by Editor Michel Romaggi  in collaboration with the author Cindy Liu 
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 27 of July 2023

'Matera cave houses'

Dear Cindy, can you please introduce yourself and tell us about how important photography is in your life?
I am a retired software engineer from Ontario, Canada. To me, photography is a way of accentuating beauty in everyday life. Photography helps to shape the way I see things and engages me with the world. I express my emotions, ideas, and stories visually through my images. Photography allows me to share these experiences with others. It is also a form of documentation, a source of inspiration, and a way to capture and preserve memories. It inspires me to explore new places and to continue learning and acquiring new skills.

How do you usually choose your subjects and more specifically for 'Matera Cave Houses'?
My process is characterized by spontaneity. I try to embrace the unexpected and to capture the essence of the moment in its purest form. When I travel, I typically search for visual elements that represent emotions or ideas associated with local culture. I enjoy telling stories through photography and many of my photos have a narrative element. I choose the subjects that I personally feel connected to. It can be a subject that evokes a specific emotion or that brings back memories. I like to include people in my photographs to elicit emotions and establish connections.

For this specific picture, I had the opportunity to travel to Matera, a beautiful city in southern Italy. Matera sits on a rocky outcrop. It includes the “Sassi” area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside. These dwellings are thought to be among the first human settlements ever in what is now Italy. Witnessing Sassi Di Matera was completely awe-inspiring. I felt a deep connection with the history of the town and tried to capture the essence of its tradition with my photography and post-processing.

What equipment do you use?
I use sony a7iii with 24-105 f4 lens

Regarding the post-process, can you tell us the steps to get to the final version?
1.  I merged 3 photos into one HDR image in lightroom,

2. I did some basic adjustments to the image , adjusted upright positions, then I imported the image into photoshop.

3. In Photoshop I made 3 copies of the background layer, copy layer 1, copy layer2 and copy layer3

4. I resize copy layer 1 to 102%, align it with the left border of the base layer, adjust opacity to 23%

5. I resize copy layer 2 to 104%, align it with the left border of the base layer, adjust opacity to 35%

6. I resize copy layer 3 to 106%, align it with the left border of the base layer, leave opacity at 100%

7. I then add layer mask to each of these 3 layers, on each layer mask I use brush to uncover the area that represent the vision I want to express, like the shape of arcs, windows , doors and trees, or area with a little colour, the whole process is try and error, until I am satisfied with result.

8. I applied a layer of rough texture to the image, opacity 60%, which brings out the vintage look of the caves

9. Finally I reduced a little bit the saturation, especially the green tones. I increased the orange and yellow tones.  And this is the final editing.

Your post-processing on most of your photos is a very important aspect of your style.
Can you tell us why regarding the artistic looks versus the original picture?
The artistic advantages of post-processing are multi-faceted. On the most basic level, I use post-processing to remove unwanted elements, such as dust spots, blemishes or distractions in the background. This helps creating a cleaner and a visually more appealing image.

Further, I use post-processing to express my creative vision and to emphasize my style. I experiment with different techniques to create a specific vibe in my photos to elicit distinct emotions and transport viewers to a world crafted by my artistic vision. It enables me to go beyond the limitations of the original capture and to transform my images into more expressive and visually captivating works of art.

'The Traveller' 

'Red'

 

'Golden hours'

My goal is to create a more attractive and visually engaging impactful image, drawing attention to specific elements or creating a specific mood. Art and reality do not always have to exist in tandem. I enjoy bringing my own artistic feel into my images. My hope is that it extracts the essence in a more impressionable way.

'Happy Place'