Dodge and Burn

This is one of my short photography tutorials this time on using the dodge and burn tools in photoshop.

It's the part of the black and white conversion that separates the men from the boys!  ~ Joel Tjintjelaar

When it comes to black and white photography I just don't pick a black and white action in photoshop. Or choose a preset in Topaz BW effects. I also dodge and burn the final picture to give that little bit more definition.
We're all used to using the burn tool when we're working with eyes to give more definition. But have you thought of using it on your black and white photos?

Digital Darkroom

One of the great masters of photography back in the days of film was Ansel Adams. Furthermore he turned the dodge and burn into an art form in the darkroom.

Nowadays photoshop and other programs are our very own digital darkroom minus the chemicals. As a result we can do just what Ansel did with his images.

Dodge and Burn

If you've never used the tool before dodging makes the pixels brighter while burning makes the pixels darker.

• I usually keep the exposure around 3% so that I can gradually darken or lighten particular areas as required.
• You can also choose whether you want to work with the shadows, mid tones or highlights.
• With this image I just brushed using the dodge tool on the highlights over the leaf in focus a few times with a large soft brush. 

This just lighten the leaf veins very slightly and gave greater definition to the network of veins before sharpening.