Contrast is one of those subtle elements that can elevate a photo, turning a flat image into something dynamic. Understanding how to manage contrast, especially in midtones, is essential to capturing richer, more vibrant images.
Coming to you from Christian Möhrle - The Phlog Photography, this practical video shows you exactly how to enhance your images by using midtone contrast in Lightroom. Möhrle demonstrates his full editing workflow from merging HDR images to detailed masking techniques. He explains how HDR merging can help manage difficult lighting conditions, like scenes with intense sunlight. By carefully adjusting the exposure, shadows, and highlights, he ensures the image retains details across the brightest and darkest areas. You'll find his methodical approach useful, particularly his clear reasoning behind each edit.
Möhrle also emphasizes subtle local adjustments, something often overlooked when photographers first begin editing. He carefully targets specific areas with Lightroom's masks, focusing attention on the trees, sky, and foreground individually. This precision allows for nuanced improvements—like selectively darkening skies to boost contrast or enhancing warmth in highlighted tree trunks. Understanding these small yet significant tweaks can help you produce more balanced and visually appealing images.
An especially helpful section of the video focuses on luminance range masks to target midtones. Möhrle explains not only how to select these specific tonal ranges effectively but also the reasoning behind using an S-curve on the tone curve tool for subtle contrast enhancement. This approach provides depth without overwhelming the image. The technique of carefully controlling midtones with luminance masks can significantly refine your editing workflow. Möhrle’s understated style encourages you to experiment with these techniques rather than relying solely on default settings or presets. He also covers the importance of color grading and demonstrates how targeted color luminance adjustments enhance specific elements in an image, making your edits appear deliberate and refined.
Throughout the video, Möhrle provides practical insights into why each step matters, which can help you develop an eye for recognizing what adjustments a particular photo needs. He takes time to address common problems, such as overly cold white balance or scenes that feel washed out, and explains clearly how subtle shifts can dramatically change the mood of an image. His guidance on sharpening images with precision completes the workflow, ensuring that images remain crisp without appearing artificially enhanced. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Möhrle.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
