Adobe recently added two new AI Masks to Lightroom 12.3 (and Camera Raw). Unfortunately, one performs just fine, but the other “works terribly” according to the trustworthy Photoshop Café YouTube channel. There is, however, a quick fix, as you’ll see in the quick tutorial below.

Photographer Colin Smith is one of our favorite image-editing instructors and he explains that both new AI-based masks are intended to make processing portrait photos faster and more efficient than ever. A

The first masking tool is a big help for subjects with facial hair. Smith says it works pretty well, and he demonstrates a few tricks to make it function even better. The other new tool is designed for working on the model’s clothing. Unfortunately, Smith says this one is a mess “out-of-the-box,” but he demonstrates how to make it perform as intended.

Smith begins with the Facial Hair Mask, and walks you through the process. He pulls up a nice portrait of a male model with a full beard to demonstrate how this feature works—with an interesting twist. Once you choose Develop the AI-magic begins.

First you grab a mask by clicking on the icon at the top right of the screen, and then you select your subject. Next you select Facial Hair from a list of options (if the person in the image doesn’t have a hairy face, that choice is absent).

Now Smith demonstrates the step-by step method for editing the image in whatever way you desire. You can adjust variables like exposure, clarity, and a host of other variables. You can even make the beard smoother or give it a dramatic “wiry look.

So far so good. But now it’s time for the Select Clothes tool, which appears lower down in the list of masking options mentioned earlier. When Smith first opened this up, he asked himself, “Why did they even ship this?” because the resulting mask  is so sloppy.

Fortunately, it only takes Smith three minutes to set things straight and demonstrate the best way to use the tool now that’s it’s working well. There’s much more to learn on Smith’s instructional YouTube channel, so be to take a look—especially when you run into a snag.

We also recommend watching the tutorial we posted recently from another expert, explaining the best way to use Lightroom presets. And you’ll be able to download some for free!

Most landscape photographers’ weapon of choice is a wide-angle lens—typically in the range of 24-35mm. But if you’re lucky enough to own an ultra-wide lens, and know how to use it properly, it’s possible to capture truly breathtaking photos of expansive vistas.

We emphasize using these unique lenses properly because they can be difficult to master, and that’s the emphasis of today’s tutorial from the Remontheroad YouTube channel—an acronym for professional photographer Remi Bergougroux.

Bergougroux is a popular French educator specializing in landscape and travel imagery, with an impressive portfolio of gorgeous work—some of which was captured in exotic locations. He began his photographic journey at the tender age of 10 after acquiring his first SLR. Now he’s an acclaimed pro willing to share the secrets to his success.

He says he created this comprehensive guide with the goal of helping others take stunning landscape images with an ultra-wide lens. Bergougroux further promises, “once mastered, an ultra-wide lens can produce astonishing and wonderful landscape photos.”

This behind-the-scenes episode takes place in the stunning Lofoten Islands, a destination on the bucket list of landscape photographers across the globe. Bergougroux begins with a bit of optical theory and discusses why you should experiment with shooting in both portrait and landscape orientation.

While most landscape images are photographed using the latter perspective, Bergougroux surprisingly prefers making landscape images in portrait orientation when using ultra-wide glass. He explains the techniques involved, and provides examples of both types of images so you can see for yourself.

You’ll pick up more helpful advice while watching Bergougroux work his magic amidst the amazing surroundings. Focus isn’t usually a big issue with ultra-wide lenses because of their inherently prodigious depth of field, but he imparts some knowledge that you’ll find important.

There’s also helpful discussion of composition, and you’ll see why it’s usually necessary to frame scenes much differently than when using a more conventional wide-angle lens. The lesson wraps up with an interesting self-critique of a few photos Bergougroux captured on the trip.

You can see more stunning imagery by taking a trip to Bergougroux’s YouTube channel, and pick up a variety of tips and tricks while you’re there. And don’t miss the earlier tutorial we posted from another accomplished pro, demonstrating how to shoot spring and summer macro photographs with a creative flair.

There’s one constant when shooting outdoor photographs: You’re always at the mercy of Mother Nature, and she’s anything but predictable. So you have two choices when weather is threatening or the light is less that ideal. You can either learn how to deal with it or go home.

Taking a pass when conditions are challenging is something no one wants to do, especially after traveling to a location when an easy return isn’t possible. That leaves us with making the best of a bad situation, which is what you’ll learn how to do in the tutorial below.

French photographer Serge Ramelli is one of our favorite outdoor photographers, with an exuberant teaching style that’s enjoyable to watch. The tips he provides will improve your results, whether you’re shooting landscapes, outdoor portraits, cityscapes, or something else in the great outdoors.

This comprehensive 24-minute lesson provides a wide range of practical tips using the knowledge Ramelli has accrued for creating dynamic imagery in uninspiring conditions. He explores how to make the most of available light, and demonstrates several of his tricks for creating interesting, dynamic compositions on dull days.

There’s also an editing component to this very helpful lesson, in addition to his discussion of gear, camera settings, and other technical matters. Ramelli promises to, “show you how to take these overcast images into Lightroom to get an epic color photo, a dramatic black-and-white, and a panorama.”

Ramelli uses some very nice images to illustrate his advice, and he covers a lot of ground in a hurry. So you may want to have pen and paper handy and jot down a few notes. By the end of the video you’ll realize that gorgeous images can be captured on dull days.

Ramelli makes another bold promise that we feel you can trust: “Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, this will provide you with plenty of insights and techniques for capturing stunning images and retouching them in Lightroom—no matter what the weather or lighting is like.”

There’s much more great advice for shooting and editing outdoor photos on Ramelli’s popular YouTube channel. So take a close look and learn from this accomplished pro.

And don’t miss the tutorial we posted from anther successful shooter, with three powerful landscape photography tips that everyone should know.

Macro season is in full swing, with colorful flowers, interesting insects, and other creepy-crawlies just about everywhere you look, so if you still haven’t dusted off your trusty close-up lens, now is the time.

The nice thing about macro photography in spring and summer is that you don’t have to travel further than your own backyard to discover a wide-variety of appropriate subjects. The tutorial below from a British expert has a bunch of great tips for capturing the best images possible.

Instructor Andrew Lanxon is a world traveler, shooting beautiful photos of landscapes and macro imagery. This behind-the-scenes episode is all about the latter, with a discussion of camera settings, composition, helpful accessories, and other straightforward techniques that will make your images really stand out.

While exploring a lush woodland area near Edinburg’s busy coast, Lanxon provides several creative ideas for giving macro shots an artistic flair. He also demonstrates how he uses focus stacking during the editing process for really sharp results.

Many outdoor photographers prefer shooting with natural light, and sometimes that is all you need. But, depending upon conditions, a bit of supplemental illumination will make a big difference in your results. With that in mind, Lanxon demonstrates how he uses LED and flash lighting to make eye-popping photos.

Lanxon concentrates on mushrooms and a few blossoms during this excursion, but everything you’ll learn is appropriate for capturing other macro subjects—especially during this time of year when the landscape is bursting with life. As you’ll see, he prefers using a small tabletop tripod, not a full-sized model, for two basic reasons.

As he explains, tabletop tripods are compact and lightweight, making them effortless to carry on a long day in the field. Secondly, these small camera supports can be placed atop a tree stump, flat rock, or even on the ground for convenient low-angle shooting.

Lanxon discusses the focal length he prefers, and why backing off from maximum magnification can result in a more pleasing composition. He also demonstrates how to make subjects stand out by blurring the background with an appropriate aperture setting.

After watching Lanxon’s spring excursion, take a quick trip of your own to his instructional YouTube channel for more outdoor photography tips and tricks. We also recommend you check out the tutorial we posted from another accomplished pro, explaining how to use the Sunny 16 Rule to capture properly exposed images without a camera’s light meter.