If your shots sometimes look flat or you're not sure why certain images work better than others, toning might be the missing ingredient. Toning is crucial because it helps you shape dimension and guide a viewer's attention within your photo, yet many photographers completely overlook it.
Coming to you from Kyle Cong, this straightforward video explains how toning can solve many composition issues that plague even experienced shooters. Cong breaks down toning into three simple parts: highlights, midtones, and shadows. Highlights are your brightest spots, close to pure white; shadows are near-black areas; and midtones occupy that important middle ground, binding the composition together. According to Cong, photographers often struggle with toning because, unlike painters who intentionally control every stroke, photographers can capture their scenes without consciously arranging tonal ranges.
Cong provides practical examples illustrating how missing tonal elements can hurt your photo's depth and visual balance. In one example, he shares a portrait that initially lacks highlight, looking dull and flat compared to the richer, dimensional result when a flash is introduced. Another comparison demonstrates how missing midtones result in not only lost details but also a weakened sense of form. Cong clarifies that simply recovering shadows in post-production often isn't enough, as it merely transforms shadows into midtones without expanding your tonal range naturally.
The video goes deeper into how subtle adjustments in toning can influence mood significantly. Cong discusses how even small shifts in shadow and midtone ratios can drastically alter whether a photograph feels moody or natural. He specifically warns against overdoing highlights, demonstrating how too much bright area creates distracting hot spots and overexposure. Striking the right balance depends heavily on your creative intention and the story you're trying to tell with your photography.
Cong also touches on how skillful use of contrast can effectively direct your viewer's eyes within a frame. He illustrates how differences between tonal extremes naturally draw visual attention and emphasizes the need for deliberate placement of contrasting areas. Incorrect tonal choices, such as mistakenly highlighting non-essential parts, can distract and confuse viewers, pulling their focus from your intended subject. Through clear before-and-after examples involving architectural and urban scenes, Cong makes it easy to visualize how different compositional decisions strongly impact viewer understanding of your message.
Toward the video's conclusion, Cong neatly summarizes the interplay between dimension and contrast. He provides guidelines on deciding whether your primary goal for a specific photo should be creating dimension or boosting contrast that's particularly helpful. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Cong.
