Edit With “The Tortured Poets Department” Aesthetic
Regardless of what one thinks of Taylor Swift and her new album, it can’t be denied that she’s a trendsetter! Get ahead of the trend and learn how to edit your photos with the soft, low-contrast, nostalgic black and white aesthetic of “The Tortured Poets Department” and “Fortnight” music video, using Archipelago and Quest Presets, of course!
Editing Recipe #1:
For the soft black and white look with a warm and romantic tone, use the following presets and tools:
Aletheia Presets - Aletheia BW Base
Quest Tools 08 - ExF Light Leaks - ExF Vintage Tone
The base BW preset gives you a great, clean start to the BW edit, and adding Vintage Tone gives you the soft and warm filmic look with lots of grain
Image by Shelby Mullen
Image by Captured by Destiny LLC
For a more neutral warm-leaning edit, try this recipe:
Perpetua Presets - Perpetua 06, Perpetua Profile at 51 on the Profile Slider, Style - Earthy at 34 on the Preset Slider
The Perpetua BW base with lowered profile gives you a soft and clean BW, adding a bit of Style - Earthy gives it a slightly warmer toning like the nostalgic and filmy black and whites Taylor uses for the new album.
Image by VST Photo
Editing Recipe #2:
For a soft and moody black and white with deep matte shadows and moonlight white highlights, try this recipe!
Amara Presets - Amara 08
Image by Embers and Envelopes
Recipe add ins:
When using Amara 08, you can also lower the profile (below image is set to 30 on the profile slider) and use the Subject preset tools included in Amara to fine-tune how you want your subject and background to interact (brighter background or brighter subject with darker background)
Image by Aleksandra Kubik
For a Quest Preset recipe with a similar look, try:
Quest 31 Mythos Presets - Mythos 04, Quintessence, Aether, Yellow Filter Profile
Image by Helena Duque
Bonus Tip: These recipes works really well with images that have deep dark backgrounds— it would also work well on a studio image with a black background.
Editing Recipe #3:
For a cool-neutral, cinematic black ad white edit (like the black and white “Fortnight” music video), try this recipe:
Quest 33 Trouvaille Presets - Trouvaille 01, Diffuse, Muted
For a cleaner look, you can also omit the Diffuse and Muted presets and opt to only use Trouvaille 01.
Image by Kasia Choma
For an extra dose of soft, romantic glow, try the above recipe and add a tiny amount ExF Vintage Tone from Quest Tools 08 - ExF Light Leaks (the below image has the profile slider at 24)
Image by Aleksandra Kubik
Bonus recipe: Want to use Collodion Presets to achieve a soft, matte, moody vibe? Try this recipe:
Quest 34 Collodion Presets - Collodion 01, Profile at 54 on the Profile Slider, Skin Contrast at 0 on the Preset Slider
Quest 10 ExFilm SE Presets - Expired Film Tone at 51 on the Preset Slider
Image by Mike Meller