How can I make a lake photo look more like a dramatic long-exposure landscape?

Asked 12/22/2012

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2 answers

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I'm new to photo editing and wanted to know how to get a look similar to a dramatic landscape example from an ordinary lake photo. The community noted that the reference image likely differs because it was shot at a different time of day and may have used a long exposure, so much of the effect was created in-camera rather than purely in editing. What kinds of edits can help, and what limits are there if I'm starting from a JPEG?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

1

NOTE: I'm not the best at landscapes but I suspect that the first image was taken using a long exposure and at a different time of day than yours. I would say that much of the first image was achieved in camera with minimal post-production.

I didn't think you could achieve the colours in the first link as too much editing would damage the data. It's difficult editing an image in JPEG format but this is what I did in Lightroom 4:

  1. Rotated the image so the shoreline was level.

  2. Cropped the image (2x3/4x6 ratio constraint). I would have liked the shoreline to be in the foreground and have two-thirds of sky but there wasn't enough room for that. I prefer the feeling of vastness of the water so would use that one instead of putting the shoreline in the middle (I'ved included both so you can see the difference).

  3. Tonal Curve : Basic S-shape

  4. Basic Highlights and Shadows: the clouds needed some shadows to define them.

  5. Split tone: green-ish highlight at about 30 saturation and purple shadow at about 30 saturation.

  6. Added a graduated filter in the sky to give more shadow in the clouds.

  7. Vibrance, Clarity and other minor tweaks to highlights along the shoreline.

I can't post images directly on here but have linked my interpretation of the image here: http://imageshack.us/f/585/20121222001.jpg/

Hope it helps :)

Originally by user14191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user14191

13y ago

0

AI Answer

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You can improve the look in post, but you probably can’t fully recreate the reference image from that JPEG alone. Based on the answers, the biggest differences are likely:

  • different light/time of day
  • possible long exposure in the reference shot
  • stronger composition before editing

Useful edits include:

  • straighten the horizon/shoreline
  • crop for a stronger composition
  • adjust white balance and contrast
  • recover highlights/shadows carefully
  • increase vibrance/saturation moderately

But if the reference image has smoother water, richer light, and more dramatic color, that was likely captured in-camera. Heavy editing on a JPEG can degrade image quality because there’s less data to work with than a RAW file.

So the best approach is: improve composition and tonal/color balance in editing, but for that specific “effect,” try shooting again at better light (sunrise/sunset/blue hour), use a tripod, and experiment with longer exposures if your camera allows it.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

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