Software How To

Let's say you're out in the field with the right gear and good weather, and you come upon a great landscape scene that can't be ignored. So you pop off a few shots, and you're eager to review the results on your computer.

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.

Experienced landscape photographers know that accurate colors, the right amount of contrast, and the proper use of light greatly contribute to the success of an image. Unfortunately, conditions in the field sometimes make it impossible to attain these goals in the camera. That’s when it’s time for a bit of Photoshop magic.

There are several ways to create cutouts of an image, some more complicated than others. In the tutorial below from Photoshop Café you’ll learn what one pro says are the best Photoshop settings to use.

A couple days ago we featured an interesting tutorial explaining how to shoot intentionally blurry photos and capture artistic images full of motion and emotion. Today it's back to a primary goal of most landscape photographers; namely, the best way to maximize sharpness when shooting in the field.

Sometime you capture a nice travel, nature, or landscape scene that could benefit from a boost in sharpness and contrast. The trick is to pump up the image without ending up with an overcooked look. You see how to do this is the quick video below.

Outdoor scenes often appear less impressive on the computer than they did through the viewfinder, and the problem never seems to be better colors and contrast than we remember. The opposite is usually true, which is why most photographers edit their work.