Mastering Lightroom for Outdoor Photography

David Johnston

Class Preview

2:01:29

In-depth Instruction; over 122 mins
On-demand video access anytime
Bonus downloadable PDF resources
Access to class Q&A
Available for purchase: $39.99

Discovering the Power of Organization

19:54

In this lesson we guide you through the seamless process of importing your photos into Lightroom, ensuring a smooth transition from your camera or storage device to the software. You'll learn the fundamentals of creating a structured catalog, allowing you to easily locate and manage your images in the future. You’ll also be diving into the layout and interface of the Lightroom software. You’ll learn the two modules you will need to understand for outdoor photography and some of the introductory tools. We will also be learning how to import and organize your photos. The organization of your photography is very important and is one of the main reasons Lightroom is such a valuable resource to know and use.

The Foundations of Editing

20:35

In this chapter, we will look at how to make basic edits in Lightroom. Even though these are labeled as “basic edits,” they are still very powerful. You will instantly see a drastic improvement to your photos using these tools and techniques. In this lesson, you'll delve into the intricacies of exposure adjustments, gaining a deep understanding of how to manipulate exposure settings to bring out the best in your outdoor shots. Professional outdoor photographer, David Johnston, will guide you through the various tools and techniques available in Lightroom to handle exposure challenges and create visually stunning images. You'll learn the art of enhancing and balancing colors in your outdoor photographs, ensuring that every image resonates with the natural brilliance of the environment. I will guide you through the color correction process, empowering you to bring out the richness and authenticity of your outdoor shots. Improve the composition and visual impact of your outdoor photographs with our dedicated lesson on "Mastering the Crop Tool for Outdoor Photography in Lightroom." Tailored for photographers who want to refine their compositions and storytelling through precise cropping techniques, this module is an essential guide to leveraging Lightroom's Crop tool effectively.

Level-Up Editing Magic

23:27

In this chapter, we are going to dive into the local adjustments that you can make in Lightroom. Even though the basic adjustments improved the photos, you can make small local adjustments to your photos to take them to another level. In this lesson, you'll unlock the secrets of specific color adjustments, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to fine-tune individual hues to achieve your desired visual aesthetics. You will learn Lightroom's advanced color editing tools, empowering you to take control of your images and infuse them with a unique and personalized color palette. Unleash the power of visual storytelling by mastering the art of directing attention through vignettes in our specialized lesson, "Directing Attention with Vignettes in Lightroom." Tailored for photographers who want to guide the viewer's gaze and create compelling focal points, this module provides a deep dive into the effective use of vignettes within Adobe Lightroom. In this lesson we will look at what tools to use to finalize the local adjustments that will take your photos to another level. We will specifically explore the RGB Primary Saturation sliders to see how they can make colors pop in your images.

Advanced Edits for Outdoor Photography

23:15

In this chapter, we are going to be looking at the advanced Lightroom edits that make photos even better. These are really fun tools to use because they can erase parts of a photo, or mask effects into other sections. In this lesson, you'll dive into the powerful Spot Healing Brush and Clone & Heal tools within Lightroom's Develop module, learning how to effortlessly remove blemishes, distractions, and unwanted elements from your images. You will learn a series of practical exercises, empowering you to take control of the finer details in your photographs. Unlock the true potential of your photo editing capabilities with our introductory lesson on "Masking in Lightroom." Tailored for photographers eager to explore advanced editing techniques, this module serves as a comprehensive guide to the transformative power of masks within Adobe Lightroom. Explore the Graduated Filter, Radial Filter, and Adjustment Brush tools, understanding how each contributes to the masking process. Learn how to use masks to target adjustments to specific regions of your photos, whether it's enhancing the sky, focusing on a subject, or adding drama to particular elements.

Solidifying Your Photographic Style

10:33

In this chapter, we will be looking at how to make and use your own presets in Lightroom, as well as how to save hours of your time by batch editing your photos. Define your unique photographic identity and streamline your editing workflow with our specialized lesson on "Creating Your Own Presets in Lightroom." Tailored for photographers who want to add a personal touch to their images and save time in post-processing, this module is a comprehensive guide to developing custom presets that reflect your individual style. Explore the benefits of using the Sync and Auto Sync features, allowing you to propagate adjustments seamlessly across multiple photos. From exposure and color corrections to cropping and lens corrections, you'll learn how to efficiently edit large batches of images while maintaining control over the final results.

Merging Panoramas and HDR Photos

13:04

In this chapter, we will be looking at how to merge and stitch panorama photos and HDR photos using the Lightroom software. This is a powerful way to manipulate multiple photos into a single realistic image. In this lesson, you'll explore the powerful Panorama Merge feature in Lightroom's Develop module, unlocking the ability to create breathtaking panoramas that showcase the full beauty of wide-open spaces. You will learn the step-by-step process, ensuring that you can effortlessly merge multiple images into a cohesive and visually stunning panorama. Immerse yourself in the world of High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography with our specialized lesson on "Merging HDR Photos in Lightroom." Tailored for photographers who seek to capture the full range of tones in challenging lighting conditions, this lesson is a comprehensive guide to creating stunning HDR images seamlessly within Adobe Lightroom.

All About Exporting

10:41

In this chapter, we will be exploring how to finalize your photos by exporting them. We will look at all of the various export options so that your export will fit your needs. In this lesson, you'll explore the Export dialog in Lightroom, gaining insights into the various settings and options that allow you to tailor your exported images to specific needs. You will learn the process of exporting photos for different purposes, ensuring that your images are ready for print, online sharing, or archiving. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, you have gained the skills to master the art of exporting photos in Lightroom. This is the final step of your photographic journey to ensure your images are presented to the world with the utmost quality, professionalism, and attention to detail.

7 Lessons

2 hrs 2 mins

Overview
Instructor
Bonus Materials
FAQs

Our course begins with an introduction to the Lightroom interface, guiding you through the workspace and helping you understand the various modules available. You’ll learn how to import, organize, and manage your photo library efficiently, ensuring that your creative process is streamlined and stress-free.

Organization is key in any photography workflow, and Lightroom excels in this aspect. We’ll guide you through the process of rating, color coding, and creating collections to keep your photos neatly organized and easily accessible.

Lightroom is a very powerful tool to use when it comes to organizing your photos, however, it is a powerful editing software too. You’ll delve into the intricacies of exposure adjustments, gaining a deep understanding of how to manipulate exposure settings to bring out the best in your outdoor shots. You’ll also learn to improve the composition and visual impact of your outdoor photographs with a dedicated lesson on “Mastering the Crop Tool for Outdoor Photography in Lightroom.”

Once you cover the basics you can begin looking at the advanced Lightroom edits that make photos even better. These are fun tools to use because they can erase parts of a photo, or mask effects into other sections. You will also learn how to solidify your photographic style, how to merge and stitch panorama photos and HDR photos, and how to export your final photos.

David Johnston

David Johnston is a professional outdoor photographer located in the beautiful state of Tennessee. He is most familiar with photographing older mountain landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains, and occasionally ventures into other locations around the world to capture amazing outdoor scenes. David began his passion of photography in high school where he learned to photograph with film cameras and develop his own prints in the darkroom. However, after college he switched to digital photography and began his business photographing the outdoors as well as teaching people how to improve their skills in outdoor photography. When David isn’t traveling and taking photos, he’s just like you! He enjoys lounging on the couch, watching sports, and spending time with his wife and friends.

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