I will follow up from the previous blog post with an overview of the tools in Lightroom and Capture One that are not AI-driven, keeping you closer to the original, unspoiled image.

In today’s digital age, more photographers approach post-editing with an attitude that finds it acceptable — even routine — to remove disturbing or distracting objects from their images. Whether it’s a stray signpost, a person in the background, or a piece of litter on the street, the temptation to “clean up” a scene is strong. And yes, even professional photographers have done this. But when we fall into that trap, we risk undermining the very core of photography.

Photography is not painting. It is not a blank canvas to be filled with imagination.

Photography is a medium rooted in reality — in the moment as it was seen and felt.

Scenes from Paris, France.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH.

When we begin to erase elements that were present, we start to rewrite the scene, and in doing so, we lose the authenticity that gives photography its power.

Take, for example, the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who didn’t crop or retouch his images. His photographs are celebrated not just for their composition, but for their honesty. The decisive moment was not something to be perfected later — it was something to be captured as it happened. Similarly, Garry Winogrand embraced the chaos of the street, allowing every element — even the awkward or imperfect — to contribute to the story.

In my own practice, I use tools like Lightroom Classic and Capture One with restraint. I adjust shadows and highlights to present the image as it was seen, and I may crop or straighten lines when necessary for composition. But I never remove objects. I never push elements into shadow unless they were naturally obscured by the exposure, and/or it adds something to the narrative of a special scene. If something was present in the scene, it remains present in the image.

This is not about being purist for the sake of it. It’s about respecting the moment — trusting that the scene, with all its imperfections, has something to say. Photography, at its best, is not about control. It’s about presence. And when we allow the image to speak for itself, we honour both the subject and the viewer.

Photography, at its most powerful, is about being there, in the moment, with open eyes and an open heart. In a time when images are often manipulated beyond recognition, I find it more important than ever to stay true to the roots of the medium: to observe, to feel, and to capture what is already there. This leads me to how I approach post-editing workflow.

Whether I’m working in Lightroom Classic or Capture One, my goal is always the same: to stay close to the original image.

I use editing not to alter reality, but to refine the way it is presented.

I try to bring out the light and shadow as they were seen, not as I wish they had been. Below is an overview of non/AI tools in Lightroom and Capture One, plus an extra tip for exposure alignment.

More photographers approach post editing with an attitude of finding it fine to remove disturbing objects in the post editing process.

Lightroom Classic – Non-AI Tools

These tools are manual and do not rely on AI automation, which are the ones I use:

1. Basic Panel Adjustments
   Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks.
   White Balance (Temp & Tint)
2. Tone Curve
   Manual control over tonal ranges (lights, darks, shadows, highlights)
3. HSL/Colour Panel
   Hue, Saturation, and Luminance adjustments per colour channel
4. Crop & Straighten Tool
   Manual cropping and angle correction
5. Spot Removal (Manual)
   Clone or heal specific areas manually – only used for removal of lens or sensor dust
6. Brush Tool
   Local adjustments like exposure, clarity, and saturation using manual brushing
7. Graduated Filter & Radial Filter
   Manual application of exposure and tonal adjustments across areas
8. Detail Panel
   Sharpening and noise reduction (non-AI versions)
9. Lens Corrections
   Manual profile-based distortion and vignette correction
10. Colour Grading Panel
    Manual control over shadows, midtones, and highlights colour tones
11. Calibration Panel
    Fine-tuning of primary colours for RAW files
12. Match Total Exposures
    Manual batch exposure matching

This image is an example of light coming in between buildings and trees in a park creating spotlight on a narrow area. Using the light as a natural spot, and manual settings to control the right exposure, an area is dimmed only showing the two people. This creates a artistic effect, without altering the scene using any unnatural post editing techniques. The large “empty” black space serves as part of the image creating a mysterious scenery and solitude feeling. Frederiksberg area of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH.

A tip for consistent exposure in Lightroom

Match Total Exposures in Lightroom Classic is a manual batch editing tool that helps you equalise the exposure across multiple selected photos — especially useful when shooting in changing light conditions.

Here’s how it works:

What It Does

• It analyses the relative exposure differences between a selected reference photo and the rest of the selected batch.
• Then it adjusts the Exposure slider of each photo to match the overall brightness of the reference image.
• It does not use AI or content-aware adjustments — it’s purely based on exposure values and histogram data.

How to Use It

1. Select a group of photos in the Library or Develop module.
2. Right-Click on the photo you want to use as the reference (this should be the one with the ideal exposure), and a toolbar opens.
3. In the Photo menu → choose Develop Settings → click Match Total Exposures.
4. Lightroom will adjust the Exposure slider for each selected photo to match the reference.

Why It’s Useful

• Keeps a consistent look across a series of images shot in varying light.
• Saves time compared to manually adjusting each photo.
• Preserves your original edits — it only changes the Exposure value.

Light is what shapes this image. A classic true to life photo without artificially over editing anything. Just basic shadow, blacks and whites adjusted.  Odense, Denmark.
Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH.

Capture One – Non-AI Tools

Capture One is known for its precision and manual control. Non-AI tools include:

1. Exposure, Contrast, Brightness, Saturation
   Manual global adjustments
2. Levels & Curves
   Fine control over tonal range and contrast
3. Color Editor
   Advanced manual color grading and correction
4. Layers & Masks
   Manual brushing and masking for local adjustments
5. Crop & Rotate Tool
   Manual cropping and straightening
6. Sharpening & Noise Reduction
   Manual control over image detail
7. White Balance Tool
   Manual temperature and tint adjustments
8. Styles & Presets
   Non-AI presets for consistent looks
9. Tethered Shooting
   Manual workflow integration for studio setups
10. Keystone Tool
    Manual perspective correction
11. Histogram & Exposure Warnings
    Visual guides for manual exposure control
12. Manual Healing & Cloning
    Retouching without AI assistance

The Gardens at Frederiksberg in Copenhagen, Denmark. Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH.