We’ve all come across an interesting scene that would make a spectacular shot in better light. Sometime the problem is a bland day, while other times your vantage point relative to the sun is not where you need it to be. In either case, this tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel demonstrates how to win the challenge—even if you have to create glorious light of your own during post-processing.
Instructor Christian Mohrle is a very successful photographer based near Germany’s beautiful Lake Constance. He’s also an image-editing expert, and in this episode he demonstrates a powerful workflow that never fails when the light just isn’t right. We suggest downloading his sample Raw file with the link beneath the video so you can emulate his changes as they’re explained.
This minimalist shot with a pretty building on the horizon has potential, but the sky is really bland, there’s no light hitting the structure, and the foreground is dark and dull. But watch what happens when Mohrle gives mother nature a helping hand by using Lightroom masks to introduce stunning golden light while balancing out the tones to perfection.
Mohrle’s goal for the original image is to “create a beautiful light effect coming in from the left side of the frame, hitting the landscape in the foreground and the subject in the center.” The sky gets a spectacular boost as well. Mohrle anticipated problems with this contrast-rich scene and shot multiple images at different exposures. Thus the first step is merging all five shots into a single HDR image.
Next on the list are a few basic adjustments to the merged file to make it as good as possible for the masking magic that follows. He changes the profile from Adobe Color to Adobe Landscape which immediately bumps up saturation. He also increases base exposure, gently brings up the whites, and drops highlights to retain as much color information as possible in the sky.
After a few more straightforward local adjustments, the fun begins by employing masks to achieve the local adjustments necessary for creating the beautiful effect. Mohrle walks you through the simple step-by-step process for enhancing specific areas within the frame without affecting others.
All that’s left to create the dramatic transformation is some thoughtful color grading and sharpening. You’ll definitely be impressed after viewing Mohrle’s before/after images.
There’s much more to learn on the instructional PHLOG Photography YouTube channel, so make sure you pay a visit and explore what’s available.
And don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with another post-processing expert who demonstrates how to restore image quality to blurry, pixelated photographs with a straightforward editing technique.
Macro photography provides a year-round opportunity for shooting stunning images, whether you subjects are budding flowers in the spring, insects during summer, or fascinating snowflakes in winter. If you’ve been disappointed with closeups in the past, this quick video from the Wildlife with Rich channel will significantly boost your results.
Rich is a professional wildlife shooter who’s also known for enchanting nature imagery and quick tutorials that demonstrate no-nonsense techniques that anyone can emulate. He kicks off today’s episode by saying, “In this video we will be taking a simple composition of a mushroom and looking at tips you can enhance all of your macro photos.”
These simple methods work wonders for all types of macro photography, and the discussion includes dealing with foregrounds and backgrounds properly to isolate and accentuate the subject, and how to choose the most effective camera angles and vantage points for more compelling compositions.
You’ll also learn a bit about the right gear for the job and see how to enhance contrast by using light to maximum advantage. The solitary mushroom that Rich found on the forest floor is about as simple a subject as can be. But watch how his three simple tricks transform the striking images he makes in barely three minutes.
His first goal is to improve the flat scene by introducing more contrast, and this involves maximizing both the foreground and background in the frame. The challenge is this: “The subject and background are the same color, and there’s not a lot of subject separation between them” to grab the eye.
Watch how quickly things change as Rich merely takes a couple steps to the right. This creates more depth and dimension because the prominent log is no longer directly behind the mushroom—and the subject is now slightly further away. With this simple shift, the background now takes on a blurry appearance that he accentuates further as the lesson proceeds.
The next step in the process is drawing attention the beige mushroom by throwing a bit of color contrast into the background, and Rich does this by strategically placing a few vibrant yellow/orange beech leaves in the frame. And now the mushroom begins to “pop.” He then takes a similar approach to separate his subject from the foreground with equally impressive results.
The episode concludes with Rich demonstrating how to use a cheap, pocket-sized LED light that throws just enough light into the frame to enhance contrast for a perfect effect. And since it’s a constant source of illumination, rather than a flash, there are no complex settings to worry about, and you can move the little light around until you see exactly what you want.
There much more to learn on the Wildlife with Rich YouTube channel. And for an essential solution to a different type of fungus, be sure to watch the tutorial we posted recently, demonstrating a safe and sure method for removing image-killing fungus from contaminated lenses.
Wonderful things begin to happen once the sun drops below the horizon, whether you’re shooting in the field or on the streets near your home. Sparkling stars grace the sky, a moon often illuminates the landscape, and urban scenes that appeared boring during the day take on a magical look.
Today’s beginners guide comes from the Providence Photography YouTube channel—a prolific source of shooting and editing tutorials for novices and experienced shooters alike. This helpful primer is designed for the former and demonstrates how to make nighttime the right time for shooting outdoors.
The 16-minute video is quite comprehensive, so you may want to jot down a few notes.The unnamed instructor covers everything from essential gear, camera settings, and shooting techniques, to processing tips for creating stunning imagery shot in low light conditions.
By following this pro advice you’ll be able to make attention-grabbing photos of cityscapes, moody reflections, landscape scenes with starry skies, colorful light trails and more. The instructor explains his approach to the task like this: “Night photography is about more than just capturing what you see after dark, it’s about embracing the mystery and beauty that the night brings.”
One trick is understanding how to balance low light levels with the intriguing motion that often occurs, and choosing the right equipment is the first step in unlocking this potential. A sturdy tripod is your #1 weapon for avoiding camera shake when shooting with slow shutter speeds. And fast lenses, like an affordable 50mm f/1.8, will gather as much light as possible to keep you from raising ISO beyond reasonable limits.
It’s also a good idea to have a small flashlight or headlamp in your bag so that you’re not fumbling around in the dark when configuring the camera and moving from one location to another. This brings up the topic of camera settings, which “are crucial for capturing sharp well-exposed night photos,” and our instructor provides some great advice for dealing with a various situations.
Once you find a great location, set up your gear, and get the camera settings right, the challenge is just beginning. That’s because all can be for naught without proper technique— which typically differs greatly from how you shoot during the day. You learn several foolproof methods that will bring home the money shots.
The lesson concludes by demonstrating a straightforward post-processing workflow for making your great images even more enchanting. One you’re done, head over to the Providence Photography YouTube channel for more pro shooting and editing advice.
Understanding the dynamic range of your camera’s sensor is also very important when shooting at night, and we recently featured this simple home test that reveals exactly what you need to know.
