Transform a Daylight Scene Into a Captivating Nighttime Image Using Lightroom

With the right knowledge, you can completely transform a photo through editing. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to turn a daytime shot into a captivating dusk image using Lightroom.

Coming to you from Mark McGee Photos, this educational video provides a step-by-step guide on using Lightroom masks and curves to achieve a stunning evening effect. By starting with a significant underexposure and then strategically applying a series of masks, the tutorial demonstrates how to alter the image's exposure, warmth, and saturation to mimic an evening atmosphere. The use of linear gradients, radial masks, and the curves feature for selective adjustments allows photographers to transform a bright daylight scene into a twilight masterpiece. It's a fantastic exercise in pushing your editing capabilities. 

Furthermore, McGee's focus on the subtle yet impactful adjustments, like enhancing the warmth on the horizon to simulate a sunset or adding glow to the street lights, showcases the importance of attention to detail in photo editing. The tutorial emphasizes the creative potential of using masks to isolate and modify specific elements within an image, such as cars and traffic lights. Be sure to give it a try on one of your own images! Check out the video above for the full rundown from McGee.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

I normally find these things either boring or stupid, but this one is actually very good.Well done Mark.