PictureCorrect.com: 8 Photo Editing Tips for Stunning Photographs

Have you decided to buy your first professional camera and want to make a name for yourself as a photographer? Or maybe you just wish to learn how to edit photos for your own albums? With these eight simple photo editing tips for stunning photography, you can take your photo work to the next level.

When it comes to post-processing, Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, and Photoshop are professional photographers’ favorites. That’s why I’ve decided to offer a few useful tips on these most popular photo editing programs. So, without further ado, let’s begin our list of photo editing tips that will upgrade your amazing shots.

1. Speeding Simple Processes

Without a doubt, one of the main issues concerning photo editing is the workflow. Sometimes having to edit even just a couple of photos can turn into hour-long efforts. The process of opening, editing, and saving can become a pain.

Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw simplified this process by utilizing a series of shortcut keys. By pressing the ‘Cmd+C’ or ‘Ctrl+Shift+C’ (for Copy options) and ‘Cmd+V’ or Ctrl+Shift+V’ (for Paste settings) commands, Lightroom’s software helps to save a lot of time for such remedial tasks.

2. Camera Raw Filter

Photoshop CC has the option of enabling the Camera Raw interface. As such fast layer editing can be done in Photoshop. Simply select the layer, then go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.

In order to return to the Camera Raw Filter at any time to fine-tune the photos, first convert the layer to a Smart Object using Filter > Convert for Smart Filters. This will prevent destructive edits.

3. Learn About Camera and Lens Adjustments

It’s best to begin with learning some of ACR and Lightroom’s panels before engaging in Basic adjustments. For example, before you make any substantial changes to color and contrast, check the Camera Calibration panel.

The Lens Corrections tab and the Enable Lens Profile Corrections option are worth checking out. Especially if you use wide-angle lenses, the automatic lens adjustments might push some areas of the image out of the frame. It’s a good idea to check these before cropping the image.

4. Make Use of Various Shortcuts

I simply cannot stress this enough. Not only does it save you time, but it also offers a better command of the software.

One of the most used tools, the zooming can be simplified by pressing and holding H. In Photoshop this will create an instant zoom. You can also hold the space bar to temporarily switch to the Hand Tool, dragging the image around to verify details in other areas.

5. Create More Vivid Skies

By utilizing the HSL option in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom you can give a subtle boost in contrast between a blue sky and a cloudy one. To do so, select Luminance and then drag the Blue slider to the left to darken the sky. Do not over use it, however, or the edges of the clouds and other objects might intrude into the sky.

You could employ various other techniques such as applying a digital Graduated Filter, boosting the Clarity or Curves or increase the Vibrance or Saturation. Another useful option is the Targeted Adjustment Tool, which can be used directly on the image. Simply select it from the ACR toolbar or by clicking on the ‘bullseye’ icon at the top of the HCL panel in Lightroom. Afterwards simply click and drag on dark areas.

6. Stylizing Photos

If you wish to apply a more stylish look to your photographs the following steps might prove useful.

1. Begin by uploading your photo in Photoshop and select the Brightness/Contrast panel.
2. Adjust Brightness to +25 and Contrast to +35. Set Saturation to -25.
3. Then adjust the Curves layer.
4. You can first choose Red. Select and drag down a little the center of the red line.
5. Then move the Blue line upward.
6. Lastly select and move up a little the Green bar.
7. Finish by selecting the Soft Light blending mode.

To complete, we just need to add two Solid Color adjustment layers. Select a pale yellow color and then set its blending mode to Overlay. Set Opacity to 35%. For the second color layer you can type ‘f000ff’. Select Screen as its blending mode and Opacity to 30%.

7. Experiment with Preset Settings

The Presets Panel is located on the left of the interface after you click on the Develop Module. The color presets found there are excellent for experimenting. If you find yourself in a pinch and need to undo an effect, safely scroll down to the History palette. There you can click back through history states. Make sure you go to Lightroom Effects Presets and select Light Grain.

8. Be Selective when Using Apply Levels

Adjustment Layers have the feature of being accompanied by a Layer Mask. This can be helpful when hiding parts of the tweak. By simply selecting the Brush tool and continue painting over tweaked parts with black. You can also employ the command Cmd/Ctrl+I to make the Layer Mask black, then paint with white to reveal the tweak.

By applying these Levels as Adjustment Layers you can therefore mask to restrict the effect to certain areas of the image.

There you have it, a short list of tips for photography enthusiasts wishing to improve their editing skills. I hope my article proves to be enjoyable and useful to you. For more tips on how to make spectacular photographs be sure to check out more interesting photography tips and techniques on picturecorrect.com.

I always encourage my readers to search for inspiration. The web is such a resourceful tool when it comes to editing tips and ideas. If, for instance, you are looking for creative editing tricks to improve your landscape photography, check out this post on virtualphotographystudio.com. Street photography is another popular niche. You can have a look at this article on picturecorrect.com and learn how to create stunning urban landscape photography.

If you liked my post or want to share any other tips and creative ideas, feel free to leave a message. Feedback is always welcome. Cheers!

About the Author:
Poetry lover and coffee addict, Geta is a photography enthusiast always looking for inspirational topics to write about. She loves providing her readers with creative tips and ideas, as well as keeping them updated on useful resources designed to ease their effort. You can follow her posts on VirtualPhotographyStudio.com.

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PictureCorrect.com: Amateur Photographer Captures NASA-like Space Images

Amateur photographer Alan Friedman combines his passions for astronomy and photography by capturing photos of the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies from his own backyard. At a TEDx event, Friedman explained how, with relatively simple equipment, he gets stunning photographic results that you might expect to see from NASA satellites or sophisticated observatories:

Friedman considers himself a photojournalist, telling the story of the heavenly bodies for people who might not otherwise get to see it. One of his favorite photographic strategies, which he calls “lucky imaging,” involves pulling the best frames from video sequences. He is especially interested in the sun, and frequently photographs solar prominences, such as the one below.

Following is a selection of Friedman’s space photography, which includes the moon and planets (Via Boing).

The moon by day and by night.

A compilation of photos for the phases of Saturn.

As something of a poster boy for DIY, amateur astrophotographers, Friedman continues to produce impressive work from his own backyard. You can see his equipment setup below:

For Further Training on Night Sky Photography:

Capturing star trails and other night sky scenes is truly one of the most technically difficult forms of photography due to the extreme low light conditions. This new in-depth guide was released to help photographers thrive in these situations.

Found here: Shooting Stars – How to Photograph the Night Sky

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Instagram: 31.07.2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTO OF THE DAY ФОТО ДНЯ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTO BY @s_cavazos LOCATION | -------------- SELECTED | @night_photo_ ВЫБОР | @pasha_volkov_ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ OUR TAG | #night_photo OUR TAG | #night_photography ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ FOLLOW | @pasha_volkov_ FOLLOW | @night_photo_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAIL | nightph@mail.ru by night_photo_

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PictureCorrect.com: Take in the Breathtaking Colors of Istria

Istria is a region in Croatia that’s often called modern Tuscany. The area’s fantastic scenery, good food, and clean sea are sure to lure you in. If you grab your camera and take a walk around the cobbled streets, you’ll fall in love with Istria. Look what we found in this paradise for photographers:

Motovun by Erik

Istria by Modra_

Rovinj by Kristina Josic

Grožnjan by Mario Fajt

Motovun by Vladimir Losinsky

Pula by Alexander Kavun

Vrbnik by Dubravka Franz

Labin by Mario Fajt

Pack your gear and look up flights for a Europe trip. Until then, you can check our Travel Photography Tips to Remember!

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PictureCorrect.com: The Fastest Way to Dodge and Burn Your Photos

In the days of film photography, dodging and burning was often a time-consuming task. And even in these digital days, dodging and burning can take up a lot of time. But lucky for us, Photoshop master Aaron Nace has figured out the simplest, fastest way to achieve the dodge and burn effect:

Dodging and burning is a correction tool used to over-expose shadow areas to bring out detail and under-expose highlights to reduce flare-out, yet it can also be used to add depth and shape to the photo and bring out definition. Nace’s technique—one of the easiest I’ve seen so far—takes advantage of Photoshop’s high pass filter. I first learned about the high pass filter when I was learning how to soften skin tones, but it’s also used for sharpening and creating high contrast images. To use it for a dodge and burn effect however, the radius slider is jacked up pretty high (much higher than for skin tones and sharpening). Increasing the radius of the high pass filter changes the focus from the smaller details to the overall, broader image.

For subtle changes and/or more control over the dodge and burn effect, simply add more layers. You can group these together in different ways to affect different parts of your image (using layer masks) and change the blending modes in the layers (usually vivid or soft light) for different looks.

In short, the steps go as follows:

1. Duplicate the layer.
2. Desaturate.
3. Change the blending mode to vivid.
4. Use the High Pass filter with a high radius.
5. Create layer masks and/or group layers for more control of the effect.

Before

After

Simple, easy and highly effective!

More Training: 32 Professional Photoshop Tutorials

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Instagram: 31.07.2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTO OF THE DAY ФОТО ДНЯ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHOTO BY Dima Donetsky LOCATION | Moscow, Russia SELECTED | @night_photo_ ВЫБОР | @pasha_volkov_ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ OUR TAG | #night_photo OUR TAG | #night_photography ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ FOLLOW | @pasha_volkov_ FOLLOW | @night_photo_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAIL | nightph@mail.ru by night_photo_

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PictureCorrect.com: Landscape Photographer Interview: Mark Broughton

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Broughton, an incredibly talented landscape photographer based in Wirral, United Kingdom.  He is well known for his ability to capture dramatic lighting along with beautiful scenery. His photos often receive pages and pages of comments on the photography network.

An Anthony Gormley statue based on Crosby beach near liverpool. One of many there.

How would you describe your photographic style?

Currently, I see my photographic style as being traditional landscapes. I like to use the rich light which are found in the first and last hours of the day for dramatic effect. I also like to use bold foregrounds, with plenty of detail.

How did you first get into photography?

My wife discovered photography first, and I watched her going out and coming back with better and better images, also there was a slight “if you can’t beat them join them” attitude on my behalf. When I started she helped me with composition and post processing techniques, once I started to be satisfied with my results, it was too late to go back, I was hooked.

Where do you get your creative inspiration?

I get my inspiration from looking at landscape photography books by professional landscape photographers, and frequenting photography websites, where both amateur and pro’s upload their work, I also follow some awesome landscapers websites, to keep up to date with their latest work.

What is typically in your camera bag?

I use a Canon Eos 400D DSLR, and my lens of choice is the Sigma 10-20mm ultra wide angle. I use a Manfrotto 785B tripod which is very lightweight and portable, but not the most sturdy! I also use Cokin P Series ND graduated filters with a wide angle adaptor, main one being the P121S. I carry a Canon 50mm prime lens in my bag too, a remote shutter switch, and a hot shoe spirit level.

Clywedog Falls in North Wales in Autumn. My first trip out with my camera for a while. If you are near there, it is a beautiful location to go to.

What are you looking forward to purchasing next?

I am looking forward to upgrading up to a semi-pro body and purchasing an Eos 50D or 60D for the extra features and speed they have, although I am very happy with the results I get from my trusty 400D. Also on my list are some Lee pro filters, and a 10-stop filter.

Did you have any formal training in photography?

No, I have had no formal training, just trial and error, and trying to better myself constantly. I was lucky enough to have a few friends around me who nurtured me through the early days and helped me, which was priceless.

Please describe your post-processing workflow?

I open the image using Photoshop RAW, and open them into photoshop in 16-bit TIF format. Then I normally adjust contrast, saturation levels, some post sharpening, and some selective dodging and burning, to even everything up. Before sharpening I save the TIF file, as sharpening can be quite destructive, and then sharpen and save for web in jpeg format. I did go through a stage for a while of taking 3 bracketed images and merging them using HDR with tone mapping, but I find I get much more natural results using a single exposure and getting it right in-camera, it’s much more rewarding.

This is one of the Anthony Gormley statues at Crosby beach, near Liverpool. It was quite a changeable evening, and I took many different looking images. This is a 7 second exposure at F/4, ISO100.

What has been your favorite photo location?

My favourite location is Torridon in the Scottish highlands, but funnily enough, it is an area I have yet to get an image that I am 100% satisfied with. For a location near to me, the Snowdonia National Park is an area that I haven’t fully explored, but is top of my agenda as it has mountains, waterfalls and stunning scenery, and is less than 2 hours drive away.

What lies ahead for you?

My next goal in photography is to stop taking pictures of mountains from the foot, and get walking up, to find viewpoints that are not easily accessible and that show the mountains from a different angle and different light. Currently, I have no urges to delve into other areas of photography, landscape work is why my heart is. I have the mental image of a photograph I want to take, I know the location and know how I want it to look, so part of my next goal is to get that image, even if it means going back there many times.

What tips or advice do you have for other aspiring photographers?

My advice is to just persevere if you are not happy with your images, try new things, read up on post processing techniques and learn how to use your camera kit to the best of its capabilities by understanding ISO’s, shutter speeds and aperture. Look at other photographer’s images for inspiration, and most of all, have fun doing it. With time and perseverance, it will all fit into place. I am a firm believer in the more time and effort you put in, the more you will get out of it.

This is Talacre lighthouse in North Wales. The tide had gone out leaving big pools that are ideal for reflections. This is a 30 second exposure, at F/22 ISO100. What made this image for me is the line of orange light on the horizon and the moon. It’s such a peaceful location, really good for the soul.

An HDR image taken from 3 exposures and tone mapped. This is my local lighthouse, at New Brighton, which I am very lucky to live near, as each tide brings different foreground interest. This was taken at sunset, and the tide was coming in very quickly, but still exposing the moss covered rocks. Settings used were ISO100, F/22 using a Cokin P121S filter.

To see more of Mark’s work, visit his profile or photo gallery.

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PictureCorrect.com: A Simple Lighting Setup for Kitchen Portraits

To say lighting is an important ingredient of photography is an understatement. Lighting is everything in photography. It brings all the other elements together like the magic ingredient in Mom’s favorite recipe. In this quick video, photographer Gina Silva and her crew demonstrate how a simple lighting setup can produce stunning photos in one of the least likely places—your kitchen:

The setup for the shoot includes a 3’ Profoto Octabox and three speedlights. The softbox is used as the key light for the shoot and is triggered by a Pocket Wizard mounted on the camera. The three speedlights worked as background lights, illuminating the walls in the background, which made an interesting backdrop for the photos.

A Profoto 3′ Octabox was used as the key light.

CTL filters warmed up the light produced by the speedlights. Additionally, Honl gobo bounce cards ensured that the light didn’t spill.

The speedlights were gelled with CTL filters and gobos stopped the light spill.

Finally, a hair light with a speed grid was set up toward the right of the subject to illuminate the model’s hair.

Simple, yet effective.

Further training: Simple Food Photography

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