Adventure, discovering unknown landscapes and creatures, long journeys far beyond civilization. All of that belongs to wildlife photography as naturally as a fish belongs to water. But consider this: right now, some photographer might be on a plane to photograph the very animals that live in your backyard. And similarly, you might be planning a trip to their corner of the world to photograph species they find ordinary. So, is travel necessary for wildlife photography?

The quick how-to video below from Photography Together will prove to be a real gamechanger the next time you decide to clean your library, culling duplicates and those that didn’t meet expectations. This new instructional YouTube channel is quickly gaining attention for its beginner-friendly post-processing tutorials.

Here’s how our unnamed instructor describes this image-saving episode: “Color grading a dull photo into a perfect sunset tone is easier than you think, and you can apply this method to any image captured outdoors. Today I’ll guide you through a step-by-step technique that’s perfect for beginners and anyone who loves photo retouching.”

The process begins by expanding the canvas so that you can view both the original and a reference on the workspace. Next, select the Crop tool, drag out the frame, and arrange the two images next to one another. Then drag the reference image into Photoshop and position it to the right of the original.

This initial setup makes easier to compare and choose colors with precision. The typical approach is to go directly to Match Color, select and apply the reference, and consider the job done. The problem with this familiar approach is that it often results in images with uneven brightness and an unwanted color cast that simply isn’t realistic.

This point is painfully obvious as you view several examples clearly illustrate the dilemma. The remainder of the straightforward lesson ignores this image-killing method and demonstrates a foolproof technique that’s just as easy to accomplish while delivering significantly superior image quality for believable sunset transformations.

Once you’re done watching head over to the Photoshop Together You Tube channel where you can pick up more solid advice for editing your work.

We also recommend watching an earlier tutorial we featured with an Australian post-processing expert who discusses a handful of popular Lightroom sliders that you’re probably using wrong, with straightforward solutions so that the images you edit appear natural and intentional.

Lightroom features a variety of simple sliders that are designed to streamline the image-editing process for beginners and more experienced users alike. When used properly these straightforward tools are a big help for balancing exposure, color, contrast and saturation so that your edits appear natural and intentional.

But here’s the rub: Sometime these sliders behave differently than what you’d expect, and image quality will suffer as a result. We’ll bring you up to speed on doing this right with the following 12-minute video from image-editing expert Gerard Needham.

Needham’s promise is this: “I’m going to show you five Lightroom sliders that you’re most probably using wrong with regards to getting a balanced-looking image while avoiding that overprocessed look—even if you’ve been editing for years.”

Along the way, Needham includes a few quick bonus tips like how to create that long-time Leica look that’s a bit soft overall but includes sharp and dramatic “micro contrast.” The video kicks off with two familiar sliders, Exposure and Contrast, that most people think are straightforward but almost always use them in isolation.

Needham says that this duo of sliders may be Lightroom’s most powerful options, and they greatly compliment one another when employed in harmony. Unfortunately, they also have the potential to fight against one another when applied carelessly or in the wrong manner. As you’ll learn there’s a no-brainer solution.

Next on the list is discussion of the Vibrance and Saturation sliders that may seem to function in similar ways, but they actually offer different benefits with regard to the overall color balance you achieve. In other words, it’s not a matter of either or, but rather understanding how to use them in tandem in the correct sequence.

There’s much more to learn as the eye-opening video proceeds, and by the time it concludes you’ll want to update your everyday Lightroom workflow accordingly.

Be sure not to miss the Photoshop primer we featured with another post-processing expert who reveals six beginner-friendly Curves tricks that will effortlessly transform every image you edit.

Hasselblad just announced the followup to their medium format X2D camera, the X2D II 100C. The new camera is an improvement in many ways, most notably the addition of continuous autofocus (AF-C) and the lower price. Hasselblad also announced a high-end 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E lens at an unexpected price. Here’s what you should know!