UPDATE: A new tutorial has just been released that could revolutionize your landscape photography! Renowned photographer Möhrle unveils essential Lightroom masking tricks that transform flat landscape images into striking, cinematic masterpieces. This urgent development in photo editing techniques is a must-see for photographers looking to elevate their work.
In this just-announced video, Möhrle meticulously walks through a complete start-to-finish editing process that takes a serene scene and morphs it into a moody, dramatic landscape. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of initial cleanup, showcasing a crucial step many overlook. Utilizing Lightroom’s Remove tool with the dust option, Möhrle swiftly eliminates a significant number of sensor spots, setting the stage for a polished final product.
Moreover, he employs generative AI to erase distracting figures in the background, allowing the natural beauty of the landscape to stand out. This innovative approach not only saves time but also prevents the frustration of discovering imperfections after extensive editing has already been completed.
As the video progresses, Möhrle dives into the Basic panel to establish a dark, low-contrast base that can support deeper local edits. He strategically lowers exposure and highlights to control the brightness of the sky and water, while ensuring the overall composition remains impactful and dark. Notably, he warms the global white balance more than might be expected, planning to cool specific areas through masking later.
The heart of this tutorial lies in Möhrle’s expert use of Lightroom’s masking tools, which allow him to dissect the scene into manageable sections and control light with precision. He leverages Landscape masks to enhance foreground vegetation, boosting clarity and brightness to create a compelling entry point into the frame.
Additionally, he constructs stacked linear gradients for the sky, ensuring clean edges by subtracting the mountain selection. This technique cools and darkens the upper sky, avoiding overly saturated blues. Using radial gradients, he generates an intense glow on one side of the image, enhancing the feeling of a strong light source illuminating the scene.
Möhrle continues to demonstrate how to apply this logic across multiple images, treating glow and shadow as shapes to be refined with masks. He targets specific elements like rock faces, fast water, and a snow patch, assigning each a deliberate tonal and color range. The rocks are sharpened and brightened, while the water’s shadows are deepened and colors adjusted to highlight a rich spectrum of blues.
To wrap up the editing process, Möhrle utilizes the Color Mixer and split toning to achieve the desired balance of oranges, yellows, and blues. He adds the final touches with sharpening techniques focused on preserving detail in the rocks while keeping smoother areas like the sky looking pristine.
This comprehensive tutorial is a game-changer for photographers aiming to enhance their landscape images. Möhrle’s expert insights and innovative techniques are available now, making this a timely resource for anyone eager to improve their editing skills. For the complete rundown, watch the full video above.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to elevate your photography! Share this article with fellow photographers and unleash the potential of your landscape images today.
