What is the purpose of dodging in photography?

Dodging is a technique used in photography to selectively lighten specific areas of an image during the printing process. This method allows the photographer to draw attention to certain elements of the composition by reducing the exposure in those areas, thus creating highlights or softer transitions between light and shadow. By decreasing exposure, dodging enhances the visual impact of the lighter sections, making them stand out more prominently against darker background areas.

The other options do not accurately describe the process of dodging. For instance, increasing the exposure of the entire image would have the opposite effect of what dodging aims to achieve, while applying color filters pertains to altering the hue or tone of the entire image rather than selectively adjusting exposure. Sharpening the image relates to enhancing clarity and detail, which is an entirely different process. Understanding dodging helps photographers control the final outcome of their prints more effectively and achieve a desired artistic vision.