This iconic cabin is located in the unique Dolomites mountain range in Italy. Inspired by autumn, I knew that visiting the mountains during this season would be magical. If you have autumn images in your archive that you want to edit, here is a breakdown of my workflow for you to learn from.
Step 1) Timing
I aimed for the cabin to be gently illuminated by the sunrise, preserving its details and natural colors without being overwhelmed by golden light. Sunrises and sunsets at their zenith can often cast harsh red or orange hues that complicate editing and stray from the original vision.
Step 2) Composition
There’s no greater satisfaction than achieving your vision directly through the camera. In this instance, I positioned myself low to the ground, shooting from a slight upward angle. My goal was to accurately capture the cabin, highlighting its angles and textures while maintaining a clean image. It’s crucial to consider your foreground, middle ground, and background when composing your shots.
Step 3) Camera settings
35MM, 1/80 shutter speed, f/2.8, ISO 100.
Step 4) Basic adjustments
In general, I aim to leverage colors and light effectively. In this instance, I aimed to maintain a natural edit while enhancing the richness and dreamy atmosphere of the image. For instance, I reduced clarity settings (-24) and increased dehaze (+37) to deepen the tones of browns and yellows. Adjusting saturation and hues of specific colors can enhance their tones effectively.
4.1) White balance
Temperature 11,308
Tint +4
4.2) Tone
Exposure +0.20
Contrast +22
Highlights -73
Shadows +80
Whites +1
Blacks +12
4.3) Presence
Texture +3
Clarity -24
Dehaze +37
Vibrance -9
Saturation +35
Step 5) S curve
I applied four points to my curve, as seen in the image, to adjust the highlights and shadows to my liking.
Step 6) Color mixer
6.1) RAW
The color palette from the RAW file features a very light gray (F4F7FA), a dark brown (403929), a very dark gray (1E1C16), a medium gray (53585B), and a light brown (AD8B5A).
Thus, I applied the following adjustments to get closer to my vision:
6.2) Hue
Red +24
Orange +8
Yellow -24
Aqua -4
Blue -15
6.3) Saturation
Red -39
Orange -61
Yellow -72
Green -62
Aqua -25
Blue -74
6.4) Luminance
Red -20
Orange -20
Yellow +3
Green +1
Aqua +12
Blue +53
6.5) Edited colors
The edited color palette includes light beige (D6CFC4) for the sky – one of the most significant changes in color in the image, medium brown (765231), muted taupe (9D876E), dark brown (35291C), and dark taupe (645747). All these colors are close to each other on the color wheel within the brown/earth tone spectrum, making this an analogous palette that helps create a harmonious and cohesive look.
Step 7) Masking
You can easily over-edit this step, so you need to make micro-adjustments. I tend to desaturate my skies and bring down the whites as well as bring down clarity and dehaze to soften the look, giving it that dreamy feel.
Mazur’s journey intertwines his love for travel with a deep commitment to capturing the world’s fleeting beauty. His work often reflects his awe of nature, such as in his image of the jungle that won Best of the Week at Nomadict, taken from above at sunset with perfect timing and serendipity.
From the wild beauty of Vermillion Cliffs to the depths of Mexico’s cenotes, Katarina’s work reflects a deep connection with the environment and a love for visual storytelling. With 18 years of experience and the co-founding of her production company, HiishiiPhoto, Katarina continues to evolve her craft. Katarina’s photo of the Vermillion Cliff was chosen for Best of the Year 2023 by the Nomadict community.
In this article, Alex Pantela shares strategies to deepen your connection with nature through content creation, his favorite environments to stay creative, techniques for storytelling, the vision behind his work and editing style, and most valuable lessons!
Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
From his early days experimenting with a DSLR to capturing breathtaking drone shots in the mountains, Cuno’s work reflects his love for storytelling through images. In this article, he shares the experiences and lessons that shaped his career, from winning awards to balancing his creative pursuits with family life.
In this article, photographer and creative director Harry shares his journey from a college hobbyist to a professional creative, rediscovering his passion during the pandemic. He delves into his approach to capturing authenticity, his techniques for brand promotion, and the tools he uses to achieve a distinct, film-like aesthetic.
Derrick is a photographer from the Navajo Reservation (New Mexico), a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, and an electrical engineering student. A recent highlight was capturing his dream shot of Shiprock surrounded by fog, a photo that won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
Liam Alford is a self-taught nature and wedding photographer with a passion for capturing the special moments in the world through his lens. In this article, we learn about his journey, valuable lessons from his outdoor experiences, and his shooting + editing approach to the image that won the Best of the Week 33, 2024.
© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.
