06 Improving pale skies
Here’s another example of the Dark Contrasts filter in action. The original shot (inset) has a rather pale and lifeless sky, but the Dark Contrasts filter has darkened it down and given it some real drama. The shadows also look a lot stronger and richer. Interestingly, the filter has also increased the ‘grain’ in the image – it was shot on an iPhone, so maybe that’s why – but I actually quite like this grainy effect.
07 Adding depth to high-key images
The original picture (inset) captured the bright, airy interior of this old priory, but I think the Dark Contrasts version is better because it really intensifies the details.
08 Better night shots
The original image (inset) looked fine, but it was a bit lacking in contrast. I did try a regular contrast adjustment, but it didn’t improve the definition in the clouds in the same way that the Dark Contrasts filter did.
09 The finished image
My finished seascape is much richer and more dramatic than the original (though I think I may have overdone the sky a little). The Dark Contrasts filter won’t suit every image, but when you’ve got a photograph that just doesn’t have the drama you were looking for, it’s definitely worth a go.
