NZPhotographer Issue 35, September 2020

with the quality, but it is never to the standard
of my trusted DSLR which also gives me the
ability to print larger images.
I import and organise my photographs within
Adobe Lightroom, using the ‘Develop’ module
to complete some minor global adjustments
and lens corrections. I then open my file into
Photoshop where I do the majority of my
editing. I use multiple adjustment layers and
masks to adjust the light, contrast and detail
in the works. My preferred ways to extract my
subjects for composites is to use The Pen Tool,
Select and Mask and Channels in Photoshop.
The chosen technique is dependent on the
type of edge and the contrast it has with its
background. After extracting a selection,
I feather and lightly blur the edges to help
soften the transition to the background layer.
With my bird images, I also use my Wacom
pen to draw fine tapered lines to resemble
the delicate edges of the feathers, carefully
matching the colour and tones of the pen
strokes.
Adjustment layers are clipped to the
selections of my subjects to help control the
hue, contrast and saturation of the object. This
is a long process, sometimes experimental but
imperative to consolidate the image into its
introduced environment.
The process of creating a composite develops
over several days. The initial planning, the
image capture and photo editing can take
up to a week. I often have to leave a project
to come back with a fresh view to make
sure that the colour grading and contrast
are consistent through my work.I admit that
I am totally consumed with my photography
practice. I am continually learning new ways
to observe, capture, and edit my images…
always looking for a pocket of light.
www.traceywalker.co.nz
SUSTAINABILITY
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