Final answer:
The photographer applies a level adjustment, which is a value transformation, to uniformly increase the RGB values and thus brighten the image.
Step-by-step explanation:
The photographer is using a type of value transformation known as level adjustment. This process involves increasing the brightness of an image by adding a fixed amount to the red, green, and blue (RGB) values of each pixel. Since the values are increased uniformly for the red, green, and blue channels, this transformation lightens the image without altering the hues or the saturation of the colors.
By adding 20 to the R, G, and B values of each pixel, the photographer is increasing the lightness or brightness of the image, making it lighter.