film vs. Digital**: Many film shooters edit their film scans in software like Lightroom, as opposed to traditional darkroom processing.
- 🌄 **Editing Philosophy**: Peter emphasizes subtle edits to maintain the unique characteristics of film, such as the warmth and detail in highlights.
- ⛰️ **Scene Dynamics**: He shares an experience of shooting in varied conditions at Bamp and how staying in one location can capture diverse scenes due to changing light and weather.
- ☕ **Coffee in the Woods**: Peter enjoys making coffee while waiting for the perfect light, which enhances the outdoor photography experience.
- 🎵 **Sound Effects & Music**: He talks about using Artlist for sourcing sound effects and music for videos, highlighting the importance of layered sounds for a realistic feel.
- 📈 **Artlist Features**: Mentions Artlist's AI search and its new Trend report for 2024, which helps creators stay updated with industry shifts.
- 🎨 **Editing Struggles**: Peter's biggest challenge with film is deciding when and how much to edit, aiming to retain the filmic look and not overprocess the images.
- 📷 **Medium Format Details**: He notes the larger size and detail of medium format film, which can look almost digital in its clarity and detail.
- 📚 **Film Book Project**: Peter is compiling a year's worth of film photos into a coffee table book, excited about the unique direction his work is taking.
- 🤔 **Editing Mistakes**: He admits to making errors in choosing the right film stock for certain scenes, leading to more editing to correct the color temperature.
- 👍 **Viewer Engagement**: Peter invites feedback from viewers in the comments and expresses his appreciation for their support and engagement with his content.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is about how Peter M edits his film photos using Lightroom, and the process he goes through when working with film photography.
Why do people edit film photos when they are scanned?
-People edit film photos after they are scanned because labs often scan film negatives with a flat profile to give the photographer the most latitude for editing, allowing them to enhance the images without the need for a darkroom.
What film stock did Peter M use for the majority of his shots during the trip?
-Peter M used Portra 800 for almost all of his shots during the trip.
What is Peter M's general approach to editing film photos?
-Peter M's approach to editing film photos is to make minimal edits, focusing on adjusting the tone curve, contrast, and sometimes color temperature, to enhance the natural qualities of the film.
How does Peter M feel about the editing process for film photos compared to digital photos?
-Peter M finds that he has been doing less editing with film photos compared to digital photos, as he appreciates the unique look and feel that film provides.
What is the significance of shooting film for an entire year that Peter M mentions?
-Peter M has set out to shoot film for an entire year as a personal project, from May to May, and he plans to compile the photos into his first coffee table book titled 'A Year on Film'.
How does Peter M feel about the changes in his editing style since he started shooting film?
-Peter M feels that his editing style has matured and he enjoys the direction it's going. He is excited about the changes in his body of work and the unique look that film photography brings.
What is the role of art list in the video?
-Art list is mentioned as a resource for sound effects and music that Peter M used for a video he made, where all the sounds were not real but sourced from art list.
What feature of film photography does Peter M find nostalgic and special?
-Peter M finds the process of film photography nostalgic and special because it feels more thoughtful and crafted, with each frame carrying a sense of intention and uniqueness.
How does Peter M decide what to edit and what to leave untouched in his film photos?
-Peter M decides what to edit based on the scene's original appearance and his personal preference for the filmic look. He tries to retain the original atmosphere and only makes adjustments if there's a noticeable error or if he feels the need to correct it.
What is the difference between medium format and other formats in terms of editing?
-Medium format provides larger negatives and more detail, which can make the editing process slightly different. Peter M mentions that medium format shots can look more like digital images and may require different adjustments in terms of tonal curve and highlights.
What advice does Peter M give for landscape photography?
-Peter M advises landscape photographers to spend more time at a location because the lighting and weather conditions can change, offering multiple different scenes within a few hours. He also recommends being patient and allowing time for the light to change to capture unique moments.
Outlines
📸 Film Photography Editing Process
Peter M discusses his approach to editing film photos, contrasting it with digital photo editing. He explains that film negatives are often scanned with a flat profile to allow for more latitude in editing. Peter shares his experience shooting film exclusively since May and provides a Lightroom tutorial on editing film scans. He emphasizes the unique qualities of film highlights and the nostalgia associated with film photography. The video also touches on the importance of patience in landscape photography, allowing for different lighting scenarios to create unique shots.
🎵 Utilizing Artlist for Video Soundtracks and Effects
The paragraph highlights the use of Artlist as a resource for music and sound effects in video editing. Peter mentions that all sounds in a particular video were sourced from Artlist, and he appreciates the platform's AI search feature that suggests sound effects to accompany footage. He also discusses Artlist's Trend report for 2024, which outlines shifts in the Creator economy. Peter promotes an ongoing holiday sale from Artlist that offers a discount on their Max Pro subscription along with two free months of access to their extensive library of assets.
🌄 Reflections on Film Photography and Future Projects
Peter reflects on his journey with film photography, noting the challenge of deciding how much to edit film shots to maintain their authentic look. He shares his excitement about compiling his film work into a coffee table book titled 'A Year on Film,' which will feature photos not posted on Instagram. The video concludes with Peter expressing his desire to process photos in a darkroom in the future and inviting feedback from viewers on what type of content they would like to see next.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Film Photos
💡Editing Process
💡Lightroom
💡Tone Curve
💡Highlights
💡Contrast
💡Saturation
💡Halation
💡Portra 800
💡Medium Format
💡Artlist
Highlights
Peter M discusses his process of editing film photos, which differs from digital photo editing.
Most film labs scan negatives with a flat profile to allow for more editing flexibility.
Editing film scans is commonly done in Lightroom, avoiding the need for a darkroom.
Peter shares a Lightroom tutorial for editing film photos, a departure from his usual content.
He emphasizes the unique qualities of film highlights and how they are handled during editing.
Slight adjustments to tone curve and contrast can significantly enhance film photos.
Peter prefers less editing for a more authentic and nostalgic feel in his film photography.
Film retains detail in highlights, allowing for recovery even in underexposed shots.
The challenge is deciding how much editing to apply to maintain the filmic look.
Peter recommends allowing time for varying light conditions when landscape photography to capture different scenes.
He shares a behind-the-scenes look at creating a video with fake sounds sourced from Artlist.
Artlist's AI search and trend report for 2024 are mentioned as valuable tools for content creators.
Peter's editing style has matured to favor less editing, celebrating the raw and polished nature of film.
He is compiling a year's worth of film photography into a coffee table book titled 'A Year on Film'.
Peter is excited about the unique direction his body of work is taking with his film project.
Different film stocks and editing techniques can significantly alter the final look of a photo.
He admits to learning from his editing mistakes and being open to making corrections.
Peter expresses his desire to process photos in a darkroom and to share more of his process in the future.