Over the past couple of days, I’ve been diving deep into the world of LUTs and theme aesthetics, experimenting with different approaches to see what truly resonates with my vision. It’s been a fascinating process, one day I applied a uniform set of LUTs to all my images, and the following day I took the more time-consuming route of editing each image individually. I’m on a journey to discover “my” style, and while I know it will take time and practice, I thought I’d share my initial findings and reflections.

Day One: The Uniform LUT Approach

Three days ago, I decided to apply the same set of LUTs across my entire portfolio of images. The idea was to establish a consistent, cohesive look across the board, a sort of “one size fits all” solution that would tie the collection together with a unified theme.

I worked on one image until I likes what I seen, copied to another the settings, changed both a little and then copied the settings again from one and pasted across the board.

Pros:

• Consistency: Every image shared a similar tonal quality, creating a unified gallery.
• Speed: This method was quick and efficient, allowing me to process a large batch of images in a short time.
• Broad Experimentation: I was able to test a particular look across different subjects and lighting conditions, assessing the LUT’s versatility.

Cons:

• Lack of Individuality: Some photos felt a bit over-processed or didn’t capture the unique mood of the moment.
• One-Dimensional: A uniform treatment sometimes masked the subtle nuances that make each photograph special.

While this approach offered a neat and tidy solution for consistency, I couldn’t help but feel that each image deserved a bit more of a personal touch.

I mean, I do really like how they turned out and do definitely think there is something in this for specific projects in the future maybe even then though I feel like I will still have to tweak each picture with some looking a touch too dak and others a bit too orange etc.

Day Two: Tailored Editing for Each Image

Two days ago, I shifted gears and edited each image individually, applying LUTs and tweaks that best suited the specific scene and emotion captured. This method was more labour-intensive, but it allowed for a richer, more authentic outcome.

Pros:

• Personalisation: Each image was treated as its own work of art, with custom adjustments to highlight its unique character.
• Enhanced Detail: Tailored edits brought out subtle details and moods that a one-size-fits-all approach sometimes overlooked.
• Creative Exploration: This method opened up room for experimentation, helping me understand which looks align best with my creative vision.

Cons:

• Time-Consuming: Editing images one by one took considerably longer.
• Risk of Inconsistency: Without a unifying treatment, there’s a chance the overall collection might feel a bit disjointed.

This more nuanced method allowed each photograph to tell its own story, though it came at the cost of speed and uniformity.

Now I this is absolutely my favourite way of working and making each image more its own thing but then I do feel other photographers have a distinct style and I just don’t when doing it this way, I am wondering if I should maybe have a set of LUT’s that are me which I can tweak a bit with each image.

Searching for “My” Style

This two-day experiment has been more than just a technical exercise, it’s been a personal journey toward discovering a style that feels authentically mine.

I’m learning that:

• It Takes Time: Finding a signature look isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a process of trial, error, and continuous learning.
• Both Approaches Have Value: I genuinely appreciate the consistency of the uniform LUT method, as well as the individuality that comes from tailoring each image. Both techniques offer insights into different aspects of my creative identity.
• Practice is Key: The more I experiment, the more I understand the interplay between editing choices and the mood of each photo. Each experiment brings me closer to identifying the techniques that resonate with my vision.
• A Hybrid Approach May Be the Answer: Ultimately, I’m leaning towards a blend of both methods—starting with a consistent base that ties the images together and then fine-tuning each one individually to highlight its unique qualities.

The journey to finding one’s style is ongoing and ever evolving. These past two days have reinforced that the path isn’t about choosing one method over the other, but rather about embracing a variety of techniques and learning from each experience. Whether it’s the streamlined consistency of a uniform LUT or the detailed artistry of individual editing, every approach has its merits—and every image has its own story to tell.

In addition to my hands-on experiments, I’ve embarked on a new learning journey by starting the “Adobe Lightroom: The Ultimate Guide Bootcamp” course on Creative Live. I’m confident that deepening my understanding of Lightroom’s powerful tools will help refine my editing process and further shape my artistic vision. This course, combined with my recent experiments, is setting the stage for a more deliberate and informed approach to crafting my photographic style.

I’d love to hear from you: have you been on a similar journey in search of your creative voice?

What techniques have helped you strike the balance between consistency and individuality in your edits? Let’s continue this conversation and explore the endless possibilities together.

Yesterday I moved away from my phone and took pictures on a camera, its only a Lumix TZ55 but it has 16MP camera with 20x zoom which is a good bit better than my iPhone 13 and its 12MP with no zoom, will edit them images today and see how they compare, here is one of the images I have done already.

Until next time, keep experimenting, stay patient, and trust the process of discovering what’s uniquely yours.

The journey continues.

Best wishes,

Alex

Viewfinder Chronicles