Distracting elements can ruin an otherwise beautiful wildlife image — and unfortunately, in the field, you often don’t get a second chance to reframe or remove what’s in the scene.
That’s why in this week’s free training, Matt Kloskowski dives into one of the most requested editing topics for bird and wildlife photographers: how to remove distractions cleanly and effectively using tools in Lightroom, Camera Raw, and Photoshop.
If you’ve ever struggled with branches, sky spots, water ripples, or bright patches pulling attention away from your subject, this one’s for you.
Why Distraction Removal Matters
In other types of photography, you can usually control your scene. You can move the subject, reframe, or clean up in advance. Not so with birds and wildlife. You often have to take the shot when it happens — clutter and all.
That doesn’t mean your edit has to be stuck with those distractions.
Start Simple: Lightroom or Camera Raw
Matt starts with the Remove tool (the eraser icon) in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, or Camera Raw.
- It works best with simple, non-detailed backgrounds like blue sky or blurred foliage.
- Try it without AI first — it usually does a good job.
- For tougher areas, you can turn on Generative AI, which helps rebuild larger or more complex parts of the scene.
Matt shows how to gently paint over distractions, compare before/after, and decide whether it’s time to jump into Photoshop.
Go Deeper: Photoshop Tools That Actually Work
Once inside Photoshop, Matt walks through his favorite tool: the Remove tool.
This newer Photoshop feature has replaced many older options (healing brush, clone stamp, etc.) for one big reason — it works near edges and high-contrast areas without smudging or blurring.
Key points:
- You can use it with or without AI depending on contest rules.
- Always check contest guidelines before using AI tools (your responsibility as the photographer).
- Paint over multiple areas, then hit “Apply” once — no need to wait between strokes.
Matt also explains when to:
- Use a blank layer for non-destructive edits
- Flatten the image when you’re confident in your result
- Accept that not every fix will be perfect (sometimes, you just have to pick your battles)
For Bigger Problems: Generative Fill & Content-Aware
When you’re dealing with major distractions — like bright patches in a busy background — Matt demos two tools side-by-side:
- Content-Aware Fill (old-school, still useful)
- Generative Fill (Photoshop’s AI-powered background creator)
He shows how to:
- Use the lasso tool to make a loose selection
- Let each tool try to replace the area
- Cycle through Generative Fill variations and choose the one that blends best
These work best with out-of-focus backgrounds, where slight texture differences aren’t noticeable — even in print.
Final Tip: Mix and Match Tools
Sometimes, the best fix is a combo of simple and advanced tools.
Matt shows how you can:
- Use the Remove tool for smaller spots
- Apply Generative Fill only when necessary
- Keep your layers organized for easy tweaks later
Watch the Full Tutorial
Watch the video above to see how Matt removes distractions without over-editing or creating obvious patchwork? He walks through several real-world examples in this week’s video.
This is the third lesson in our free wildlife editing series — and more are on the way.