Straightening Water Photos for a Professional Look

Bird Photography  •  Photo Editing  •  Photography Tips  •  Photoshop Tutorials

In this blog post, we’ll discuss key takeaways from a recent video tutorial by renowned photographer Matt Kloskowski. In the video, Matt shares valuable tips on straightening photos taken on or near water, addressing a common issue that can impact the quality of your work:

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, these insights will help you improve your editing skills and create visually striking images.

Key Takeaways:

Recognizing crooked photos: Matt points out that even experienced photographers often post beautiful images that are unintentionally crooked. This can be particularly challenging with photos taken on or near water, as it’s not always immediately apparent if the photo is crooked or not.

Using the crop and straighten tools: Matt demonstrates how to use the crop tool and straighten tool in Photoshop and Lightroom to fix crooked photos. The straighten tool is a particularly valuable asset when editing water images, as it helps ensure the horizon line and other elements are level.

Identifying areas to straighten: When you don’t have a clear horizon line to use as a reference, you can look for other elements in the image to help with straightening. For example, you can examine the water’s ripples or the way the water meets the subject’s legs. These can give you an idea of whether the photo needs adjustment.

Paying attention to water patterns: In addition to looking at the water’s edge, you can also examine the texture and patterns of the water itself. If the ripples in the water seem to have an upward or downward slant, this can indicate that the photo needs to be straightened.

Using common sense and practice: As Matt emphasizes, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to straightening photos. It requires practice and a keen eye to recognize when a photo needs adjustment. By developing your skills in this area, you’ll be able to create more professional-looking images.

By paying close attention to the horizon line, water patterns, and other visual cues, you can improve your photo editing skills and create images that truly stand out.

For further training: The Bird Photography Guide at $50 Off