Earlier today we posted a tutorial with a foolproof in-camera method for shooting photos with perfect exposure. But what if you want to improve photos you shot in the past that don’t quite hit the mark? The lesson below from the FJR YouTube channel demonstrates how easy this is to do with Lightroom’s powerful Dodge and Burn tools.

This straightforward technique enables you to selectively darken or brighten different areas within an image for balanced tones through the frame. In short, you can open up crushed shadows or retrieve details in overly bright highlights. Instructor Francisco Hernandez explains how to get the job done in barely 11 minutes.

By downloading the demonstration image via a link beneath the video you can follow along, make the adjustments yourself, and then use this simple method to rehabilitate improperly exposed images whether they’re portraits, landscapes, or just about any other photos that need work.

Hernandez pulls up his photo of pretty model Sarah, opens Lightroom’s Develop module, makes a few basic color enhancements, and then explains the Dodge and Burn techniques that dramatically improve the shot.

The Dodge and Burn magic occurs within Lightroom’s masking section, and the first step is to click on the Brush icon. Unlike with Photoshop that offers layers, with Lightroom the method relies upon various brushes to mimic the layering process—with different enhancements stacked atop one another.

Hernandez recommends the settings he prefers for Feathering, Flow, and Density. You’ll also see how to choose the proper brush size for the specific task at hand. Once everything is configured properly, it’s easy to paint in whatever Dodge and Burn adjustments are required to even out the exposure.

Hernandez first concentrates on different areas of Sarah’s face and the underside of her black hat that is devoid of detail. He then examines the portrait further, finds a few other areas on her face, body and apparel that can be improved, and quickly refines those.

A long the way Fernandez provides before/after examples of each step in the process so you’ll have a full appreciation of the ease and effectiveness of this streamlined approach to Dodge and Burn. After watching the video take a look at his popular YouTube channel, where you’ll find lessons on other simple editing methods.

And don’t forget to watch the tutorial mentioned above, with another pro’s tricks for shooting perfectly exposed nature and wildlife photos every time.

Nailing exposure is a critical aspect of all genres of photography as you refine your skills, and this can be difficult when shooting outdoors under varied illumination. This is a particularly challenging task when the light is everchanging as clouds pass through a scene, or when subjects in motion move in and out of sunlight and shadow.

Getting the light right without guesswork should become almost second nature so that you can concentrate on composition, selective focus, and other creative aspects of capturing images that grab attention—whether you’re shooting at night or during the day under bright, harsh conditions. If you often struggle with blown-out highlights, crushed shadows, or both, the quick tutorial below is just what you need.

Instructor Simon d’Entremont is an acclaimed pro based in Nova Scotia, specializing in wildlife, nature, and astrophotography. His goal for today’s episode is to help you master exposure so that your images convey just the right mix of brightness values very time. By following his straightforward advice and doing a bit of practice, this goal will quickly become as automatic as tying your shoes.

Be sure to watch until the end of lesson when Simon demonstrates a “bonus tip” known as “Expose to the Right” (ETTR) that enables you to achieve perfect exposure and optimum image quality at the same time. The lesson begins with a quick overview of how a camera’s exposure system works, explaining that by understanding these fundamentals you’ll be able to use Simon’s tips to get the perfect amount of light on the sensor without overthinking the process.

There are two settings key settings for handling the basics; namely shutter speed and aperture—both of which control the number of photons hitting the sensor. With this knowledge under your belt, the “secrets” that follow will make total sense. As he says, “you want to get as much light into your camera because doing so will greatly improve image quality.”

If you’re wondering about ISO, this parameter doesn’t actually change the amount of light entering a camera. Simon suggests that you think of this setting as a “volume knob” that affects brightness in other ways.

So what’s the big trick? It’s nothing more complicated than understanding the histogram on a camera’s rear LCD. This of-ignored option is a graphical representation of pixel brightness in an image—with dark tones on the left, bright tones on the right, and a gradation of everything else in between. By using this essential tool you’ll be able to modify aperture and/or shutter speed to consistently nail exposure in just about every situation you confront.

So watch Simon’s demonstration, activate the histogram in your camera’s Display Settings menu, and exposure problems will be a thing of the past. Once you’re done, head over to his instructional YouTube channel for more helpful tips and tricks.

On a related note, be sure to watch last week’s lesson with several pro tips for shooting eye-popping photos after the sun drops below the horizon.

For my opening Photography News images, I usually post a photo I took last week. This time I will make a small exception to that rule. The month and day match, only the year is 2005 – prehistoric from the point of view of digital photography. But many of you have negatives or slides at home that are much older. Winter evenings are a great time to digitize them and share them with the family. Now on to the hottest news of the week.

If you geek out (like we do) over the technology tools that power our digital photography habit, you will fanatically Jones over OWC. In the sleepy little town of Woodstock, IL a wide awake company called Other World Computing offers just about everything a photographer, computer maven, Apple fan or Mac freak could ever want.

Who is OWC?
If you’ve never heard of OWC (Other World Computing), here’s an introduction. OWC is a premier zero-emissions Mac and PC technology company, and a respected provider of memory, external drives, SSDs, Mac and PC docking solutions, NAS (Network Attached Storage) and performance upgrade kits.

No newcomer to the arena, OWC been around since 1988, the year that CDs outsold vinyl records for the first time in the US. (It was also the year that NASA scientist James Hansen warned congress of the dangers of the global warming and the Greenhouse Effect—for what good that did.)

Not long ago, we reviewed one of their hottest products, and it’s something that everyone needs. Read what we said: Review: OWC Envoy Pro Elektron is the Smallest and Fastest 1TB External Drive Money Can Buy.

What Does OWC Sell?
This is just a sample, but it’s still a big list, so grab a Mountain Dew and have a seat.

For starters, photographers will love OWC’s brand new Atlas Pro and Ultra CFexpress 4.0 Type B memory cards that deliver double the speed of CFexpress 2.0 memory cards. Both provide up to 3000 MB/s Write and 3650 MB/s Read real-world speeds. OWC also offers the industry’s first path to upgrading previous generation Atlas 2.0 memory cards to the new CFA (Compact Flash Association) CFexpress 4.0 specification.

If CFexpress is not your thing, OWC sells the highly affordably and powerful Atlas Pro SD cards and advanced Atlas Ultra SD cards. The Atlas Pro line is available in capacities up to 1TB and capable of sequential write speeds up to 130 MB/s while the Ultra, which comes in 64GB through 512GB capacities, tops out at a sequential write speed up to a whopping 250 MB/s.

For videographers and photographers who use professional cameras that have both SD and CFexpress memory card slots, OWC features the $79 Atlas Dual CFexpress + SD Card Reader. It enables you to transfer video, photos and audio from CFexpress Type B and SDXC UHS-II cards simultaneously at USB-C 10Gb/s speeds.

If you’ve ever built a PC or even if you just need to swap out a hard drive or power supply, you can’t miss with the OWC 72-Piece Advanced Toolkit. Priced under $50, (currently on sale for $34.99) it includes everything you need to service your Mac, PC or other small electronics, and comes in a durable nylon case.

All photographers need hard drives. OWC sells external drive enclosures, internal drives for Macs and PCs, Thunderbolt drives, NAS drives, and more. If you use an iMac, consider a DIY iMac Drive Upgrade kit. If you’re squeamish about performing surgery on your computer, OWC also offers installation options for certain models.

And who doesn’t need more memory? OWC can supply you with memory upgrades for everything from iMacs to Mac Pros.

One of the frustrations many Mac users endure is the lack of I/O ports. OWC has many solutions, including the exciting OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock. For less than $200 you can add 14 ports of connectivity for your Mac or PC.

Wait, There’s More
OWC’s product portfolio comprises cables, video cards, displays and display adapters, new and used iPhones, portable powerbanks, new and used Mac Pros, iPads, replacement batteries, audio accessories, PCIe expansion cards, and even Apple Watches. The list of products goes on and on.

You get the idea. If you’re the person who enjoyed strolling the aisles of the now-departed mega computer centers (you know which stores we mean), you’ll enjoy visiting OWC online. But you’d better bring a lunch and a lantern because you’ll likely be there for a long time—there’s so much to see.

PS: Don’t miss their Black Friday Sales Event.

—Jon Sienkiewicz