It’s easy to find information about Photoshop, Lightroom, or just about any other aspect of the digital darkroom. But too often this information consists of random tips and tricks.
So I asked myself how I could help people put it all together. How could I help photographers develop a simple, powerful workflow, learn to make good decisions about how their photographs should look, and convey their original inspiration?
And that’s when I had the idea for this book.
In Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom I’ll take you step-by-step through each decision as I process five different images in Adobe Lightroom. You’ll see my workflow in action, and I’ll explain why I use particular techniques in a particular order. But more importantly, you’ll come to understand the esthetic judgements behind each decision—how a certain amount of contrast conveyed my vision, or why too much saturation muddied the color rather than enhanced it. As you look over my shoulder you’ll gain insights about how to convey your own unique vision, and how to squeeze every ounce of beauty, emotion, and inspiration out of your photographs.
While I use Lightroom for these examples, the basic principles apply to any software. Learning how to make good decisions and find the right balance is more important than learning any particular tool or technique.
This eBook is published in conjunction with Craft & Vision, David duChemin’s great photography eBook site. Like all their eBooks, Light & Land is only five dollars.
"I just wanted to let you know that Light and Land is definitely the best $5 I have ever spent for my photography. I have been frustrated many times with photos that were correctly exposed, but I couldn't process them in a way that reflected the scene. I had no idea that the default brightness setting in Lightroom was so destructive to the skies in particular, turning many blue skies white. I now have a lot more control over my photos and have rescued many of them that I had previously abandoned. Thank you for your helpful work and providing it in such a cost-effective format. I have been recommending it to friends as well."
- Kyle Jones
"I just wanted to write you a quick note to tell you how enlightening your Land & Light ebook has been. I've had a DSLR for just about a year now; In my quest for knowledge I've read several books and listened to many podcasts, but I must say that your 36 pages has helped me more than anything else and I've quickly put the knowledge I've gained to good use.
"I took the image linked below last June and had been struggling for months to develop it in Lightroom. Every attempt I made to add contrast and dodge or burn areas of the photo only resulted in an image that looked fake and over-processed. By using the methods you described, I finally have an image I am happy with. It is so significantly improved from the original and previous edits, and I am just thrilled!
"Thank you!"
- Brad Oliver
