Room Ambient Light & Photo Editing | 31 Days of Photo Tips, Day 23

Did you know that many laptops and some desktop computers will measure the amount of ambient light in the room and adjust the monitor brightness in response?

My laptop is one of those. If I edit in a dark room, my laptop will lower the brightness level to best suit a dark room. Likewise, during mid-day and bright light, my MBP lights up like a Christmas tree. Additionally, the light temperature (measured in Kelvin) is different during different times of the day: Warmer (higher temperature light) when the sun is in either horizon, and cooler (lower temperature light) when the sun is blocked, or overhead.

Why does this matter as a photographer?

You should edit your images under the same conditions as much as possible.

I try to do all my photo editing in the evenings. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was really backed up on photo sessions and needed to get some editing done during the day to try to catch up. When I later looked at those edited images, they were all blindingly bright for the style of editing I prefer.

As a result?

I had to go back into every image in the gallery and create a curves layer and pull back the light in each and every image in that gallery. I didn’t end up saving myself any time at all! If we were on twitter, I’d tack on a #timesaveFAIL.

Another solution:
Work in a windowless room. Many photo editors work with overhead lights off and in an interior room.

Photo Editing Tip: Working under identical lighting conditions will help you have a consistent look and steadfast style in your photo editing style.

Want to learn more?
Research additive light (monitors and web color) versus subtractive light (print), and reflected light (print) versus emitted light (monitors).

What time of day do you usually edit photos?

Ready for some photo editing and post production? We’re going to fix some common image problems over the next few days, such as over- and underexposure, color casting and I’ll show you how to batch edit.