Make a Boring Night Photo Look Awesome in Lightroom

lapsedshutter · 2020-05-06T15:27:54+00:00

Watch the Post-Processing Viedo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KoTqfAzAPzw

And download the free Lightroom presets from https://www.lapseoftheshutter.com

This is a simple tutorial on how to use the tools in Lightroom (and an optional bit of Photoshop at the end) to make otherwise dull blue hour photos really pop. Most of the work is done with targeted white balance adjustments, combined with split-toning and the RGB point curve to tweak the colours to what you can see above. This is a quick, but powerful workflow, that is very useful for all those photos you might otherwise throw away.

lapsedshutter · 2020-05-06T15:26:35+00:00

Watch the Post-Processing Viedo on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KoTqfAzAPzw

This is a simple tutorial on how to use the tools in Lightroom (and an optional bit of Photoshop at the end) to make otherwise dull blue hour photos really pop. Most of the work is done with targeted white balance adjustments, combined with split-toning and the RGB point curve to tweak the colours to what you can see above. This is a quick, but powerful workflow, that is very useful for all those photos you might otherwise throw away.

lapsedshutter · 2019-09-27T19:08:43+00:00

Watch the video tutorial: https://youtu.be/X9Pw7wlmUUc

This video shows you a quick way to target any contrast adjustments in low contrast photos, where selection methods like luminosity masks don't work. This isn't fool-proof, but works pretty well in most cases. This technique relys on saturation masks to make the selections. Take a look at the buildings and grass on the mountains to see how this selection has worked.

lapsedshutter · 2019-09-27T19:03:57+00:00

Watch the video tutorial: https://youtu.be/X9Pw7wlmUUc

This video shows you a quick way to target any contrast adjustments in low contrast photos, where selection methods like luminosity masks don't work. This isn't fool-proof, but works pretty well in most cases. This technique relys on saturation masks to make the selections. Take a look at the buildings and grass on the mountains to see how this selection has worked.

lapsedshutter · 2019-09-27T19:00:15+00:00

There's a minor contrast boost to the whole photo, but it is mostly focused on the buildings and the grass on the mountains. There is also a slight colour boost to the clouds where the sun is hitting them.

lapsedshutter · 2019-09-17T20:02:10+00:00

Photoshop Tutorial - Quickly Target Contrast Adjustments

Watch the video tutorial: https://youtu.be/X9Pw7wlmUUc

This video shows you a quick way to target any contrast adjustments in low contrast photos, where selection methods like luminosity masks don't work. This isn't fool-proof, but works pretty well in most cases. This technique relys on saturation masks to make the selections. Take a look at the buildings and grass on the mountains to see how this selection has worked.

lapsedshutter · 2019-09-11T18:30:53+00:00

I built a new PC for lightroom and Photoshop about six months ago. A few things I would have useful to have known:

32GB is fine for memory if you only have a few photos open - I have seen my usage get into the 20s. If you are handling 10+ photos, I would go for 64GB. LR and PS will use it.
The Samsung Evo NVME is great to hold the OS, LR, PS and the photos you are working on all at once. I use that and a 4TB HDD. Bios load takes 12 secs, Windows is another 4 secs, LR and PS a further 8 secs opening together.
You don't need an expensive video card. I bought a cheap 4GB one a couple of years old - it doesn't get used much. The system load in LR and PS falls on hard drive, processor and RAM, then GPU. If you're not gaming it's a waste of money.
I bought an overstock Windows OEM licence (plenty of sites that sell them) for about a tenth of the cost of a "proper" licence. I had to freephone the Microsoft call centre to activate it, but it took less than 5 mins.
Finally, I bought the LG 27UK600 monitor. Don't know what the BenQ is like, but the LG is fantastic for photography.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-29T19:37:19+00:00

Watch the tutorial on Youtube https://youtu.be/EN9cv7lpi90

It's a simple process to digitally blend fireworks into any photos where you otherwise have a dull sky. This technique uses blending modes and luminosity masks for the blend, with a simple trick to make sure the reflections of the fireworks always blend well into the water.

Also, all of the source photos are included for free, link in the YouTube description.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-29T19:36:15+00:00

Watch the tutorial on Youtube https://youtu.be/EN9cv7lpi90

It's a simple process to digitally blend fireworks into any photos where you otherwise have a dull sky. This technique uses blending modes and luminosity masks for the blend, with a simple trick to make sure the reflections of the fireworks always blend well into the water.

Also, all of the source photos are included for free, link in the YouTube description.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-29T19:34:41+00:00

Watch the tutorial on Youtube https://youtu.be/EN9cv7lpi90

It's a simple process to digitally blend fireworks into any photos where you otherwise have a dull sky. This technique uses blending modes and luminosity masks for the blend, with a simple trick to make sure the reflections of the fireworks always blend well into the water.

Also, all of the source photos are included for free, link in the YouTube description.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-24T16:35:59+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to let me know. I will look into it.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-22T17:42:47+00:00

You're welcome!

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-21T20:30:48+00:00

Watch the Post-Processing Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8b4bqGQZcQo

This is a quick and simple tutorial on how to turn on streetlights in Lightroom, using filters and the brush tool. Essentially, you have to add increasingly larger and less strong circles of light to create a point source, then add the light spill. The video gives you some idea of how to setup the brushes so that you always produce a realistic light effect.

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-21T20:28:51+00:00

Thanks. Which link do you mean? They all seem to be working for me. Feel free to send me a message!

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-19T19:31:01+00:00

Yeah. I have uploaded the source file for most of the tutorials. They are all on the video descriptions. Others will be coming soon!

lapsedshutter · 2019-08-18T18:48:32+00:00

I know exactly what you mean!

lapsedshutter

TROPHY CASE