Painting with Light to Capture Decisive Moments
One Portrait, Three Different Looks

One Portrait, Three Different Looks

Choose Wisely

Written on the 23rd of November, 2022

Culling through a collection of images is undoubtedly one of the most challenging tasks within the photography workflow. But every now and then, you come across a standout shot that makes you want to explore all sorts of colour schemes and edits.

For instance, in a portrait of my friend Ali AlKhayat, I engaged in a creative process using Adobe Photoshop to develop three distinct visual interpretations of the photograph. The first interpretation, referred to as the "natural look," focused on enhancing the image's authentic colours and textures to maintain its original essence. The second interpretation, labeled the "Joker look," incorporated vibrant colours and dramatic contrasts, evoking the playful and eccentric attributes associated with the iconic comic book character. Finally, the "Danny Batista look" was developed, drawing on cinematic influences emphasizing high contrast and a moody atmosphere with artistic flair.

When you capture an image that has excellent lighting, extraordinary composition, a striking pose, and a genuine connection with your subject, it opens up a world of creative endless possibilities. Each edit offers a fresh perspective, telling a new story or evoking a different mood.

However, as exhilarating as it might be to have these diverse options, the journey eventually leads to a crucial decision: selecting a single final look that you believe truly encapsulates the essence of the photograph and is worthy of sharing. After all, distributing every variation can be a time-consuming endeavor and may dilute the clarity of your personal artistic style.

The Gear I Used

I hope you learned a lot from this blog. If you are interested in a one-on-one training session, drop me a direct message on my Instagram account.