28/05/2026
A lovely moment between mother and daughter, caught briefly in the dappled shadows of the trees around Exmouth Market in London.
The original image was underexposed, but importantly, it still held plenty of shadow detail. I’m not a fan of flash or strobe lighting for this kind of moment. Technically, the scene could probably have benefited from it, but by keeping things natural, the skin tones remain softer, warmer and far more flattering.
From the original frame, I first produced a more balanced edit, gently lifting the highlights and shadows while adding a little extra colour saturation to bring the image back to life without making it feel overworked.
The next version takes the photograph in a more cinematic direction, with exaggerated colour, slightly lower contrast and a darker vignette to frame the shot. Additional bokeh has been added in post-production too, helping to give the mother and daughter more definition, separation and impact within the scene.
Finally, because many clients still prefer black and white photographs for framing and display, I created the obligatory monochrome version. Or black and white, to use the more familiar description. It strips the image back to expression, connection and atmosphere.
One simple captured moment, interpreted in four different ways.
