This tutorial demonstrates the magic of a “Vaseline technique” that will impart a soft, dreamy look to just about any image you shoot. This method isn’t exactly new, but it’s rarely discussed among digital photographers who typically apply software filters to create special effects.

Likewise, there are camera lens filters designed for similar effects, but instructor Eva Polak explains why the old-school Vaseline method provides more control. One reason is that you can experiment with different smears to craft a unique vision.

Polak is a notable impressionist photographer specializing in unique methods that immerse viewers in the beauty of fleeting moments “where every frame tells a story.” All you need to accomplish today’s trick is your camera and lens, a skylight filter, and a small dab of Vaseline. As she says, “this technique is perfect for achieving a poetic, painterly effect right in the camera.”

So buckle up, grab your filter and a little jar of gooey magic and let’s turn an everyday subject into a beautiful, artistic masterpiece in the next eight minutes. Polak discusses the types of subjects that work best for this approach, how to configure the camera to achieve optimum results, and why a tripod can be a big help when setting up a shot.

She also demonstrates a few compositional tips, and how your camera position relative to the light factors into to the equation. Creating photos with this painterly effect relies upon understanding various ways you can “paint” Vaseline on the filter with your finger to alter the results.

The fun part of this method is there’s no one “right way” to get the job done. Rather it’s all about a keen eye and a willingness to experiment until you like what you see. The only problem is that’s it can be difficult to stop once you get going because the variations possible are virtually limitless.

Bottom line: Vaseline isn’t just for skin, and a small tub deserves a spot in your everyday camera bag. Be sure to check out Polak’s instructional YouTube channel if impressionist photography strikes your fancy.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured with another creative pro who demonstrates how to use water reflections to capture unique photographs after the sun drops below the horizon.

We typically strive for photos with precise sharpness, vibrance, and impressive color balance when shooting outdoors. But in this tutorial from one of our favorite instructors you’ll learn why and how a subdued foggy effect can draw attention by conveying an ethereal, atmospheric mood.

The point of this episode from Anthony Morganti isn’t to sit on your heels until fog rolls in and covers the landscape, but rather understanding how to create the engaging effect yourself during post-processing in Lightroom. It’s a straightforward technique that only takes eight minutes to explain, and even less time to achieve.

Morganti is a globally popular educator, photo retoucher and post-processing impresario based in Buffalo, NY. As you’ll see, the goal isn’t just to introduce fog into a scene, but to do so in a believable, natural-looking way that could have been created by Mother Nature herself.

Morganti demonstrates the step-by-step process with Lightroom Classic, but the workflow you’ll learn works equally well with the Cloud version of Lightroom. He says this effect is particularly effective when editing nighttime images, you’ll also see how effective it can be when shooting landscape or wildlife photographs during the day.

Here’s an important consideration before delving into the specifics adjustments: “When you add fog to an image to make it appear realistic you’ll often have to take the fog off the main subject of the scene.” That’s because fog is typically most apparent further back in the frame.

He illustrates this point with a shot of a deer standing on a forest path, and photos of pedestrians in a cityscape shots. For this particular task the editing sequence is very important, and Morganti recommends completing other enhancements before using masking to introduce the fog.

One benefit to this interesting approach is that it doesn’t require that you shoot any new images before giving the technique a try. All you have to do is select a couple bright, vibrant photos from your library and employ Morganti’s tips to create a totally different look. Then a quick comparison will reveal the version you like most.

Morganti’s instructional YouTube channel is a valuable resource for post-processing tips, tricks, and techniques, so be sure to pay a visit and explore what’s available.

We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured with another Adobe specialist who demonstrates how to give photographs an awe-inspiring Split-Tone effect when processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Water reflections can be a powerful element when shooting after dark, transforming a ho-hum image into a money shot. This tutorial is another simple primer from the My Photo Journey YouTube channel, and it explains everything necessary for using reflections to boost the impact of a photo.

Today’s British instructor goes by the handle Dawley Lad, and he specializes in videos for photographer who are interested in expanding their skills by trying something new. Today’s lesson is presented in the contest of urban street photography, but it also has other applications—like photographing ponds or still lakes with reflections of the moon and starry skies above.

In this behind-the-scenes episode you’ll follow Dawley as he explores the English town of Lincoln, looking for wet spots in the pavement that reflect the colorful lights of the city. As he illustrates, “These reflections add an amazing dynamic to the photos—making them pop with vibrancy and depth.”

The tutorial begins with a discussion of the gear Dawley recommends with a focus on cameras and lenses that provide excellent flexibility and low-light performance. His kit for this shoot includes an Olympus EM1 Mark II, paired with 17mm f/1.8 and 45mm f/1.8 fast prime lenses.

Dawley then turns to more technical matters like exposure settings, composition techniques, and the importance of camera angle, vantage point, and positioning yourself properly relative to the reflections. Unlike with conventional nighttime photography, for this assignment he prefers the flexibility of hand-holding the camera because, “this allows for more creative compositions.”

One technique that Dawley employs with regularity is positioning his camera as low as possible to the surface of the water (another reason that tripods can be inconvenient). As he says, “You’ll see me crouching down, practically touching the ground, to capture those perfect reflections.”

You can find more inspiriting tips and techniques by visiting the MY Photo Journey YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out when you have time.

And don’t miss the earlier tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how to understand, read and use the oft-ignored histogram to take control and consistently make photographs with perfect exposure.