Most photographers are always on the lookout for effective editing tips that shorten the time they spend sitting behind the computer. The goal, of course, is to finish post-processing as quickly as possible and get back out in the field doing what we all love most.

The tutorial below is designed to do exactly that by using a simple slider to avoid more time-consuming tools. This is another episode from Park Cameras, a leading retailer in the UK that’s been around for over 50 years. Most of the lessons they post are short and to the point, and this one runs only five minutes.

Today’s discussion is all about using Lightroom’s simple Midtone slider instead of the other more involved tools that “sometimes don’t always cut it” depending upon the image at hand. The Midtone slider, on the other hand, easily make images more compelling by brightening or darkening midtones—sometimes even both,

Gareth Evans is the popular instructor for the weekly tutorials shared by Park Cameras. His lessons are not only informative, but also really fun to watch because of the entertaining style he uses to demonstrate his very helpful tips.

As Evans explains, adjusting exposure with the conventional approach is to use tools like the Tone Curve to improve highlights and shadows. But when your goal is to specifically target midtones there’s an effective and much easier approach.

Evans demonstrates how the Midtone slider can make a big difference in an image, and it does so without affecting highlights or shadows. By using this approach, midtones almost appear as though you used “negative dehaze” in a very subtle way.

Evans provides multiple images to illustrate the effectiveness of this method, and you’ll see how it improves detail and tonal values in clouds, adds much-needed contrast just where you want it, and a few other enhancements.

You can find more helpful lessons like this by visiting the Park Cameras YouTube channel on a weekly basis.

And for another Lightroom trick for accelerating your workflow check out the tutorial we shared earlier, explaining a one-click trick for better edits in Lightroom.

Many of us received a lot of advice when first getting started in photography, as is common whenever one embraces a new pursuit. And much of what we were told was based on conventional wisdom that’s been around for years.

The problem is that some of the “rules” we learned may have been conventional, but it turns out they were anything representing wisdom. The tutorial below is intended to help you separate fact from fiction and get rid of the worthless bunk.

Simon d’Entremont is a Canadian nature and wildlife photographer with strong opinions on on this matter—based upon his many years of experience. If you’re unsure about the veracity of advice you received as a beginner, this episode will eliminate any confusion in just 12 minutes.

Simon isn’t exactly what you’d call a naysayer, and he has an open mind. So while debunking what he considers myths he also reinforces other bits of conventional wisdom that he finds “truish” or worthwhile. He also admits his views are subjective, noting that one person’s myth may be a useful axiom for someone else.

Be sure to watch until the end where Simon reveals a myth that held him back for years, explaining that once he dispelled it his imagery improved significantly. The first myth Simon explains is something you’ve likely heard before; namely, “good photographers must have a good camera.”

Simon’s aversion to this rule is probably not what you expect, as his view is that “good photographers need good lenses.” A high-end camera certainly doesn’t hurt, but if you have limited funds Simon says great glass should take precedence over investing in a new camera.

Another rule Simon rejects is to always compose photos using the Rule of Thirds. This is one he considers “truish,” but only under certain circumstances. He also explains why some accessories are really nothing more than dead weight. Perhaps his biggest pet peeve is the oft-repeated notion the “real photographers shoot in Manual.”

The above is only a taste of what you’ll see in this interesting video, some of which will help you avoid wasting hard earned cash. You can find more helpful advice by paying a visit to Simon’s popular YouTube channel.

For another contradiction to conventional wisdom check out the tutorial we posted earlier, explaining why low ISO settings “may cost you the photo of a lifetime.”

Congratulations to Josh Zielinski for winning the recent Snow And Ice Scenes Assignment with the image, “Ash Cave in the Winter.”

View the winning image and a selection of submissions below. And be sure to check out our current photography assignment here and enter your best shots!

The post Snow And Ice Scenes Assignment Winner Josh Zielinski appeared first on Outdoor Photographer.

As one of our favorite landscape photographers insists, “contrast is a crucial aspect of photo editing.” That’s because this key variable helps define the relationship between different tones and colors in an image.

In this quick episode from The Phlog Photography instructional channel you’ll learn seven simple Lightroom tips for maximizing contrast in landscape and other types of outdoor scenes. As you’ll see, by adjusting contrast you can make bright areas brighter and dark area darker.

Instructor Christian Mohrle explains that making these straightforward enhancements “can help bring out the details in an image and make it look more dynamic and engaging.” In short, contrast is important because it helps bring life and depth to photographs—making them more visually appealing to the viewer.

In barely eight minutes Mohrle demonstrates the contrast adjustments he makes to his world-class landscape photos. He uses common tools to accomplish this task, which is easy enough to implement for those with limited image-editing expertise.

Changing the profile is typically the first step in Mohrle’s process, and he explains why selecting Adobe Neutral is his preference. That’s because using this option will give you more control over the adjustments that follow.

Mohrle then discusses the importance of paying close attention to Lightroom’s histogram as you make further adjustments. By doing this you’ll have a better idea if you’re doing things right. He also reveals an unfamiliar trick that involves clicking on the histogram and dragging it out until you see what you want.

Other tips in the video include a variety of auto adjustments, local adjustments, and tone adjustments—all of which combine to facilitate a great final result. He also explains a few simple HSL enhancements, as well as how to make selective contrast modifications to specific portions of a scene.

After watching this video head over to Mohrle’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find a wide array of landscape photography tips and tricks.

We recently posted another helpful explainer, demonstrating how the “plane of focus” affects the sharpness of your photographs. So be sure to watch that one too.