Do you vignette?

These days we are beat over the head and told that our content should have a narrative. 

It should have story, style and tone.

If you are like me, then you have been doing this all along but only now has the world finally caught up!

In truth, when I go out to shoot, I am damn focused that every element in my image supports the message I am intending. If it doesn’t, I remove it. Everything in your photos, too, should support your message.

Having said that, a valuable tool that is often overlooked in the editing process is vignette.

No, not your grandpa’s vignettes!

But vignettes that have kickass style and extra muscle. That is, if you know how to build it.

First off, if you are not yet using vignettes then give it a try. Experiment.

The beauty of vignettes is that it gives you the super power of controlling the movement of your audiences eyes.

Let’s take a look at what Lightroom offers you straight out of the box. 

Located in the Effects panel, the vignette slider set gives you a quick and clean way to darken the edge of the frame and bring eyes into the center of the photo. They also have an extra benefit of adding drama to any image.

To activate, move the vignette in either direction. To the right, you will be lightening the edges of the frame. To the left, you will darken the edges. Adjust them back-and-forth manipulating the roundness, the midpoint and the feather all to your liking. The result is that it finishes your photo and draws the eye to the center of the frame. 

The problem?

Using this tool offers you no customization. 

The solution?

Radial gradients.

Very powerful because once you’ve drawn it, you then have full control to selectively edit specific areas! And to boot, you can manipulate the shape and location of the selection. You have full use of color correction and effects tools that Lightroom offers. You get full artistic and narrative control - which is exactly what we need to build that narrative!

Let’s take a look at this photo I took using my smart phone. It was a muggy, stormy afternoon in Boston. My goal was to intensify the energy of the clouds and the storm while showing the city still washed with sunlight. 

I drew a radial gradient. And made the following adjustments. 

Exposure, contrast, blacks were all manipulated to intensify the sky and draw the eye into the focal point of the image - which was the city still under the glow of the sun.

I then went into the effects panel and manipulated the texture, clarity and sharpness sliders to the left, which are negative values, in order to soften the edges of the frame. 

After a quick reposition and adjustment of the shape itself, I was happy with the look and was ready to export.

When shooting and editing, remember, the human eye is drawn to areas of contrast first and then sharpness second. By darkening and softening the edge your frames and then position the shape itself, you are pushing your viewers to see what it is you want them to see.

The vignette is one more tool in your storytelling arsenal. Experimentation is your ally. A single photo is a story unto itself.

For more on unleashing your inner photographer using the mobile device in your hand, check out my ebook, How to Take Badass Mobile Photos.