Recently, 365antigua.com presented a challenge to anyone who had a food photograph, they'd like to see modified and improved. The owner of the Hideout Restaurant submitted a very nice (and mouthwatering) shot to see what edits - if any - could be done in Adobe Photoshop to enhance the unedited image.

The following tasks were executed within the photo image retouching software, Adobe Photoshop.

• The image was cropped to show a little less plate and a better centre the food. While the reflection was nice, there was a bit too much of the composition dedicated to the empty plate. And a bright area draws the eye making the darker items behind, lose focus.
• tip: When using a wide angle lens for anything close, one should move the food forward on the plate or crop in tighter. A wide angle lens will make objects appear further away. Try this experiment: set an object in the very centre of a plate and shoot it with a wide angle lense. That shot will make the object (which is dead-centre) appear to be toward the back of the plate. You need to compensate by pushing the object forward; off-centre, to appear centered.
• The decorative drizzle was lightened to an appetizing brown, via the Dodge tool. 
• The strength of the shadows, which were distractingly intense and a result of the overhead flash, were greatly reduced via the Dodge tool.
• The plates and stainless steel background had a bit of a green tint in places, which were neutralized by the Desaturation sponge tool. Whenever you have any object you know is a neutral grey: white plate, stainless steel, cutlery and you are looking for colour accuracy, you should do your utmost to neutralize so the colour does not tip in any direction. The RGB values for neutral grey should have equal numbers.
• Lots of controled brightening was done with the Dodge tool. The Dodge tool with the Shadow option is an excellent means to target brightening of shadows without affecting the lighter areas. While using Curves or Levels (Curves are much better than Levels) can give overall lightening to an image, Dodging and Burning is a superb way to reduce shadows in specific areas of an image. Like any Photoshop brush, you can control the edit size and intensity of the application of the tool.
• The next task to be done was an overall Saturation, which intensified the colours to make the oranges of the shrimp and the greens of the vegetables, pop.
• Once the overall Saturation Image Adjustment was done, the Saturation Sponge tool (hiding behind the Dodge/Burn tool) was used for further targeted colour intensification. Using more of this than the overall Saturation Image Adjustment keeps the neutral areas such as the plate, cutlery and stainless steel, from picking up any colour.
• A quick once-over with the Desaturation Sponge tool helped to eliminate any residual colour in the neutral areas.

Many food photos taken by semi-experienced amateurs with decent gear, find it difficult to get the lighting right. Lighting is very difficult.

• Overhead shoe mounted flashes can be too intense and need to be used with great delicacy.
• Using no flash in direct sunlight can result in shadows that are too intense and distracting. If done, always underexpose.
• Using incandescent or flourescent lighting starts the shot out to be — very probably — not well colour balanced.
• Using natural indirect lighting is a good way to go, but often it leaves too many dull areas and shadows with a need for Contrast, and lots of targeted brightening.

Once a shot has been taken, using Curves, Dodge, Burn, Saturation/Desaturation Sponge are tools and adjustments that are critical to creating improved lighting and better presented food.

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The owners of The Hideout were very good to share the image. This was their feedback to the minor adjustments:

"Like the brightness of the plate, brings the white out superbly but without changing the food colour in the foreground too much. Although if you look at
the red lettuce it's a bit lighter when side by side. What I think it loses though is the depth of reflection in the plate from the first shot. Being in
the catering trade I personally think  the reflection shows depth and a spotless plate in the first shot , but it isn't as white as your boost.

Clever how you did that without affecting the shrimp and salmon colour too much. Is it the white on the plate or does the food in the background look
more orange as a result? It's difficult to be too critical because as I said it was taken in production on a very reflective stainless steel top which
gives a very non descript but neutral setting. Very cool how you cleaned and brightened it up though without making the food look artificial. The
brightening in your edit also reduces the flash shadows. Very clever.

As for the dish it was an xmas special, It was an appetiser of smoked salmon, rocket and goats cheese roulade with poached butterfly shrimp and
cantaloupe melon complemented by an enhanced oyster sauce."

The Hideout Restaurant: Intimate and comfortable dining establishment which is definitely for the discriminating palate. Located in the south of the island, one mile from St. James's Club and 2.5 miles from Nelson's Dockyard. Call for reservations, 460-3666 or email request at hideout@apuainet.ag. Read this tripadvisor restaurant review.