When most landscape photographers edit their images they strive for a bright and vivid effect, especially during autumn when beautiful warm, golden tones are just about everywhere you look. But how about marching to the beat of your own drummer by giving images a dark and moody effect that’s full of eye-catching drama?

German landscape photographer Christian Mohrle is the man for the job, and in this 12-minute photoshop tutorial he demonstrates how to create photos with unique a look that will really stand out from the crowd. We recommend downloading the demonstration image with the link beneath the video so you make the adjustments yourself as Mohrle walks you through the step-by-step process.

Mohrle always begins his transformations with a few global adjustments to create a solid base image for the magic that follows. Today’s photo is a forest scene that he crops heavily so two large trees on either side of the scene perfectly frame the dirt path running through the middle. This also gives the image a nice sense of symmetry.

His preliminary enhancements also include switching the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Standard which contributes to his final goal by immediately lessening contrast and preparing the shot for the foggy look he applies later. He also cools off the shot by carefully dropping Color Temperature and increases Tint by a notch for more natural colors. Next he significantly drops exposure, being mindful that he’ll later use masking to selectively reintroduce light in specific portions of the frame.

After a couple more basic adjustments it’s time for the masking to begin. Because the center of the photo is nicely framed by the trees, Mohrle accentuates that area by brightening it up with a large Radial Gradient. He also uses this selection to add light entering the center of the frame from above.

Next comes a Linear Gradient over the bottom portion of the image used to darken the foreground and surrounding areas. Mohrle pays close attention to the histogram to avoid going too far. After applying a couple more masks to achieve a balanced exposure and subtle vignette, color grading is next on his list.

This step with Photoshop’s Color Mixer is really simple, as Mohrle pushes the Saturation of the orange, yellow, blue, and green tones. He also makes use of Spit-Toning tools within the Color Grading panel. All that’s left to complete the impressive transformation is a bit of dodging and cleanup.

You can find more lessons on giving photos a unique look by visiting Mohrle’s instructional YouTube, so take some time to explore if you haven’t done so in the past.

And be sure to check out the recent tutorial we posted with another processing expert, explaining an easy technique for using Luminosity masks that provides ultimate control of exposure and color.

The Middle East’s luxury travel market is evolving rapidly, extending beyond opulent experiences to incorporate heritage, innovation and sustainability. Tourism experts from around the globe will shine a spotlight on the sub-theme of luxury at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will take place from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Don’t miss the chance to grab one

Earlier this week we presented an overview of the most popular lens filters, explaining the basics of how they work to improve the appearance of photos you shoot outdoors. Today we’re taking a look at one category of these affordable accessories; namely, the Neutral Density (ND) filters that are so popular among landscape photographers.

This tutorial come from the AI Photo Guy YouTube channel, but there’s no artificial intelligence involved in today’s episode. Rather, it’s a quick discussion of the different types of ND filters, and why every outdoor photographer should have at least one in their bag. The unnamed instructor refers to the ND filter as an “essential tool for every photographer” because they often enable you to shoot unique imagery that would be impossible to capture without one on your lens.

The ND filter is essentially a light-restricting device, available in various strengths, that provide precise control for limiting the amount light hitting your camera’s sensor. Understanding how they work and using them properly will balance the tones, regardless of the light levels you confront, thereby taking your images to new levels without the chore of extensive editing.

After a brief discussion of the science behind these oft-ignored tools, the video explores the varying strengths of ND filters available and how to select the best option for any given task. Most serious landscape photographers carry a set of these filters with different light-blocking capabilities, but if you’re just getting started it’s possible to get by with just two or three.

By the time you’re done watching you’ll understand the impact these filters have on shutter speed, aperture, and overall image quality. The instructor offers really good tips on using an ND filter to make stunning long exposures under bright light to create eye-catching motion-blur effects, manage reflections, smooth flowing water, and give clouds a cotton-like appearance as they float across the sky.

You’ll also see how the ND filter will help you capture artistic cityscape scenes under a variety of conditions. In short, by following this straightforward advice, the photos you make will easily stand out from the crowd.

The video includes common mistakes to avoid, practical advice for maximizing the results you achieve, and essentially taking your imagery to the next level. You’ll also learn why it’s important to invest in high-quality filters that don’t degrade the optical performance of your prized lenses.

Be sure to check out The AI Guy instructional YouTube channel where you’ll an abundance of tips for all things photographic. And don’t miss the overview mentioned above where you just may discover a couple other filters you “need.”