If there’s one overriding post-processing strategy it’s to avoid image-killing mistakes by apply enhancements carefully and with restraint. That’s because a heavy-handed approach often results in “overcooked” photos that have a strange relationship with reality.

This episode from our friends at f64 Academy takes a deep dive into three specific sliders in Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR)—Dehaze, Texture, and Clarity—that require very special care. And as instructor Blake Rudis warns, “these settings can potentially destroy photographs if overused.”

Rudis is a post-processing expert whose popular YouTube channel has this laudable motto: “We strive for the best Photoshop tutorials, and we pledge to leave no photographer of any skill level behind.” The goal of today’s how-to video is to help you avoid overly processed images and create balanced, professional edits with natural-looking results.

In the next 15 minutes you’ll learn when why the aforementioned sliders can cause problems when applied globally instead of selectively, and Rudis provides several effective alternative techniques for achieving superior results. He also demonstrates how to apply Dehaze, Texture, and Clarity enhancements locally to fine-tune these effects for more control and a much cleaner look.

Unlike most of the tutorials we post, this one begins with clear-cut advice on what NOT to do, and many of us—beginners and pros alike—could have greatly benefitted many times in the past by understanding these common errors.

With the mistakes out of the way Rudis turns his attention to what you really want to know; namely practical tips for using Dehaze, Texture, and Clarity tools to maximize image quality, enhance workflow, and take your photo editing to the next level.  Bottom: use the proper techniques and do so with moderation. You can always go back and increase any of the effects after scrutinizing your initial attempt.

The popular f/64 Academy YouTube channel is full of very helpful tutorials like this one. So be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore.

We also recommend watching a post-processing tutorial featuring another Adobe expert who demonstrates a powerful Lightroom technique for shifting colors to transform dull photographs into keepers with a much more attractive color palette.

This eye-opening tutorial falls into the category of “don’t believe everything you’ve been told.” The discussion involves several common myths regarding ISO that need to be debunked if you want to achieve optimum image quality in nature scene, landscape photos, and other images captured in the field.

Instructor Steve Arnold is an Australian pro whose popular YouTube channel is devoted to “helping landscape photographers level-up their shooting and Photoshop skills and create images they can be proud of.” This comprehensive episode will enable you to do exactly that by understanding the dos and don’ts of choosing the best ISO setting for various subjects and lighting conditions.

Arnold debunks three common ISO rules, explains why and how these misconceptions make images suffer, and what you should do instead to achieve the cleanest possible shots. He begins with a problem that some photographers face when shooting fast-moving subjects against constantly changing backgrounds. One example is birds in flight against any backdrop other than the sky.

He explains the challenge like this: “When a bird keeps flying between light and dark areas you need a quick way to get a proper exposure without sacrificing sharpness.” In short, wasting time fumbling around with camera settings could cause you to miss the peak of action.

The solution is simple: Use Auto ISO, even with your camera in Manual mode. This way you pick either the aperture, shutter speed (or both), and the camera brightens or darkens the scene automatically by determining the most appropriate ISO as your subject moves across the frame. He also demonstrates a few potential pitfalls when taking this approach, and when you should avoid metering on the sky.

Arnold also has a trick for those of you who are uncomfortable with shooting in Manual, and it goes like this: set Aperture and ISO to a fixed value and think of shutter speed as a “brightness dial” for making the photo lighter or darker. Or if you’re concerned with creative techniques, like capturing the precise amount of motion, you can set shutter speed as the fixed value and treat ISO as your brightness dial.  

At this point we’ve barely scratched the surface of the Arnold’s recommended techniques so pay close attention as the video proceeds. Then head over to his instructional YouTube channel where there are many more straightforward episodes that will quickly improve your skills.

Be sure to watch the closely related tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates four “essential” techniques for capturing perfectly exposed photographs of birds when there’s a bright sky in the background.