Software How To

We all know that Blue Hour is one of the best times to shoot attention-grabbing images in the field. The challenge, however, is that sometimes our results fail to capture the magic and whimsy that we saw through the viewfinder as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Outdoor scenes often appear less impressive on the computer than they did through the viewfinder, and the problem never seems to be better colors and contrast than we remember. The opposite is usually true, which is why most photographers edit their work.

So what goes into making an epic landscape photograph? That’s a difficult, if not impossible, question to answer because the notion of artistic beauty is a very subjective matter. What we do know, however, is that you have to check a few boxes off your list before any image can be considered fantastic.

There are a variety of reasons that some photographers are moving on from Adobe, and today we're looking at a few alternatives that are worthy of your consideration. Perhaps Lightroom and Photoshop are too complicated for your needs, or you're unhappy with paying the "Adobe tax" every month or the premium overall cost.

Sometimes we edit outdoor photos to make them more closely resemble what we saw through the viewfinder. Other times, especially when shooting on drab days, the goal is to add some punch so the images look as they would under better conditions.

It’s an unfortunate fact than many photographers routinely hold their camera at eye level and point it straight ahead. There’s nothing wrong with doing this, and nice images are often the result, but sometimes there’s a better way.

Sunset scenes are a favorite of most photographers, and they are wildly popular among “civilians” who appreciate beautiful imagery. Photos captured at this time typically have warm vibrant tones, provide a feeling of serenity, and may even affect a viewer’s mood.