How to Use Quick Selection Masks in Lightroom

In this premium video, Outdoor Photography Guide’s David Johnston explores Lightroom’s quick selection masks on his image of a blue heron and a full moon.
He begins with overall global adjustments – horizon line, exposure, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks, and more.

For the first masking step, he isolates the blue heron using the subject tool selection. He then brightens the blue heron so that it stands out from the background.

For his second masking step, he makes adjustments to the background, adding darkening and contrast to further isolate the bird. For the third step, he masks only the sky, increases the exposure and softens the sky tones.

These three different quick selection masks transforms his image into a dramatic wide angle image – blue heron, sand, sky and full moon. Try this procedure on your own photographs.