Experienced landscape photo0graphs know that their job isn’t completed in the field, because thoughtful processing is essential for spectacular and realistic results. This task requires using the proper tools in the correct order, but there’s another key consideration that is frequently overlooked.

This eye-opening Lightroom tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel harkens back to the days of film, when photographers created a strategic plan before going into the darkroom. According to instructor Christian Mohrle, the same holds true when processing digital files because having a detailed plan before sitting down at the computer is “absolutely vital.”

This point is clearly illustrated in the image above in which the notations on the original shot are reminiscent of how darkroom experts marked up their proof sheets before getting to work. And the anticipated adjustments are remarkably similar.

Mohrle’s demonstration image (which you can download with a link beneath the video) is a boring and unimpressive shot with flat colors and insufficient contrast in the sky. Mohrle says he anticipated this result while on location, “but I already knew there were things I could do in Lightroom to make the photo look far more interesting.”

So examine the notations on Mohrle’s original file, then watch how he executes this detailed plan for a remarkable transformation. And if you downloaded his Raw file you can make the changes yourself as the step-by-step process is explained. Every image requires unique enhancements but the takeaway is this: a pre-edit strategy will make post processing faster and far more effective.

Mohrle proceeds with a specific hierarchy of changes, and he always begins with basic adjustments to an image as a whole, before turning to the selective use of masks to refine various portions of a scene in different ways. The next step is thoughtful, localized color grading to further refine the effect.

Careful sharpening comes next, and you’ll see why Mohrle favors a subtle approach. For this particular image he adds the optional step of Focus Stacking to get things just right. Then he concludes the process with a bit of cleanup to remove small distractions and other unwanted artifacts.

A quick glance at the before/after images reveals how well this approach works. There’s much more to learn about editing landscape photos on the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel, and in the recent tutorial we featured with another pro who explains why too much color can ruin your landscape photographs if three essential elements are missing from your post-processing workflow.

Photographing our feathered friends is a lot of fun, and it’s a very accessible form of wildlife photography no matter where you live. Today’s tutorial from B&H Photo Video is designed to get you inspired, with a handful of techniques you can start using today.

The great thing about this popular genre is that colorful subjects abound nearby, at a local park, nature reserve, and even in your own backyard. Best yet, you don’t need any specialized gear to capture amazing images—just the five tips you’ll learn in this three-minute episode by the expert known as Trav in the Bush.

Trav is an accomplished bird photographer based on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia. His first tip is something we all consider when shooting in the field; namely, the best time of day for the task at hand. When it comes to birds, it’s pretty simple: Get out there early in the morning.

As Trav says, “birds have been sleeping or resting all night, so in the morning they’re ready to sing and they’re to eat.” And as we all know early birds are also blessed with stunning Golden Hour light.

You’ll also want to become familiar with the behavior and habits of the species you’re likely to encounter, which often changes with the seasons. On Vancouver Island, for example, waterfowl are plentiful in winter, while in summer bald eagles are the name of the game. A solid understanding how different birds eat, fly and behave will significantly increase your odds of success.

Trav’s third tip is straightforward and simple: “Get low and shoot at eye level.” This is a common technique used by experienced wildlife photographs regardless of the animals they capture, and they do so for good reason: “Shooting at eye level really makes the viewer enter the bird’s world, and it creates an overall more pleasing image.”

Tip #4 is all about achieving perfect exposures in soft morning light. Here Trav explores key camera settings and the important ways that shutter speed you select impacts your results. Trav notes there are a few exception like big owls and other slow-moving birds, “but for the most part our subjects are small, twitchy, and fast.” That’s why he recommends a shutter speed of 1/2,000 as a starting point.

The lesson concludes with Trav’s favorite tip which is to “pay attention to the background.” Obviously, a cluttered background full of branches and small twigs isn’t pleasing to the eye, and it’s detrimental to separating a subject from surrounding areas within the frame. Fortunately he has some solid advice for doing things right.

If this tutorial strikes your fancy and you want to see more of Trav’s exceptional work, pay a visit to his website.

This morning, I am thrilled to announce the release of one of the biggest projects in Photography Life’s history – our first Online Workshop, The Art of Composition! Along with this workshop, I’m announcing a 72-hour sale on yearly memberships with a price that we won’t bring back. Here are all the details.

Many nature and landscape photographers strive for vibrant, saturated colors when editing their work because they think that this approach makes their images “POP.” The truth is, however, is that a heavy-handed approach with improper tonal balance often has the opposite effect.

Instructor Steve Arnold is a professional landscape photographer who is very generous about sharing the shooting and editing secrets to his success. He kicks off today’s seven-minute with this rather surprising question. “Did you know that more color actually makes landscape photos more boring unless you include three important elements?” 

Arnold says that even the most stunning sunrise or sunset scenes won’t save a boring photo, and he illustrates two reasons that these awesome conditions can even make photos worse. He put is like this: “When you’re lucky enough to capture one of these rare explosions of color in the sky, the deep, saturated reds and yellows can quickly overwhelm the entire scene to the point that everything looks the same and nothing really stands out..”

The second way that excessive color can spoil a shot is when there are too many different colors competing with each other and “your eyes gets dragged all the way around the frame because there’s so much going on.” This problem is particularly acute when various tones clash because they are the opposite of complimentary.

Arnold reveals a quick test you can employ in Photoshop or Lightroom to determine if your photos are missing a trio of key elements that transform images from boring to beautiful, and here it is: “Have a look at how your shot appears in black and white.” He says that if an image is boring in b&w it’s likely to fail in color for the reasons he explains.

The first example Arnold provides is a seascape scene that’s full of color, but when he converts it to monochrome it looks “flat, mushy and uninspiring.” But take a look at the processed version to which he’s added two of the three secret ingredients. This difference is clear: The b&w version is now much more dynamic and interesting and the color version looks spectacular.

So exactly what was missing, and what are the three key elements that create an impressive transformation like this? One trick is to emphasize the contrast between dark and light areas to achieve a strong range of tones in between. Arnold recommends that you temporarily forget about colors, and instead study what the light is actually doing, the angle it’s coming from, which objects are illuminated, and where shadows fall.

This way “you’ll understand how to make certain elements in the frame POP and stand out in a dramatic yet realistic manner.” Arnold is just getting started and he uses several other photos, captured at different times of day, to illustrate other color concerns and how to get things right. It’s all about taking a thoughtful approach to color while avoiding the temptation to go overboard—both with regard to camera settings and during post processing.

There’s much more to learn on Arnold’s instructional YouTube channel and in the recent tutorial we featured that demonstrates how to use Lightroom’s powerful Color Mixer tools to improve Hue, Saturation, and Luminance in every photograph you shoot.