Knowing what you can do in post-processing before you even take the shot is a powerful skill. It transforms how you approach photography, allowing you to capture scenes with the confidence that you can shape them later to fit your vision. In this example, you start with a rather dull image, lacking contrast and vibrant colors, and transform it into something stunning.
Coming to you from Christian Möhrle with The Phlog Photography, this practical video demonstrates the importance of pre-visualization in photography. Möhrle takes a seemingly unremarkable image and shows how, with some thoughtful edits, it can be transformed into a striking composition. He begins by focusing on the sky, recognizing that the contrast between the puffy white clouds and the cooler blue tones can be enhanced. Using Lightroom's masking tools, he darkens the sky to create a more dramatic effect, making the clouds pop against the background.
Möhrle also addresses the distracting elements in the foreground. On location, these might seem like unavoidable blemishes, but with the latest updates to Lightroom, you can now remove them easily. By clearing away these distractions, he’s able to create a cleaner, more pleasing composition that draws the viewer’s eye where it’s supposed to go. This part of the process highlights the importance of thinking ahead, knowing that you can clean up the scene later if necessary.
Color grading is another key aspect of Möhrle’s approach. Starting with a flat raw file, he uses selective adjustments to enhance the warmer tones in the foreground and add depth to the blue sky. These adjustments are subtle but effective, demonstrating how a little bit of color work can go a long way in bringing an image to life. Möhrle’s method is systematic, focusing on small tweaks that cumulatively have a significant impact.
Möhrle also emphasizes the value of sharpening and noise reduction. While these steps might seem minor, they are crucial in giving the image that final polished look. He shares his preferred settings for these adjustments, which help to enhance the details without introducing unwanted artifacts. This attention to detail is what separates an average photo from a professional one. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Möhrle.
