Editing large expanses of green grass can transform an otherwise flat image into something much more dynamic. It’s not just about pushing the contrast slider up and hoping for the best. To make an image pop, especially when working with grass or other natural elements, you need to approach it with more precision.
Coming to you from Anthony Morganti, this informative video breaks down the process of adding contrast and tonal variation to green grass using Lightroom. Morganti explains that contrast doesn’t just apply to light and dark values. It can also be about color and how different elements in an image play off each other. His technique emphasizes adjusting both the luminance and saturation of the grass to create more depth and interest.
Morganti starts by walking through the basics of his editing process. He usually begins by balancing the highlights and shadows to bring out more detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of an image. From there, he fine-tunes the whites and blacks to ensure the photo has a solid tonal foundation. Once the overall image is balanced, he focuses on the sky, adjusting texture, clarity, and dehaze to enhance the details before moving on to the grass.
The key to enhancing green grass lies in the use of the color mixer, specifically targeting the yellows and greens. Morganti makes the brighter yellows even brighter and darkens the greens to increase the overall contrast. This approach adds dimension to the scene, making the grass look more vivid and textured. He also sometimes boosts the saturation, but only slightly, keeping the adjustments natural and avoiding overly saturated greens, which can look unrealistic.
To refine the effect further, Morganti uses masking tools to isolate specific areas of the image, like trees or other objects in the scene. By selectively applying contrast adjustments to these elements, he creates a cohesive look where the grass and other parts of the image complement each other. His attention to detail ensures that the enhancements look balanced and don’t distract from the main subject of the photo. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morganti.
