I think a lot about photo editing. When I'm sitting in the car, or doing other things, it just comes into my mind. I guess I'm obsessed. LOL
But one thing I frequently think about is how to improve my editing and bring more value to those who follow along. And that recently got me thinking about when I first started learning how to use masks in my editing.
I used to shoot a lot in 2010-2012 with a friend here in Austin who was also getting into HDR photography at the time. We would go out and fire brackets at whatever our subject was, and talk about editing while we did so.
I distinctly remember him talking about how he was trying to learn all about masking, and how to use it on his images. (This was in Photoshop at the time, I believe.)
I remember telling him I was afraid of it, and thought that I would screw things up royally. :-)
He told me it wasn't as hard or confusing as it seemed "from the outside", and that I should give it a try.
I didn't.
I waited several more years before I got up the gumption to tackle masking. And frankly, that was a mistake. I should have started much sooner, because I would have had years of additional experience under my belt.
It's not that I'm displeased with my editing and masking skills today. It's just that the more time you spend doing something, the more you learn, and the better you get.
When I finally decided to tackle masking, I dove in headfirst. I consumed every tutorial I could find and experimented with it on just about every image. I learned a lot in a short time, and my editing skills improved substantially.
All because I finally decided to give it a try.
The reason I bring this up is because I was recently reminded of a quote that I really love:
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
I can't find any attribution as to who originally said this, but I first heard it years ago and it has stuck with me ever since.
In simple terms, I interpret it as a reminder to take action now, regardless of what you did or didn't do in the past.
Maybe there's a technique you've been avoiding because it seems too complicated. Or something you've wanted to try with your photography but just haven't gotten around to yet.
Whatever it is, why not start today?
You won't break anything, you won't ruin your photos, and you won't waste your time.
But you will learn something, grow your skills, and probably be glad that you finally gave it a try.
What tree are you planting right now?
