Photoshop How To

A primary goal of all photographers is to capture images with precise focus. The challenge is getting the job done when shooting scenes like landscapes that have important objects in the foreground, background and mid range of the frame.

Most photographers prefer to be out in the field with their cameras, rather than sitting behind a computer processing photos. That means finishing up your edits as soon as possible without sacrificing quality.

Most photographers would rather be out in the field with a camera up to their eye rather than sitting behind a computer editing their work, and this means a streamlined workflow that delivers great results in a hurry.

Here's the frustrating thing about shooting sunsets: While these scenes are among the most popular that we capture, oftentimes our results fall far short of the splendor we witnessed through the viewfinder. That's because the beautiful warm tones and a perfectly balanced  exposure can be very difficult to get right in the camera.

It would be great if we could always expose images perfectly, with nice details in the highlights, shadows, and midtones. But when shooting under uneven lighting outdoors, it’s easy to be a bit off.

It’s often necessary to use slow shutter speeds to get the results you want, even when shooting during the day. And editing images made with long exposures sometimes requires a different approach to post processing, depending upon the effect you’re after.

If you're a Lightroom novice and think using Lightroom's powerful Curves tool is beyond your skills, the quick tutorial below will quickly change your mind. That’s because you'll learn a handful of techniques in just three minutes to make your outdoor images stand out from the crowd.