Capturing an amazing landscape photo is only part of the job. Editing your nature photography photo is another crucial element to nature photography. Unfortunately, editing your nature photography tips is not always easy. Even with some experience editing, there are many important tips that can help you take your photo to the next level. 

In this post, we will go over 14 professional tips that you can use when editing your nature photography photos. You can use these tips to make your image pop or make corrections to improve your image. 

Let’s get started so you can start improving your nature photography today.

 

1. Avoid Lens flare 

When it comes to nature or landscape photography, shooting directly into the sun is tough, but it may provide some stunning results. Lense flare using the sun is one of the most common types of lens flare you will encounter. 

It’s important to note that lens flare can enhance a scene when it’s used intentionally. Conversely, when you capture an unwanted lens flare, it can detract from your scene. 

Not only can it detract from a scene, but it can be very difficult to remove in post-processing. 

No lens is immune to lens flare, so you must take steps to keep it out of your image. You can use certain camera gear to reduce the chance of lens flare, but they are not always effective. Lens hoods and ND filters are common ways photographers use to eliminate lens flare. 

Often, you will need to adjust your composition or block the sun with an object from your scene. 

Here are a few pointers for dealing with a lens flare in post-production.

• Boost the contrast.
• Increase the depth of the blacks.
• White Balance and Color Hues can be tweaked.
• If desired, increase the amount of flare.

 

2. Composition 

You should consider the composition of your image before you begin your nature photography editing or retouching process. There are a few tools you can use to adjust composition during the editing process. 

The Crop tool, together with its many overlays, can assist you in making sure everything is in order. To change the overlay, press O, or Shift+O to change the alignment. 

The second option you can use is the Warp tool. The Wrap tool is found in the Transform section of the Edit tab, is your second option. Again, use the entire frame or a portion to adjust the composition. It’s best practice to use a new layer when using the Warp tool.

You may notice an unpleasant white stripe at the edge of your image after using the Warp Tool. You can delete this white stripe, but you can also use a new layer to cover it up. 

 

3. Paint colors into your landscape photos

In nature photography editing, color correction is crucial. Customers prefer photos that are bright and clear.

The main goal of color enhancement is to achieve color balance, make the photo saturated, and correct any color deviations. This approach is most effective when there is already color in the image that you can intensify.

Colors should be made brighter and more vibrant. In addition, you can use contrast to make your images stand out. You should also remove any dust and enhance the color tones.

 

4. Adjust The Contrast 

The goal of contrast is to enhance the difference between the highlights and the shadows in the image. Adjusting the contrast will make your images pop and make them stand out more than before.

When adjusting your contrast, it’s important that you are aware the highlights become brighter and the shadows become darker.

You can use contrast to make certain elements of your image stand out more than the other elements.

 

5. Use a Gradient Mask 

A gradient mask is a great way to enhance or change the sky in your image. The gradient sky is a great way to create a smooth transition between your blending layers.

This layer gives you the versatility to do several different things. First, it allows you to enhance the dynamic range in your image easily. It also allows you to replace the sky entirely.

 

6. Switch Your Images To Black and White

You can change the feel of your photos by changing your image to black and white. Switching to black and white can help you enhance certain elements of your image.

Black and white photos are often used in wildlife photography.

A color photograph can be converted to black and white by doing more than merely desaturating the colors. The photo’s melancholy tone can convey deeper emotions in the text. It generates a distinct ambiance.

 

7. Shoot in RAW 

If you don’t shoot in RAW, you should start shooting in RAW now. RAW is a shooting format that you can set in your camera.

RAW file format preserves the most information and produces an image with the most detail. RAW photos also give you more control when editing your photos than other file formats.

The HSL tab is where a lot of the post-processing for landscape photographs happens. Open the Hue area and modify the values of several colors while you’re setting up your RAW converter.

If you require a dramatic sky with definite clouds, the Luminance option comes in handy. It can be used to darken the sky in the same manner that a polarising filter can.

Darkening a color has the side effect of making it more vibrant. If this isn’t the look you want, the Saturation option might help you muffle the color you just darkened.

 

8. Use a Glow Effect 

If you want to highlight any shiny items in a photo, such as glares on the sea or dazzling clouds, they may be given that fascinating glow in a few simple steps. For such nature photos editing, you’ll need two copies of combined layers.

To get those, press the Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E combination twice. Then open Filters and look for High Pass in the “Other” section of the top merged layer. It takes some fiddling to find the best radius for emphasizing details, but you may start by setting the 5 px value and adjusting around from there.

The second layer is a blur layer, and its opacity can be adjusted to produce the desired effect. The Normal mode produces a pure glow; the Soft light adds some contrast, but the Screen produces more light.

 

9. Sharpen Your Images 

Landscape post-processing must be done per web standards. You’ve probably observed that the standard method of downsizing with Bicubic resampling leaves the photos blurry, and sharpening only makes matters worse.

A simple pattern must be remembered. Reduce the size of your photograph to three times its original size. If you need it to be 1000px, for example, start with 3000px. Go to Filter and select Sharpen three times in a row.

You won’t reach the desired appearance until 1000px is set. If you believe it’s too sharp at the end, go back to the second sharpening and downsize after that.

If the image isn’t sharp enough, use a copy-layer to sharpen it and make it more translucent.

 

10. Use Saturation In Moderation 

Saturation adjustment in landscape photo editing should be used in moderation. Excess saturation enhancement can cause your photos to look fake.

A great alternative to saturation is Vibrance. Vibrance will help you make certain colors pop. The distinction is that the former amplifies the already dominant hues, whereas the latter works with secondary colors.

You’ll get more tones and semi-tones with Vibrance, but for your good, learn to disregard that setting as well. Instead, adjust the contrast in the more important areas of the photographs, and the colors will be automatically enhanced. Desaturate other areas to place accents in strategic locations.

 

11. Burn shadows and dodge highlights

This type of work may be done in both Lightroom and Photoshop; the settings differ, but the effects are very similar.

Use the Dodge & Burn tools to burn the highlights and dodge the darker parts in the latter. With a 2-5 percent exposure, the brush should be big and soft. If the impact appears to be too harsh, reduce the layer’s intensity.

If you’re using Lr to edit landscape pictures, the aforementioned Dehaze filter may achieve the same effect; merely apply a light touch and you’re done.

 

12. Vignetting 

Vignetting is a technique for highlighting the subject of a photograph by lightening or darkening specific image sections. In landscape photos, you can use vignetting by darkening the corners of your image.

If your subject is not at the center, you can only apply a vignette to certain elements.

This will draw attention toward the center and the subject of your photo. Snapseed and Lightrooms offer additional possibilities.

 

13. Use the Dehaze Filter 

It’s an excellent tool for editing nature photography since it provides a realistic decrease of haze in the image that no other filter can match.

You’ll need to keep an eye on different portions of the image because it’s easy to overdo it. Alternatively, you can use the brush to beautify the landscape manually.

However, you can use this fantastic tool in reverse, or even better, in combination, to give your photographs a breathtaking aerial perspective and depth. Compare what a radial filter does to preserve some haze in the background to what global dehaze does, with the latter only slightly increasing the contrast.

 

14. Get Professional Help 

Landscape and animal photography must be brilliant and bright to tell the story of the captured moment.

Taking nature shots is the first step in a professional nature photographer’s job. The editing of photos is the second stage, which requires hours of tedious work. For those who are experienced with all of the tools and approaches, this is not an issue.

However, beginners and those who are seeking help in photo editing can look for professionals who could aid you in editing your photographs and make them look stunning. Advanced approaches are familiar to highly qualified photo editors. They take into account all of the customer’s requirements and complete the work on time.

 

Conclusion 

There you have it. Here are 14 amazing nature photography tips that both beginners and professionals can use to enhance their photos. Don’t waste any time you can start implementing these tips today. Use them on any new photos or old photos to enahcne your nature photography.