MACRO EDITING
If you’re looking for pin-sharp close-ups, free of noise and professionally polished, you need to use editing software that is up to the job. Tracy Calder finds out what the pros prefer
Adobe Lightroom
Combining image management with non-destructive editing, Lightroom is an intuitive program that excels at organising, managing and locating files. Some photographers use it for editing, but its main purpose is to help you make catalogues of images for specific projects. Professional photographers often use a combination of Lightroom (for their day-to-day workflows) and Photoshop (for detailed editing work). Lightroom is aimed purely at photographers, whereas Photoshop is used across other creative disciplines, such as graphic design.
Alex Pansier
Instagram: @alexpansier www.alexpansier.com
Why Alex likes Lightroom
‘I find Lightroom CC incredibly convenient for several reasons. Firstly, it stores everything securely in the cloud – it gives me peace of mind to know my photos are safe and accessible no matter where I am. Secondly, it offers just the right amount of editing features without being overly complicated, which makes it user-friendly for beginners and professionals alike. Finally, the platform’s mobile compatibility ensures I can access and edit my images on the go, providing unmatched flexibility and convenience. Overall, Lightroom CC has proven to be an essential tool in my photography workflow.’
Affinity Photo 2
Offering impressive speed, power and precision, Affinity Photo 2 is the only fully loaded photo editor integrated across macOS, Windows and iPad. Another major plus point is that it’s available without subscription. The program comes with hundreds of time-saving tools including live real-time editing and the near-instant loading of huge image files. Thanks to the app’s advanced selection refinement algorithms and tools, you can make extremely precise selections with ease.
Andrew Wilson
Instagram: @andrew_wilson_photo www.awilsonphotography.com
Why Andrew likes Affinity Photo
‘I enjoy using Affinity Photo as it’s a quick and efficient piece of software. For close-up photography this has been helpful to carry out post-processing tasks, in particular to focus stack multiple photos of the same subject together to extend the depth of field, but also for retouching objects such as jewellery to clean up imperfections and reflections. I’ve also found that layering close-up photos such as textures and playing with the blend mode can create abstract, unusual and unexpected imagery.’
