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Join us for Day 16 of our Lightroom series! Today, we’re making landscapes shine. Learn to use simple tools to fix bright areas and make key parts of your photos pop. See how easy it is to make your landscapes amazing. Make sure to download the included RAW file so you can follow along!
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AFTER
BEFORE
Landscape Perfection
Lightroom’s versatility makes it an indispensable tool for landscape editing. It allows you to refine details, manage light, and enhance natural beauty, turning ordinary shots into stunning visuals. Today, we’ll walk through a step-by-step guide to editing a landscape, focusing on achieving a polished and captivating final image.
Initial Adjustments
1. Begin by importing the provided raw photograph into Lightroom’s Develop module.
2. Apply the “Auto” settings to quickly improve the image’s overall exposure and color balance.
3. To address overexposed areas, particularly in the sky, use a linear gradient mask. Instead of simply darkening the entire area with the exposure slider, focus on adjusting the highlights slider to selectively reduce brightness without affecting the trees.
4. For finer control, create a new mask using the brush tool with a low flow to subtly darken the shoreline, ensuring a natural blend. Adjust exposure and highlights within this mask to perfect the tonal balance.
Creating Focus
5. To direct the viewer’s eye, establish a focal point. Use a radial gradient mask to brighten the area around the desired focal point, such as a pool of water or a key feature in the landscape.
6. Increase contrast and saturation within this mask to make the focal point stand out.
7. Further enhance the image by selectively darkening rocks using a brush mask and adjusting shadow levels, contrast, and exposure. This draws attention to the brighter, more prominent features like a waterfall.
8. Enhance the water’s color by applying a brush mask and adjusting color temperature and saturation, adding vibrancy and depth.
Final Touches
9. Brighten the image’s center using a radial gradient, then refine it by subtracting from the mask with a brush to prevent overexposure of critical elements like the waterfall.
10. Adjust the color of distant foliage using a brush mask and the “Point Color” tool, shifting hues and saturation to match the foreground.
11. Enhance rock highlights by creating a luminance range mask, then intersect it with a brush mask to apply the effect selectively, adding a subtle yet impactful contrast. Review the before and after views to appreciate the transformation.
That wraps up Day 16 of our Lightroom series. We’ll be back tomorrow with a new topic: wedding photo editing!
