Some landscape scenes look far more compelling when rendered in b&w, whether you captured the shot using your camera’s monochrome mode or do a conversion later during the editing process. In either case, some thoughtful processing is required for optimum results.

Today’s tutorial from the PHOLOG Photography YouTube channel demonstrates a straightforward edit for achieving epic b&w landscapes using Lightroom Classic. And this easy technique work wonders for virtually all forms of outdoor photography. As you’ll see, color adjustment can help, even with b&w Raw files.

Instructor Christian Mohrle is a favorite among Shutterbug reader because of his ability to simplify seemingly complicated tasks. In this episode he covers everything from cropping and other basic adjustments, to masking, sharpening, and more.

We encourage you to download Mohrle’s sample Raw file with the link beneath the video so you can make the adjustment yourself as they’re explained. Mohrle crops the image to eliminate unimportant areas in the frame, and then opens Lightroom’s basic panel to switch the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Monochrome.

His basic adjustments continue with dropping exposure to create the “dark and grim” look he desires. He then increases whites while dropping blacks and shadows to create dramatic contrast. Paying close attention to the histogram during these steps proves very helpful.

Mohrle is looking for a sharp and clear image so he pumps up Texture and significantly increases Clarity. He also drops Dehaze to introduce the impression of fog. A few other quick tweaks and it’s time for the selective adjustments that really perfect the transformation.

Here Mohrle begins with simple masking to create the look of light entering the scene from the top left of the frame, with the remainder of the image remaining rather dark. He does this by first applying a Linear Gradient to the opposite side of the image to further darken the top right of the scene.

There’s also a Linear Gradient over the foreground for a few adjustments there and a Radial Gradient over the top left portion of the frame that Mohrle uses to create the lighting effect mentioned earlier.

The final step in the b&w edit is a bit of color grading; yes, you heard that correctly. Mohrle turns to the Color Grading tab and adds subtle blue tones to the shadows and midtones of the image, because “I personally don’t like the basic black-and-white-look.” He also adds  a slight bit of saturation to improve this effect.

Mohrle’s YouTube channel is full of great advice for landscape photography so be sure to take a look. And don’t miss the tutorial we posted last week, explaining how to use both positive and negative Clarity to enhance outdoor photographs.

The post What Are 3D Render Videos? appeared first on Real Estate Photography in Dallas-Fort Worth.

This week I had the opportunity to test some very interesting products. I can’t wait to introduce them to you and tell you what I liked more and what I liked less. I’m going to be a bit mysterious, so for now I’ll just reveal that it was a long-awaited lens and a very unusual camera. The photo shown below was taken with that very lens. Can you guess what I had attached to the Nikon Z8?

Every year we publish the link to this useful map to help photographers and nature lovers connect with fall foliage at its peak. Folks planning travel to or living in the New York City area or points slightly south can expect to find abundant arboreal action around October 16. Predictions do not come with ironclad guarantees, and wise travelers make decisions based on multiple sources.

The actual SmokyMountains.com map currently shows the date range from September 4 through November 20 and is updated weekly. The image at the top of this story has been edited to fit our format.

Maps aside, the best way to gauge the up-to-date fall foliage coloration process is to contact a friend or hotel owner in the area of interest. An eyewitness report from a reliable individual always tops a map or marketing department.

FLIPBOARD
You probably already subscribe to (or at least know about) FLIPBOARD; millions rely on it for consolidated information about subjects they’re most interested in. The photography material is especially robust.

If you’re a newcomer or only an intermittent FLIPBOARD viewer, start here: 9 Flipboard Magazines for photographers. The depth of knowledge on FLIPBOARD is staggering.

Those seeking intel on fall color changes will find plenty at Flipboard #Vermont. The state of Vermont is practically synonymous with autumn foliage, but in the final analysis, many other states equal or surpass that state’s opulence. That’s a very subjective and easily arguable assessment; we cite this link because broader areas of New England are found there.

World Outlook for Fabulous Color
We’re guardedly optimistic about the prospects for 2023. This summer was the hottest since records began in 1940. More disturbingly, perhaps, the month just ending was the hottest August on record (on a worldwide basis).

What does the super heat mean for fall foliage? No one can answer with any certainty, but there may be a message within these statistics: get out and shoot pictures of the beautiful autumn colors while they’re still happening.

—Jon Sienkiewicz