The Art of Editing
My Process for Perfecting Pictures & Digital Paintings
Behind the Scenes
I never like to copy what others have done in the past—I always strive to bring something new. Even in school, I would rather get a bad grade than copy my neighbor or use a cheat sheet. This mindset carries over into my artwork and editing process. Each piece I create is a reflection of my vision, carefully refined through time-consuming adjustments and thoughtful storytelling.
Editing my pictures and digital oil paintings is a lengthy process that requires patience and attention to detail. On top of that, writing blogs and crafting descriptions for each piece is just as demanding. I don’t simply ask a robot to generate content for me—I take the time to develop the general idea, write key sentences, and only then do I use tools like ChatGPT to help refine my text and make it more engaging for readers.
Through this blog, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process—the effort that goes into each artwork, from capturing the image to editing, writing, and publishing.
Step 1: Checking the Weather & Planning the Shoot
Before I even pick up my camera, I check the weather conditions. My first choice is to take pictures early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as these times provide the best lighting. However, if I want a shot with full sun, then 10 to 11 AM is also a good option. The right natural light can make a huge difference in the final image.
Step 2: Preparing the Equipment
Once I know the conditions are right, I make sure my equipment is ready. This means: • Cleaning the appropriate lenses—whether I’m using regular or macro ones.
• Checking that my batteries are fully charged because cold weather can drain them quickly.
Having the right tools in perfect condition ensures that I don’t miss the perfect shot.
Step 3: Observing & Finding Inspiration
Before I start shooting, I take a moment to observe my surroundings. I think about what might be missing in my portfolio and look for new colors, plants, or unique compositions that might have appeared overnight. If it has rained recently, it’s a great opportunity to hunt for water droplets, which are one of my favorite subjects to capture.
Step 4: Spotting the Perfect Subject
Once I find something unusual or too beautiful to ignore, I decide how to shoot it: • Photo or portrait mode?
• Do I need to switch to a macro lens?
Each subject requires careful consideration before I even press the shutter.
Step 5: Capturing the Image with Precision
This is where patience comes in. To get the perfect shot: • I stay completely still and even hold my breath to avoid camera shake.
• I carefully position my camera to frame the subject exactly as I want.
Since I mainly focus on water droplets, the wind needs to be completely still—otherwise, the shot will be ruined.
Step 6: Reviewing the Shots & Heading to My Editing Space
After taking 60 to 80 shots minimu from different angles and subjects, I head to my small editing space—my PC lab.
Step 7: First Selection & Initial Edits
Before downloading the images to my computer, I make a quick first selection on my iPhone to delete any shots that don’t need further review. This takes time but makes the next steps easier.
Once the best shots are chosen, I look at them carefully to determine whether they can be used as-is or need slight improvements. Unlike many digital artists, I do not do color correction. I prefer to work with the original tones and lighting captured in the image. However, for some images that need a little sharpening, I occasionally use Topaz AI Photo. That said, I know from experience that overly sharpening an image can make it obvious that it was modified—so I use this tool sparingly.
Step 8: Resizing & Adding My Signature
Once I have my best shots, I prepare them for publishing by: • Setting them to 300 DPI with the proper sizes: 13 cm x 18 cm or 1535 x 2118 pixels.
• Adding my logo "CyMS Photography" at the bottom right corner.
Since I’m skilled with Photoshop, I’ve automated this process so that once I press the right button, the resizing and logo placement happen instantly.
Step 9: Transforming into Digital Oil Paintings
Next, I create a third folder where I transform my images into digital oil paintings. This step requires finding the perfect balance in the transformation. If done correctly, the results are astounding—turning an already beautiful image into something even more artistic and unique.
Step 10: Uploading to My Website
Once all my photos and digital paintings are ready, I upload them to SuperbPictures.com—my online store. Initially, setting up my shop was a long and challenging process, but thanks to Shopify, I quickly learned the tricks, and now everything runs much smoother.
Step 11: Writing Descriptions for Each Image
Each picture needs a proper description. I start by writing a short text myself, making sure to: • Include the scientific name of a plant if needed.
• Capture the essence of the image in a few words.
Then, I use ChatGPT to refine my text into something more engaging and easier to read. Once I have the final version, I add it to the image. For those who purchase my artwork, I ensure that the high-resolution version is available for download.
Step 12: Translating for a Wider Audience
Once all the texts are finalized in English, I use a translation program to convert them into French. However, I never trust the automatic translation blindly. I carefully read through each one, correcting any errors and making sure the message remains clear and natural.
Step 13: Final Check & Publishing
Once everything is uploaded and written, I do a final review to see how everything looks on the website. Only after this final check do I hit publish—and my work is finally ready to be shared with YOU and the world!
Wrapping It Up
Creating my images and digital paintings is not a quick process. Every step requires dedication, patience, and a personal touch.
I never take shortcuts, and I never let trends dictate my work. Each piece is unique, and my goal is to ensure that people appreciate the thought and effort behind every photograph and painting I create.
One thing to keep in mind: I need to be quick at times, so my iPhone is often the best tool for the job. The larger camera setups, with their bulky equipment and slower operation, just wouldn’t suit my needs—they take too much time and are too heavy for me to work with efficiently. I value speed and portability in my process, which is why the iPhone works so well for the quick, yet precise, shots I need.
I'd love to hear from you—what's your creative process like? Let's chat in the comments!
__CyMS Photography