Some people say you shouldn’t need to edit your photos, that the camera should do all the work. But that’s not entirely true. Even in the days of film, photographers didn’t just shoot and walk away. Their images were developed in a darkroom, where they adjusted exposure, contrast, colour, and detail to bring the photo to life.

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In digital photography, programs like Lightroom or Photoshop are simply the modern version of that darkroom. They let you fine-tune what your camera captured so the final image matches what you saw and felt in the moment. RIAT is full of fast aircraft, challenging lighting, and dramatic skies, and editing helps you bring out that atmosphere in a way the camera alone can’t always manage.

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Editing isn’t cheating, it’s part of the craft. Below are two list based on your experience, take a look at both, to see which list helps you.