This under-the-pier shot is a classic composition in black and white – you’ve probably seen a lot like it already – but the color original looks very ordinary indeed. So here’s a step-by-step guide to how I transformed it into a powerful graphic image in Lightroom.
Profiles
'Profiles' are closely related to LUTS (lookup tables). They adjust the brightness and colour values in an image, sometimes to correct a device's colour rendition (like monitor profiles) but often to apply a creative effect or film simulation.
When LUTs can be a lifeline
LUT stands for LookUp Table. It’s a digital file that shifts colors and tones in hue, saturation, luminance – usually all three. LUTs are used widely in video editing and cinematography, but are becoming increasingly popular in regular stills photography. They are like ‘pre-processing’ for images. They give you a whole new look without involving any of the editing tools – unlike presets.
Edit History: Battery Point Lighthouse in Lightroom Classic
Battery Point lighthouse. Using Lightroom Classic’s Profiles, Color Grading, Post Crop Vignetting and Radial Filter tools to create a strong black and white image.
Picture styles and film simulation with digital cameras
Digital cameras typically offer a range of ‘picture styles’ to suit different subjects or different tastes in color rendition. Canon calls these Picture Styles, Nikon calls them Picture Controls and other camera makers have their own names.
Color spaces, profiles and color management explained
The whole topic of color management can get pretty dry and technical, but stick with it because there’s information here that’s useful and puts lots of other things in context.
RAW vs JPEG: things you can do with RAW files that you can’t do with JPEGs
Most serious photographers prefer RAW files to JPEGs. They take more time and storage, but the payback is greater quality and flexibility. It’s not a one-sided argument – JPEGs have some advantages which are obvious, and some which are not – but here are six important reasons why RAW files are the way to go […]
Lightroom CC Profiles explained
Lightroom CC offers a range of Presets and you can create or save your own. But Presets use a combination of editing tools and effects, while there is another, more basic adjustment you can make to the look of your photos with Profiles. Profiles have been around in Lightroom for some time, but it’s only […]
How to change Lightroom’s default processing
The default processing for camera RAW files in Lightroom is a reasonable start but quite often you find yourself making the same adjustments time and time again for specific cameras. I get that particularly with my Fujifilm X30. It’s a few years old now and has a pretty small sensor that’s prone to noise, but […]
ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 profiles and how to use them
The ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 update brings a number of new features, including support for Profiles in the Develop module – but ON1 Photo RAW 2019 is now out so be sure to read the review if you’re considering upgrading.
BAN adjustments in Lightroom (BAN – Basic And Necessary!)
There are a handful of basic tweaks you just know you’re going to want to apply to each image.