Using Lightroom’s New Denoise AI to Resurrect Old Noisy Images

It’s a love-hate relationship when you start out in photography. You have the love for a new camera, but the annoyance at feeling so limited.

One of the biggest and most frustrating limitations with an entry-level camera (and stock lenses), is it’s ability to perform in low-light - having to push that ISO up higher just to get a useable image, only to find out that it’s grainy and noisy as hell, and perhaps it’s not as usable as you thought it was when you viewed it on the viewfinder on the back of the camera…

But - fear not! Adobe’s Lightroom has come to your aid with one of it’s latest updates: a pretty awesome new tool in it’s arsenal under “Noise Reduction”, that denoises photographs like a pro.

You’ll find this in the right hand panel under the Develop tab in Lightroom Classic.

Currently, I’m working towards submitting a portfolio of work to the Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) for their annual Honours Awards - which essentially means I’ll be allowed to use a couple of letters after my name saying that I’m recognised by the PSNZ as a competent photographer. (Excellence is another level, but that’s a WHOLE other blog post! lol)

We’re also, however, in the middle of renovating - which is taking up 99% of my time. So the time I thought I would have to put into creating images for my Licentiate Set (“L-set”) application - I just don’t have.

So… it’s time to go back through my archives to fill in the missing pieces.

The only problem is… a lot of my old photo’s were from my original camera - and the grain and noise was pretty high.

I can hear a lot of you out there nodding your heads - I know you feel my pain! lol.

So how do you bring back these noisy photos to make them Portfolio worthy?

So I think this is actually a two pronged solution.

Part 1: Use the new “denoise” button under “Detail” “Noise Reduction” on Lightroom Classic.

Part 2: I can’t say that it’s just the denoise option - my Lightroom skill level is miles better since I first started using it 3 or 4 years ago. So being able to go in and tweak texture and clarity, and do other specific adjustments, has definitely helped also.

My process for this image:

First I did the denoise option - as per the image above.

Then I tweaked some of the settings in the main panel.

Next I went in and did some specific adjustments in the mask section. I used their auto “select subject” and it did pretty well selecting just my wee friend. And then some tweaks on the moth to really bring him out - and we’re getting close to being done!

Using Lightroom Classic’s Subject Select mask tool.

Then just back into the main develop tab, a little cropping and straightening, and we get the end result.

It’s not 100% clear, but the massive difference makes this image a definite contender for both my own personal porfolio and also for my PSNZ application!

Before and After all the edits - even in the dark “before” you can see the huge difference the denoise has made to the “after”.

So, as you can see, it’s still not the clearest image when you get up close - both the limitations of my original Canon Rebel T3i (known as a 600D here in New Zealand), and my photography skill at that point. Macro photography is an art form unto itself - especially if you’re not using a macro lens!

This is zoomed in 200%.

And this is the final image. I’m still not sure if I want to crop more in on this amazing wee friend, but I’m loving what I was able to rescue from an image I didn’t think was useable.

The Pūriri Moth - also known as the Ghost Moth - found predominiantly on the eastern side of only the north island of New Zealand - which is exactly where I found this little guy! Port Waikato holiday park - sitting on the mat outside the laundry door. he was huge - apparently they are new zealands largest and heaviest native moths. We tried to move him, but he kept coming back and sitting on the mat, so we had to leave him there.

Creativity is the centre of photography - but it is super frustrating when you’re in a situation where the equipment you have doesn’t equal up to the vision in your mind or what you hope to capture.

But thankfully, with advances in technology - sometimes - moments we thought were lost can be pulled back.

If you’ve got any success stories - or other tips - drop them in the comments for anyone else reading this! :)

Live the Creative Life - Capture your legacy.

Tracy