~Superb lighting is transformative.~

Task: Enhance the Lighting and Color in Service to the Message

There are 3 things I know to be true about photographing and retouching still life photographs.
—Lighting is everything.
—The fewer the elements in the photograph, the more important each element becomes.
—There is no detail too small to overlook.

The success of this image rests solely on the lighting and giving proper attention to every detail created by the light.

The lighting was shaped to direct the viewer’s gaze to the message on the bill, “Not To Used To Bribe Politicians”. Each edge, where the bills caught the light, was individually considered.

Where the light was too bright, the areas were darkened. The top edge, above the number 20, was darkened to direct the viewer’s eye downward. The vertical edges in the middle of the photo darkened and contrast increased to direct the gaze to the left, into the frame. Lastly, the chroma and contrast increased on the left edge of the picture to direct the eye to the right.

Photography & Retouching:  ©Martha DiMeo 2018

Interested in licensing this photo for an upcoming project? Contact me with the details.