Take a close look at the landscape photographs you admire most and you’ll likely discern a powerful common denominator; namely, a thoughtful attention-grabbing “depth range.” The video below from Andy Hutchinson describes this oft-ignored concept and demonstrates how to create the effect during post processing.
Unlike most of our in-depth image-editing tutorials, this one demonstrates a small, lesser-known trick that adds a beautiful finishing touch to nature and landscape images shot under various conditions. All it takes to get the job done is precisely apply contrast according the depth range of your shot.
Hutchison is an Australian pro whose popular YouTube channel shares lessons on everything from outdoor shooting techniques and drone photography to practical post-processing advice for editors of all skill levels. In today’s eye-opening episode he explains how and why this subtle trick works, and he provides clear instructions for applying depth masks to your work.
Hutchinson describes this method as perceptual editing. He puts it like this: “I’m going to show you how to use depth masks to accentuate how our eyes interpret depth and focus by processing images in a way that reinforces what we naturally see—rather than how a camera sensor captures data.”
After a quick nod to the science Hutchinson turns his attention to the many benefits of depth maps, how to generate them, and why these simple tools belong in your everyday workflow. He suggests thinking of depth maps as “a kind of see-through map that paints the immediate foreground in white and the most-distance background in black.”
Unlike other methods like a linear gradient, for example, a depth mask changes according to what’s in the image at hand. As Hutchinson says, “this is important because sometimes distant things and near things sit next to each other within the frame. He provides the example of a seaside cliff edge photographed side-on to the adjacent sea.
Next on the agenda is a step-by-step demonstration for employing depth maps to significantly enhance photos that don’t quite make the grade. Everything you need to know is right there, whether use Adobe software or other apps with depth-map capability like On1 PhotoRaw.
There are many more how how-to videos to be found on Hutchison’s instructional YouTube channel. And be sure to watch a similar tutorial from a German post-processing expert who demonstrates how he uses Lightroom to give dull landscape photos a realistic atmospheric lighting effect that introduces greater depth and dimension.
Day 2 of the World Aviation Festival 2025 in Lisbon brought together some of the most influential voices in global aviation, with government leaders, airline CEOs, and industry innovators addressing the sector’s defining challenges – resilience in a geopolitical world of uncertainty, the urgent need for decarbonisation, and the transformative potential of technology.
Over 4,500 global leaders are attending the festival at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, with more than 600 speakers and 400 travel tech companies showcasing the latest developments in aviation.
26 October 2025 marks a profound national milestone – 40 years since the Australian Government returned the title deeds of Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa National Park to its Traditional Owners, the Aṉangu People.
The 1985 handback was not just a legal shift. It was a cultural and spiritual affirmation of connection to Country, the recognition of Traditional Ownership, and a new beginning for Aboriginal-led tourism – built on respect, storytelling and deep time knowledge. It sparked a national conversation about custodianship and paved the way for other landmark returns of land across Australia.
