It always amazes me how the story an image tells changes depending on the finish you apply to your image. Let’s take, for example, this image I shot of the Hotel del Coronado. To me, it provides a glimpse into the past. The tonal range of the photo suggests a film camera; something appropriate for a vintage resort. Perhaps it is a stormy day, yet it has warm tones so it is a bit of a mystery…

Now compare the same image with a different finish: more modern and probably a winter day. So this is an example of where photography goes from simply memorializing a scene to creating a piece of art. It is one thing to “see” what is before you and it is quite another to “imagine” different moods and possible story lines.

This is why I like to go back over old images in RAW, drop them into Lightroom and start the editing process all over again. Sometimes my current mood finds its way into the new edit. Rarely do I finish with the same feel as the one I created long ago. Yet, when viewed individually, each image would appear to be an original. So, when you feel a particular mood, I challenge you to pull an old image and re-edit it from scratch. You may be surprised at what you find this time around!