Image Editing for Landscape Photography
First you can see the result here or in my flickr…..
If you don’t like or don’t wish to know how to edit my bad original photo become like this photo you can skip read this review and close the window. In this review, I will describe the step how to make “normal” original landscape photography become more than normal landscape photography. What you need to edit the image is “program”, in this case I use Adobe Photoshop – you still can use other image processing program although the result maybe a little bit different. Below I will describe it step by step so you can understand how to do it.
1. First you need to open the file, you can see the original picture (I think it’s underexposure), and then level the original photo – see below.
2. You need to set the level parameters, see below – in this case I set input level = 0 – 1.25 -150. You can see the result is over exposure and very bad compare to original photo, but we are not stop here….
3. From the photo above you can see that lower part of this image become better but the upper part has overexposure problem, so you need to add gradient masking – as you can see below.
4. The next step similar with step 1-3, now you need to level and masking for the upper part, because the upper part still same with the original photo. In my example I set the input level: 10-0.3-230, remember that you need to reverse the gradient masking direction – see below.
5. Now the photo is looked better but the color still need some improvement, so I change the color balance for lower part. Because I only need to modify color in lower part then I need gradient masking again, see below. You can modify the number in the dialog box, until you like the color.
6. I think the sky and the city color not integrate very well so I change color balance again – but now not only for below or upper part – so I don’t need any masking.
7. Save the file and close – upload it to flickr later…..
My quote “The man behind the camera is important – but it’s not enough – the man behind the computer also important”. Sharing the knowledge is better than you keep it for yourself – you can share this technique to your friend or maybe you can create better technique than this simple technique – at least I am happy sharing it to you. Finally hope you enjoy read this technique, comments and suggestions are welcome.
Update: (1st November 2008) I already made pdf about this technique, you can download here for free….
[...] can be seen in wikipedia. Photoshop technique to make original photo become this photo can be seen here. Tagged with: 2007, camera, canon, city, elephant mountain, landscape, Photo, Photography, [...]
Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain « Just about Photography
May 30, 2008 at 8:38 am
ini nih tutorial yang paling mantab … hehe
nRa
May 30, 2008 at 8:42 am
Thanks nRa – this just ordinary technique – improvement from auto level and auto contrast……. with this kind of technique, I don’t need CPL filter at all – you can save your money – haha…..
edwinsetiawan
May 30, 2008 at 8:46 am
[...] Go to the author’s original blog: Image Editing for Landscape Photography [...]
Image Editing for Landscape Photography
May 30, 2008 at 8:50 am
[...] melbourneartcritic wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn this review, I will describe the step how to make “normal” original landscape photography become more than normal landscape photography. What you need to edit the image is “program”, in this case I use Adobe Photoshop – you still can … [...]
Image Editing for Landscape Photography
May 30, 2008 at 9:04 am
[...] Read More… [...]
Image Editing for Landscape Photography Using Photoshop at Imaging Insider
May 30, 2008 at 12:16 pm
[...] guide if I have a time. If you interesting about image editing using Photoshop maybe you can read this first – a little bit different but if you know the concept, it won’t be difficult to try edit [...]
NTUST Graduation Day « Just about Photography
June 15, 2008 at 2:41 pm
[...] High Dynamic Range (HDR) Editing Posted in Photography, Photoshop by edwinsetiawan on July 9th, 2008 First, I suggest you to know what is HDR – you can see here for the definition. If you still confuse read that, maybe you can go to flickr, and search HDR. Most of HDR editing applied on landscape photo, I don’t think people will take a portrait in RAW and editing in HDR mode. For anyone want to know the detail about RAW can see here. Generally, RAW is better than JPEG because you can set anything like white balance, contrast, saturation, etc in computer without loss of detail / very minimal loss of detail. But for documentary photo, I don’t recommend you to take photo using RAW format – it is not necessary, because you don’t need many post processing. For landscape photography, most of photo (original) is flat without sufficient contrast. Simple editing tips for landscape photography can be seen in my previous tutorial. [...]
High Dynamic Range (HDR) Editing « Just about Photography
July 9, 2008 at 3:39 am
Hi, I just want to say I really love you photos! You have a great eye for lighting and for framing your shots. I really enjoy your editing and image enhancement as well.
I am very new to photoshop and have tried to follow your explanation here that you have provided. I apologize for my lack of photoshop skills in advance lol but I can follow your explanation here until step 3. From step 3 to step 4 (and onwards as a result) I seem to get lost. In going from step 3 to 4 you have another levels layer (levels 2) and a color enhancement layer in addition you say to do gradient masking and I don’t see any masking layer. Are you opening more then 1 original file? Sorry for the confusion but its likely that it is very easy for you and maybe you skipped over some steps quickly that most people already know. I guess I was wondering if you have a more “in depth” example of what you did here? If not maybe i need to go take a photoshop course ( I probably do). I have only been using it for 4 days. Thanks for your time
JFSS
July 11, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I just use 1 file to do this editing….
Step 3 to step 4 I added level 2, basically level 2 is the same with the level 1, but the number and gradient masking different. Level 1 function is to enhance the lower part, but level 2 is to enhance the upper part. If you confuse you just do like step 1-3, and change the input level become: 10-0.3-230. Later you can add masking with different direction from level 1 masking. Hope you understand my explanation.
edwinsetiawan
July 11, 2008 at 7:58 pm
That helps more, thanks for taking the time to explain in a little more detail. I appreciate it.
JFSS
July 13, 2008 at 5:51 pm
[...] (use 450D). We go together because take photo alone isn’t interesting at all. Different than my photo before – I try to use minimize editing process – in order to increase my photography skill with minimal [...]
Sunset at Elephant Mountain « Just about Photography
July 14, 2008 at 7:28 am
[...] is very easy, you just go to Image->Adjustments->Desaturate or Shift+Ctrl+U. I use photo from my tutorial before. You can see original photo (after editing) and desaturate image [...]
Black & White Conversion Using Photoshop « Just about Photography
July 17, 2008 at 6:24 am
This is amazing! I am trying to improve my photography skills overall, and am just realizing that Photoshop technique is just as important. Thanks for the tip!
protocolsnow
August 16, 2008 at 7:18 pm
@protocolsnow
yeah… especially for digital camera users…. photoshop is important for editing and enhancing your photo. Hope you like my article.
edwinsetiawan
August 29, 2008 at 6:59 am
[...] Editing for Landscape Photography Just sharing my technique. Technique can be seen here or Download PDF here. Edwin Setiawan [...]
Image Editing for Landscape Photography - Photoshop Tutorials | Photoshop Contests | Photoshop Forums
November 1, 2008 at 1:24 pm
wah.. mantap neh tutorialnya…
dunia photography digital memang butuh editing kyk gini..
thanks mas… salam kenal
sentelenggonjet
November 1, 2008 at 4:53 pm
[...] over exposure and under exposure part – I also use similar technique (step 2 and 3) for my other tutorial to correct over exposure and under exposure in landscape [...]
Skin Color Correction Using Photoshop CS 2 or CS 3 « Just about Photography
November 29, 2008 at 2:19 pm
[...] Image Editing for Landscape Photography " Just about Photography – Image Editing for Landscape Photography [...]
Bookmarks for Diciembre 24th from 01:31 to 02:22 | FACIL TUTORIALES
December 24, 2008 at 1:33 am
Thanks for sharing…
Wan
December 27, 2008 at 10:37 am
@Wan:
your welcome
edwinsetiawan
December 27, 2008 at 10:43 am