Are you tired of your travel photos looking dull and lifeless? Do you want to learn how to edit them to perfection? Look no further! In this blog, I will share my step-by-step process of how I edit travel photos in Lightroom Classic. Lightroom Classic is a powerful photo editing software that allows you to enhance the colors, add depth and vibrancy, and make your images pop. Whether you are a professional photographer or an enthusiastic traveler, mastering Lightroom Classic can take your travel photography to the next level. So grab your laptop, open Lightroom Classic, and let’s dive into the world of photo editing!
How I edit TRAVEL Photos in Lightroom Classic
Introduction
Hey guys, today I’m going to show you how I edit my travel photos in Lightroom Classic. I’ve selected five photos from my trip to the Dolomites in Italy last year, and I’ll walk you through the editing process for each of them.
Choosing a Preset
First, I start by choosing a preset from my preset pack. These presets give my photos a consistent look and feel, which is something I strive for in my editing. Today, I’ll be using the “Film” preset, which works well for this dawn shot in the Dolomites.
Adjusting Exposure and Contrast
After applying the preset, I adjust the exposure settings to ensure there are no clipped whites or blacks in the image. I prefer a flat look with a balanced level of contrast. To achieve this, I pull back the highlights, push up the shadows, and adjust the whites and blacks accordingly. By boosting the shadows and lowering the blacks, I create more dynamic range without losing contrast.
HSL Controls
The majority of my editing work is done in the HSL area. Here, I make adjustments to the hue, saturation, and luminance of the colors in the image. These adjustments help to enhance the overall look and feel of the photo.
Split Toning and Sharpening
In addition to the HSL controls, I also use split toning to add a touch of color to the shadows and highlights. This adds depth and interest to the photo. I typically don’t do sharpening in Lightroom, but for Instagram posts, it’s not a major concern. However, for print purposes, I would perform additional sharpening in Photoshop.
Adding Grain and Additional Adjustments
To achieve a film-like look, I add a bit of grain to my photos. This adds texture and completes the desired aesthetic. Additionally, I make some minor color tweaks in the calibration section to fine-tune the overall appearance of the image.
Cropping and Final Touches
Finally, I make any necessary cropping adjustments to the composition of the photo. In this particular image, I crop out a distracting tree on the right side. I also check if the photo fits the Instagram aspect ratio, although I don’t always adhere to the 4:5 cropping recommendation. I prefer to export the full photo and then experiment with cropping later.
And that’s it! By following these steps, I achieve my desired edit for each travel photo I work on in Lightroom Classic. Remember, it’s important to find your own editing style and make adjustments based on personal preference. So go ahead, start editing your amazing travel photos and have fun!
FAQ: How I edit TRAVEL Photos in Lightroom Classic
1. What is Lightroom Classic?
Lightroom Classic is a powerful photo editing software developed by Adobe. It provides an array of tools and features specifically designed for photographers to enhance and edit their images in a non-destructive manner.
2. How can I access Lightroom Classic?
To use Lightroom Classic, you need to have a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. Once you have the subscription, you can download and install Lightroom Classic on your computer.
3. What are the advantages of using Lightroom Classic for editing travel photos?
Lightroom Classic offers a range of benefits for editing travel photos. Some advantages include:
- Non-destructive editing: You can make changes to your photos without altering the original image.
- Efficient organization: Lightroom Classic allows you to organize your photos in catalogs, making it easy to find and manage your travel images.
- Enhancement tools: Lightroom Classic provides a variety of powerful tools to adjust exposure, color, contrast, and other aspects of your travel photos.
- Batch editing: You can save time by applying edits to multiple photos simultaneously.
4. What are some key editing techniques in Lightroom Classic?
Here are some editing techniques commonly used in Lightroom Classic for travel photos:
- Basic adjustments: Adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and white balance to achieve the desired look.
- Tone curve: Fine-tune the tonal range of your photo for more accurate colors and better contrast.
- HSL/Color panel: Modify specific colors to make them more vibrant or muted in your travel images.
- Graduated filter and radial filter: Apply selective adjustments to specific areas within the photo.
- Sharpening and noise reduction: Enhance image details and reduce noise for a cleaner and sharper final result.
5. Can I undo edits in Lightroom Classic?
Yes, Lightroom Classic allows you to easily undo or revert edits at any time. The software keeps a comprehensive editing history, enabling you to step back to a previous state of the photo without permanently losing any changes.
6. How do I export my edited travel photos from Lightroom Classic?
To export your edited photos, follow these steps:
- Select the photo(s) you want to export.
- Go to the “File” menu and choose “Export” (or use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or Command+Shift+E on Mac).
- Set the desired export settings, such as file format, file name, and resolution.
- Choose the destination folder where you want to save the exported photos.
- Click on the “Export” button to initiate the export process.
With these FAQs, you have a basic understanding of editing travel photos in Lightroom Classic. Enjoy enhancing your beautiful travel memories!
I hope you find useful my article How I edit TRAVEL Photos in Lightroom Classic, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.
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