Today we’re going to demystify the concept of complementary colors to create dynamic and visually captivating photos. This fundamental principle of color theory may sound  overly technical, but it’s actually quite easy to understand and employ.

As you’ll see, complementary colors are placed opposite of each other on the familiar color wheel. But according to instructor Neil Borg, when placed side by side or used together in a composition, complimentary colors create “a high-contrast visual impact.”

Borg is a self-taught landscape and travel photographer, and he explains that this phenomenon “is due to how our eyes and brain perceive colors.” In less than seven minutes he demonstrates how to put this concept to use during the image-editing process and create photos that really grab attention.

He begins with a brief discission of the color wheel so you’ll understand how this editing style works, and here’s the takeaway: “The complimentary colors are at the exact opposite end of the primary colors—which are red, yellow and blue.” This is really all you need to know to use the simple steps that follow.

The first image in the demonstration is a simple street scene in which the complimentary colors of orange and grayish blue work pretty well. But watch what happens when Borg makes a few adjustments to further enhance these tones.

Borg starts by applying a Linear Gradient to the foreground, darkens the exposure, and slightly dehazes the shot. Then he adjusts contrast, does a bit of color grading, and modifies color temperature for a much improved result.

Image number two is a slightly overexposed seascape that Borg captured at sunset from a tranquil beach in New Zealand. This time he employs a quick trick to use complementary colors in a different way. The idea here is to adjust shadows and manipulate specific colors to lead a viewer’s eye through the scene.

Once again, this edit involves color grading, contrast adjustments, and some masking to get the job done, and like with Borg’s first image, the result is quite impressive. We’re confident that by the time you’re done watching you’ll want to add this simple method to your Lightroom bag of tricks.

Borg’s instructional YouTube channel is well worth a visit, so be sure to check it out and see what he has to offer.

We also suggest watching a tutorial we posted earlier, where you’ll learn how pros straighten and crop images for a perfect finishing touch with whatever photo editor you use.

If you’re struggling to capture impressive images of beautiful winter landscape scenes, you’ve come to the right place. The following video from the Light Meets Lens YouTube channel reveals a three-step Lightroom process that will bring out the beauty of what you saw through the viewfinder.

Instructor Nick Kuhn is known for behind-the-scenes tutorials of the Canadian landscape. In this episode he admits that he also had problems with winter landscapes until he developed the straightforward Lightroom workflow that you’ll learn today.

He also sympathizes with the challenges of shooting in winter, explaining that one big problem occurs when the frame includes bright white snow and dark wet areas that can create far too much contrast in your results. These same variables often make post-processing complicated as well—unless you follow Kuhn’s easy-to-follow Kuhn advice that takes him less that 10 minutes to explain.

Kuhns says his goal conveying the enchanting essence of winter involves capturing crisp, rich, detailed, images with accurate contrast and any vibrant colors that appear in a scene. You’ll watch him edit five winter shots and compare them to a handful of photos captured in summer.

By examining the edits you’ll quickly understand the challenges posed by winter and how to resolve them effectively. His first observation when reviewing the winter shots is “just how white the snow is, and just how dark everything else is.” Hence the problem with contrast.

Take a look at Kuhn’s first image and you’ll see that almost all details are lost in a stand of trees behind the snowfield in the foreground. In another example it’s quickly apparent that the camera “totally got the White Balance wrong.” The other winter images he presents have different but equally objectional problems—especially when compared to the photos he shot in summer.

By following Kuhn’s three-step process, while paying close attention to Lightroom’s histogram, you’ll be able to solve just about any issues you confront. After demonstrating the workflow he used for all five winter photos, Kuhn then patiently reviews each of the edits and describes the power of his straightforward technique for every shot.

As you’ll see, it’s a simple method that will enable you to transform ho-hum photographs into stunning winter photographs that really grab attention. So load of a few of your earlier “acceptable” shots into Lightroom, transform them with the techniques you just learned, and you’ll never settle for acceptable again.

There much more to learn on Kuhn’s instructional YouTube channel and in an earlier tutorial we posted, explaining eight unfamiliar Lightroom techniques that will make a big difference in every photograph you shoot in the field.