A few weeks ago I wrote about contrast and balance. Today I want to talk about post-processing for balance. When I am out in the field shooting I do not just shoot seeing what is in front of me, I also visualize what I can do in post-processing. My compositions are made with what I can do in post in mind. I do what Black and White photographers of yesteryear did. I think in bright and dark zones (not in terms of color but light value). I "see" what can be achieved in post by dodging and burning (lighening and darkening). Lighter areas draw attention. Darker areas tend to be visually heavier. Making certain elements lighter can bring better balance with other areas that are darker or way brighter. Enough talk, let's look:

The brighter light and more vivid color in this image is all on the right. Because the canyon in the valley was dark (much darker than what you see here) this image lacked balance. The viewer's eyes kept on going to the bright and colorful right of the image. Viewers would ignore the left of the image after just a quick glance.

          The edge of the canyon has this white crust but it was much darker. When I took this image I knew that I was going to lighten the white crust to give the left side of the image more visual weight which would bring balance between the left and the right. Every image-editing software has a dodge and burn feature. Perhaps the technique I use is old fasioned but it works for me. Once I am basically done editing my images I take the image back into Adobe Camera Raw. I use the adjustment brush in ACR for dodging and burning. I do not like other dodge and burn features because they just dodge and burn. Dodging tends to lower the contrast which makes the area look washed out. With ACR's brush I can adjust multiple things at the same time. I increase exposure and contrast. In this case I also increase highlights and whites a bit. Then I just paint away. Once again, I do not paint in what is not there, I am simply making what is there brighter.

          The last thing I do before leaving ACR is to recheck my white and black points as any post-processing adjustments may have changed these values. Without dodging the canyon's edge this image was visually heavy on the right with little interest on the left; out of balance. Post-processing brought the left back into play and brought balance to the image.

          Think post-processing when you actually shoot and compose for what you can do.