Dodge and Burn
Dodge and Burn is a fundamental photo editing technique that photographers use to adjust the brightness of specific areas in a photo. 'Dodging' makes parts of an image lighter, while 'burning' makes areas darker. This technique originated in traditional darkroom photography but is now commonly done using digital editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom. It's similar to how a painter might add highlights and shadows to make their work more dramatic. When you see this term in a resume, it shows that the photographer knows how to fine-tune images beyond basic editing.
Examples in Resumes
Refined portrait lighting using advanced Dodge and Burn techniques
Enhanced product photos through precise Dodging and Burning methods
Trained junior photographers in Dodge & Burn skills for commercial photography
Typical job title: "Photo Editors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Photo Editors
Online Communities
Professional Networks
Learning Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach teaching dodge and burn techniques to junior photographers?
Expected Answer: A senior photographer should discuss their teaching methodology, including starting with basic concepts, demonstrating both digital and traditional methods if applicable, and emphasizing the importance of subtlety and natural-looking results.
Q: How do you handle large-volume photo editing while maintaining consistency in dodge and burn techniques?
Expected Answer: They should explain their workflow organization, use of adjustment layers or presets, quality control processes, and how they maintain efficiency without compromising quality.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What's your process for dodge and burn when working on portrait retouching?
Expected Answer: Should describe their step-by-step approach, including how they identify areas needing adjustment, their preferred tools, and how they maintain natural skin texture.
Q: How do you decide which areas of a photo need dodging or burning?
Expected Answer: Should explain their decision-making process based on image composition, subject matter, and desired final look, while maintaining natural appearance.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the difference between dodging and burning?
Expected Answer: Should clearly explain that dodging makes areas lighter and burning makes areas darker, and be able to give basic examples of when to use each.
Q: What tools do you use for dodge and burn in your editing software?
Expected Answer: Should be familiar with basic dodge and burn tools in common editing software like Photoshop, including adjustment layers and brush tools.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of dodging and burning tools
- Simple portrait retouching
- Knowledge of basic photo editing software
- Understanding of light and shadow in photos
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced portrait and product retouching
- Efficient editing workflow
- Multiple dodge and burn techniques
- Preserving natural look while editing
Senior (5+ years)
- High-end commercial retouching
- Training and mentoring others
- Complex multi-layer editing techniques
- Development of custom editing workflows
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of light and shadow principles
- Over-processed or unnatural-looking portfolio samples
- No knowledge of industry-standard editing software
- Unable to explain their retouching process
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